Tag: USPS

All Hands on Amazon’s Shipping Deck

Published April 8, 2020 by Senthil

I have desisted from posting my Covid notes, as the days grew grim and the world is inundated with desperation. Stay well, dear reader.

Instead, I will write about Shipping. The pressure of online orders during the pandemic finally got to the more efficient e-commerce firm in the US: Amazon. WSJ reports that Amazon will be suspending its delivery service, Amazon Shipping, which was created as a competitor to FedEx and UPS to ship items from third party businesses to their customers. I argue why.

Go it alone on the Last Mile?

Published February 14, 2018 by Senthil

Go it alone on the Last Mile?

For long time e-commerce and operations observers, it was no surprise that Amazon was opening its “shipping” business: It was as predicable as a bowling ball on the lane slowly rolling to the pins. Much earlier, in 2014, Amazon had invested in a British shipping firm, Yodel. In 2016, Amazon had purchased a 25% stake in the French parcel Delivery company Colis Prive. Through FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), Amazon already handles “logistics and shipping” for third party sellers – currently at 51% of all sales units (in 2017 Q4). It has been at that proportion for several quarters now. So no surprise, really. However, let’s talk about who is absolutely critical for Amazon to compete with UPS and FedEx. Compared…