VC Funding for Robots to Tune of $94 Million
Fetch Robots Inc. raised $46 million ($94 million to date) to grow in the area of autonomous mobile robots to be use toward expansion and R&D. Automation Magazine reports that this round, led by Fort Ross Ventures, with CEAS Investments, Redwood Technologies, TransLink Capital and Zebra Ventures. Also investors – O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Shasta Ventures, Softbank Capital and Sway Ventures. Their customers include global companies in third-party logistics (3PL), manufacturing and distribution.
All Weekend Delivery Part of eCommerce Landscape
This week, United Parcel Service, Inc. announced they will begin Sunday delivery – and start their seven-days-a-week competition with the other big delivery giant for eCommerce business. This doesn’t come as a big surprise with Amazon.com Inc., who are planning for their own transportation operations and local delivery vehicles. UPS is also trying to use retailers including CVS Health Corp., Michaels Cos. and Advanced Auto Parts Inc. as drop off points for deliveries and returns for customers.
Rite Aid is Destination eCommerce Pickup
Amazon is working to set up Rite Aid drugstores as a place for package pickup. The option is set to be used in 1500 Rite Aid locations by the end of 2019 and is just one more way for Amazon to infiltrate the shipping market from all angles possible. Their last-mile strategy as it competes with Walmart Inc. and Target Corp., which have online order store pickup.
As of September 8, 2020, Crimson & Co (formerly The Progress Group/TPG) has rebranded as Argon & Co following the successful merger with Argon Consulting in April 2018.