Australians continue to face long wait times when they order from abroad, contrasting the immediacy that services like Amazon have conditioned shoppers to expect. By enlisting ordinary citizens to deliver packages as they go about their day, Passel hopes to help ease the pain points of e-commerce.

E-commerce has made it simple to order almost anything at any time – but physically getting what you’ve bought isn’t always so convenient. How are retailers coping with the growing demand for same-day and one-hour delivery? And is speed the only thing that matters to shoppers?

Speed and convenience have become the consumer norm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worldwide were introduced to instant access to goods and services via apps and digital platforms, the supply and demand considerably grew and splintered. The 'I need it now' culture shows no signs of slowing down, yet the complexity around it is becoming more apparent. Hyper-fast digital services appeal because they fulfil a ballooning desire for instant gratification – contemporary convenience hinges on easy-to-use interfaces that help consumers seamlessly meet their needs. However, the mechanics of consumerism are complex. People are becoming aware of global supply chains, especially in the wake of wars and escalating global conflict. As many brands are cracking down on immediacy (introducing higher delivery fees or offering it as a premium), people are turning to local and smaller-scale shopping for more mindful, slower, grounded spending. The cost of living crisis makes people reconsider which of their needs are truly immediate, but it's not the only reason some crave a slowdown. The hyper-fast society enables our desires to be fulfilled instantly but might be too fast for our mental health. While convenience used to be a cool thing to have, now it has become essential to function in the current attention economy. People are tormented by a lack of patience and chronic dependency on stimulation from platforms like TikTok – yet the rewards of convenience easily outweigh the concerns.

With Amazon Key, which includes a security camera and smart lock, the retailer is asking shoppers to let couriers open their front door to drop off parcels when they’re not around. While it may streamline delivery and prevent package theft, do people want strangers entering their homes?