"Transportation costs are a big factor there. Every company that is involved and has logistics and they have to pay for gas, either they have to absorb this cost, or they will charge the third party that will provide this service. I'm not surprised this is happening, because at some point, Amazon will say we cannot absorb all this cost."
The new tracker features a simplified progress bar that shows just four stages of pizza creation. The new design was rolled out to all platforms, and there's also new Lock Screen widgets for iOS that bring the pizza chain's most famous tech feature to the Liquid Glass age.
"This was a natural next step in a relationship that's already delivering for our customers," Aldi COO Dave Rinaldo said in an email. "Customers get a more seamless shopping experience while Aldi remains focused on what we do best - delivering high-quality groceries at the lowest possible prices."
The mail will stop if the agency can't meet its obligations. That includes critical deliveries like prescription drug packages. Postmaster General David Steiner warned lawmakers this week that USPS could run out of cash in less than 12 months without congressional action.
DoorDash's investment in Also aims to develop and accelerate the deployment of autonomous delivery at scale, focusing on areas not yet fully solved for, including intersections of roadways and bike lanes.
When delivery units operated by companies like Coco or Serve Robotics run into real-world obstacles - like a garden, for example - these robot wranglers spring into action, freeing them from potholes, helping them upright after a fall, and ferrying them back to headquarters for maintenance.
The little red four-wheeled delivery vehicle is expected to operate near Fremont's Downtown and City Center, an area centrally located near a high density of restaurants, apartments and other businesses in the city. Manufactured by Sonic Manufacturing Technologies in Fremont, DoorDash Dot can travel up to 20 miles per hour. It has built-in cup holders and enough cargo space to fit an extra-large pizza and a case of water.
Deepinder Goyal, the co-founder and CEO of food delivery service Zomato and its parent Eternal, is stepping down from his role and handing the top job to Albinder Dhindsa, the CEO of its quick-commerce division Blinkit. Goyal on Wednesday said he would remain on Eternal's board as vice chairman as he shifts focus to "higher-risk exploration and experimentation," which he says may be harder to pursue within the constraints of a listed company.
Uber Eats might end up playing a key role in its parent company's robotaxi business, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said. The ride-hailing app is working with multiple companies, such as Alphabet-backed Waymo, to make self-driving cars available through its app. Waymo's robotaxis have already proven more efficient than most human Uber drivers in cities such as Atlanta and Austin, Uber has said.
To use the new chatbot, users search for a grocery store in the Uber Eats app and tap the purple Cart Assistant icon on the store's page to begin shopping. Customers can enter a list or upload an image of one, and Cart Assistant will automatically add the necessary items to their basket. This includes photos of handwritten lists or screenshots of recipes and their ingredients. Users can then customize the basket by swapping items for preferred brands or adding more products from the store.
Amazon automation isn't a magic button. It's a business model, and like any business model, outcomes vary based on execution. The short answer is yes, it can be profitable. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on how it's done and who is running it.
Nine in ten retailers globally are planning to raise their spending on artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise their e-commerce operations over the next 12 to 24 months, with online delivery execution a key area of focus. A total of 38% of European retailers identify speed, tracking and proactive communication around the delivery process as areas where AI can deliver the greatest impact.
That's a problem. Without a doubt, a great website and top-level marketing will help generate new sales, but it's the delivery experience that warrants future ones. This is because today's consumer not only has options for where they'll buy but also a high set of expectations. What's more, they remember the way a product arrives at their doorstep more than how it was sold.
You're scrolling through an online retailer, like Amazon, Shein or eBay, and spot a shirt on sale for $40. You add it to your cart, but at checkout, a $10 shipping fee suddenly appears. Frustrated, you close the tab. But what if that same shirt was priced at $50 with free shipping? The likelihood that you would have bought it without a second thought is much higher.
Urban logistics is entering a new era where practical technology drives meaningful results. Today, more than 55% of people live in cities, and urbanization is expected to rise to 68% by 2050, placing intense pressure on delivery networks to keep up with growing demand. U.S. e-commerce is projected to reach $1.1 trillion in sales by 2026, heightening expectations for faster and more reliable last-mile service.
2026 is already shaping up to be a challenging year. Soft seasonal peak sales through November and December last year and increased staffing costs don't give a sturdy foundation for retailers and manufacturers to build on. However, there are some significant gains to be made, especially around tech improvements. In fact, Parcelhero will be unveiling its own AI-powered tracking and messaging services this year for individuals and growing businesses.