When Karl Siebrecht cofounded Flexe, in 2013, the world looked quite different from how it does today. Logistics networks were rigid, e-commerce accounted for a mere 8 percent of total retail sales (online sales could account for more than half of all retail sales in the next two years), and fast and free e-commerce delivery was only just beginning.
In the years since, growing consumer demand, better technology, and the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped logistics. For online shoppers, fast and free delivery has gone from a nice-to-have to a must-have service, and buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) is now an expected convenience. Meanwhile, retailers contend with a bleak economic outlook paired with mixed signals from consumers, making…