Business-to-business e-commerce is on a tear and set to grow even more over the next few years. Are industrial distributors keeping pace or falling behind?

While more peak-season shopping will likely be done online this year than ever before in North America, one of the most important factors in a shopper's decision to use the web will be cost rather than speed of delivery, according to a consumer survey conducted by Canadian parcel and freight service Purolator International, along with the Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research.

Consumers expect to hear knocks on their door from delivery services well into the holiday week and for no cost at all, according to Deloitte's 30th annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends. In fact, free shipping is the top priority for shoppers when it comes to retail policies, with 72 percent of responding consumers planning to take full advantage of the perk. Nearly 9 in 10 shoppers (87 percent) prioritized free shipping over fast shipping (13 percent) when purchasing gifts shopping online.

E-commerce has already transformed the world of warehousing and logistics, and according to Colliers International Group Inc., everything indicates that this process will continue.

Walmart Canada and 7-Eleven Canada are joining forces to do an e-commerce pilot project in the Toronto area.

Amazon is taking aim at delivery services like Postmates with the launch of a program called Flex., which calls for drivers to make $18 to $25 per hour delivering packages to users of Amazon Prime Now using their own cars and phones.