GoBolt van feature

GoBolt Offers Eco-Friendly Last-Mile Parcel Delivery in U.S., Canada

| Mike O'Brien

GoBolt, a white glove last-mile delivery service focused on carbon neutrality use electric vehicles and carbon offsets through a technology partnership, has launched parcel delivery in several U.S. and Canadian cities by leveraging an acquisition, with plans to expand as demand and adoption dictate.

FedEx express truck

FedEx Rate Hike of 6.9% Largest in its History

| Mike O'Brien

FedEx detailed efforts to remove more than $6 billion in costs over time as capacity outstripped demand globally, while calling for the largest-ever rate increase of 6.9%, as analysts asked hard questions about operating missteps after a quarter with revenue up 6% but operating income down 18%.

capacity management trucks on hwy feature

Shipping Capacity Management: The Outlook for 2022 Peak

| Mike O'Brien

While most markers indicate more than sufficient carrier capacity to meet Q4 demand, that doesn’t mean all is smooth sailing, with chokepoints and a possible dockworker strike. This operations special report on capacity management from Multichannel Merchant taps experts and retailers on the Q4 outlook and what to expect.

curbside pickup sign feature

Curbside Pickup Can Now Include Impulse Purchases

| Mike O'Brien

A new tool allows retailers to offer impulse, add-on products to a curbside pickup order, in similar fashion to a physical checkout line, creating an opportunity to recapture lost purchases as BOPIS adoption continues to grow. The tool, called Curb Up, is a collaboration between Canadian firms Bold Commerce and ecommerce agency Knit.

FedEx express truck

FedEx Warns Ahead of Q1, CEO Expects Recession

| Mike O'Brien

In a stunning move, FedEx said on Thursday a slowdown in volume worldwide contributed to a substantial Q1 revenue and income miss, and president and CEO Raj Subramanian told CNBC he believes a global recession is impending, as the company withdrew its fiscal 2023 forecast.

Opex perfect pick feature

Opex Files New Patent Infringement Lawsuits

| Mike O'Brien

Opex, a maker of warehouse and fulfillment center automation and robotic systems, has filed a second set of lawsuits against two companies alleging infringement of patents for its Perfect Pick automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS) system and its Sure Sort automated sortation system.

Gap Inc. FC in Fishkill, NY feature

Gap Inc. Exec on New Platform Services Offering

| Mike O'Brien

Last month, Gap Inc. launched its own fulfillment services platform, making the high-tech, automated network it has invested billions in available for other retailers to take advantage of as the in-house/outsourced services trend continues. Gap fulfillment executive Kevin Kuntz explains more about the offering and the thinking behind it.

omnichannel store associate feature

Omnichannel Optimization: Automate Store Operations

| Gary Stonell

As the role of the store shifts to meet the needs of omnichannel shoppers, retailers must also evolve to ensure efficient and productive task execution. Make the most out of your omnichannel strategy by automating store operations with digital management processes, exceeding expectations and improving communications.

Lowe's and Instacart feature

Lowe’s Goes Nationwide Same Day with Instacart

| Mike O'Brien

Lowe’s may still be Avis to Home Depot’s Hertz atop the home improvement sector, but it has something the orange big-box giant doesn’t: nationwide same-day delivery through an expansion of a trial that began in February with formerly grocery-only service Instacart in select locations.

Amazon Cloostermans machine feature

Amazon Buys Belgian Robotics Firm Cloostermans

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon is acquiring Cloostermans, a private Belgian company dating back to 1884. The company makes robotic systems for moving heavy items like stacked pallets and totes to stage products for delivery. Amazon, a customer for some time, will further enhance the technology and likely take it off the market. Terms were not disclosed.