SINGAPORE: With oil prices on the rise, companies making deliveries like florists and furniture movers have been hard hit.

Some have tried to cut costs by 30 to 40 per cent by planning more cost-efficient delivery routes and by encouraging customers to self-collect.

One florist charges a delivery fee of S$7 for nearby locations. Some florists have also turned to local couriers if the deliveries are not urgent.

For furniture movers, changes to their procedures include ensuring the customer has someone waiting at the agreed location to ensure the trip is not made in vain.

Some companies have also resorted to sorting out orders, by date and time, to plan their routes better and cut down on vehicle use. -CNA/vm