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Today’s number is 14. That is the number of markets Alfred24 currently operates including Indonesia, Hong Kong, and more.

Hello and welcome back to news, trends & insights in the industry.

In today’s edition:

• 3 Start-ups ( Alfred24, Kodiak,Rodeo )

• 2 Old guards ( DPD, Walmart)

• 1 Tech in mobile robotics (Sevensense)

• 1 Logisitcs Origins (First drone delivery)

Let’s dive in.

In the Box

Afred24 receives investment from MTR Lab and Cyberport

The Hong Kong-based logistic start-up Afred24 has been chosen by MTR Lab and Cyberport as the first investee to nurture sustainable and digital solutions in the city.

The startup focuses on automated parcel lockers and provides software for locker operators.

The company will use the undisclosed funding to invest in sustainable solutions such as solar-powered batteries and Bluetooth lockers.

The start-up currently operates in 14 markets including Australia, the United States, and Singapore with a presence of over 2,000 locations.

The goals for the company: “reduce carbon emissions related to the last-mile delivery by 70 percent”

Kodiak Robotics removes cameras and radars from their autonomous trucks

The 5th generation Kodiak autonomous trucks were designed to have more components mounted in its mirror-mounted Sensorpods.

As a result, removing cameras and radars above the windshields designed to test projects and not for the production of trucks.

Rodeo closed $5m to expand its 'operating system for gig workers

The London-based Rodeo announced it has raised $5 million to enable it to reach estimated 7.5 million gig workers based in the United Kingdom.

The start-up founded in 2021 helps gig workers optimize their earnings from on-demand delivery companies like Uber Eat, Just Eat, Deliverooo, and others.

The seed round was led by LocalGlobe with the participation of Rodeo’s Seedcamp, Form Ventures, and other investors.

Technology

Sevensense Robotics’ Visual SLAM Solutions launch at LoglMAT 2023

The robotic hardware and solution manufacturer showcases its cutting-edging SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology and hardware.

These solutions enable the positioning and navigation of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and other service robots.

“We are thrilled to be exhibiting at LogiMAT 2023 and to have the opportunity to demonstrate our Visual SLAM solution at a key event for the intralogistics industry.

Our products have been designed to meet the needs of logistics businesses, providing a solution that can help AMR users to increase efficiency, and flexibility while reducing their operating costs. We are excited to work with our partners and their customers to reinvent how mobile robots are used to automate processes”, said Gianluca Cesari, Chief Business Development Officer at Sevensense Robotics.

Old Guards

DPD

The logistics company is betting big on robotic delivery and aims to replace all vehicles with electric fleets 100% for last-mile delivery by 2030.

In 2022, DPD has delivered 35 million packages using robots for final delivery. To hit its goals, the company has ordered 1000 Ford E-Transit vans to add to its 3,000 EVs.

We're looking to roll delivery robots out further across the UK in 2023. We'll have a fleet of robots making deliveries on our behalf across 10 sites by the end of this year. It's a new technology, it’s technology that we're looking to enhance better. - Jonathan Pratt, Director of Sales and CRM at DPD

Walmart

The retail giant expects in three years to have 65% of all its stores automated in some sort and 55% of its fulfillment centers to be fully automated.

“That’s important because we know customers want speed. And we also know that the last mile costs more than the middle mile, and the middle mile is more costly than the first mile. So having 4,700 points of distribution shortens the last mile, lowers the delivery time and it lowers costs.” - Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner

Logistics Origins

First drone delivery

The concept of drone delivery began to gain attention in 2013 when Amazon announced its Prime Air project.

It was to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the rapid delivery of lightweight commercial products.

Other companies such as DHL, Google, and Alibaba also started exploring drone delivery, with DHL delivering medicine via a prototype Microdrones "Parcelcopter" and Google launching "Project Wing" to produce drones that can deliver e-commerce products.

Several successful tests of drone deliveries have been conducted, including Flirtey's fully autonomous FAA-approved drone delivery in an urban setting in 2016 and the first FAA-approved delivery to a residence in the United States by 7-Eleven and Flirtey, delivering a frozen Slurpee in the same year.

JD.com has been developing drone delivery capabilities in China, with seven different types of delivery drones in testing across four provinces, and Boeing unveiled a cargo drone prototype for payloads up to 500 lbs in 2018.

The commercial use of drones for delivery continues to evolve and expand.

Thank you for reading.

My goal is to break down complex technologies in the logistics and supply chain industry. Hope it is worthwhile.

Over and out,

Okerosi