Are e-commerce companies taking over the sky?? The big news of the week is the expansion investment of Amazon & Mercado Libre in extending air network capabilities!!
- Amazon launches Air network in Europe
- Does Mercado Libre launch Air network in Mexico?
- Ocado buys Kindred & Haddington Robotics Solutions
- Ahold Delhaize launches Marketplaces powered by Mirakl
- Alibaba & Richemont invest in Luxury Marketplace Farfetch
- Jumia’s launches logistics services
- Uber scales up grocery delivery
- StartUp of the week: GoPuff is acquiring BevMo
Amazon launches its first Amazon Air regional hub in Europe
While the airline industry is suffering its worst crisis ever on the passenger side, Ecommerce volume could save them?
Amazon continues to invest in its own air cargo network starting now operations in Europe. With this new hub in Leipzig (also where DHL hub is), the company’s has now more than 70 aircraft in its fleet.
Read more about the first European Amazon Air regional hub HERE.
With these planes, Mercado Libre will deliver packages in less than 24 hours
Amazon is not the only one building an Ecommerce Air Network, Mercado Libre the Latin America e-commerce leader just announced an investment of more than one billion pesos in the „Meli Air” aircraft fleet, ground vehicles and last-mile centres.
This investment will allow the company to reach the entire Mexican territory in 24 hours. It’s all about Speed, Speed, Speed!
Check out the details about the planes HERE.
British online supermarket Ocado acquires two U.S. robotics start-ups
Online supermarket Ocado has acquired San Francisco-headquartered robotics firm Kindred Systems for $262 million and Las Vegas firm Haddington Dynamics for $25 million. While e-commerce is exploding, all the key players are investing heavily in their automation & robotics agenda. The combination of technologies acquired will enhance robotic arm (Haddington) & PickPack process (Kindred) capabilities for the online supermarket.
Learn more about the acquisitions by Ocado HERE.
Big Changes Coming to Ahold Delhaize USA
The world of the platform! Ahold Delhaize (one of the largest grocery chain) is partnering with third-party marketplace Mirakl to launch its own marketplace and provide an additional 80,000 to 100,000 food and general merchandise offerings to shoppers.
We have seen multiple organization launching marketplaces models in the last years and we will continue to see more coming.
Read more about the Ahold Delhaize’s own marketplace HERE.
Alibaba and Richemont to Invest $1.1 Billion in Luxury Marketplace Farfetch
Alibaba and Richemont will invest $1.1 billion in online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch. Why would the largest e-commerce company and one of the most iconic luxury brand partner in this deal? The reason is very simple: China online demand for luxury goods is boominggggggg!
Check out the news HERE.
Jumia’s logistics services are now open to third-party businesses
Jumia is also called the “Amazon of Africa” and like Amazon, the company is planning to use its technology and logistics solutions and offer them to 3rd party companies. This is definitely not new or different than what Alibaba, JD.com, Amazon are doing already!
Learn more about the details HERE.
Uber scales up grocery delivery operations to compete with Instacart, Shipt
Uber continue to convert its core business into the delivery business instead of ride-hailing. This time they are pushing stronger on the grocery delivery to compete directly with Instacart, GoPuff & Shipt. Online grocery is the biggest winner of the pandemic and stay-at-home economy so no surprise on Uber also wanting to ride the wave of online grocery explosion.
Read more on how Uber wants to get his share of online grocery shopping HERE.
GoPuff is acquiring BevMo, an alcoholic beverage chain, for $350 million.
Consolidation in the war for on-demand delivery continues! Softbank-backed delivery startup goPuff enters the California market with its deal to buy alcoholic beverage chain BevMo! “The agreement also means goPuff, which currently provides on-demand delivery of household goods in 500 cities, will significantly expand its infrastructure with the addition of BevMo!’s 161 stores in California, Arizona, and Washington”.
All you need to know about the acquisition can be found HERE.
Nabil Malouli is VP, Global E-commerce for DHL Supply Chain where he leads the innovation, strategy and product development of its e-commerce fulfilment and last-mile solutions.
Photo credit @ Jordan Stead/Amazon