Week 11, March 8 - March 15

?? Welcome back to eCommerce logistics insights, with weekly trends and updates from the eCommerce and logistics industry! Let us jump right in.

?? The first update is from the beauty sector, which appear to be growing in terms of included products! Beauty and wellness routines are no longer limited to topical products like serums and moisturizers. From filtered showerheads to aroma-diffusing humidifiers, startups are tapping into the trend of turning home appliances and fixtures into beauty and wellness tools.?For these companies, which include Canopy, Jolie, Hai and FilterBaby, their products now fall into a cross-section of personal beauty and household products!

This can also be seen on TikTok and other socials where UGC creators and influencers make money on affiliate links to Amazon, Etsy, and other marketplaces. A great way to sell a feeling, am i right? ??

?? The second update is from Sana's B2B Buyer Report 2024, specifically the challenge of web store adoption!

Sana Commerce survey indicates a surge in B2B online purchasing, with 2 out of 3 buyers preferring online orders, and 79% opting for repeat orders online.

However, despite this trend, B2B sellers face a significant challenge: many buyers report negative experiences with B2B web stores and are willing to switch suppliers. According to the survey, 74% of buyers would switch if they found a better experience elsewhere, reaching 91% among U.S. buyers. Sebastiaan Verhaar, CEO of Sana Commerce, emphasizes the importance of meeting buyer expectations, including real-time pricing and product information, for consistent adoption of B2B web stores.

Unfortunately, 68% of buyers are discouraged from ordering online due to order errors, with issues including inaccurate delivery times (31%), pricing information (29%), stock levels (28%), and product details (28%).

Maybe it is time for B2B sellers to take a look at the D2C eCommerce structure, softwares, and integrations to stay ahead of the competition ?????

???? Trend of the week: Drone deliveries

Walmart is expanding drone deliveries for eCommerce orders, boasting 31 hubs across six states as of January. Prathibha Rajashekhar, Walmart's senior VP of automation and innovation, revealed that in Dallas alone, they have 11 hubs with DroneUp and two with Wing. With over 20,000 drone deliveries in the last two years, Walmart is proving that drones are not just the future but a present reality.

Meanwhile, foodora is joining the drone delivery trend, partnering with Tele2 and Aerit to start drone deliveries in May. Their aim is to offer quick deliveries nationwide, starting with a test phase in V?rmd?, southeast Greater Stockholm, with plans for expansion.

"Wherever you are in the country, it should be possible to get what you need quickly, such as medicines or daily groceries, for example. It should not only be available to people who have chosen to settle in the big cities," says Daniel Gustafsson Raba, head of logistics at Foodora, in a press release.

Work lunch delivered by drone? Yes please! ??

Thank you for joining in - and we'll see you next week! ??