Maersk is making its foray into the US$600 billion US e-commerce market though its e-commerce logistics business unit – Maersk E-Commerce Logistics – which operates a network of nine strategically-located e-fulfillment centers that can deliver to 75 percent of the US population within 24 hours and 95 percent within 48 hours.
In 2021, Maersk made a series of acquisitions to incorporate e-commerce capabilities into its business model with emphasis on B2C and B2B e-fulfillment. Maersk’s e-commerce footprint was expanded with the acquisitions of Visible Supply Chain Management – a leading US-based e-commerce fulfillment company in Salt Lake City, Utah; two e-commerce companies in Europe, B2C Europe and HUUB; and Asia, LF Logistics.
Maersk said in a statement that it serves 80,000 customers worldwide with B2B supply chains. The Maersk e-commerce logistics platform encompasses an end-to-end management tool from source to final destination: shipments, inventory, parcel spends, order pipeline and invoicing.
The firm added that its system enables accountability, simplification, and a global scope of e-commerce logistics. Equally important, inventory can be placed closer to customers to increase speed of delivery at lower cost.
The Maersk E-Commerce Logistics business unit is complemented by Maersk’s North America integrated landside logistics supply chain business model known as El Segundo. This is a California-based performance team that operates over 60 distribution and fulfillment center locations and transportation services.
“Sustainable landside transportation solutions will also be added in the US with the recent announcement of an order for 300 electrical trucks. Maersk North America’s intended acquisition of Pilot Freight Services which is under regulatory review prior to closing in 2Q22, will add 87 additional locations serving first, middle and last mile logistics across the US with special expertise in the big and bulky retail sector,” the statement said.
Casey Adams, head of Maersk E-Commerce Logistics in North America said: “Business gets more competitive every day as US consumer online shopping demand continues to grow. Our fulfilment network is designed to bring B2C expertise and scale to Maersk customers with direct-to-consumer fulfillment, parcel delivery and supply chain visibility in an end-to-end offering. By making e-commerce supply chains easier and more robust we can deliver factory-to-sofa service.”
