Mercedes-Benz Vans has launched a Winter Operating Insight to share best practice with fleets.

It is the first in a series of insight papers and will investigate how Britain’s most successful fleets have been preparing for the busy winter operating period, to give wider companies the opportunity to learn from the best practice highlighted.

In addition to the insights around the use of technology centred on fleet operations, the Winter Operating Insight paper, which can be found via www.mbvans.co.uk/industryinsight, also focuses on the rises in Sunday delivery services, which have become widespread over the past two years.

Hermes, Parcelforce, DPD and the Royal Mail were all offering Sunday deliveries by the end of 2014.

Amazon reported in January 2015 that Sunday deliveries had quadrupled over the 12-month period beginning the previous January.

Amazon and Argos both launched seven-day same-day retail deliveries this year, with Argos becoming the UK’s first high street retailer to offer same-day delivery seven days a week.

In addition, as well as national same-day delivery, some Amazon Prime customers in some parts of London and Birmingham can receive their orders within the hour.

All of this means that the demands and pressures of vehicle fleets are greater than ever before.