Bringoz Industry Weekly 8/4

mazon expands into rural America. FedEx and UPS aim to attract more SMB customers. Nuro plans an autonomous delivery comeback. Read about these stories and more in our weekly industry news roundup.

Amazon is expanding its one to two-day delivery capabilities throughout the country as it seeks to boost sales in less-populated regions. To reach deeper into rural America, the company is using hyper-efficient warehouses, contracted drivers and mom-and-pop shops. Amazon is seeing demand in more remote pockets of the country and betting that offering faster delivery to rural customers increases the rate at which they purchase items. Read more.

FedEx and UPS continue to offer shipping discounts to attract more customers, which has helped lower delivery rates despite climbing fuel surcharges, according to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index. Discounts are typically volume-based, with higher volumes leading to bigger savings, but in the current environment, smaller customers can secure pricing previously reserved for businesses twice their size. Read more.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has granted Nuro approval to test its third-generation R3 autonomous delivery vehicle in four Bay Area cities, giving the AV startup a positive boost after facing some setbacks and financial struggles. Nuro has been testing and validating the R3’s new hardware and software stack on a fleet of retrofitted Toyota Priuses and has continued to do some Uber Eats deliveries with those test vehicles. Read more.

The freight industry faces significant tests during peak shipping seasons, such as the holiday period, back-to-school season, and major sales events, which can strain logistics operations, leading to delays and increased costs. Here are some strategies to help logistics professionals navigate the challenges of peak delivery demand successfully. Read more.

Companies are increasingly turning to third-party logistics providers to optimize their logistics operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Third-party logistics providers offer specialized logistics and supply chain management services including delivery, warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment. Here’s a look at the role that 3PL providers play in modern supply chains and how they contribute to business success. Read more.

With the rise of online shopping platforms and digital marketplaces, consumers now have unprecedented access to a wide range of products and services from the comfort of their own homes. Retailers can sell their products to customers around the world, opening up new markets and opportunities for growth. Here’s a deeper look at the impact of eCommerce on the retail industry and how it’s reshaping the way we shop and how retailers operate. Read more.