Covid-19, Warehouse Automation and National Security

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Covid-19, Warehouse Automation and National Security

One big takeaway from Covid-19, is that we have learned the lengths people will go to for a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer or pasta, and even gluten-free pasta. Shoppers behaving badly was mildly amusing, albeit a little sad as panic buying emptied store shelves quicker then they could be restocked. Grocery stores and supply chains in general were wildly unprepared for a pandemic and the sudden surge in demand for certain products.

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Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

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Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

The fact that supply chains and logistics companies already have a vast amount of data and processes that could be turned into actionable insights rather quickly, just means that there is potential for AI to take supply chains on a journey from very good to perfect.

Artificial intelligence techniques allow for vast amounts of data to be analyzed, categorized, and then turned into actionable insights with reduced or no human input. As an example,

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Disrupting Logistics: 4 Innovative Blockchain Startups to Watch in 2018

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Disrupting Logistics: 4 Innovative Blockchain Startups to Watch in 2018

The global logistics market is predicted to reach US 15.5 trillion in 2023. The world runs on trade and traditionally the industry has been plagued by inefficient processes, middlemen, and archaic technology. As a result, venture capital has poured into logistics startups over the last few years in an attempt to digitize the supply chain.

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Onfleet and a Last Mile Delivery Platform

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Onfleet and a Last Mile Delivery Platform

The local last mile delivery market is a fragmented one with about 7,500 courier and parcel delivery companies in the U.S. alone. Within this crowded delivery market are logistics providers that range from giants like Fedex, UPS, and DHL, to retailers like Amazon, technology companies like Uber and Postmates, and many small-and medium-size operations in between. Technology is rapidly changing how consumers interact with businesses and this has led to on-demand delivery business models that enable local businesses to reach more local customers.

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The Amazonification of Logistics

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The Amazonification of Logistics

The evolution of eCommerce has had a dramatic impact on both retail and logistics. Much of the changes have been spearheaded by Amazon who are largely responsible for shaping customer behavior and driving customer expectations around delivery. Many customers now want their packages next-day, same-day, or even within one hour and as a result logistics networks have evolved to reflect these changing customer preferences. Amazon has had such a major impact on eCommerce...

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Last Mile Delivery - Is it time to Share?

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Last Mile Delivery - Is it time to Share?

There's a growing market in the last mile for same-day and next-day delivery fuelled by increasingly demanding customer expectations. Non-traditional delivery providers, like Uber and Amazon, are building innovative solutions and could be well positioned to be market disrupters in the battle for the last mile. Uber has a first mover advantage via their existing ride-sharing platform; a deep and re-purposable delivery fleet with optimised routing algorithms combined with the ability to raise enormous capital. And then you have Amazon,

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Surging Package Volume Explains Why Drones Make Sense

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Surging Package Volume Explains Why Drones Make Sense

The continued rise of eCommerce coupled with the growth of urban populations has put increased strain on last mile delivery in cities. Added to this, is the fact that a growing number of people in large cities expect to get their orders quickly - next day, same-day, or within an hour or two. And, by the way, delivery should be cheap too!

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Logistics Technology Trends That Will Dominate 2017

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Logistics Technology Trends That Will Dominate 2017

Making predictions in technology, even just one year out, are generally an exercise in futility, so this really isn't a forecast for 2017, but more a list of trends that I am interested in and keeping my eye on. Technology is rarely released according to plan and surprises can come from many directions. However, it makes sense to keep tabs on what’s coming and it's also great fun to think about what’s coming next. Here's what I will be looking out for in 2017:

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Who will Own Same Day Delivery: The Case for Uber

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Who will Own Same Day Delivery: The Case for Uber

In the previous post I highlighted a handful of the emerging on-demand same day delivery startups and the complexities inherent in building a 3-sided marketplace. In addition to these startups, I wanted to do a deeper dive on two non-traditional logistics companies that are approaching same-day delivery from different angles and could be well-positioned to be market disruptors for same-day delivery. They are of course Uber and Amazon; Uber has a first mover advantage via their existing ride-sharing platform. a deep and re-purposable delivery fleet with optimised routing algorithms combined with the ability to raise enormous capital. And then you have Amazon...

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The“Uber-for-X” Model and the Complexity of On-Demand Delivery

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The“Uber-for-X” Model and the Complexity of On-Demand Delivery

Uber’s success in disrupting transportation has led to enormous VC funding of “Uber-for-X” businesses where smartphones are used to connect customers with nearby workers on demand. A number of startups have entered the same-day / same-hour delivery market with the intent of fundamentally transforming how we shop and eat.

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Ways to think about Last Mile Delivery

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Ways to think about Last Mile Delivery

Last mile delivery is going to change significantly over the next few decades. A sea-change is upon the Logistics industry and as is often the case when an industry is about to be turned upside-down, there are a number of converging factors, both societal and technological, that are accelerating the pace of change.

 

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Logistics Startup: FLEXE and Pop-up Warehousing

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Logistics Startup: FLEXE and Pop-up Warehousing

Today's innovations from startups could be the source of transformation that shapes the future of logistics. Recent technological innovations have allowed startups to disrupt mature industries in a matter of a few years. Take Uber for example, a car service start up founded in 2009. As of July 2016, there have been more than 2 billion trips on Uber that have bypassed the taxi industry. Are there any start-ups out there that could have this type of impact in Logistics?

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Micro Hubs and Shared Mobility: A Share Economy Concept for Same-Day Delivery

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Micro Hubs and Shared Mobility: A Share Economy Concept for Same-Day Delivery

If you’re like me, you’re probably shopping more online - making smaller orders more often and at the same time expecting fast and free delivery, even if it’s not urgent. The growth of eCommerce has fueled increasingly challenging delivery options for both retailers and major parcel carriers alike. For consumers, tomorrow is just not fast enough and most are not prepared to pay for the true cost of delivery.

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Amazon, Kiva Robots, and the Widening Moat

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Amazon, Kiva Robots, and the Widening Moat

ravel time by warehouse pickers typically accounts for 50-60% of the total order fulfillment costs and considering that Amazon ships upwards of 5 billion items per year , optimizing the order fulfillment process has an enormous impact on Amazon’s bottom line. In 2012, Amazon acquired Kiva for $775 million and rolled out robots in their distribution centers in 2014...

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