Amazon’s Drones Blast Off in Phoenix
Popwheels' FDNY approval, Yum! Brands struggles, communication hampers workforce
Given all the bigger news still happening outside today, it’s a bit hard to get bogged down in the nitty gritty of our little delivery world. So we’re keeping it short and sweet-ish, with some important announcements to hopefully distract you from that sense of impending doom…
Today’s edition is brought to you by CoMotion LA.
Today:
Amazon Rises like a Phoenix
Popwheels Secures FDNY Approval
Chart Time | Workers Lack Clear Communication
Yum! Brands’ Not So Tasty Quarter
AUTONOMY | Amazon’s Drones Blast Off in Phoenix
Amazon just kicked off its drone delivery program in the West Valley region of metropolitan Phoenix; customers who live near Tolleson, AZ can now have 50,000+ eligible items of 5 pounds or less delivered in an under an hour. This is the first time that Amazon’s new MK30 drones will be deployed from and integrated into a Same-Day Delivery facility.
The Big Picture: While Amazon has been a relative laggard in the drone delivery space, the company looks to finally be catching up with Zipline and Wing. The MK30 is approved to operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight, using an on-board detect and avoid system, and can operate with twice the range of Amazon’s previous model. “This kind of delivery is the future, and it’s exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area,” said Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix. “The shift toward zero-emission package delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further cement our city as a hotbed for the innovative technology of tomorrow.”
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REGULATIONS | Popwheels Receives FDNY Approval
Brooklyn-based battery swap startup Popwheels received the NYC Fire Department’s official approval of its outdoor battery swap network cabinets for deployment across New York City. This approval, the first of its kind in NYC, will allow Popwheels to scale up is infrastructure, which serves delivery couriers riding ebikes and LEVs. “The FDNY’s standards are exceptionally rigorous, requiring months of intensive testing to ensure our cabinets meet the highest safety levels for outdoor deployment,” said Baruch Herzfeld, co-founder of Popwheels. “We’ve developed industry-leading safety features that go above and beyond existing global requirements to achieve this.”
The Big Picture: Popwheels is looking to solve NYC’s ebike battery fire issues, by having couriers charge in its fire-rated lockers, as opposed to in apartments or less protected areas. Competitor JOCO also has a charging cabinet solution geared towards the NYC market. Public realm advocates in NYC have pushed back on some of the recent changes, hoping to move these charging lockers from the sidewalk to parking spaces.
CHART TIME | Poor Communication Hampers Workforce
New data from Axonify and Progressive Grocer finds that frontline workers in delivery-related industries by and large find their internal communication systems to be ineffective. The report recommends assessing manager feedback skills, requiring regular check-ins, and installing two-way comms channels.
FINANCE | Yum! Brands Stumbles in Q3
Yum! Brands had some indigestion in Q3, missing wall street estimates as revenue came in at $1.83 billion, below expectations of $1.9B. KFC and Pizza Hut were particularly weak performers, as both saw same-store sales decline. Taco Bell was the one bright spot for the group, with same-store sales up 4%, meaning the Mexicanish FSR now accounts for 75% of the parent co’s total profit. Taco Bell has mastered the art of both fun promos and the Internet, with digital sales up 30% YoY.
The Big Picture: Yum! Brand’s overall digital sales mix now sits at $8 billion+, representing over 50% of total sales. But as we discussed Monday, that’s nothing compared to fast-growing Yum China, where over 90% of sales come via a digital touch point. One other highlight from Yum! Brands’ quarter — voice AI took over two million orders.
A Few Good Links
Pipedream Labs deploys underground delivery system to Texas drive-thru. (Check them out in this recording from Curbivore 2023.) Sprouts, Harmons, The Save Mart Companies, and Rosauers pick Instacart Storefront Pro. FedEx choose automation over robotics. Lyft partners with May Mobility for AVs. How Trump could gut the IRA. What Trump could portend for EVs, oil. India’s lithium dreams stall out. Dara K. talks up Uber Direct.
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