Logistics

Robots aren’t taking over, and other lessons learned from 2 decades in the logistics tech industry

by David Glick on February 9, 2020February 9, 2020 at 1:34 pm1 Comment

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by David Glick, CTO at Flexe, a Seattle logistics startup. I’ve spent a lot of time in warehouses. I joined Amazon… Read More

Ex-Amazon, FedEx leaders raise $3M from Madrona and 8VC for Seattle trucking startup Freightweb

by Taylor Soper on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 at 10:35 amComment

Another Seattle startup is blending technology with logistics to change the way goods move around the country within a $800 billion U.S. trucking industry. This time it’s Freightweb, a new… Read More

News Brief

Amazon removes FedEx Ground ban for third-party sellers

As Amazon disrupts its business, FedEx shares drop on ‘very disappointing’ financial results

by Nat Levy on December 18, 2019December 19, 2019 at 4:20 am 3 Comments

FedEx reported lackluster financials for the second quarter of its fiscal year and cut profit expectations going forward, continuing the shipping giant’s struggles amid a battle with Amazon. FedEx is… Read More

By land and by air, Amazon delivery hardware takes on a new look in truck and plane photos

by Kurt Schlosser on December 16, 2019December 16, 2019 at 10:30 amComment

Amazon vans zipping around neighborhoods making holiday deliveries aren’t the only relatively new transportation hardware that the tech giant has put in motion. Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of… Read More

Amazon doubles truck fleet to 20,000 to boost shipping capacity amid booming holiday sales

by Nat Levy on December 3, 2019December 3, 2019 at 7:47 am1 Comment

A record number of Amazon-branded trucks are driving up and down freeways across the U.S. this holiday season, the latest sign of the major expansion of the tech giant’s delivery… Read More

Q&A: In it for the long haul? Uber Freight exec talks trucking and driving the industry into digital era

by Gregory Scruggs on October 26, 2019October 27, 2019 at 9:22 amComment

On Sept. 15, a truck left from Houston carrying a food-and-beverage industry haul to Roanoke, Texas, outside of Dallas. The next day, that same truck picked up another load for… Read More

Amazon will spend nearly $1.5B in Q4 for one-day delivery initiative as shipping costs skyrocket

by Taylor Soper on October 24, 2019October 24, 2019 at 6:58 pmComment

Amazon is spending massively to increase capacity for its new one-day delivery initiative — and it’s cutting into the company’s profits. The company revealed Thursday that it will invest nearly… Read More

‘Stripe for international shipping’: FlavorCloud helps e-commerce companies ship across borders

by Lisa Stiffler on August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 at 1:04 pmComment

If you want to buy a shirt directly from a merchant in China, the customs hurdles will vary depending on whether it’s made of cotton or wool. Or if you… Read More

eBay to launch new shipping service, upping the e-commerce ante as it battles Amazon and others

by Nat Levy on July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 at 10:04 amComment

Next year eBay will launch a new delivery service to speed up shipments between buyers and sellers on its e-commerce platform. The move makes eBay the latest e-commerce heavyweight to… Read More

Inside a ‘rapid innovation session’ as Gates Foundation and Xinova fight malaria with tech

by James Thorne on June 29, 2019June 29, 2019 at 9:31 am 2 Comments

Ask a room full of people how to fight malaria, and you’ll likely hear about bed nets, vaccines and healthcare infrastructure — all good answers. But there’s one critical piece… Read More

Amazon one-ups Walmart on one-day shipping, will offer 10M products via accelerated Prime program

by Kurt Schlosser on June 3, 2019June 3, 2019 at 7:21 amComment

Saying that every day is “Day 1” at Amazon might still be a popular mantra at the company, but today the tech giant is making sure its Prime customers are… Read More

‘Airbnb for warehousing’ startup Flexe raises $43M to help online retailers take on Amazon

by Taylor Soper on May 7, 2019May 8, 2019 at 9:56 pmComment

As more consumers shop online, retailers need capacity to ship products across the country — particularly as they battle e-commerce kingpin Amazon. Flexe, a Seattle logistics startup that operates an… Read More

Amazon to make one-day delivery the new standard for Prime

by Kurt Schlosser on April 25, 2019April 25, 2019 at 3:45 pm 2 Comments

Amazon, which built its Prime subscription program on the promise of free two-day shipping, said it plans to shift that core benefit into free one-day shipping. The news came during… Read More

Amazon reportedly taps former Kindle and Flex exec to lead pharmacy group overseeing PillPack

by James Thorne on February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 at 10:40 amComment

Amazon has tasked Nader Kabbani with leading its new pharmacy initiative and overseeing the team from online pharmacy PillPack, according to a report from CNBC that cited internal documents. Kabbani… Read More

Look out, UPS and FedEx? Amazon filing cites ‘intense competition’ in transportation and logistics

by Nat Levy on February 6, 2019February 7, 2019 at 5:06 am 2 Comments

Amazon continues to pour billions into its growing shipping operations, an area where the company says it is facing “intense competition.” Amazon listed “transportation and logistics services” as a business… Read More

Video

Peak performance: At 11,500 feet, this town in India is Amazon’s most extreme delivery location

by Kurt Schlosser on July 18, 2018July 18, 2018 at 3:49 pmComment

If you thought the steps up to your home’s front porch presented a significant challenge for anyone delivering you an Amazon package, consider what it takes to get to the… Read More

Owning an Amazon delivery business: The risks, rewards and economic realities of the tech giant’s new program for entrepreneurs

by Todd Bishop on July 15, 2018July 16, 2018 at 11:49 am 52 Comments

Amazon has a new idea for anyone who has ever dreamed of owning and running a small business, but was daunted by the hurdles, or didn’t know where to start:… Read More

Robots aren’t taking over, and other lessons learned from 2 decades in the logistics tech industry

Ex-Amazon, FedEx leaders raise $3M from Madrona and 8VC for Seattle trucking startup Freightweb

Amazon removes FedEx Ground ban for third-party sellers

As Amazon disrupts its business, FedEx shares drop on ‘very disappointing’ financial results

By land and by air, Amazon delivery hardware takes on a new look in truck and plane photos

Amazon doubles truck fleet to 20,000 to boost shipping capacity amid booming holiday sales

Q&A: In it for the long haul? Uber Freight exec talks trucking and driving the industry into digital era

Amazon will spend nearly $1.5B in Q4 for one-day delivery initiative as shipping costs skyrocket

‘Stripe for international shipping’: FlavorCloud helps e-commerce companies ship across borders

eBay to launch new shipping service, upping the e-commerce ante as it battles Amazon and others

Inside a ‘rapid innovation session’ as Gates Foundation and Xinova fight malaria with tech

Amazon one-ups Walmart on one-day shipping, will offer 10M products via accelerated Prime program

‘Airbnb for warehousing’ startup Flexe raises $43M to help online retailers take on Amazon

Amazon to make one-day delivery the new standard for Prime

Amazon reportedly taps former Kindle and Flex exec to lead pharmacy group overseeing PillPack

Look out, UPS and FedEx? Amazon filing cites ‘intense competition’ in transportation and logistics

Peak performance: At 11,500 feet, this town in India is Amazon’s most extreme delivery location

Owning an Amazon delivery business: The risks, rewards and economic realities of the tech giant’s new program for entrepreneurs

Report: Amazon gearing up to roll out FedEx and UPS competitor ‘Shipping with Amazon’ in L.A.

Home Depot reportedly considers acquisition of shipping company XPO to fend off Amazon

Flexe launches nationwide next-day delivery service to help e-commerce companies take on Amazon

Amazon’s newest pillars? AI and logistics key to tech giant’s future, study says

Amazon reportedly building app to connect truckers with shippers, possibly putting pressure on Convoy

Amazon reportedly considering purchase of German airport

Fleet raises $4M for online quoting marketplace that helps streamline shipping logistics

Whoops! Book by Jeff Bezos’ wife delayed by Amazon logistics

Amazon, 7-Eleven test locker idea for in-store package pick-up

CANCELED: Norwescon 2020

Tech Alliance Discovery Series: April 2020

Fundamentals for Startups: Negotiating Startup Life through a Crisis