ShipMatrix reports strong Cyber Week delivery performance results

As was the case for the 2024 Cyber Week, the 2025 Cyber Week again saw key parcel players post very strong on-time delivery for online orders, according to recently-issued data by ShipMatrix, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based SJ Consulting.

For Cyber Week, which ShipMatrix defines as the week of December 1-7‑and a period in which more than 100 million parcels per day are handled, with more than 80% of these parcels being holiday gifts and delivered to residences—the firm reported very strong performance results for FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Combined Cyber Week on-time performance (OTP) for all domestic parcel services for the three carriers using end-of-day delivery, for express and an extra day for ground, hit high levels, with FedEx at 98.3% (98.7% in 2024), UPS at 98.9% (98.9% in 2024), and USPS at 97.2% (97.4% in 2024).

ShipMatrix explained that these results were achieved while FedEx, UPS, and USPS along with Amazon, Walmart, other private fleets and smaller regional and last mile carriers collectively handled more than 568 million parcels, which it said represents a 30% more in parcel volume than during off-peak, calling it evidence of carriers strong planning and preparation for major spikes in volume.

And it added that retailers and consumers alike should not let things linger, or procrastinate, due to Cyber Week’s strong performance, observing that “orders placed after December 17 will require premium shipping and even then, not make it under the Christmas tree due to bad weather-related delays which are excluded from [the aforementioned] on time percentages.”

In a previous interview with LM regarding Cyber Week, ShipMatrix President Satish Jindel told LM that efforts by carriers in running on-time performance and doing it correctly is five times more of a larger task than it was even two or three years ago—and almost double what it was in 2024—due to there being a whole host of complex rules for what the commit and transit time is by things like lanes, distance, and days in transit, for FedEx, UPS, and the USPS.

“Express services are measured for delivery by the end of the day,” he said. “So, if we had an Express package coming to your home and the commit time may have been 3 P.M.,” he said. “If it got delivered at 3:30 P.M., I considered it as on time, because you may not know it was committed for 3 P.M. if you pick it up at the end of the day. It is the same thing for ground. You are ordering these things for Christmas; whether you get it on December 5 or December 6, does it make a difference? No, of course not, and carriers can add one extra day to the regular commit time to provide that because otherwise it becomes relevant that I do that. Most people wouldn't otherwise think of it. As I get into the final week of December, I will not be worrying adding that extra day, because then every day becomes critical, whether you get it on the 22^nd, 23^rd, or 24^th, now you'll start getting nervous. So, I will make sure I'm recognizing the relevance of this information.”

With providers outside of FedEx, UPS, and the USPS increasing their carrying capacity, Jindel said it negatively impacts these legacy carriers.

As an example, he cited Walmart and the more it does online ordering fulfillment from one of its local stores for same-day or next-day delivery, for goods ordered through Walmart, it hurts a larger legacy carrier like FedEx, as the orders are being delivered by a carrier like Doordash or Uber Eats.

“[Legacy carriers] lose that volume and that revenue, and they now have a competitor that is a shipper, just like how Amazon has become a competitor,” he said.

And he added there are likely to be increased delivery presences and also future competition from retailers like Costco and Walmart.