Delivering the Future: Insights from the Curbivore Conference
Key Takeaways:
The demand for delivery services has increased since the pandemic, and people want the convenience of delivery while also supporting their local community.
Advancements in technology and infrastructure are enabling delivery services to become faster, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly.
The industry is working towards finding the sweet spot between convenience and cost.
Curbivore shed light on the challenges and opportunities in the delivery industry, from hyper-batching to last-mile data, sustainable delivery options, and flexible pricing models.
The Nash team recently attended the Curbivore conference in Los Angeles, where industry leaders gathered to talk about the world of delivery, mobility, dining, retail, and civic spaces.
One of the sessions, titled "Going the Extra Mile – Building A World Designed for Delivery," was a fascinating discussion about the future of delivery, featuring insights and ideas from some of the most innovative players in the space. One of the speakers was our very own Maria Shapiro, Partnerships Lead at Nash. Maria spoke about how Nash came into the market to solve the problem of merchants of all sorts not having enough suppliers or fleets for their demand. By connecting merchants to the marketplace of fleets, Nash makes it simple to access delivery fleets that merchants didn't have access to before.
More now than ever, the world is asking: what is the future of delivery?
Nash Partnerships Lead Maria Shapiro speaks at the Curbivore Conference in Los Angeles, CA on March 3, 2023
According to Maria, "A lot of the demand for delivery was born in the pandemic, and it created a bigger narrative around delivery. We learned that more people want the convenience of delivery while also wanting to support their local community." Advancements in technology and infrastructure have enabled delivery services to become faster, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly, paving the way for a promising future for the industry.
Among the other speakers were Barnaby Montgomery, the Co-Founder/CEO of Yummy.com, who emphasized the importance of community in driving demand for online grocery orders. Emre Ucer, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Pico, spoke about the sustainability aspect of delivery, and how companies like Pico Mobility are finding innovative ways to reduce emissions. Finally, Akash Agarwal, the Founder, and Chief Business Officer of Beans.ai, spoke about the importance of actionable last-mile data and consistent costs and earnings, as well as insights into gig workers and how they operate.
Montgomery spoke about the importance of community in the delivery industry. He noted that "getting people to order online (groceries) is the problem, but a grocery store is compelling.” Yummy.com recognizes the importance of building a brand and storefront as a tactic for driving grocery delivery demand.
Ucer discussed the sustainability aspect of delivery. Pico Mobility provides vehicles from scooters to cars to provide easy access to vehicles for gig workers. Ucer noted that for merchants, 80% of orders come from two or three miles from the location, and people reorder from the same grocery stores and restaurants. As the conversation around sustainability continues, companies like Pico are pushing for a more efficient and sustainable delivery experience.
It was inspiring to see how everyone involved in the Curbivore conference, including the speakers and the Nash team, is working towards a better future for delivery. As Smart Cities Dive also covered, the speakers shared their unique perspectives and insights, highlighting the importance of accessibility, community, brand building, and last-mile data in creating a successful delivery experience. The industry is constantly evolving, and the key players are working hard to find what Maria at Nash called “the sweet spot between convenience and cost.”
The future of delivery is bright, and we're excited to be a part of it at Nash. With our diverse fleet options and commitment to reliability and efficiency, we're confident that we can help merchants deliver their products in the most convenient and effective way possible.
Thank you to the Curbivore conference for hosting such an informative session. From hyper-batching to last-mile data, from sustainable delivery options to flexible pricing models, the discussion covered a wide range of topics that shed light on the challenges and opportunities in the delivery industry. As Nash continues to innovate and expand its delivery network, we look forward to a future where delivery is not only convenient but also sustainable and cost-effective.
