Out to Launch:
Tesco is launching a 1-hour delivery service as it goes to war with Amazon. Tesco announced “Tesco Now,” an app-based delivery service that will let customers order from a range of 1,000 products and have them delivered immediately, including fruit, meat, dairy, health, and beauty products. Business Insider
JD.com to grow own vegetables in tie-up with Mitsubishi Chemical. Chinese e-commerce heavyweight Jingdong Group and Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings have joined forces to raise vegetables in high-tech hothouses for fresh deliveries to consumers in China. Asian Review
Cainiao to launch key storage fund. Cainiao Network Technology Co Ltd, the courier aggregator backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, has announced the establishment of a logistics storage fund with a leading Chinese insurer, the latest attempt to cash in on the country’s lucrative express delivery market. China Daily
Zalando rolls out fulfilment service for fashion brands. The German online fashion giant has launched Zalando Fulfillment Solutions, a service designed to allow fashion labels to benefit from the e-tailer’s European logistics capabilities. Fashion Network
Target’s next-day essentials delivery service opens to customers in pilot test. Target announced this morning it’s opening to consumers a new, next-day home-delivery service called Target Restock. Tech Crunch
No tears over missed collections as Boohoo launches locker pick-up option. Online fashion retailer Boohoo has partnered with InPost lockers to offer 24/7 collection points for its customers, allowing them to pick up their orders from locations near home, work or the gym. eDelivery
Chiquelle expands to six more countries in Europe. This month, Swedish fashion retailer Chiquelle won the Global E-commerce Award at this year’s Global E-commerce Summit. Ecommerce News
Industry Skinny:
Direct-to-consumer to play minor role in US grocery e-commerce. Direct-to-consumer sales by food manufacturers via their own online platforms remain at an experimental stage but more attention is being given to the fledgling channel and more forecasts being made on the prospects for growth. Just-Food
Ecommerce in Europe: €602 billion in 2017. The online retail industry in Europe is expected to be worth around 602 billion euros at the end of this year, which would mean ecommerce in Europe will grow 14 percent compared to the situation in 2016. Ecommerce News
Amazon Turns to Subscription Boxes to Dominate Clothing Market. Amazon.com Inc. is entering the fashion subscription box business. Bloomberg Technology
Amazon’s new customer. Amazon announced an agreement to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion; after all, it was only two years ago that Whole Foods founder and CEO John Mackey predicted that groceries would be Amazon’s Waterloo. Stratechery
Online retailers bolster sales and customer relations with physical return locations. For many potential shoppers, one of the biggest obstacles to making a purchase online is the possibility of having to return the merchandise later. Stores
Two-thirds of shoppers suffer parcel delivery problems. New research from the Citizens Advice released this week, suggests that more than two-thirds (69%) of online shoppers have had parcels lost, damaged or turn up late in the last year. eDelivery
Whistl summons new director of international to lead expansion abroad. Delivery management company Whistl has appointed former wnDirect UK managing director Jonathan Matchett to the role of director of international at the company. eDelivery
What UPS Is Going to Do Could Make It More Expensive to Buy Christmas Presents. United Parcel Service (UPS) is going to add a surcharge to most online orders that ship around the Black Friday shopping weekend and during the week before Christmas, the parcel delivery service company announced on Monday. The Street
Tech Space:
Amazon files patent for drone delivery ‘beehive’ fulfilment centre. Amazon is seeking a patent on a beehive-like or cylindrical building that would serve as a vertical fulfilment centre for delivery drones in urban areas, according to an application published Thursday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and obtained by CNN Money. Retail Dive
Amazon’s delivery-drone research focuses on avoiding birds. The e-commerce company said Thursday it has started development of an air-traffic control system to manage its fleet as the drones fly from warehouses to customers’ doors. Economic Times India
Estonia allows delivery robots on the sidewalks. The Estonian parliament has adopted legislation allowing delivery robots – such as the ones manufactured by Starship Technologies – on its pedestrian sidewalks. Estonian World
Study suggests last-mile drone delivery could lower carbon footprint. A new study from University of Washington researchers indicates that drone delivery may indeed lead to a lower carbon footprint — if it’s done properly. Tech Crunch
59% of UK’s digital buyers make mobile purchases. It has become commonplace in the United Kingdom to use a smartphone to buy goods and services online. Ecommerce News
Food for Thought:
TaaS and the future disruptions of transportation. Transportation as a Service is just one way the industry will change in the years ahead. Freight Waves
Don’t care how, I want it now…. The news that Tesco is taking on Amazon with a one-hour grocery delivery service in central London this week shows how intense the battle is between the big players as they strive to meet customers’ impatient needs. eDelivery
Ocado trials autonomous delivery technology. Online grocer Ocado has begun trials of a new self-driving truck that aims to become the UK’s first autonomous delivery system. Retail Gazette
Even with Whole Foods, Amazon would need many more warehouses to reshape grocery delivery. If Amazon.com Inc hopes to revolutionize grocery delivery, then its bid to buy Whole Foods Market Inc for $13.7 billion will be just the start of a long and costly process. Reuters
Are you delivering what your customers want? With consumer expectations at an all-time high when it comes to ecommerce, and with rival retailers waiting just one click away, it is increasingly vital that retailers get delivery right. eDelivery
