304: Discover Success at the Intersection of Logistics and Technology, with Flexe

Today I'm joined by Flexe, an exciting and forward-thinking disruptor in the logistics and supply chain industry, that is on a mission to create an open logistics network that optimizes the global delivery of your goods. Flexe solves the hardest omnichannel logistics problems for the world's largest retailers and brands. Integrating technology, open logistics networks, and elastic economic models allows Flexe customers to move fast, at scale, and with precision. Founded in 2013, Flexe brings deep logistics expertise and enterprise-grade technology to deliver innovative eCommerce fulfilment, retail distribution, same-day delivery, and network capacity programs to the Fortune 500. Today Jordan Lawrence, Director of Logistics Strategy at Flexe and Head of the Flexe Institute, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; solving logistics problems with technology; helping customers to compete with Amazon; and why the future is fixed AND flexible.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.52] The trends and challenges the industry is facing right now, and what Flexe are seeing with their enterprise clients. "There's a damned if you do, dammed if you don't, type strategy that's a real challenge. Most shippers have two choices – and there's serious trade-offs on both sides." [08.38] How Flexe was founded, and the challenges it was built to solve. "How warehouse capacity works – essentially you have to build the church for Easter Sunday… so during periods of non-peak, you have periods of wild underutilization… And so the supply-demand matching functions in warehousing are wildly inefficient." [10.02] An overview of Flexe – what they do and how they help their customers. "We serve as a single point of integration that represents this holistic bucket of capacity. And then we match their need with the right operator, that has the right skillset." [12.07] Flexe's strategically placed warehouses, and their approach to evolving consumer behavior and new fulfilment strategies. "As there become more dispersed inventory strategies to service this direct-to-consumer channel, secondary, tertiary and non-traditional warehouse markets become more and more important – and that's exactly where you're going to have a challenge finding the right type of operator." [15.34] All about capacity – the challenges, the impact of the pandemic, and how Flexe can help. "The real challenge with capacity in the traditional model is that you need to make 2, 3, 5, 7 year capacity decisions… people need optionality… the strategy that we work with shippers to employ is this option to wait and see. " [20.18] What onboarding and implementation looks like with Flexe. [22.02] The ideal client for Flexe. [23.26] Two case studies, showing how Flexe work with their clients as a trusted fulfilment partner to help them react quickly, pivot where necessary, meet demand and resolve unexpected issues. "Everyone uses this word flexibility, and it's kind of nebulous… to me, flexibility – especially in warehousing – is one thing, and that's speed." [25.55] The future for Flexe.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Flexe's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Flexe and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, or you can connect with Jordan on LinkedIn. This episode was filmed at Home Delivery world. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes 299: Modernize Your Ecommerce Supply Chain, with Shipium, 297: Make Smarter Packing Decisions, with Paccurate, 296: Take Control of Managing Your Demand Chain, with SEKO, 294: Optimize Warehouse Productivity, with Locus Robotics or 289: Achieve Control, Capacity and Care, with Estes Forwarding Worldwide. Check out our other podcasts HERE.