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Here in China, at least in tier-1 cities, same-day delivery is common for groceries and, to a lesser extent, for electronics and books.

IIRC one of the large multiple-category online retailers promises delivery within 4 hours if you order by 11am.

I wonder if the delivery industry is only going to get bigger, and actually employ more humans, considering scenarios like yours. I guess with drones and self driving cars it can be utterly automated, but really that won't happen for at least 5 years and only in top tier cities.

I've always respected the delivery/transport industry. It's just so utterly necessary and will always be such.

Where do you order groceries? I live in Shanghai, if it matters.

1号店 (http://www.yhd.com/) and Amazon (http://z.cn/)

(Disclaimer: I work at Amazon)

In Canada, Walmart.ca was experimenting with same-day delivery, as are a few other retailers. We don't have weekend delivery at all, however.

Google Express is doing very well at exactly that.

As is Amazon Fresh.