online commerce

What’s next for TikTok after news of US fulfillment bid?

TikTok app

What does TikTok have up its sleeve?

The massive social media platform is reportedly making an unlikely entrance into the U.S. fulfillment services market. More than a dozen job listings posted by TikTok over the past two weeks signal that the company is building its own fulfillment centers to handle orders from TikTok Shop, as first reported by Axios.

TikTok Shop is the platform’s e-commerce shopping option, first launched in 2021 in the U.K. It operates in select markets and connects users to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/whats-next-for-tiktok-after-news-of-us-fulfillment-bid

The state of last mile amid slowing e-commerce demand

White delivery van on highway

The challenges of the past few years have strained last-mile delivery networks. And just as they have started maturing with new entrants and efficiencies unlocked, e-commerce started slowing from its pandemic roll. Where exactly it stops, no one is quite sure, but last-mile providers don’t have time to wait. They must service the now and build for the future.

“Last-mile capacity still feels tight,” Jay Sackos, vice president of business development for Dolly, told Modern Shipper. Dolly...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-state-of-last-mile-amid-slowing-e-commerce-demand

Postal Service rolls out e-commerce-focused shipping service

U.S. Postal Service carrier unloads a package from his vehicle

The evolution of the U.S. Postal Service is continuing, with the agency introducing its USPS Connect eCommerce service for online businesses.

The program is an expansion of its growing USPS Connect program, first launched in 2021 in Texas, and is being rolled out nationwide this year. The new eCommerce service is designed to streamline the pricing and shipping process for businesses. It offers an accelerated agreement process, integrated Postal Service or PC Postage software, and access to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/usps-introduces-ecommerce-shipping-service

Try before you buy: Deliveright offers trial of logistics platform

Deliveright offers trial of last mile delivery technology

Heavy-goods white-glove delivery platform Deliveright is offering a trial version of its final-mile platform Grasshopper to businesses interested in testing out how its technology can improve logistics operations.

Grasshopper Lite enables real-time data and delivery tracking from the point of origin to the customer’s home. It also offers shipping cost analysis and service levels ranging from curbside to full white-glove delivery.

“Customers expect an exceptional experience regardless of the state...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/try-before-you-buy-deliveright-offers-trial-of-logistics-platform

PayPal offers Happy Returns post-purchase services to merchants

PayPal offer Happy Returns to all merchants

Since its purchase of returns firm Happy Returns in May 2021, PayPal has announced a few partnerships with retailers to expand its base. But on Monday, the company announced the first integration of Happy Returns technology into the PayPal ecosystem.

PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) merchants can now access Happy Return’s return and exchange portal software at no charge. In addition, the company said Ulta Beauty has now joined the Happy Returns Return Bar network, bringing to over 5,000 the number...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/paypal-offers-happy-returns-post-purchase-services-to-merchants

Kroger continues deep dive into e-commerce grocery, announces new facilities

Kroger expands e-commerce grocery service

Grocery retailer Kroger is continuing its rapid advancement of online grocery options, announcing that it is expanding its fulfillment network to three new cities this year.

Speaking at a business update meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, Kroger officials said the company would open fulfillment centers in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama. Similar to its previous expansion into Florida, the (NYSE: KR) fulfillment centers will handle e-commerce grocery without a physical...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kroger-continues-deep-dive-into-e-commerce-grocery-announces-new-facilities

Hoping to rein in Big Tech, Congress may kill small business instead

Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, and continuing in the ensuing months, complaints about censorship from both major political parties increased. Big Tech, they said, was controlling the narrative and picking sides.

As a result, pressure mounted from the general public to see political leaders pass legislation to rein in the tech giants. But those efforts could have an unintended consequence, and that may mean millions of small businesses and independent sellers that rely on online...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/hoping-to-rein-in-big-tech-congress-may-kill-small-business-instead

6 Questions: AxleHire founder talks last mile, supply chain disruption

The chaos in the supply chain has ripple effects down to the last mile. AxleHire Founder Daniel Sokolovsky is responsible for ensuring his company can meet those last-mile delivery demands. Sokolovsky said that much of the disruption takes place in the middle mile, but firms like his must be ready to react as goods enter logistics networks, and that means building up good communications networks.

MODERN SHIPPER: With the current freight capacity situation in this country, how much of that has...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/6-questions-axlehire-founder-talks-last-mile-supply-chain-disruption

BNPL providers not charging late fees may face consequences

Buy now pay later services with no late fees might struggle for profit this holiday season

Nothing good comes for free, but it does come 75% off up-front. That’s the payment model for many of the buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) services that are springing up across businesses large and small – customers will often pay for the product in four smaller installments, forking over only a quarter of the asking price at checkout and coming up with the rest later.

It sounds sort of like how a credit card works, with the buyer receiving the product before the credit provider receives the payment....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnpl-providers-not-charging-late-fees-may-face-consequences

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