July 11, 2019
The importance of convenience services is growing rapidly and the boost within the industry is happening all around us. Deliveries are certainly not excepted from this and provide a huge ground for game-changing solutions by you hungry innovators. Join the Future Logistic Challenge powered by betahausX, Hermes and Volkswagen and disrupt the status quo of the last mile.
Well, we all know the feeling - you order a favourite item online and are looking forward to your well-earned gem to arrive. Everything seems to go smoothly - until the parcel is just about at your doorstep. We can tell you, It’s not only a headache for you. Turns out this “last mile” is by far the most expensive and time-consuming part of the shipping process.
As the demand for online orders and expectations of frequent supplies are constantly on the rise, it is no surprise that this final part of deliveries is becoming more important than ever before.
Between 2014-2018 the e-commerce association calculated a growth rate of consumer orders in Germany of around 52%. In 2017 alone, 3 billion parcels have been on the roads for delivery in Germany. To take that even up a notch, it’s estimated that in 2020 this number will ascend to 3,8 billion, which breaks down to more than 50 parcels per person (above the age of 14)! It is quite obvious that this is a mammoth task!
Does your startup have a solution to this dilemma? Then you are at the right place!
The roots of this challenge are vast. Next to isolation, due to poor roads in rural areas, a lack of available information or city congestion, finding drivers for the increasing volume of deliveries is becoming next to impossible.
The inefficiency or non-existence of digital processes and technological possibilities which are necessary to operate this business economically are another major issue. Your solution should take up at least one of those obstacles while at the same time deliver more attractive services to the end client.
With the Future Logistics Challenge, we’re on the hunt for startups who support and accelerate these innovations, while Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Hermes Europe provide their chosen two winners with the needed resources and infrastructure.
Does your startup reimagine the future of the delivery driver experience and smart delivery vehicles? Do you reckon you can help to solve the ultimate goal to simplify the job of couriers through connected commercial vehicles and integrated software solutions? From Predictive analytics to Communication Optimisation, from Sustainable Delivery to Connectivity Services — You name it. The spectrum of innovations is broad and we’d be stoked to hear what you’ve come up with!
There is Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, a stand-alone brand within the Volkswagen Group. They’re globally responsible for development and construction, as well as sales of a wide range of light commercial vehicles. The brand draws up appropriate vehicle concepts, telematics and logistics solutions for the sparing use of resources at the highest possible level of efficiency. Making it more than a feasible partner for your startup.
Besides, there is Hermes Europe. Under the Hermes brand, a wide range of specialized companies operate all along the retail value chain, supplying comprehensive logistical services to meet global demands. Whether for businesses or consumers, domestically or internationally, on your doorstep or in e-commerce, over 12,000 highly trained employees work towards a single goal: fully dedicated with all of their experience for their client’s success and an easier everyday life.
Needless to say, partners with a massive potential for your startup!
If you are lucky enough to count yourself to one of the 10 finalist startups, you are awaiting pretty astonishing prizes:
The two most promising startups are getting the opportunity of developing their solution into a Proof of Concept along with up to 125.000€ each. Those tremendous rewards are provided by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Hermes Europe.
If you’re a startup or team with a prototype, or if you already developed a solution, apply here until September 23rd, 2019. The finalists will be announced on the 17th of October.
