Ep 277: The log-com bubble is about to burst

Jul 5, 2022

Roel Gevaers PhD, Professor in Last Mile Logistics and Supply Chain, University of Antwerp, joins me to talk about the log-com bubble. We cover:

• Twenty years after the dot-com bubble, should we prepare for a log-com bubble?
• Quick commerce, easy and cheap money, and the drive to acquire customers/market
• The real business model of IT-driven quick commerce delivery companies such as Gorrilas and Getir
• Business models that are unsustainable in the long term
• Dark stores - mini distribution warehouses
• Necessary density of dark stores to enable fast delivery
• Amsterdam cracking down on dark stores
• Operations inside dark stores
• Delivery rider costs, and the real cost of delivery per order
• Quick commerce start-ups setting up their own retail brands
• Retailers such Carrefour and Jumbo buying shares in quick commerce (ultrafast) delivery companies
• Investors in quick commerce and the end-game
• What conditions will allow ultrafast delivery companies to survive?
• Labour laws in Belgium that directly impact on e-commerce delivery and warehouse operations
• Impact of labour costs and tax regimes on delivery and e-commerce operations