Flexport adds new end-to-end e-commerce tool

Flexport has launched a new e-commerce tool for online firms that allows them to manage the supply and delivery of goods.

The freight forwarder, which last week saw chief executive Dave Clark suddenly leave his role, said the new tool offers stock replenishment directly into Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), and more than 15 wholesale channels, including Costco, Target, and Nordstrom.

Merchants can also access fulfillment and last-mile delivery services for Shopify and Amazon’s Seller Fulfilled Prime programme, as well as for their own e-commerce stores.

The new service will connect the forwarders international services with its e-commerce fullfilment operation, acquired from Shopify last year, to allow customers to ship products from factories into retail networks.

“All these integrations enable merchants to form a single pool of inventory, allowing Flexport customers to sell everywhere without the need to manage multiple providers,” the company said.

It added that the new service also provides “one-click access to more than 20 supply chain services on a single page, enabling entrepreneurs to seamlessly sell in more places and automate the movement of their products from factory floor to customer door”. 

Flexport also offers two-day and next-day delivery on more than 20 e-commerce marketplaces, including Shopify, Walmart, and eBay storefronts.

The basic system is free, but Flexport is also launching a membership programme, Flexport+, that provides supply chain financing, priority shipping services, and extra service support.

The company said that the priority handling can cut shipping times by up to 15% and the financing includes up to 120-day term financing to enable companies to “pay as you sell” to save on inventory storage costs.

Flexport executive vice president of SMB product and technology Parisa Sadrzadeh said: “Whether you’re an entrepreneur shipping for the first time or a fast-growing business looking to scale, figuring out how to ship and deliver your goods takes a ton of resources, know-how, and time.

“Entrepreneurs want to focus on growing their business, not logistics, but logistics providers take too much effort from entrepreneurs because their solutions are segmented, complicated, and often just focused on their largest customers; we just don’t accept that.

“The new all-in-one tool and Flexport+ membership program in our supply chain revolution makes logistics so simple that entrepreneurs can scale with one partner and get the time and resources back that they need to supercharge their growth.”

The past week has been a tumultuous time for the forwarder. Last week, Flexport announced it would withdraw job offers for more than 75 people after they were offered positions during a hiring freeze just a day after chief executive Dave Clark suddenly left the firm.