Topic
delivery
Logistics Amazon speeds last-mile delivery, expands robotics fleet past 1 million
Amazon expanded same-day and overnight delivery to more than 40% of items in H1 2026 and grew Amazon Now to over 250 cities. The company also passed 1 million deployed robots and plans to double its robotic arm fleet in 2026, according to FreightWaves.
Finance Zepto Delays Listing, Looks to Raise Rs 1,000 Crore in Pre-IPO Funding at Reduced Valuation
Zepto is raising about Rs 1,000 crore (~$105 million) in pre-IPO funding at a $4–4.5 billion valuation, over 30% below its last round, postponing its public listing. The company aims to close the round in a couple of weeks and then file its RHP with Sebi, amid valuation gaps between domestic and foreign investors and intensifying competition.
Logistics Last-Mile Delivery: Why Reliability Now Trumps Speed for Consumer Satisfaction
According to FreightWaves, last-mile delivery reliability has overtaken speed as the second-most important consumer factor after price. Jake Stein of Burq explains how hybrid, API-connected carrier networks can improve reliability and reduce hidden costs.
Logistics Carrier diversification unravels the last-mile delivery duopoly as shippers seek alternatives
A new AlixPartners survey reveals that 55% of retailers now use carriers outside FedEx, UPS, and USPS, with alternative carriers growing 13% in volume. Amazon became the largest domestic parcel carrier in 2025, while FedEx and UPS are pivoting to B2B logistics. The trend is driven by rising consumer expectations (2.6 days max for free shipping) and escalating costs.
Logistics Pin Code Wars: Quick Commerce Cos Add 900 Dark Stores in 3 Months, Intensifying Metro Battles
India's largest quick commerce operators added nearly 900 dark stores between April and July 2026, according to Bernstein. Blinkit, Flipkart Minutes, and Amazon Now led the expansion, but most new stores opened in already-served pin codes, intensifying competition in metro areas. The total dark store network grew to about 6,650-6,750, while metro pin code saturation rose from 26% to 44%.
Business Uber to Acquire Delivery Hero in $14.8 Billion Deal, Creating Largest Food-Delivery Group Outside China
Uber agreed to acquire Delivery Hero at an equity value of $14.8 billion, creating the largest food-delivery group outside China. The deal, conditioned on a 50% plus one share acceptance threshold, is expected to close in the second half of next year and positions Uber to better compete with Just Eat and DoorDash.
Logistics Postal Operators Struggle to Break Even as Parcel Growth Fails to Offset Rising Costs
Preliminary results from the International Post Corp (IPC) show postal operators achieved only 1.4% average revenue growth in 2025, with parcels driving gains while letter mail continued its global decline. Profitability remains under pressure from high labor and fuel costs, with margins narrow or negative despite rising parcel volumes. Norway's Posten Bring reported a 19.1% drop in adjusted operating profit for the first half of 2026 even as parcel volumes grew, highlighting the sector's financial squeeze.
Logistics DoorDash integrates with Shopify for last-mile delivery to small retailers
DoorDash announced an integration with Shopify that allows independent merchants with physical stores to easily add their product catalog to the DoorDash marketplace. This move targets small-to-medium local businesses and further expands DoorDash's last-mile delivery capabilities beyond restaurants into retail, grocery, auto parts, and apparel.
Missing Ebike Delivery Sparks 'Chatbot Hell': How AI Is Failing Last-Mile Customer Service
When an ebike went missing in transit from FedEx, the author spent months trapped in automated customer service loops with chatbots. The incident highlights a growing industry trend: corporations using AI to reduce human agent headcount, often creating 'sludge' that frustrates customers. For logistics operators, the story underscores the risk of alienating shippers and consignees when last-mile resolution fails.
Business M3M India Begins Handover of 1,000 Premium Homes at Gurugram Township
M3M India has commenced delivery of 1,000 premium homes at its low-rise residential development M3M Antalya Hills in Gurugram. The first phase welcomes approximately 100 families. The project has seen strong demand and price appreciation of 40-50% since its 2023 launch, reflecting growing preference for premium low-density housing.
Logistics Descartes Acquires Last-Mile Tech Provider Drivin for $30 Million
Descartes Systems Group has acquired Latin American last-mile logistics technology provider Drivin for $30 million. Drivin's platform uses machine learning and agentic AI for routing, dispatching, and real-time visibility, and has been widely adopted in high-density urban areas. The deal expands Descartes' fleet performance management offering and its presence in Latin America.
Logistics Quick-Commerce Platforms See Summer Sales Surge, Driving Last-Mile Demand for Cold Chain and Tier-2/3 Expansion
A heatwave across India has driven a 140% year-on-year increase in ice cream sales on quick-commerce platforms, with beverages up 114% and face-care products up 96%. Platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Amazon Now, and Flipkart Minutes are expanding into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, pressuring last-mile logistics to handle temperature-sensitive goods and higher delivery density.
Logistics Amazon and Flipkart Escalate Quick Commerce War in India with Major Expansion Plans
Amazon and Flipkart are aggressively scaling their quick commerce operations in India, with Amazon Now targeting 300+ cities and Flipkart Minutes already in 130+ cities. This intensifies competition for incumbents Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto, driving market share battles and discounting. Last-mile delivery networks and dark store expansion are at the core of the race.
Logistics Australia Post named delivery partner for Vinted’s Australia launch on July 1
Vinted, Europe's top second-hand fashion marketplace, launches in Australia on July 1 with Australia Post as its exclusive delivery partner. The three-year contract covers all shipping services, including post office drop-off, parcel lockers, and last-mile home delivery. The partnership taps into Australia's growing re-commerce market, estimated to reach $6.75 billion by 2029.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Amazon chief Andy Jassy presses Quick-commerce pedal: Now to expand to 300+ cities
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, on his first visit to India since 2021, announced Amazon Now will expand to over 300 cities from 15, backed by a fresh $300 million investment. The quick-commerce service has seen orders double every quarter since launch, positioning Amazon to challenge incumbents Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Flipkart Minutes.
Business Zepto IPO: Can 10-Minute Delivery Sustain Profitability Under Public-Market Scrutiny?
Zepto has filed its draft red herring prospectus for an IPO of up to Rs 80,100 million, revealing revenues of Rs 22,623 crore for FY26 but pre-tax losses of Rs 6,468 crore. The company leads peers on order density per dark store, yet faces declining average order values and negative operating cash flow.
Technology Quick-commerce FirstClub doubles valuation to $255M in 9 months on quality-first grocery bet
FirstClub, an Indian quick-commerce startup focused on curated quality groceries, raised $55M in Series B funding co-led by Peak XV Partners and Sofina, doubling its valuation to $255M in nine months. The company plans to expand beyond Bengaluru and into new categories.
Logistics He Walked Away From Barber Chair for Box Truck: Lessons for Logistics Operators
Victor Newton left a 28-year barber career to become a box truck owner-operator after a YouTube headline claimed $20,000 in a month. Five years in, he discusses the 90% failure rate, the difference between truck ownership and business ownership, and niche strategies like partial loads that can change the math for small carriers.
Logistics Container Newbuild Delivered Amid Panama Canal Draft Cuts
The Behram Box, a containership stranded since the 2008 crisis, has finally been delivered and entered service, highlighting the strong demand for feeder tonnage. Meanwhile, the Panama Canal Authority has announced draft restrictions due to water level concerns, potentially impacting global shipping routes.
Logistics Truckload's Shrinking Miles: Impact on Logistics
The average truckload length of haul in the U.S. has decreased by 21% since 2024, impacting logistics with increased spot rates and capacity constraints. This trend is driven by a shift towards intermodal transport and changes in supply chain strategies.
Logistics Canada Post Faces 17.2% Parcel Volume Decline in Q1
Canada Post experienced a 17.2% drop in parcel volumes in Q1, resulting in a significant financial loss. This decline is attributed to labor disputes and operational changes.
Logistics Amazon Wins NLRB Case on Joint Employer Status with DSPs
Amazon has secured a victory in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case regarding its status as a joint employer with Direct Service Providers (DSPs). This decision, approved by an NLRB administrative law judge, prevents a precedent-setting ruling that could have affected Amazon's logistics operations.
Logistics Industrial Real Estate Tightens, Favoring Last-Mile Operators
The industrial real estate market is tightening, benefiting last-mile owner-operators as demand surges and construction slows. Link Logistics reports high leasing volumes, indicating a favorable market shift.
Logistics SCOTUS Ruling: Intrastate Workers Can Be Interstate
The Supreme Court has ruled that intrastate delivery workers can be classified as interstate if they are part of an interstate supply chain. This decision affects arbitration agreements under the Federal Arbitration Act, allowing workers to sue rather than arbitrate.