Mapping company Here buys ATS to boost its over-the-air tech

 Here, the mapping company that powers location services in 100 million cars, is today announcing an acquisition to vastly improve how it distributes and updates its data. The company is buying Advanced Telematic Systems (ATS), a Berlin-based deve… Continue reading Mapping company Here buys ATS to boost its over-the-air tech

Flexport’s epic plan to build a freight empire with its $110M raise

 “We’re actually out here trying to create value, not just give venture capital money away” says Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen. “It’s counterintuitive. The more the business works, the more cash it needs.” That’s because Flexport doesn’t ship bits, it ships atoms. Lots of them. Flexport is a freight forwarding logistics network. If you produce a… Read More Continue reading Flexport’s epic plan to build a freight empire with its $110M raise

SAP wants to bridge the gap between IoT and business data

 SAP announced a new tool today called the Leonardo IoT Bridge designed to help bridge the gap between data coming from sensors in the field and business systems operating inside a firm.
The manufacturing sector is in the middle of a massive shift where machines are being equipped with sensors that transmit torrents of data about their health, and the environment around them, over the… Read More Continue reading SAP wants to bridge the gap between IoT and business data

Automate the Freight: Front Line Deliveries by Drone

Gen. Robert H. Barrow, USMC, once said that “Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.” That’s true in many enterprises, but in warfare, the side that neglects logistics is likely to be the loser. Keeping soldiers fed, clothed, and armed is the very essence of effectively prosecuting a war, and the long logistical chain from rear supply depots to forward action is what makes that possible.

Armies have had millennia to optimize logistics, and they have always maximized use of new technologies to position supplies where they’re needed. Strong backs of men and beasts sufficed for centuries, supplemented by …read more

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It’s Time to Start Thinking of Amazon as a Transportation Company

The company just unveiled a huge data-hauling semi-truck called Snowmobile, following plans for cargo planes and of course, delivery drones. Continue reading It’s Time to Start Thinking of Amazon as a Transportation Company

Verizon buys Fleetmatics for $2.4B in cash to step up in telematics

shutterstock verizon sign Hot off the heels of its acquisition of Yahoo last week for $4.8 billion, today Verizon announced another huge purchase: it’s buying Fleetmatics, a telematics company based out of Dublin, Ireland, for $2.4 billion in cash, to build out the products that it offers to enterprises in the areas of logistics and workforces that are on the move. The deal will make Fleetmatics a part… Read More Continue reading Verizon buys Fleetmatics for $2.4B in cash to step up in telematics

Narvar raises $22 million to help internet retailers deliver physical goods without frustrating customers

A Sephora customer tracks their order with a Narvar-powered app. Battery Ventures led a $22 million, Series B investment in Narvar Inc., a company helping internet retailers keep their customers happy post-purchase, meaning until their packages are delivered, and if need be, successfully returned for an exchange or refund. Battery was joined by Fung Capital, a logistics-focused fund, and Narvar’s earlier backers Accel Partners and Freestyle Capital.… Read More Continue reading Narvar raises $22 million to help internet retailers deliver physical goods without frustrating customers

ShipBob raises $4 million to help small retailers ship goods like Amazon Prime

 Small businesses that sell physical goods online are struggling to delight customers and fulfill orders in an era where Amazon Prime sets an expectation for affordable, same- or next-day delivery. While the largest e-commerce players can leverage… Continue reading ShipBob raises $4 million to help small retailers ship goods like Amazon Prime