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WiseTech Global operates in the unglamorous yet critical domain of global trade and logistics software. At first glance, their flagship product, CargoWise , might seem like just another enterprise SaaS offering. But beneath the surface lies a much more compelling narrative — one of scale, data, and untapped potential. With its vast reach, WiseTech has amassed an unrivaled dataset in the logistics industry, creating what can only be described as a “ data moat.
humanoid robot worker This article draws inspiration from a thought-provoking podcast with Gavin Baker , a prominent expert on AI, semiconductors, and robotics. In the discussion, Baker explored the inevitability of humanoid robots playing a central role in the workplace—a concept gaining momentum across the robotics community as advances in AI and hardware accelerate.
Future-proofing your warehouse operation is essential in a world where e-commerce is booming and customer expectations are sky-high. A multi-agent orchestration platform can be a powerful tool for optimizing warehouse operations by connecting and coordinating different autonomous agents and systems in real-time to optimize workflow and maximize efficiency.
In recent years, there has been a significant shift towards automation and optimization of warehouse operations. One of the latest technologies for warehouse operations gaining attention is the multi-agent orchestration platform. According to a recent Gartner report , “by 2026 over 50% of companies deploying intralogistics robots in the warehouse will have a multiagent orchestration platform.
“ Automation offers a range of benefits for warehouses, from increasing productivity to reducing risk related to labor. But to harness its full potential, companies need to develop a strategy for Orchestration. ” Never before has the competition for warehouse and fulfillment labor been so fierce. The long-term implications of a high reliance on labor are clear: automation in warehousing is no longer just a nice to have but an imperative for sustainable growth.
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.
The number of warehousing and storage jobs since 2010 has more than doubled in the U.S. while retail employment has been flat (and negative since Covid-19) over the same period of time. Chart shows the percentage change in employment since 2010. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over the last ten years, online shopping has experienced slow and steady growth from a relatively small group of consumers who frequently shopped online. As a percent of total retail sales, online shopping has increased about 1% per year to 16% of total retail sales in 2019. It’s been a clear trend that was widely expected to continue sustained, albeit somewhat slow growth.
Since about 2012 there’s been a massive influx of VC funding that has been poured into startups to revolutionise logistics and supply chains. And, it’s not just startups that are getting in the mix, it’s established global players like Amazon, Walmart, IBM, Alibaba, DHL, UPS, Merck, WiseTech Global, XPO Logistics and many more that are driving new technologies forward.
After a day out in Miami, you’ll need some quiet time in your tranquil tropical backyard to recharge for another day of unparalleled fun. Heading to Miami for a conference, Art Basel, South Beach, the Design District, or Wynwood Arts District? This three bedroom 2 bath cottage located in Miami Shores is a great option. Spacious, tropical beach feel, and quiet.a perfect place to kick back after a long day (or night) out in Miami.
In July 2016 , inspired by Elon Musk’s Master Plan, Part Deux , I laid out a concept for self-driving vehicles for long-haul trucking. I thought I would expand upon that concept in this post. Transportation has been the source of some of the greatest innovations in human history from the invention of the wheel to automobiles, ships , trains, planes, and rockets.
I entered the 2017 DHL innovation challenge which was a contest to apply the principles of the sharing economy to logistics. There were more than 60 entries and the winner of this year’s challenge was Parcelly , a UK startup that provides on-demand collection points to resolve the problems associated with failed deliveries. Below is the full written proposal and the (hacky) video I submitted for the challenge.
Guest Post by Blue Label Labs This is a guest post from Catherine Metcalf with Blue Label Labs , a mobile, tablet, watch, TV and AR/VR app design, development and marketing agency. Over the past 6 years BLL has partnered with entrepreneurs, enterprises and digital agencies to build over 100 iOS and Android-based apps. By now, you may be familiar with how the Internet of Things, or IoT, makes daily life much more convenient for the average consumer.
I entered the 2017 DHL innovation challenge which was geared towards applying the share economy to logistics. The winner of this year’s challenge was Parcelly , a UK startup that provides on-demand collection points to resolve the problems associated with failed deliveries. Their entry was very similar to the idea that I submitted. Below is the idea and the video I proposed for the challenge.
Source: The Daily Dot. 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.
The blockchain is a fascinating technology innovation that has the potential to disrupt many different industries. Here is a brief primer on the technology and potential use cases in supply chain and logistics. What is a Blockchain? A blockchain is an open and distributed, digital ledger that can record transactions between two parties in an efficient and verifiable manner without the need of an intermediary.
Guest Post by Y Media Labs This is a guest post from Rae Steinbach at Y Media Labs , an award-winning mobile strategy and application development company based in Silicon Valley. The topic, augmented reality (AR), is of particular interest to me both personally and professionally. I have written about use cases for augmented reality in logistics here , and Y Media Labs has actually developed an AR drone flight simulator app in partnership with Drone Company DJI and Epson.
I've dug into Amazon's patent filings over the last five years and mined the patent titles for keywords related to inventory and logistics. Patents range from the mundane like optimization of packaging sizes and allocating regional inventory to reduce out-of-stock costs to the more technologically advanced like autonomous vehicles, mobile ground-based fulfillment centers, and drones.
Amazon announced on Friday that it is acquiring Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. This will be Amazon’s largest acquisition to date but the purchase price is just 3% of Amazon’s market cap. And while many takes are centered around Amazon getting into physical retail, the most valuable component of the acquisition is the 400+ Whole Foods stores that enable Amazon to meet rising consumer expectations around fast and cheap shipping and make a broader push into perishables and food delivery.
Source: Onfleet. 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.
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.
There's a growing market in the last mile for same-day and next-day delivery fueled 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 disruptors 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 optimized routing algorithms combined with the ability to raise enorm
Source: Flexe. Flexe, the Airbnb for warehouse space, announced a new next-day delivery service, which the company said would give brands the ability to reach 98 percent of U.S. customers faster than Amazon Prime two-day shipping. This was a natural next step for Flexe as they began offering fulfilment services last year. Flexe, the Airbnb for warehouse space, announced a new next-day delivery service, which the company said would give brands the ability to reach 98 percent of U.S. customers fas
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.
Miriam Gottfried reporting for the Wall Street Journal : “ Here is a thought that should make investors in U.S. retailers tremble: Amazon could inflict roughly the same amount of cumulative pain on its competitors over the next three years as it did over two decades as a public company. Revenue for Amazon’s North America segment—the bulk of its retail business—was $79.8 billion in 2016, marking the second consecutive year of 25% growth.
Several recent studies have suggested that nearly half of all jobs are susceptible to automation in the next 20 years. Robots and artificial intelligence are poised to displace jobs in various industries, and the logistics industry is highly vulnerable to job loss. Recently notable tech leaders have made statements in regards to how to deal with automation displacing jobs.
Everyone knows that Amazon dominates the U.S. eCommerce retail market, but exactly how well are they doing? According to data from Slice Intelligence , which scanned more than 1 million digital shopping receipts, Amazon accounted for 46 percent of all online spending in the U.S. in the final weeks leading up to the holidays. Overall, Amazon took 39 percent of all online spending from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
According to a recent report in the Seattle Times , in 2016 Amazon significantly expanded the deployment of Kiva Robots in their fulfillment centers. Amazon acquired Kiva Systems in 2012 and the robots automate the picking and packing process. According to the report, Amazon has 45,000 robots deployed across 20 fulfillment centers which represents a 50% increase over the previous year and a 200% increase since 2014.
Source: Amazon. 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!
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.
Amazon has recently made waves in the industry with a series of moves that illustrate that it is serious about getting into the logistics business. Amazon leased 20 cargo planes to deliver goods to and from fulfillment centers, registered as an ocean freight forwarder in China , and built an ‘ Uber for Trucking ’ app to match truck drivers with shippers.
Photo by Oakozhan/iStock / Getty Images. 2016 was an incredible year for tech in logistics as companies both large and small are working on some transformative technologies not just for logistics, but for society as a whole. Here’s a few interesting tech advancements in 2016 that were important for the year, but could also point to what’s to come in the near and long-term future.
This is the second in a series of posts on same day delivery. You can the read the first post here. Source: 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 sa
This is the second in a series of posts on same day delivery. You can the read the first post here. Source: 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 sa
Source: Amazon. Amazon is testing a retail store without check-outs; instead, you simply tap your phone when you enter and 'machine learning and computer vision' track what you pick up and let you just walk out. In order to do this, Amazon is launching an app called Amazon Go which customers will use to register when they're in the store and the app will track the products picked up as they move about the store.
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. Rapid on-demand delivery combines the convenience of ordering from anywhere with the immediate product availability of traditional bricks and mortar retail stores.
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. The Rise of Consumer-Centric Supply Chains Quite simply, eCommerce has made it easier and faster to get stuff.
Source: Samsung. Samsung has issued a full recall of the Galaxy Note7, described by some as an iPhone killer. The reputation of the brand and financial losses will be significant. Kulbinder Garcha, an analyst at Credit Suisse, estimates Apple could capture at least half of the volume of Note 7 phones that Samsung was poised to sell. Samsung initially concluded that the issue was with the batteries from one of their suppliers and scrambled to send replacement phones with batteries from a differen
Source: FLEXE. 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.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that Amazon is looking for warehouse space in Sydney's west. Reminds me of a great quote from Richard Goyder , Wesfarmer Managing Director, when speaking of the threat Amazon poses to Australia retailers: Amazon will eat all our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. I couldn't agree more; retailers in Australia should be worried, very worried.
Source: Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes Benz and Matternet , a drone technology start-up, have partnered to create an integrated vision of the future for urban deliveries. Mercedes showcased the concept cargo van at the IAA Commercial vehicle show in Hannover, Germany last week. With the Vision Van from Mercedes-Benz Vans we provide an idea of future generations of vans: the intelligent automation technology connects the entire process, from loading and transportation by road through to delivery to the
E-commerce is a major driver for global change in the logistics industry. E-Commerce sales are fast outpacing traditional brick and mortar sales and the impact on logistics is significant due to changes in physical distribution networks, including massive e-fulfillment centers, sortation hubs, parcel hubs, and urban fulfillment centers for quicker order fulfillment.
Evan Hoopfer, writing for the Dallas Business Journal: “ Amazon is expanding its produce delivery services in Dallas.The service is part of Amazon’s “Prime Now,” which delivers goods in hours. ” What do you do when faced with a vastly stronger competitor? You team up. This seems like a no-brainer especially for small to mid-size retailers.
Spoiler alert, it's Amazon there are no markups, and the service is free to Amazon Prime members. May the force be with Amazon's competitors. Permalink.
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