Onfleet

Amuse, an e-commerce cannabis delivery business, was faced with the challenge of serving an underserved retail cannabis marketplace in California. The company's main strategy was to focus on delivery as a key channel and to provide a robust online product offering. However, as the company began to add more drivers and customers, they realized that they needed to invest in a platform that could handle an increasingly complex logistics operation. They were managing a massive volume of drivers and customers daily and expected this number to more than double by the end of the year. The challenge was to scale not necessarily with headcount, but with improved efficiency.

Flowers for Dreams, a flower delivery company with a philanthropic business model, faced significant challenges in routing and logistics. The company, which operates in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit, and ships across the Midwest, had been using rudimentary software for its delivery operations. However, the software broke down on Valentine’s Day, their busiest holiday, leaving hundreds of bouquets undelivered. This incident highlighted the need for a more robust and reliable solution for their software and logistics, prompting the company to seek a specialized solution to improve their operations and scale their business.

Mountain Remedy, a delivery-only cannabis operator in California, was looking to grow its market share after achieving its customer growth goals. The company had successfully used The Flower Agency's digital marketing strategies to attract existing cannabis users away from the competition, resulting in an 11.6x return on ad spend. However, this success led to a significant increase in delivery volume, which brought with it operational complexities. The company was faced with the challenge of scaling its business while simplifying operations. They needed a solution that would not only help them manage the increased delivery volume but also improve efficiency and profitability.

Plants Delivered Chicago, an online plant shop, faced a significant challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As non-essential businesses began to close, the company decided to keep plant delivery alive to meet the massive demand for plants. However, the logistics and administrative side of the business quickly became overwhelming. The company struggled to organize and optimize delivery routes, and the founder, Andy Robledo, found himself shuffling through five different apps on his phone, none of which were satisfactory. The company also faced financial strain as it tried to grow and scale the business by hiring employees, with the cost of administrative assistants ranging from $55k-$65k a year per individual.

Rockery, a company that provides on-demand access to heavy building materials, was facing a significant challenge in managing its delivery process. The company's business model involves sending a truck to the source of the building material, typically a rock quarry, and delivering the material to the contractor’s job site. For the first few years, Rockery managed its dispatching using Slack channels. However, by March of 2019, the company realized that this ad hoc method was not sustainable for their growing business. They needed a solution that would allow them to rapidly scale their operations without compromising on efficiency or customer service.

Sendik’s Food Market, located in Franklin, Wisconsin, was facing a significant challenge in managing the high demand for on-demand floral and grocery delivery orders, especially during holidays like Mother’s Day. The floral department alone would go through over 600 dozen roses in just 2 or 3 days. The popularity of online express grocery orders, a trend that has persisted due to pandemic-led behavioral changes, added to the daily delivery load. The challenge was not just about managing the high volume of orders but also ensuring that the orders were accurately fulfilled and delivered on time. The team had to work a day or two ahead to stay on top of orders and account for the last-minute orders that would pour in the day before and day of the holiday.

TOOLBX, a leading construction material procurement platform, faced the challenge of ensuring timely delivery of materials to job sites. With 60% of their orders being placed the night before, the company needed an efficient system for automatic routing and route optimization. The challenge was further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in demand as contractors turned to TOOLBX to keep their projects running smoothly despite material waits. The company also faced the challenge of reducing wait times for customers even as restrictions on big box stores were lifted in Canada. The need for a solution that could provide real-time tracking and GPS support for express deliveries was paramount.

United Supermarkets, a Texas-based grocery chain, began offering delivery services in 2016 in response to customer requests. Initially, the service was manual and only available in Lubbock, Texas. Customers would place an order by calling the store, and a manager would deliver it. The company later expanded the service to include online ordering and curbside pickup, which led to a significant increase in demand. However, the company was cautious about marketing the service heavily as they wanted to ensure a consistent customer experience and overall efficiency. The delivery operations teams used Google Maps to manually plan routes and scheduled only two deliveries per hour to ensure timely delivery. The vehicles, although refrigerated, were typically stocked with only a few deliveries at a time, leading to frequent trips back to the store for reloading. The company believed they could handle more orders per hour and make fewer reloading trips with better planning tools.

UrbanStems, a flower delivery company operating in NYC and Washington, DC, faced a significant challenge when they transitioned from a third-party bike courier company to an in-house team of bike and car couriers in 2015. The company, which offers same-day delivery of farm-fresh flowers, needed a robust technology infrastructure to manage logistics and ensure on-time delivery for hundreds of orders a day. This challenge was further amplified during big holidays such as Valentine’s Day when the volume of orders could increase tenfold. The company required a solution that could efficiently handle routing and delivery of these orders, and also integrate seamlessly with their other in-house systems.

Asian Veggies, a next-day grocery delivery service launched in April 2020, faced a significant challenge in managing its rapidly growing delivery operations. The company was created as an ecommerce offshoot of Fresh Goods Trading, a wholesaler whose demand had dwindled due to the closure of restaurants and supermarkets at the start of the pandemic. Asian Veggies aimed to boost produce sales and provide city dwellers in NYC, New Jersey, and Long Island with delivery access to Asian specialty products. However, within a month of operation, the company realized the need for a quicker and easier way to route its multiplying deliveries. The existing process involved uploading a spreadsheet of addresses to a free software service, plotting the addresses on a map, and manually mapping out routes for drivers. This process was straightforward but time-consuming, taking up to 1.5 hours per day. Asian Veggies sought to simplify routing management, optimize routes based on traffic and ease, divide the delivery workload fairly among drivers, and facilitate easy communication between drivers and customers.

Bleu Diamond LLC, a top-rated cannabis delivery company in California, was facing significant operational challenges. Their goal was to become the 'Amazon of cannabis products' with a delivery time of under one hour within their 300-mile territory. However, their existing system of processing orders and coordinating deliveries was inefficient and outdated. They were operating through text messages and direct communication between drivers and dispatch, which was overwhelming for the dispatch team and resulted in increased staff turnover. The lack of a streamlined system also prevented the company's owners from focusing on the company's growth. Despite having the means and customer base to scale, they were unable to find time to focus on strategic growth due to the operational inefficiencies.

Carry Delivery, a small delivery startup based in New York City, was faced with the challenge of providing quick, convenient delivery services without contributing to the environmental footprint. The company, which offers same-day local delivery for retailers of various goods, was concerned about the carbon emissions associated with traditional delivery methods. The co-founder, Jason Ovryn, was particularly peeved by packages that travel through complicated transit routes, producing unnecessary emissions, and packages placed on extended transit routes, even if the store is nearby, resulting in lengthy shipping times. The challenge was to create a unique logistics model that would make delivery faster and cheaper, while also reducing the environmental impact.

Corodata, a records management company, was faced with the challenge of handling and delivering highly sensitive legal and medical documents. These documents required utmost discretion, privacy, and signatures, making the delivery process complex and delicate. The company's primary customers were medical facilities, law firms, and businesses that interacted with these entities, further emphasizing the need for a secure and efficient delivery system. The last mile delivery, which is the final step in a product's journey from the manufacturer to the customer, was particularly challenging. This stage is often regarded as representing around 50% of the total supply chain cost due to its many moving parts. Corodata needed a solution that would not only improve efficiency and reduce costs but also ensure the privacy and safety of the drivers and recipients.

Drizly, the nation's largest alcohol e-commerce marketplace, faced the challenge of streamlining shopping for beer, wine, and spirits online. The company needed to connect its customers with a wide array of selections, competitive pricing, and fast delivery. Additionally, Drizly had to manage the complexities of state-by-state differences in alcohol regulations, retailer and payment processing challenges, and proof of identification and signatures. The company also had to adapt to the changing landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included implementing measures to keep its community, partners, and customers safe. This included offering contactless ID scanning, eliminating customer signatures, and offering outside deliveries.

Harmons, a family-owned and locally run business since 1932, with 19 locations in Utah, was faced with the challenge of developing an eCommerce solution for online order delivery. The company was concerned about outsourcing to a third-party service due to the potential disconnection from the shopper and the erosion of the trust their brand had built over time. The key challenge was to bring delivery in-house while remaining autonomous in the process. Harmons wanted to maintain brand loyalty through shopper-centric processes and needed to address the third-party challenge.

Imperfect Foods, a company founded in 2015 with a mission to eliminate food waste and build a better food system, faced a significant challenge as their business grew. They offered imperfect but delicious produce, affordable pantry items, and fresh eggs and dairy at up to a 30% discount compared to grocery store prices, delivered to customers' doorsteps. However, as their customer base expanded, managing their deliveries became increasingly complex. In 2017, they decided to bring their logistics in-house and launched a pilot program in their nascent Portland, Oregon market. This involved employing their own trucks, dispatchers, and drivers, all equipped with Onfleet’s last mile delivery software. The situation was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a spike in demand for at-home grocery delivery. Imperfect Foods had to accommodate many new customers in a short time span and meet the need for an increased interest in harder-to-find items.

The cannabis industry has seen significant growth in recent years, spurred by state-level legalization initiatives and increased demand during the pandemic. However, the sector faces unique challenges, including perishable inventory, limited marketing channels, and the need for strict compliance with rapidly evolving laws and regulations. Cannabis retailers often struggle with complex logistics, with some using up to six different software systems to manage their operations. This 'Frankenstein' model is inefficient and costly. Additionally, the industry has been marked by racial and social inequalities, with laws unequally applied across racial and economic lines.

The holiday season is a time of increased consumer spending, with a significant portion of purchases being made online. However, recent trends indicate a shift in consumer behavior, with a majority of Americans planning to purchase holiday gifts from local retailers with an online presence rather than online-only retailers like Amazon or Wayfair. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with 75% of Gen Z and 79% of Millennials planning to make such purchases. These consumers are driven by a preference for shopping small and locally, supporting businesses that align with their values and ethics, including environmental consciousness. A small Christmas tree delivery business, NYCTrees.com, faced the challenge of meeting these consumer demands while also ensuring efficient and convenient delivery.

Patty’s Cakes and Desserts, a retail storefront bakery in Fullerton, California, experienced a 400% increase in delivery demand during the pandemic. The bakery was initially using a third-party delivery company to manage its deliveries, which included 360 deliveries every month, comprising 60 wedding cakes and 300 smaller items. However, the delivery company ceased operations at the start of the pandemic. This left Patty’s Cakes and Desserts with a significant challenge of meeting the increased demand for deliveries while also having to figure out a new logistics solution.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards delivery services across various sectors, including the pharmacy industry. Customers, particularly those with chronic conditions, have been forced to stay out of public places, including pharmacies, to protect their health. This has led to an increased demand for delivery services for prescription medications. However, the pharmacy industry has been slow to adapt to this change due to antiquated software systems that operate in silos. These systems lack transparency and leave patients, providers, and pharmacies in the dark. Furthermore, the delivery of prescription medications involves many variables and compliance details, which further complicates the process.

Thistle, a meal delivery company, initially relied on a third-party company for its delivery needs. However, to gain better control over the customer experience, Thistle decided to bring the delivery function in-house. This decision required a robust delivery management infrastructure. The Thistle team recognized the need for delivery management software that could automate most delivery logistics, including routing, tracking, delivery management, and customer notifications. The challenge was to find a solution that was easy to deploy and use, while also offering all the features Thistle required to manage delivery efficiency.

Tonic Blooms, an online florist based in Toronto, is committed to environmentally sustainable business practices. The company aims to keep flower waste to a minimum, less than two percent, by exclusively buying flowers within its design collection. However, as the company expanded beyond downtown Toronto due to its unique sender recipient business model and dedication to sustainability, it faced new challenges. The introduction of vehicle delivery across the greater Toronto area and Southern Ontario to keep up with demand led to growing pains for Tonic Blooms. The company needed a solution that would allow it to respond to customer tracking requests immediately while maintaining its commitment to environmental sustainability.