(Hong Kong, 22 October, 2026) – Lalamove, the leading on-demand delivery platform, has announced findings from its latest SME survey across its operating markets. The survey reveals how small businesses are adopting digital tools to keep pace with faster operational demands. Among the more than 300 business users surveyed in Hong Kong in September, 51% said they now rely on AI tools or automation to speed up daily workflows, and 73% of these users report faster order processing as a result.
A Measured Yet Positive Outlook for 2027
The survey shows SMEs entering 2027 with steady, practical optimism. 71% of respondents describe their outlook as positive and expect logistics demand to remain steady as business speeds up. Of this group, 80% expect logistics demand to remain active in the year ahead, driven by more customer orders and expectations for faster service. At the same time, 87% expect transport and logistics costs to stay about the same or rise. As decision-making elsewhere in the business accelerates, delivery needs are becoming more frequent and fragmented, reinforcing speed and cost control as key priorities for the year ahead.
Close to Three in Four AI-using SMEs Report Faster Operations, Fueling More Frequent Delivery Needs
SMEs are adopting digital tools but at differing rates. Among those using AI, 73% report faster daily operations and order processing. AI adoption is most advanced in marketing, admin, customer service, and sales forecasting. Logistics and delivery planning remain the least automated function, as delivery execution is gradually more complex and situational, making it harder to standardize and reduce to a routine process. This is why more SMEs are turning to on-demand logistics platforms like Lalamove, which provide flexible capacity on a per-need basis rather than requiring businesses to build and standardize their own fixed delivery operations.
The surveyed SMEs indicate their most frequently delivered items are documents and office files, food and groceries, and luggage. To manage these diverse goods efficiently, businesses are seeing a shift in demand for the types of services they require. The areas of increased logistics demand include:
Multi-stop Delivery: Over half of businesses report a growing need to hit multiple drop-off points in a single trip.
Moving Assistance: Increased demand for physical help with moving heavy or bulky goods.
After-Hours Delivery: A rising need to move goods outside of standard business hours to meet customer expectations.
As businesses move faster, delivery needs are becoming more frequent and fragmented, outpacing fulfilment models built for simple, predictable routes. For leaner teams, relying solely on dedicated transport or an in-house fleet can add fixed costs and operational complexity, limiting their ability to scale capacity with demand.
Lalamove Supports SMEs with Affordable, On-Demand Logistics
Lalamove gives SMEs on-demand access to the delivery capacity they need, when they need it, with clearer visibility over cost. With most businesses expecting transport and logistics costs to hold steady or rise, the ability to plan that spend has become a priority. Services such as Fixed-price Moving support this with a fixed, upfront surcharge for driver-partner assistance on heavier or bulkier items. Capacity can be scaled up during busy periods and down when demand eases, allowing SMEs to treat logistics as a flexible cost rather than a permanent overhead.
The survey shows that Hong Kong SMEs are preparing for 2027 with a practical and disciplined mindset. Many are already adopting AI to speed up daily workflows, and that pace will only deliver value if fulfilment can keep up. Lalamove remains committed to supporting these businesses with flexible, on-demand logistics, helping them meet changing delivery needs while keeping costs under control.
To support local businesses during the upcoming peak delivery season, Lalamove is offering a limited-time promo code, 【LALAHERO】. From now until 30 November, SMEs can enjoy 50% off by entering the code when placing a delivery order via the Lalamove app.