After years of ballooning venture capital rounds and sky-high valuations, the need for profitability is beginning to test the resolve of even the most optimistic investors. This change creates new pressure for start-ups and will have a visible impact on retail technology. The era of free rides is finally grinding to a halt. To ensure business continuity in tomorrow's capital environment, retailers making technology decisions should consider not just the business case for their company but whether the transaction is also profitable for the technology provider. Among the most subsidized technology products in supply chain, warehouse robots and same day delivery are two categories to watch this year.
The sale of Kiva to Amazon created a Cambrian explosion of warehouse robots fueled by venture capital. Approaching a decade since the acquisition, warehouse robot start-ups have raised billions of dollars to automate everything inside the four walls while subsidizing prices to meet the customer business case. As capital market attention shifts to profitable businesses, start-ups will begin to retreat from expensive edge cases where labor is clearly the correct decision. This will lead to an optimal, steady state mix of people & robots inside the warehouse and the hardening of boundaries around what robots can and cannot do. An example of this steady state today can be seen in Plus One Robotics whose system design combines the best abilities of people & robots to achieve the highest performance at the lowest cost.
Same day delivery is a visibly subsidized category to those inside and outside the supply chain industry, The gig economy concept was founded on the belief that by leveraging contractor networks, companies could democratize same day delivery for the mass market. In practice, a dynamic and flexible workforce was not enough to achieve profitable unit economics in all cases. With billions in capital behind them, delivery start-ups have identified geographies, sectors and customer transactions where same day delivery is both profitable and an improved experience for the retailer, driver and customer. Delivery companies will begin to redirect resources towards these profitable transactions under the new pressures of private capital while consumers may experience higher fees or loss of service in less profitable deliveries.
"The era of growth at all costs is over,"
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO Uber
Rather than stifling innovation, the search for a sustainable business model will mean securing the position of robotics & same day delivery in the retail strategy. The products will move from pilots to tools in the retailer tool belt with established industry standards on performance metrics & appropriate applications. Profitable robot and delivery companies will be able to build lasting, stable businesses with an improved sales cycle as both they and the customer fully understand the capabilities and limits of the technologies.
Finally, the recent start-up push in supply chain has been mostly driven by technology professionals coming from outside the industry. This year, I'd like to meet more senior executives from inside the supply chain industry exploring starting a new business. For those considering that path, Schematic has been investing in these sectors for years and is a proven capital partner for early stage companies. If you are thinking about starting a supply chain, e-commerce or retail technology company, I'd like to be your first call.