Within Ecommerce Logistics, Maersk is building an asset-light, global business focused on two core capabilities: B2C Fulfilment and B2C Delivery based on a strong and flexible E-commerce technology backbone. The plan is to build these capabilities in the world’s three largest ecommerce regions: Europe, North America, and Asia. To further their expansion plans, Maersk have announced the acquisition of B2C Europe and Visible Supply Chain Management (Visible SCM).
Visible SCM is an industry leader in the US enabling ecommerce businesses to ship cost effectively and deliver quickly so they can compete with the biggest brand names out there today. Visible SCM uses a geographical network that places fulfillment centers closer to the consumer, with less distance and faster delivery. This new capability and infrastructure asset will improve the agility of Maersk customers, helping them to operate faster in an online shopping space where speed and cost of delivery defines consumer buying behaviour. One very tangible proof point of this acquisition is that Maersk’s customers can tap into Visible SCM’s E-commerce network to deliver goods to 75% of the US population within 24 hours and reaching 95% of the US geography within a two-day delivery window.
B2C Europe’s core offering is in parcel delivery services for both retailers and brands as well as for logistics operators, with a focus on cross-border deliveries. It operates a multi-carrier platform with a significant reach and volumes into all European countries through an extensive carrier network. The B2C Europe transport management offering provides multi-carrier management tools and track & trace capabilities, supplying customers with control, competitive costs and visibility across supply chains. B2C Europe operates from Western Europe, which serves as a good base for future geographic expansion. The acquisition of B2C Europe will enable Maersk to offer Europe-wide last mile rates to customers through one simplified interface and the convenience of full control and visibility on all parcel deliveries. B2C Europe will bring an asset-light delivery product that uses technical integrations to collect parcels at its customers warehouses and inject them into all important European carrier networks.
“Maersk has set out to build strong E-commerce Logistics capabilities that will extend and reinforce our existing supply chain offering and create growth opportunities. Today, customers rely on the integrated logistics approach and services which Maersk offers. By combining that with the operating models and value proposition of Visible SCM and B2C Europe, we will enable our customers to continue to develop their E-commerce offering, thus extending the scope and potential of our strategic partnerships. The acquisitions will provide Maersk with a strong growth platform in the rapidly evolving field of E-commerce, where our investments in digitalization and integration will create significant synergies and make a big difference for customers’ ability to sell across multiple channels effectively. Furthermore, they will allow us to have a more comprehensive offering towards small and medium sized customers”
– Vincent Clerc, CEO, Maersk Ocean & Logistics
