Technology

The United States’ resident delivery colossus could unveil a game-changing last-mile solution.

“We’re investing in our supply chain at an unprecedented scale in order to optimize that process end-to-end.”

Fetch and Körber’s solution provides safety, efficiency and flexibility.

Even if last-mile delivery and gig economy companies can find drivers, getting them onboarded and access to key business tools remains problematic.

Mastercard and Verizon want to turn your smartphone into a cash register.

While most of the focus has been on capacity constraints for ocean containers and truckload freight, e-commerce shippers remain concerned about the impacts on the last mile.

Walmart International bought a 77% stake in the India-based e-commerce shopping portal in 2018.

As warehouse automation firm Berkshire Grey prepares for a public stock offering later this month, President Steve Johnson sat down with Modern Shipper to discuss the company’s outlook.

Stripe and Thrive Market are both reportedly eyeing IPOs in two potential blockbuster listings in their segments.

Bringg and GoFor join forces to expand delivery capacity, coverage and customer satisfaction.

Chinese warehouse automation firm Hai Robotics is reportedly looking for a $150 million raise at a $1.3 billion valuation.

Kroger Co. continues to bring intelligent automation to its warehouses.

Digital retailers are partnering with SaaS companies that are employing an emergent new service model: secure access service edge

On Sunday, China banned new downloads of Didi’s ride-hailing app, and on Tuesday, the stock dropped more than 23% in response.

OneRail announced its last-mile fulfillment platform is now integrated with and available from SAP’s Commerce Cloud network.

Warehouse automation company Geek+ announced it has sold 20,000 autonomous mobile robotics solutions around the world.

Zebra Technologies will acquire Fetch Robotics for $290 million, adding warehouse automation tools to its portfolio.

Upfront costs are reduced in the Robots-as-a-Service model.

Covenant believes government incentives are vital in helping the trucking industry meet zero-emission goals.

Headless commerce company Shogun has raised $67.5 million to scale its solution and speed the go-to-market process.

Two Oregon delivery providers have terminated their contract with Amazon, but the e-tailer has countered and said the companies wanted $36 million to continue servicing the contract.

As drone delivery services ramp up, the time is quickly approaching when warehouses will need to adjust their operations to accommodate single-package loading.

Last-mile delivery management company Onfleet said its software has now helped facilitate more than 100 million deliveries.

Last-mile delivery firm AxleHire has added a sortation center in Chicago, where it will start making deliveries using its expanding transportation network.

Afterpay, a buy-now, pay-later provider, has inked deals with 13 major retailers representing nearly half of all e-commerce purchases.

Surefront has introduced an end-to-end product lifecycle management tool that connects all steps in the product development and go-to-market process in a single virtual environment.

Security firm ADT has introduced free apps that allow rideshare and delivery drivers as well as passengers to connect discreetly with emergency services when they feel at risk.

Berkshire Grey has released its next generation of warehouse robots that it said will speed fulfillment time for retailers.

Walmart has made an investment in DroneUp as it plans to begin making drone deliveries from a Bentonville, Arkansas, store this summer.

Commerce Signals has launched a targeted marketing tool that it said improves the chance a marketing campaign will reach the right consumer to 90%.

Last-mile delivery and fulfillment platform Bringg announced a $100 million Series E funding round, reaching rarefied air as a unicorn company.

“Our goal with this partnership is to alleviate the task of high cost and difficult deliveries from everyday delivery drivers,” a Nuro spokesperson said about FedEx testing the company’s autonomous delivery robot.

E-commerce management company Whitebox has released Omnifi, a single platform that connects e-commerce brands’ marketing, sales and logistics channels.

SaaS platform company Cleo, which specializes in the integration of B2B enterprise data and saw rapid growth in 2020 due to e-commerce, received a strategic investment from H.I.G. Capital.

After a slow start, Morgan Stanley sees the urban air mobility market quickly accelerating after the year 2040, growing from a $1.5 trillion market size to more than $9 trillion in 10 years.

E-commerce technology company Stackline announced a $130 million investment from TA Associates to fund additional technology development.

According to reports in local media, Kroger and Drone Express officially kicked off their drone delivery pilot program in Centerville, Ohio, Wednesday.

JOKR launches in New York City Thursday with the promise of 15-minute grocery delivery.

The Federal Communications Commission is sued over a decision that could affect progress in truck platooning communications.

Circle, which offers cryptocurrency-based payments for internet transactions, raised $440 million and is eyeing a potential SPAC deal.

CtW Investment Group is asking DoorDash shareholders to vote against the reelection of co-founder Tony Xu to the board of directors, saying more oversight is needed.

Warehouse robotics firm Exotec announced footwear retailer Ariat and the world’s largest sporting goods retailer Decathlon will deploy its Skypod warehouse robotics system.

A survey from SOTI has found transportation and logistics companies trying to keep up with the e-commerce demand continue to face technology integration issues, costing them several days per month per employee in productivity.

The FAA has approved a request from Flytrex to expand its drone delivery pilot program in North Carolina to include delivery to customers’ yards.

As more brands roll out next-day and same-day grocery delivery, the long-term profitability of these programs depends on innovation that can drive down cost and increase flexibility.

Skycart, a San Francisco-area drone startup, announced its Nimbus drone is capable of making four separate deliveries on a single flight.

Like the rest of the economy, gig economy companies are struggling to find drivers, and that could have a negative impact on the growth opportunity for the industry moving forward.

Upgrading fleets and equipment from 3G mobile technology to LTE requires upfront planning with a strong partner.

“We have added the ability to have an app-based experience versus an online website to manage your back room and that kind of innovation is a big reason why our retail customers have been working with us.”

The CHIPS Act aims to subsidize companies that can set up domestic manufacturing plants to create a more resilient supply chain for the future demand of semiconductors.

Four FreightTech companies demonstrated their innovative technology solutions during FreightWaves LIVE @HOME on Wednesday.

Four FreightTech firms demonstrate their innovative technology solutions for transportation companies during FreightWaves LIVE @HOME.

Arrival, which has a large electric van order from UPS, has selected HERE Technologies to provide turn-by-turn navigation and a location visibility platform for vehicles.

J.B. Hunt’s 360 digital freight-matching platform will play a core role in helping the company and its customers thrive in a historically challenging environment, Simpson says.

Fidelity had led a $360 million private funding round into BETA Technologies to speed development of small electric aircraft for passenger and cargo usage.

AT&T and Sony have teamed up for a new shipping label that activates sensors to track and monitor packages as they travel throughout the supply chain.

Ondas Holdings is acquiring American Robotics with the expectation that it can incorporate the drone company’s data-collecting capabilities into its platform for industry verticals.

DoorDash reported a 198% increase in Q1 revenue compared to Q1 2020, and a 219% increase in orders, although it still posted a negative 34-cent EPS.

Startup Curri is trying to apply gig economy principles to the building and materials industries. Its founders answered Modern Shipper’s questions.

Hypower Lab said its hydrogen fuel cell can power drones for more than three hours, increasing flight time and utility.

Sonic+ believes its super app is the key to lowering food costs and waste by connecting consumers directly with wholesalers.

Vendoo’s technology allows resellers to list items on multiple marketplaces like eBay, The Real Real and Poshmark while streamlining the listing process.

While many restaurants are getting into the ghost kitchen craze, a New York City company, WoodSpoon, believes the best meals come from a home kitchen.

An improving economy and a $170 million investment in Bitcoin drove payment provider Square’s revenue up 266% and profits up 79%.

PayPal reported its “strongest first-quarter results” in company history on Wednesday, posting $6.03 billion in revenue and a 46% increase in total payment volume.

The across-the-board gains exceeded expectations and reflect increasing end-market strength, Trimble CEO says.

Foodetective has raised $2 million in seed funding to help it expand its multichannel restaurant commerce platform to new markets, including the United States.

Former PayPal executive John Lunn has returned to payments with Gr4vy, which has landed an $11.1 million Series A funding round.

Amazon’s Prime offering, with its shipment tracking and fast delivery, continues to add pressure to other retailers to match the service. Technology can help up their shipment games, making for happier and returning customers.

A big revenue gain in global e-commerce is the high point of the quarter.

As more commerce moves online, some businesses are struggling with payment options, especially in cases where credit cards may not be accepted. That is giving rise to alternative payment processes.

Payments provider Stripe is acquiring TaxJar and plans to incorporate its sales tax technology into its business platforms.

DoorDash has faced criticism over its pricing as communities rallied in support of local restaurants. The company is now rolling out new pricing plans to address these concerns.

FlavorCloud has secured $6.3 million in funding to help expand its global presence as it works to build a seamless global e-commerce logistics network.

Woven Planet, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp., has agreed to acquire the self-driving vehicle business Level 5 from Lyft.

As more shoppers turn to e-commerce, cybercriminals are taking advantage of lax security measures to target online fraud.

AfterShip, an e-commerce tracking and post-purchase solutions company, has secured a $66 million Series B investment round, bringing its total funding to $69 million.

Affirm Holdings, which specializes in “buy now, pay later” solutions, has acquired leading e-commerce returns provider Returnly.

AgEagle, a leading U.S.-based drone provider, has acquired Measure Global, a provider of software that helps drone operators manage their fleets.

Nathan’s Famous, known for its New York hot dogs, is partnering with Ghost Kitchen Brands to open up to 150 nontraditional food locations offering takeout and third-party delivery by 2022.

Cleveron has introduced a self-driving delivery vehicle that has flexible body options, allowing retailers to customize it for their needs.

French robotics company Exotec has embarked on a pilot run with the Gap in North America, testing its Skypod robots to handle e-commerce returns management.

Startup Milk Moovement seeks to modernize the dairy supply chain through cloud-based software.

Ghost kitchens have been a COVID-19 success story, and now one is set to go public, giving investors a chance to weigh in on the trend and its potential for future success.

Online grocer Farmstead is now offering delivery through DoorDash as it seeks a larger share of the e-commerce market.

Domino’s is partnering with self-driving vehicle company Nuro to schedule pizza delivery for select customers in Houston with Nuro’s R2 robot vehicle.

As legal and legislative battles pop up around the country over worker misclassification, a new lawsuit is seeking to restore a Trump-era rule that could decide the future of gig employees.

Many shippers of fast-moving goods and consumer products saw increased sales during the pandemic, but many still suffer from a lack of supply chain efficiency. Locus has introduced an AI-powered tool, NodelQ, that helps optimize the supply chain.

Amazon has started requiring third-party sellers to meet more stringent Prime shipping promises, and that is forcing changes to the supply chain.

WHAT THE TRUCK?!? welcomes HubTran’s Josh Asbury to the show. The crew dives into the acquisition with TriumphPay and discusses HubTran’s Lights-Out Processing platform.

Warehouse automation continues to accelerate as consumer appetite for e-commerce grows, and that is placing robotics companies in the spotlight.

Two last-mile delivery firms have secured funding as they look to scale. AxleHire has closed a $20 million round while Swyft has netted $17.5 million.

Instacart did an analysis of its platform’s users and found some surprises regarding how many people and who exactly was shopping for groceries online in 2020.

UPS Flight Forward has an option to buy up to 150 electric aircraft that can transport up to 1,400 pounds of cargo each from Beta Technologies.

Singapore-based ride-hailing company Grab is expected to go public via a SPAC with a fund from Altimeter Growth, according to a report.

Research firm Cowen has set a price target of $28.50 per share for EV startup Arrival – more than $10 higher than Monday’s trading price. Cowen cited its unique approach to manufacturing as one reason for its optimism.

GreenDropShip has a new app for Shopify sellers, opening the door for them to add over 20,000 grocery items to their online stores.

Curri, a technology company that specializes in last-mile services for the construction industry, has secured a $6 million Series A funding round.

As more millennials enter the workforce and the global economy deals with COVID-related work-from-home trends, more business e-commerce transactions have moved online.

A ransomware gang is threatening to leak 2 terabytes of files stolen from shipping firm ECU Worldwide in the aftermath of a cyberattack as the owner vows to “take any steps necessary, legal and otherwise,” to protect customer data.