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Tag: delivery

  • Amazon Is Boosting Contract Delivery Driver Hourly Pay | Entrepreneur

    Amazon Is Boosting Contract Delivery Driver Hourly Pay | Entrepreneur

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    Some delivery drivers are getting a pay bump soon.

    On Tuesday, Amazon announced plans to increase compensation for contracted drivers with a $440 million investment in its third-party delivery program this year, with the goal of raising the average hourly rate for delivery drivers to $20.50 by mid-October.

    In 2018, Amazon launched the Amazon Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, which gives entrepreneurs access to Amazon’s tools and resources to run delivery businesses. Since its launch five years ago, the company has invested over $8.9 billion in the program, created 279,000 driving jobs, and generated $45 billion in revenue.

    “This is going directly to DSPs, so that they can offer competitive pay to their employees, and build and retain great teams,” Beryl Tomay, vice president of last-mile delivery and technology at Amazon, told CNBC.

    While DSP driver wage varies by state, according to Indeed, the current average pay for a DSP driver in the U.S. is $19.28 an hour.

    Amazon delivery trucks leave the Amazon warehouse to make delivers as Amazon drivers and dispatchers continue to strike at the company’s Palmdale, California, warehouse and delivery center on July 25, 2023. Robyn Beck/AFP | Getty Images.

    Along with the wage increases, the company announced that it is expanding its Next Mile education program, offering eligible DSPs access to 2,000 academic programs with tuition coverage of up to $5,250 per year, and launching the “Together, We Give” program, enabling DSPs in the U.S. and Canada to access grants of up to $5,000 for charitable donations to local nonprofits.

    The announcement comes in the wake of the first-ever delivery driver strike that began in Southern California in June after 84 Amazon DSP drivers unionized under the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The strike started in Palmdale, Calif., and has since expanded the picket lines across the state to the Bay Area and Hollister.

    It is unclear if the strike, still ongoing, will end with Amazon’s new initiatives.

    Related: Want to Be a UPS Delivery Driver? The ‘Hottest’ Job in the Country Only Has 17 Positions Open.

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    Madeline Garfinkle

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  • What Logistics Providers Should Consider Before Investing in Electric Vehicles | Entrepreneur

    What Logistics Providers Should Consider Before Investing in Electric Vehicles | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    With brands and consumers increasingly seeking out more sustainable shipping options, logistics leaders have started to explore making large-scale investments in electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Another driver is cost. Research, including reports from McKinsey and PwC, show EVs are becoming more economical, with battery electric vehicles on track to outperform their internal-combustion-engine (ICE) counterparts by 2025.

    With U.S. and Canadian zero-emissions regulations on the rise, EVs are poised to become the future of logistics. This raises the question: Is your company prepared to invest in, launch and operate an electrified fleet?

    There’s a lot that goes into creating a successful EV-powered logistics operation. Here are five things to consider before going all in on electric:

    Related: Paving the Way For Electric Mobility In Logistics

    1. There’s no such thing as plug-and-play EV fleets

    EVs take up a fraction of the commercial vehicle market today, so this is an opportunity for early adopters to embrace EVs and reap the benefits before the competition does. However, purchasing a fleet of EVs is one thing. Operating and maintaining a successful fleet is a complex, long-term investment, and companies must determine if it’s a commitment they are willing to make.

    It requires having the right infrastructure in place beforehand — including EV charging stations, driver training and maintenance plans. If EVs are part of your future plans, now is the time to set the wheels in motion and map out an implementation plan.

    2. Getting started depends on what you want to electrify

    You might be asking: Where should we even begin? A great place to start is clearly identifying what you are looking to electrify. Do you want to electrify last-mile deliveries? Or are you planning to use EVs to move inventory between warehouses? Similar to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, there are various different classes of EVs available — from parcel vans to big rigs — so zeroing in on the purpose you want EVs to serve is foundational. From there, you’ll need to identify reliable partners — the automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) — who are developing the appropriate vehicles to fulfill your electrification needs.

    3. Spend time learning about how EV range will impact routing

    Once you know the application you want to fulfill, and you have OEM partners in mind, the focus turns to ensuring your processes and systems can accommodate EV constraints and capabilities. Since the public charging infrastructure is limited, and recharging takes much longer than refueling, an electric vehicle’s range needs to be a key consideration in routing. A route that could typically be completed by an ICE vehicle may need to be adjusted to optimize the range of the EV or available charging stations along/close to the route. If an on-route charge is required, the time it takes to complete the charge needs to be considered when estimating arrival times. Dig in to learn if your processes and systems are flexible or if you’ll need to redefine your operation.

    Related: This Startup Is Electrifying Businesses By Providing EV Fleets

    4. All drivers need to be retrained for EVs

    To leverage the full potential of an EV’s range and reliability, logistics providers next need to consider their driver training and retention efforts. While battery health and the climate in which you operate play major roles in an EV’s range, the same bad driving habits that reduce fuel economy also negatively impact EVs. Driver behavior, including excessive speeding, braking and acceleration, all use up additional energy, resulting in shorter EV range capabilities. When electrifying, it’s key to identify your top drivers and get them up to speed on EV best practices.

    5. Lastly, it’s important to develop a long-term charging and maintenance plan

    When it comes to running and maintaining an electrified fleet, it is vital to identify a charging plan. Will you go the public or private charging route? If you opt into utilizing public charging stations, you’ll need to know how busy the depot gets and if you can reliably charge up your EVs when you have planned to charge them. On the other hand, the private charging route guarantees consistent charging access but may require working with a landlord for permission and the municipality for permitting and infrastructure upgrades, both of which can take a significant amount of time. Then you need to consider the actual maintenance of your fleet. Remember that, unlike gas vehicles, EVs require mechanics with an understanding of the evolving technology and software that powers your vehicles.

    EVs are the route forward for logistics providers, especially as consumers, brands and governments increasingly prioritize sustainability and accelerate zero-emissions regulations. But it’s important to remember there’s no such thing as plug-and-go fleets. Embracing EVs takes planning, commitment and diligence. Fortunately, there’s never been a better time for logistics providers to map out their electrification plans to ensure a smooth rollout and long-term success of EVs.

    Related: Powering Last-Mile Delivery With An EV and A Charger

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    Mark Ang

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  • La Granja Central Florida Opens by UCF Campus to Satisfy Popular Demand for Fresh, Ready to Order, Homestyle Food

    La Granja Central Florida Opens by UCF Campus to Satisfy Popular Demand for Fresh, Ready to Order, Homestyle Food

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    La Granja Central Florida, the premier fresh homestyle food dining experience in the heart of the Sunshine State, is excited to announce the opening of its new location near the UCF Campus, serving lunch and dinner to UCF students.

    Press Release
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    Jan 11, 2023


    ORLANDO, Fla., January 11, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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    Featuring fresh ingredients and homestyle food with large portions, La Granja Central Florida offers a truly unique dining experience for foodies and UCF students alike. The new La Granja location is off Alafaya, 4650 N. Alafaya Trail, Suite 101 Orlando, Florida, 32828. It is the perfect spot for a date night or group outing. The beautifully designed space features an open kitchen and outdoor seating.

    The restaurant’s presence in Orlando area is growing. La Granja now has nine restaurants serving lunch and dinner in the greater Orlando area. Go to La Granja Restaurants’ Locations page on their website and type in a zip code to find the nearest La Granja.

    One of their most popular dishes includes their Pollo a la Brasa, a delectable chicken meal paired popularly with rice and beans. The local favorite 1/4 Chicken Rice and Beans Special is only $7.25. Add plantains and soda for only $9.75. 1/2 Lb Steak with rice, beans, plantains and soda is only $14.95.

    And for those with a sweet tooth, La Granja has a mouthwatering selection of desserts using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. To top off any meal, experience authentic Latin desserts like flan, alfajores, tres leches, pionono, and ice cream.

    La Granja Restaurant Menu Chicken Steak Pork Seafood Desserts (lagranjarestaurants.com) 

    Check out the menu link above. Call La Granja Restaurant for pick up or delivery at (407) 440-3191.

    La Granja Central Florida will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Be sure to come early because the restaurant is sure to be a popular spot for many UCF students, locals, and visitors.

    About La Granja

    For over 25 years, La Granja Restaurants has been known for their excellent and affordable Latin cuisine, including the 1/4 Chicken meal and delectable sides such as white rice, yuca, tostones, black beans or French fries. Their first location opened in Aruba in 1993 before expanding to the United States in 1995. 

    The award-winning restaurant has been recognized as the “Best Peruvian Restaurant of the Year,” “Best Family Style Restaurant” and “Best Peruvian Cuisine of Fort Lauderdale.” CFO Claudia Bartra was honored with the 2016 Women of Worth Award by Restaurant Review Magazine.

    La Granja’s focus on customer service and commitment to delicious cuisine keeps the restaurant chain growing. 

    Visit www.lagranjarestaurants.com or Call (407) 440-3191. Don’t miss out on this unique and exceptional dining experience. Dine-in, order takeout, or use a third-party delivery app service such as DoorDash or Uber Eats.

    Source: La Granja Restaurants

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  • dlivrd to Partner With Ecologi as Part of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives

    dlivrd to Partner With Ecologi as Part of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives

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    As a part of its long-term corporate social responsibility plan, dlivrd announces a new strategic partnership with Ecologi, a Bristol, UK-based environmental organization

    Press Release
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    Dec 9, 2022 14:00 EST


    HORSHAM, Pa., December 9, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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    dlivrd, an international white-label delivery service provider, is announcing a new strategic partnership with Ecologi, a B Corp certified environmental organization, to fund reforestation efforts and offset mileage accumulated on a monthly basis from independently-contracted Earning Partners.

    “We acknowledge our growing responsibility to proactively monitor and mitigate environmental implications with our rapidly-expanding company. Therefore, we look forward to partnering with Ecologi to put dlivrd on the path toward climate positivity in the new year. Aligning with partners that share our values is the core of our corporate social responsibility mission,” says Founder & CEO Chris Heffernan. dlivrd’s first donation covered November’s mileage equivalent to 40 tonnes of CO2 emissions, and 8,500 trees (equivalent to 100 trees in each of their 85 markets). Their Ecologi profile can be viewed here.

    dlivrd’s partnership with Ecologi to address carbon footprint is a major launching point of their corporate social responsibility initiative to be fully implemented come Q1 of 2023. Below is dlivrd’s corporate social responsibility mission statement and related pillars:

    Mission Statement: Our mission at dlivrd is to balance the byproducts of our deliveries by taking responsible, sustainable actions aimed at improving the world around us.

    Social Responsibility Pillars:

    1. Align with partners that share our core values.
    2. Proactively monitor and mitigate any potential negative consequences that may arise from our rapid growth.
    3. Continuous commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for our dlivrd team and all partners.
    4. Don’t lose local. Support small businesses, organizations, and the communities in which we operate.

    About dlivrd: Founded in 2018 by CEO Chris Heffernan with a primary focus on catering delivery, dlivrd has operations in 85 markets across the U.S. and Canada with offices in Pennsylvania and California. dlivrd is a full-service logistics platform, matching restaurant partners’ catering orders with thousands of independently-contracted Earning Partners. In addition to their long-standing partnership with ezCater, dlivrd has satisfied direct restaurant clients in Tacodeli, Cosi, Qdoba, honeygrow, and Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse, among others.  

    Connect with dlivrd on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

    Source: dlivrd

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  • La Granja South Alafaya Trail Now Sells Beer and Wine. Residents in Alafaya and Greater Orlando Are Encouraged to Come by for Fresh Homestyle Cooked Food for Lunch or Dinner

    La Granja South Alafaya Trail Now Sells Beer and Wine. Residents in Alafaya and Greater Orlando Are Encouraged to Come by for Fresh Homestyle Cooked Food for Lunch or Dinner

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    In addition to their delicious, freshly made Latin food, this location will also offer its patrons a wide selection of alcoholic drinks.

    Press Release
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    Sep 28, 2022


    ALAFAYA, Fla., September 28, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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    La Granja South Alafaya has become a favorite place for many to grab a quick lunch or a family dinner. La Granja South Alafaya just opened a year ago to help meet the growing demand for restaurants on South Alafaya Trail. 

    Regular customers at La Granja South Alafaya note their love affair with the 1/4 Chicken meal as a reason for their constant return. Those choosing to dine have their choice of chicken, steak, seafood, or pork with two sides of their preference. La Granja South Alafaya is south of the 408 Expressway and just south of the intersection of Curry Road and South Alafaya Trail.

    Directions to La Granja South Alafaya 

    Enjoy Chicken, Beef, Seafood, and Pork with Beer or Wine. Come and dine with the family in a newly remodeled spacious setting. When ordering, customers can choose from a wide variety of platters and side options such as a sizable portion of meat and two or more sides. Dishes are seasoned to perfection and paired with perfect additions, of which arroz, frijoles, and fried plantains are the most popular. La Granja Restaurants use their own unique recipe for preparing their delicious and flavorful Pollo a la Brasa. Their menu offers the whole, half or quarter chicken combined with rice and beans, or one boneless chicken breast with rice and beans, or chicken wings with fries. The restaurants also offer beef, pork and seafood dishes and sandwiches, all prepared in their unique Latin style. Choose the 1/4 chicken meal with rice, beans, sweet plantains, and drink starting at only $9.75. Enjoy the Boneless Breast Special starting at $12.95. Select seafood specials such as shrimp, whole snapper or criollo fish with sides like Seafood Rice or Fried Calamari. Their mouth-watering Latin dishes hold true to the roots of the original La Granja. First serving customers in Aruba, the local restaurant then expanded two years later to South Florida and then to the Orlando area. La Granja is proud to serve Alafaya with affordable food that’s both appetizing and filling. Enjoy large platters that are just as big on flavor. 

    La Granja Alafaya is at 728 Alafaya Trail Orlando, Florida 32828 serving Latin food, and fresh delicious quality cuisine for individuals or families. One can dine in, pick up or order delivery through DoorDash or Uber Eats. Call 407-237-0331. www.lagranjarestaurants.com 

    La Granja Restaurants have been awarded by Restaurant Review magazine as the best family Peruvian restaurant with the most delicious chicken, steak, and seafood dishes at affordable prices. Experience a homestyle, freshly cooked meal for lunch or dinner. http://www.lagranjarestaurants.com

    Source: La Granja Restaurants

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  • Teksbotics and Alshrouq Pilot Last-Mile Autonomous Delivery in Saudi Arabia

    Teksbotics and Alshrouq Pilot Last-Mile Autonomous Delivery in Saudi Arabia

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    Teksbotics and Alshrouq Express has started a pilot of last-mile autonomous delivery in the King Abdullah University of Science and Technologies (KAUST). The project objective is to design and build a cost effective autonomous delivery vehicle for the last-mile delivery for e-commerce delivery with the support of National Digital Unit (NDU) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Press Release
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    May 18, 2022


    HONG KONG, May 18, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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    Teksbotics is a Hong Kong-based autonomous driving solution provider. The company assists its customers to automate their transportation, delivery and patrol jobs. In this project, Teksbotics is partnering with its Saudi Logistic Partner – Alshrouq Express, which is one of the best last-mile delivery companies serving Amazon.com and Noon.com. 

    In this pilot project, a purpose-built last-mile delivery vehicle (UNO Commuter) was designed and developed by Teksbotics in accordance with requirements collected in Saudi Arabia. The autonomous vehicle is equipped with mechanical lidars, semi solid state lidars, camera, dGPS and on-board driving control unit. It provides the daily last-mile delivery services from the KAUST’s campus mail room to the KAUST Island Residence Area.

    “This project will permit us to better understand how residents respond to the autonomous deliveries and what will be the user experience and acceptance,” Ahmad Khanfar, Alshrouq Express CEO, said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing how autonomous delivery can work along with Alshrouq to satisfy our company and our customers’ needs.”

    Teksbotics is a Hong Kong-based autonomous driving solution provider. The company assists its customers to automate their transportation, delivery and patrol jobs by using self-driving and AI technologies.

    For more information, please contact berry.leung@teksbotics.com.

    Source: Teksbotics (Asia) Ltd.

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  • Retail Robotics Announces Rapid Expansion with New Robotic Delivery Solutions

    Retail Robotics Announces Rapid Expansion with New Robotic Delivery Solutions

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    As customers move to online shopping, one thing is clear: Retail Robotics is the next technology company to watch in 2022.

    Press Release
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    Apr 5, 2022


    NEW YORK, April 5, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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    Retail Robotics, one of the top-rated companies in innovative tech solutions for retailers and logistic services providers, shares new insights on robotic innovations, which can solve problems of so-called “last-mile” and revolutionize global delivery infrastructure for e-commerce and e-grocery. It addresses big challenges the market is currently facing. 

    The market is booming and the forecasts show the growth to $7.385 trillion of global e-commerce sales by 2025. While demand for online deals could grow without limits, the current infrastructure cannot handle the increased volumes. Everything indicates that robotic pick-up points will become one of the key answers to the expectations of online retailers and consumers.  

    “Classic solutions have low capacity and occupy large space. Whereas home delivery causes higher traffic in cities and generates air pollution. With today’s rapid growth of online shopping, many retailers still lack the efficient delivery options in terms of costs, footprint, capacity, and consumer experience,” explained CEO and Founder at Retail Robotics, Łukasz Nowiński. With the multichannel technology from Retail Robotics, retailers can reduce costs and boost their sales, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of cities. “Today’s consumers have high expectations for more convenient options allowing them to collect their orders 24/7, safe, fast, easy and for free,” Nowiński added. 

    For e-grocery retailers, the company provides Arctan technology, the most efficient click-and-collect robotic solution that increases profitability and customer experience, and at the same time offers the lowest footprint. In fact, one Arctan (capacity 202 logistic bins and 28 freezer lockers) replaces 14 classic refrigerated lockers. Arctan Drive version for e-grocery curbside pickup has a high capacity of 896 logistic bins or more (capacity of 56 classic lockers), can fit eight standard parking spots and serve seven customers at a time. It can be integrated with Micro Fulfillment Center for remote loading, enabling a very efficient process.

    In the parcel delivery market, Retail Robotics enables logistics providers to reduce costs by up to 90% with its other flagship innovation PickupHero, a robotic parcel locker. It fits 90% of local stores and gives a top customer experience without the involvement of a salesperson. The additional advantage for local shops is a 70% pick-up to purchase ratio.

    PickupHero allows rapid expansion in agglomerations such as NY, Paris or London  – just by allowing the use of large local store networks like 7-Eleven, without interfering with the city’s architecture. After the successful debut at NRF 2022 Innovation Lab, the company announced plans to implement them on several European markets in 2022.

    This kind of transition from home delivery to robotic solutions remains crucial to continued success in the retail landscape ahead. “Retail Robotics carved its path by staying ahead of the competition. I am proud to begin talks with the world’s biggest players to change traditional logistics to robotized parcel lockers, automated machines for e-grocery and click-and-collect pickup points, that will drastically reduce the number of home deliveries, congestion and pollution in cities and increase the efficiency of retail. We all need to be on board to make a significant impact,” announced Łukasz Nowiński. 

    About Retail Robotics 

    Retail Robotics is a leading company that creates robotic solutions for retailers and providers of logistic services. Its convenient delivery and collection technologies unleash the full potential of retail, reduce the costs and remove the bottleneck of last-mile delivery.

    For more information visit: www.rrobotics.co or www.linkedin.com/company/retail-robotics/.

    Media Inquiries: 

    Anna Dostatnia: anna.dostatnia@rrobotics.co  

    Aleksandra Wach: aleksandra.wach@rrobotics.co

    Source: Retail Robotics

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  • Deliveright Announces Partnership With BigCommerce to Simplify Heavy Goods Deliveries

    Deliveright Announces Partnership With BigCommerce to Simplify Heavy Goods Deliveries

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    AI-powered delivery platform solves final-mile, heavy goods delivery challenges for BigCommerce merchants

    Press Release
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    Mar 10, 2022


    LEXINGTON, N.C., March 10, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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    Deliveright, a leading final-mile digital delivery platform offering white-glove service, today announced a new partnership with BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading Open SaaS e-commerce platform for fast-growing and established brands. Deliveright’s AI-powered platform simplifies the complex process of shipping heavy goods such as furniture by automating the entire process.

    BigCommerce merchants can now take control over all stages of fulfillment, from the point of origin to the customer’s home, with real-time data. The app integrates directly with Deliveright’s Grasshopper platform, provides instant shipping quotes, and offers service levels ranging from curbside to full white-glove delivery. 

    “The importance of a seamless delivery process cannot be overstated, as it plays a critical role in a brand’s overall service quality. More than ever, consumers want to receive their online purchases quickly, regardless of pervasive supply chain issues,” said Doug Ladden, CEO of Deliveright. “BigCommerce merchants have the opportunity to potentially mitigate delivery delays and improve customer experience with complete visibility and a focus on solving the ever-elusive final-mile challenge.”

    Last-mile delivery market share in North America persists as the most challenging process within the supply chain and is expected to increase by $59.81 billion by 2025. Deliveright’s technology empowers BigCommerce merchants to solve final-mile, heavy goods delivery challenges in a fragmented market.

    “Our partnership with Deliveright further illustrates our commitment to providing merchants access to the highest-caliber technologies and service providers available in the industry,” said Russell Klein, chief commercial officer for BigCommerce. “Deliveright shares our desire to help merchants sell more and grow faster to maximize success, and we look forward to working together to mutually support customers.”

    To learn more about Deliveright’s BigCommerce partnership or to download the app, visit https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/deliveright/.

    About Deliveright

    Deliveright is the first AI-powered logistics and delivery technology company to solve final-mile, heavy goods delivery challenges for e-commerce, retailers, and manufacturers needing white-glove service. Launched in 2018 to streamline the supply chain for heavy goods, Deliveright’s technology, combined with its vast delivery network, makes white-glove delivery seamless, transparent, and accessible for businesses of all sizes, enabling improved customer experience and increased revenue. Deliveright’s proprietary logistics technology platform, Grasshopper®, manages all stages of fulfillment, enabling complete supply chain visibility to the customer’s home. Serving more than 1,000 customers in e-commerce and manufacturing across the furniture, industrial equipment, and transportation industries, Grasshopper is also licensed nationwide by delivery and freight companies, ensuring that every delivery is tracked across a complex transportation network and customer service platform. The company is headquartered in North Carolina and operates nationwide and in Canada. For more information, visit https://www.deliveright.com/.

    About BigCommerce

    BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) e-commerce platform that empowers merchants of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. As a leading open SaaS solution, BigCommerce provides merchants sophisticated enterprise-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2B and B2C companies across 150 countries and numerous industries use BigCommerce to create beautiful, engaging online stores, including Ben & Jerry’s, Molton Brown, S.C. Johnson, Skullcandy, Sony and Vodafone. Headquartered in Austin, BigCommerce has offices in London, Kyiv, San Francisco, and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

    BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

     

    Press Contact

    Jill Rosenthal for Deliveright

    Deliveright@qh-pr.com

    Source: Deliveright

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  • VCs Deliver $5.5M to Lula Delivery

    VCs Deliver $5.5M to Lula Delivery

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    Lula raises seed funding to digitize the convenience store industry and offer an all-in-one delivery solution


    PHILADELPHIA, February 3, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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    Lula, the all-in-one delivery solution for convenience stores, today announced $5.5M in seed funding co-led by Ripple Ventures,  Outlander VC, and Up Partners. The round also had participation from SOSV, simple.capital(), NZVC, Stonks.com, EasyPost, Park City Angels, Alumni Ventures, Broad Street Angels, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and a number of high-profile angels. Lula is democratizing e-commerce for stores (convenience, gas stations, liquor, general retail, cannabis) that traditionally have not had the means to deliver online using third-party delivery platforms. The funding will be used to expand the rapidly growing network of convenience stores, hire talent, and expand the technology that makes it easy for stores to access every major delivery platform through a single easy-to-use software.  

    Founded by Drexel University graduates Adit Gupta and Tom Falzani, Lula closed a $1M pre-seed round in summer 2021 and grew to offer delivery in over 30 cities, bringing their total raise to $6.5M within a year. Lula was founded after Gupta’s parents’ convenience store in New Jersey closed down in mid-2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gupta and Falzani spent weeks trying to help the store survive but were never able to use delivery to boost sales. This drove both to build their own solution that was optimized for an industry that has been underserved by technology giants. Growing their store count over 30% month-over-month, Lula is working to expand to all 50 U.S. states in 2022. 

    “There are over 150,000 convenience stores across the United States, and over 90% of the population lives within one mile of a store. It’s baffling how hard it is for stores to take advantage of online delivery. Lula aims to make convenience stores just a little more convenient by helping them deliver on every delivery platform online in the easiest way possible,” said Adit Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Lula. 

    Lula is the only platform in the convenience store segment offering a 0% commission experience for merchants. Hundreds of companies are using the proprietary platform to deliver their store’s items on Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub, and other marketplaces directly to customers. Lula was also highlighted by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) ahead of its NACS Conference, which is known to be the largest convenience store industry gathering globally. 

    “I have worked hard for over 10 years to build my stores, and could never start delivering. It’s just too hard. Adding thousands of my items to several platforms, and managing multiple tablets is close to impossible. I am thankful for Lula to manage my inventory and let me manage all my delivery needs from a single tablet. Lula is a must-have for all retail stores with some of the best customer service I have experienced,” said Mike S., owner of Shell Gas Stations and Convenience Stores.

    The pandemic has accelerated the demand for delivery services, at the same time presenting a massive challenge for local convenience store operators. Convenience is no longer the store down the road — it’s delivery. Lula was created to bridge the gap between local convenience stores and delivery services so that online shoppers can order everything from snacks to toilet paper while supporting small local businesses. 

    “I’m excited to see Lula ramping up to make delivery services accessible to local businesses. The pandemic has hit Main Street hard, and Lula is a great way for local merchants to access the rapidly growing delivery space. Adit and Tom have identified a huge opportunity and I’m extremely proud of Adit’s journey through Ripple X,” said Matt Cohen, Managing Partner of Ripple Ventures.

    About Lula

    Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Lula provides delivery solutions for convenience stores, pharmacies, and CPG brands that lack a secondary sales channel, offering the first multi-vendor 30-minute delivery platform to retail stores. Learn more about Lula at www.luladelivery.com.

    Lula is hiring across multiple roles. We’re building an incredible team to make the convenience store industry a little more convenient. Apply here to build the future of convenience: https://careers.luladelivery.com/.   

    Press Contact
    Frank Spence
    Frank@west-comms.com
    (415) 294-1157

    Source: Lula

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  • Dive Delivery Begins Backyard Drone Deliveries of Essential Goods in San Mateo & Contra Costa Counties (CA)

    Dive Delivery Begins Backyard Drone Deliveries of Essential Goods in San Mateo & Contra Costa Counties (CA)

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    In an effort to get people familiar with the concept of drone-based deliveries, Dive Delivery has secured confirmation of permission from the FAA to perform drone deliveries under existing Part 107 rules and regulations. Dive Delivery will use off-the-shelf drones equipped with drop mechanisms to conduct visual line of sight (VLOS) deliveries of face masks and other lightweight items to residential backyards.

    Press Release
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    updated: May 7, 2020


    SAN BRUNO, Calif., May 7, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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    ​​​​​Residents of San Mateo and Contra Costa counties in California can now sign up to participate in the trials at https://www.divedelivery.com – upon signing up, when ready, Dive Delivery will send out a Part 107 certified remote pilot to first conduct a test flight without any cargo. After a successful test, the certified remote pilot will affix a lightweight package to the drone and conduct the actual delivery drop flight. Customers will be notified before and immediately after the operation to ensure they do not walk under the drone at any time.

    Mission planning, airspace authorization (via automated LAANC requests) and flight execution are managed by the Avision App, an iOS application typically installed on an iPad. An off-the-shelf drone is fitted with an air drop system, while release control is programmed into the Avision flight platform. The drone takes off from a predefined location via an automated waypoint mission, flies to the backyard of the residential customer, lowers into the marked location, automatically releases the package and returns to the launch location via the same flight path.  

    “Dive Delivery is doing groundbreaking work executing on last mile drone deliveries in the Bay Area. Working alongside a company like Dive to meet the needs of local communities in a time of crisis is really rewarding for us,” says James Broniec, VP of Business Development for Avision.

    For additional safety and operational visibility, Dive Delivery plans to utilize Avision’s UTM platform. Once adopted by regulators, UTM technology will unlock the ability to more readily launch operations beyond visual line of sight.

    For press inquiries, please email: hi@divedelivery.com

    For local government officials looking to gather more information or help facilitate trials in their cities, please email: info@divedelivery.com

    Residents of Contra Costa and San Mateo counties can sign up to participate in drone delivery trials at www.divedelivery.com

    Dive Delivery, a d/b/a of Airzus, Inc., is a delivery service focusing on residential and commercial sUAS (i.e. drone) delivery. Operating under existing FAA Part 107 regulations, Dive Delivery is looking to partner with cities to roll out local operations through a network of trusted, third-party certified remote pilots.

    Avision is a leading provider of airspace and flight management technology for the global drone industry. The company is an FAA-approved USS (UAS service supplier) for LAANC (low altitude authorization and notification capability) powering real-time digital flight authorizations in controlled airspace. In partnership with NASA, Avision UTM (unmanned traffic management) system enables advanced air mobility. For more information visit www.avision.io

    Source: Dive Delivery

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