Google launches same day delivery service in New York, Los Angeles

When it comes to the online shopping industry, shipping remains one of the biggest obstacles. The time gap between when a product is purchased and when the buyer can finally hold it in their hands has been one of the main driving forces behind helping keep brick-and-mortars as a main place to shop. If these online retailers can master same-day delivery, however, a monumental shift could occur.

According to a recent article from Business Insider, both Google and Amazon are taking steps to improve their shipping strategies. This blog has covered what Amazon has in the works, but Google is creating something different.

The company has created a service called "Google Shopping Express" which will be piloted in New York and Los Angeles. The service allows users to shop at local stores including Costco, Guitar Center, Staples, Target and Walgreens through a special website, select a delivery window that works for you and receive the order later that day. This can be done through a computer or mobile device.

There are no surcharges or mark-ups, the products cost just what you would pay if you were in the store. In-store discounts and loyalty points can also be used. Shoppers will also get six months of free, unlimited deliveries.

"Most people who like to go out and shop will still do so, while those who do most shopping online really won't find getting things the same day to be significantly better than waiting an extra day or two," Thomas Way, a computer science professor at Villanova University in Philadelphia, told the news source.

This shows how important a reliable and fast delivery service is to the new age of business.