What happens when you add a rabbit to the family mix? I don’t know, but I’m going to find out this weekend.

I wrote that back in January, and here’s what happened:

I have a new supervisor, and although he’s a rabbit, he watches me like a hawk.

Therefore, enough procrastinating; here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

• A Covid-19 Vaccine’s 1,500-Mile Journey Through India (WSJ – sub. req’d)
• Adobe and FedEx Partner to Drive E-commerce Innovation
• Amazon Raising Pay for Hundreds of Thousands of Workers (WSJ – sub. req’d)
• DSV Panalpina buys Agility unit for $4 billion to become No. 3 freight forwarder (Reuters)
• Arrive Logistics Takes On Over $300M Investment Led By ATL Partners
• Logixboard raises $13M series A from Redpoint Ventures to power the future of modern freight forwarding (AJOT)
• Plus One Robotics Raises $33 Million to Fuel Expansion
• BluJay’s Latest Software Releases Offer New Capabilities and Tools to Increase Supply Chain and Global Trade Productivity
• Trucker Tools, Gorilla Safety Partner to Expand Real-time Visibility for Truckload Shipments
• BoxLock Launches Next Generation Smart Padlock And Supply Chain Access Control Platform
• Axele Announces Partnership with Apex Capital
• C.H. Robinson Reports 2021 First Quarter Results 
• UPS releases Q1 2021 earnings
• Girl Scout cookies take flight in Virginia drone deliveries (AP)
• Colgate-Palmolive, Coca-Cola and Unilever join AB InBev’s sustainable supply chain accelerator (TechCrunch)

The Continued Convergence of Logistics and Commerce

In an August 2016 post, I wrote about how logistics and commerce technology and services were converging. I highlighted several examples, including the news at the time of Symphony Commerce raising $11 million to grow its fulfillment business. Over the years, the convergence has continued (and accelerated). The latest example is the partnership announced this week by Adobe and FedEx. Here are some excerpts from the press release:

Adobe and FedEx today announced a new, multi-year collaboration starting with the integration of ShopRunner, a leading e-commerce platform and subsidiary of FedEx Services, with Adobe Commerce.

The latest Adobe Digital Economy Index shows that 2022 is expected to be the first trillion-dollar year for e-commerce in the U.S. as more consumers flock online to meet their daily shopping needs. Adobe’s collaboration with FedEx and ShopRunner will help brands and merchants better manage their shipping and logistics and allow them to offer a great last-mile delivery experience as a way to retain customers and build loyalty [emphasis mine]. Brands and merchants shipping with FedEx will also benefit from FedEx post-purchase logistics intelligence to help create a more efficient and reliable experience for brands, merchants and their customers.

As I wrote recently in “Last-Mile Delivery: What Will Separate Leaders From Laggards?,” delivery is tightly linked with customer experience. It is why when we asked our Indago members, “What is the primary factor driving innovation in last-mile delivery at your company today?” the number one response – by a wide margin – was “To deliver an enhanced customer experience.”

Back in 2016, I expected Facebook, Google, and other major social networks to move beyond search and advertising and become more directly involved in commerce and logistics. Aside from some baby steps, it really hasn’t happened yet. But just wait, it will. Are you paying attention, 3PLs?

And with that, have a happy weekend.

Song of the Week: “Peach Fuzz” by CAAMP