DutchX's Marcus Hoed Will Deliver by Boat
Wonder's next move, SkipTheDishes updates driver app, Ecommerce sales stats
And the Oscar goes to… Delivery! Now that you’re done noshing on last night’s content, we’ve got some big news from Wonder and SkipTheDishes. But be sure to read on for our interview with DutchX’s Co-Founder Marcus Hoed; how many other NYC delivery companies can say they’re moving goods by bike AND boat?
This week’s edition is brought to you by Curbivore — 3/28-29 in DTLA.
Today:
Wonder-ing What’s Next for Marc Lore
SkipTheDishes Jumps on App Update
Chart Time | Ecommerce’s Long March
DutchX Co-Founder Talks Sustainable Delivery
PROFILES | Marc Lore Seeks to Reinvent Delivery
The New York Times has an in-depth profile of Marc Lore, the e-commerce wunderkind behind Diapers.com and Jet.com, who has now turned his attention to delivery and food halls at Wonder. The company’s raised nearly $1 billion and is now on the hunt for $500M more as it seeks to hit a lofty $30 billion valuation in the next 3 to 5 years. Lore hopes that by building a “super-app” for mealtime, he can transcend restrictive categories like “delivery” and “ghost kitchens.” The company’s dozen or so locations in the Northeast are high-tech, but not in a Jetsons-esque way: pasta alla vodka is blasted for 4.5 minutes in a rapid-cook oven (not so different from the TurboChefs you see at Subway,) a Bobby Flay-branded steak gets 6 minutes on a polymer tray that’s meant to imitate a cast iron skillet, and still other items get sous vided. The company claims to have spent $60 million on licensing IP, and hundreds more on its labor-saving tech.
The Big Picture: While the company has raised big bucks from the likes of Bain Capital, NEA, Accel and Google Ventures in its quest to become an Amazon.com for food, the company has already spent hundreds of millions on concepts it’s since ditched. Wonder’s initial foray into cooking food in vans that criss-crossed the NJ suburbs was axed after burning big bucks, with the company unceremoniously listing the kitted-out Sprinters for resale. Its $103M acquisition of Blue Apron goes basically unmentioned in the 3,000+ word piece, and the Blue Apron website still makes no mention of the company that rescued it from bankruptcy. Rewatch Wonder’s Head of Strategic Innovation talk about the company’s pivot away from vans back at Curbivore 2023; what else has changed since then?
Meet Curbivore’s Latest Speakers — March 28 & 29 in DTLA
The entire delivery ecosystem is coming together at Curbivore, March 28 & 29, in Downtown LA’s lively Arts District. Meet with AV innovators at Starship, Waymo and Faction; hear from regulators and policy-makers at the city, transit agency, state and Federal levels; learn the latest from top execs at the major 3PDs; and nosh on street food from a James Beard nominated & LA Times “101 Best” award-winning chef.
UX | SkipTheDishes Redesigns Courier App
Canadian 3PD SkipTheDishes just dropped off a new version of its dedicated courier app, redesigning core features to make delivering easier. Key changes include:
Updated interface and layout: Streamlined information hierarchy to make it easier for couriers to focus on active deliveries.
Increased visuals such as the introduction of a map overview: Making it clear to couriers where they're going, before they accept or embark on a new delivery journey - this is particularly impactful for multi-orders and in-transit orders, allowing couriers to visualize the journey.
Optimized usability based on how couriers interact with their devices: Improving access and making it easier to engage with the app with long-press buttons (instead of swiping) to accept deliveries or submit information, whether device is held or mounted.
The Big Picture: Skip may be the homegrown player in Canada, but it’s now basically neck and neck with UE and DD when it comes to market share, so it can’t afford to rest on its laurels. Redesigning its app should help it win back spurned couriers — its driver app currently has a lowly 3.6 stars in the Google Play store, compared to 4.5 for DD and 4.6 for Uber. Skip is owned by Just Eat Takeaway.com, so if it finds those long-press interactions make for happier workers, expect to see those UX updates make their way to Grubhub, Lieferando, Menulog and more.
CHART TIME | No Wonder the Roads Are So Busy…
Amazon.com may have been founded way back in 1994 and IPOed in 1997 (at a cute $300 million valuation,) but by 1999, e-commerce still only accounted for 0.6% of all U.S. retail sales. Nowadays that stat sits a 15.6%, after hitting 16.5% in the depths of the pandemic. One day we’ll tell our grandkids about this long-gone concept called the “brick and mortar store” and they’ll laugh at us (or at least their AI-powered hologram will.)
INTERVIEW | DutchX’s Marcus Hoed Charts a Sustainable Course
Delivering on New York City’s busy streets is no mean feat, but some companies manage to do it with a bit more panache than others. DutchX recently caught our eyes for taking its multi-modal setup one step further: to the waterfront. Now Co-Founder Marcus Hoe shares his plans to conquer the “blue highway.”
Modern Delivery: In short, what does DutchX do?
Marcus Hoed: DutchX specializes in sustainable, tech-enabled same day and next day deliveries and returns for large e-commerce retailers. Our client portfolio includes some of the largest retailers in the US, and we own and maintain the largest micromobile delivery fleet in the country. With our proprietary technology and 100% employee-based delivery workforce, DutchX stands out as a leader in the urban logistics sector. Check out our website here — DutchX.com.
MD: Where do you fit in the overall urban delivery landscape? How would you say DutchX differentiates itself against other solutions?
MH: In the overall urban delivery landscape, DutchX occupies a crucial position at the end of the supply chain, offering both middle mile and last mile solutions for our clients. What sets us apart is our commitment to delivering high-quality services while reducing carbon emissions and maintaining cost-effectiveness, without compromising on any aspect. Our know-how coupled with our proprietary technology, Zadar, is how we are able to seamlessly achieve this balance. Comprising a web-based software for managers and companion app for its delivery specialists, Zadar automates, streamlines and optimizes various processes, such as on-boarding, self-scheduling, live operations management, automatic payroll processing, and more. This blend of industry expertise and technology empowers DutchX, driving our capabilities forward as we continue to lead the way towards a more sustainable future.
MD: What kind of goods, and brands, work with you most frequently?
MH: We work most frequently with consumer retail goods and groceries. Our clients include Amazon (Prime, Fresh, Wholefoods), Club Monaco, Farfetch, Intermix, Rag & Bone, and more.
MD: How does DutchX align their offerings with e-commerce clients and platforms and their increasing desire to provide same day and/or next day deliveries and more efficient returns?
MH: Our solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of e-commerce clients and platforms, aligning perfectly with their increasing demand for same-day and next-day deliveries, as well as more efficient returns processes. Through our innovative technology and dedicated workforce, DutchX provides seamless integration with e-commerce operations, enhancing the overall customer experience.
MD: You’re based in NYC, which is one of the most dynamic delivery markets in the U.S., how does that influence your operations? What can you share about the city’s new ferry to dock to e-bike delivery service, and where does DutchX fit into that solution?
MH: Being headquartered in NYC, one of the most dynamic delivery markets in the U.S., greatly influences our operations. The city's innovative initiatives, such as the new ferry-to-dock-to-e-bike delivery service, present exciting opportunities for DutchX to enhance our delivery capabilities and further optimize our urban logistics network. We have been actively engaged in discussions with the NY EDC for several months now and are currently in the test-phase of the Blue Highway program (check out our website for the initiative here – BlueHighway.com). We submitted the RFEI for this initiative last month and were sub-primes on numerous RFP proposals for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (the last-mile maritime component). We look forward to introducing the waterways as the new middle mile in the first ever ferry to dock to e-bike deliveries in the US.
MD: How do you feel other recent NYC policy changes, like congestion pricing, or the minimum wage for 3PD workers, will impact the industry?
MH: Recent NYC policy changes, like congestion pricing and the minimum wage for third-party delivery workers, are expected to have significant impacts on the industry. While these changes may introduce challenges, they also underscore the growing importance of sustainable and efficient delivery solutions. As we witness the evolution of last-mile delivery towards micromobile fleets, DutchX is proud to be ahead of the curve. Our innovative approach positions us well to adapt to these policy changes while maintaining our commitment to excellence.
MD: Last - where do you see the urban delivery space headed in the next few years?
MH: Looking ahead, the urban delivery space is poised for continued innovation and growth in the coming years. We anticipate a greater emphasis on sustainability, technological advancements, and collaborative efforts to address the evolving needs of urban logistics. DutchX is committed to driving positive change in this space, pioneering solutions that exceed the expectations of our clients and contribute to building more sustainable cities.
A Few Good Links
Florida passes bill that forces 3PDs to allow restos to communicate directly with customers, bans listing scraping, preempts cities from adding their own regulations. Uber unveils emissions ratings for riders. Little Caesars adds fist-sized Crazy Puffs. FAT Brands hunts for salad, sando or coffee chain. Ghost kitchen brands Hungry House and MegaBite combine to form BiteLabs. Judge strikes down joint employer rules in win for franchisees. Nikola names new CFO. More on Whole Foods Jr. Chuck E. Cheese shares how membership model drives personalization. Dynamic pricing advocates talk up benefits. Fuel cells and batteries make progress. Pizza Hut Indonesia launches Ramadan menu, can we get those sambal + fried chicken pies stateside? Deliveroo inks exclusive delivery contract with UK arm of Danish chain Sticks’n’Sushi (don’t love that name…)
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