Bringoz Industry Weekly 7/7

etailers are growing their small-format store footprints. Torc Robotics plans to remove truck drivers on public roads. Goodyear launches a tires-as-a-service program for commercial and last-mile delivery fleets. Read about these stories and more in our weekly industry news roundup.

Small-format stores which offer consumers more convenient and localized shopping experiences are on the rise, according to a new report from Placer.ai. Macy’s experimentation with a small-format, highly-curated version of Bloomingdale’s store, called “Bloomie’s,” has helped it attract new audience segments. BJ’s Wholesale Club’s small-format location in Warwick, Rhode Island has experienced consistent year-over-year visit growth during the first five months of 2024. Read more.

Torc Robotics plans to remove its long-haul trucking drivers from public roads in late 2026 in Texas. The company plans to launch its autonomous technology in its first driverless lane on public roads using a major lane along Interstate 35 in Texas. The company anticipates its safety protocols, testing and other factors will be ready for a product launch in 2026. Read more.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has introduced its new tires-as-a-service offering. This subscription-based program aims to manage end-to-end tire service for its customers. Designed for commercial and last-mile delivery fleets in the U.S. and Europe, Goodyear’s new program can help fleets save time and improve total cost of ownership through outsourced tire management. Read more.

The convenience of online shopping, coupled with the rapid delivery expectations set by major eCommerce players, has reshaped how companies manage their freight operations. Here’s a look at the impact of eCommerce growth on the freight industry and how companies are adapting to the burgeoning eCommerce logistics market. Read more.

The freight industry is traditionally known for its reliance on manual processes and paper-based systems. However, disruptions including eCommerce growth, geopolitical conflicts, and extreme weather events, have emphasized the need for greater efficiency, visibility, and resilience. Here’s a look at some ways in which digital transformation is reshaping the freight industry, improving workforce productivity and delivery performance. Read more.

Retailers are optimizing new store formats to better weave the physical and digital channels together and meet customer expectations. Brick-and-mortar stores continue to be key to engaging consumers and play an important role in retailers’ omnichannel strategies. Here’s a look at how opening smaller stores is paying off for retailers and helping them adapt to shifting shopping habits. Read more.