Logistics startup ShipBob plans to open 20 fulfillment centers in Europe by 2023 to help more consumer brands compete with Amazon and capitalize on the popularity of eCommerce, UK Tech News reported.
Launched in 2014 by Dhruv Saxena and Divey Gulati, ShipBob is headquartered in Chicago. The company has an estimated valuation of over $1 billion and strives to help small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) contend with eCommerce giants by offering less expensive delivery that’s also faster, according to the report.
ShipBob offers brands immediate access to international networks via its fulfillment centers and provides inventory tracking, order fulfillment and identification of the best carriers to deliver quickly and affordably, the report stated.
The startup’s international expansion will initially benefit the U.K. as the company plans to build five fulfillment centers there next year, according to the report. That will give brands access to potential customers across North America with the ability to ship within days to people in the U.S. It will also boost capabilities for brands shipping domestically.
The company plans to have 20 centers throughout Europe by 2023, the report stated.
In September, ShipBob added customization features ahead of the holidays, including gift notes and kitting, as well as integrations with eCommerce customer service platform Gorgias and commerce solution Linnworks.
Read more: ShipBob Expands Platform Ahead of Holiday Shopping
In July, Saxena told PYMNTS that among the many consequences of the eCommerce explosion since March 2020 has been a tremendous upgrade of consumers’ expectations of faster delivery.
See more: ‘Amazon-izing’ Shipping for Small Merchants
“An eCommerce brand that is selling on their own website, they don’t have the infrastructure to compete on these ever-increasing consumer expectations,” Saxena said at the time. “That’s effectively what ShipBob is trying to do: to help these eCommerce brands access the same infrastructure that Amazon has built exclusively for itself.”
“Looking ahead to the future, we are building a network to allow our merchants to offer next-day and same-day delivery options as well, based on where that inventory is placed in the network,” he added.
——————————
NEW PYMNTS DATA: THE 2021 HOLIDAY SHOPPING OUTLOOK
About: It’s almost go time for the holiday shopping season, and nearly 90% of U.S. consumers plan to make at least some of their purchases online — 13% more than did in 2020. The 2021 Holiday Shopping Outlook, PYMNTS surveyed more than 3,600 consumers to learn what is driving online sales this holiday season and the impact of product availability and personalized rewards on merchant preference.
