This Week in Logistics Tech | 4/17- 4/22
The worst subscription ever, lots of Earth saving, car-planes, + more!
This week, Amazon announced that its online shopfront service is entering Australia. Trying to come up with a new joke about Amazon entering yet another market is quickly becoming the hardest part of my job. With this Australia announcement, I promise not to say anything about Vegemite or kangaroos. I’m definitely more creative than that.
Normally when you buy sheets, you pay what they are worth and you keep them. Which is cool, but like… that method doesn’t have the word “subscription” in it so… no thanks. With Coyuchi’s new subscription model, you can opt to pay a monthly fee for the same exact sheets and end up paying more. Great!
Wait…
Does this new “subscription method” get you new clean amazing sheets each month or something?
Nope. No it doesn’t.
For example, say you opt for the 2 year subscription (the cheapest option): You pay the monthly fee for 2 years in order to keep the same exact sheets, and then you send those same sheets back at the end of the 2 years. It’s like financing (which is always a financially smart decision) but you don’t get to keep the sheets. You have to send them back…
Why???
Coyuchi argues that they are saving the planet by recycling the sheets for you. They are sending you a box… that you then have to keep track of for 2 years… and then you send the sheets that you just paid at least $120 for back in that box.
OR you could just buy sheets you like from anywhere else, and when you’re done, bring them to Goodwill for free.
In other “I have too much money and not enough sense” news…
Flying-car company AeroMobil revealed its new model this week and started taking pre-orders to be fulfilled in 2020. In total, your car-plane will cost you at least $1.3 million dollars and won’t be allowed on roads. You will be able to fly it, though… if you’re a pilot… So isn’t that just a plane? Just buy a plane.
The only legit use-case I can see for this flying car is if you are planning on being on an episode of MTV Cribs in 2020 and want it sitting in your driveway. That would be pretty sweet.
Did you know there are companies other than AirBnB for vacation rentals? Apparently the second-largest US player in this market, Vacasa, just released their new dynamic pricing technology. As with everything else, it’s powered by machine learning and factors in home size, location, luxury classification, local event, and market rates to price rooms appropriately.
In honor of Earth Day, Apple stated that it will do its darndest to stop relying on mining for its products and to start using recycled materials instead. Mining sucks. Especially for the planet and for the children as young as 8 years old who have been found mining for suppliers used by Apple.
This is a noble commitment, although the actions to back it up are yet to be seen. Also, Greenpeace reminded Apple that it’s not enough to use recycled materials. The company should be building products that last longer, thus reducing materials waste. But Greenpeace is neglecting to understand that Apple’s business model relies on us all buying new phones each year that are ever so slightly different and also impossible to repair so that when we inevitably drop them we have to buy another new one.
Toyota just revealed a proof of concept of its hydrogen-powered semi-truck. While the advantages of hydrogen fuel cells have long been known (zero-emissions, quick to refuel, clean water as a bi-product), the hype around this tech calmed down due to lack of infrastructure and the intense energy required to convert hydrogen to liquid fuel.
Toyota, though, still thinks there is a place for this technology. That place: the Port of Los Angeles and its neighbor, Port of Long Beach. That’s pretty specific… Apparently, this area accounts for a huge number of diesel-powered semis, which create significant air pollution. With hydrogen fuel, these Toyota trucks could save the planet (that small part, at least) and increase the quality of life for the people of LA.
Alibaba-backed eCommerce operator, Lanzada Group SA, is partnering with Uber and Netflix for their “LiveUp” program in Singapore- a partnership that is likely intended to increase their domination in eCommerce before Amazon inevitably shows up. With “LiveUp, consumers will pay a yearly fee to receive six months of Netflix streaming, discounts on Uber rides, free delivery on Taobao or Lazada purchases and more. This marks the first time the U.S. companies have joined forced to create an online rewards program.
A bill just passed the Texas Senate Transportation Committee and, pending Senate debate and referral to the House, will outline the steps towards allowing self-driving vehicles on state public roads. Welcome to the club, Texas.
Notable Logistics Tech Funding
MakeSpace just raised $30 million (after raising $17.5 million last year) to make storage easier and more convenient. The company currently provides pickup, storage and return of stored objects to customers in NYC, Chicago, D.C., and LA.
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