What you need to know:

• Companies like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Lilium, and Volocopter are nearing eVTOL commercialization, with plans to launch air taxi services as soon as 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

• Regulatory hurdles, infrastructure requirements, and battery efficiency are key challenges that need to be addressed before eVTOLs can become a widespread mode of transportation.

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The post Small electric aircraft are edging closer to swarming the skies — here’s what to expect as the ‘flying car’ tech matures appeared first on CB Insights Research.

In the US, checks and cash have already declined from representing half of all B2B payments in 2019 to a projection of less than a third (32%) in 2024, according to eMarketer. In emerging markets, paper’s share of B2B transactions is likely higher, but coming down thanks to the rise of digital commerce and digital operating systems for merchants.

Companies offering B2B payments solutions are digitizing and automating formerly manual processes like creating invoices, processing payments, and analyzing payments data. Many are building platforms that consolidate the steps in the B2B payments value chain in one place, enabling faster and more transparent payments and financing between businesses. 

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The post The B2B payments tech market map appeared first on CB Insights Research.

The logistics giant is ceding its USPS contract — worth ~$2B per year — to its competitor UPS in September 2024. But despite the upcoming loss in revenue, FedEx’s recent earnings have exceeded expectations and it has actually seen its share price reach an all-time high since USPS announced it wouldn’t renew. 

As FedEx cut costs and reconfigures its shipping network to focus less on expensive-to-maintain air cargo (which USPS relied upon heavily), it now has more wiggle room to ramp up its investments in areas that promise a long-term pay-off.

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The post FedEx lost a deal worth $2B in ARR to archrival UPS — here are 3 strategic moves it’s doubling down on in response appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Humans will still play a crucial role — but instead of assembling parts or operating machinery, they will maintain robots and keep them running.

In these future factories, robots coordinate in unison, completing work automatically — without breaks, every hour of the day — to get products out the door. 

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The post Future of the factory: The emerging technologies defining next-generation manufacturing appeared first on CB Insights Research.

The impact on the pharma industry has been substantial, with Ozempic’s producer, Novo Nordisk, seeing a 36% rise in sales in 2023 driven by the accelerated adoption of its GLP-1 products. D2C pharmacies like Hims are also entering the space, offering their own GLP-1 drugs at a fraction of the cost to patients. 

The rapid growth in prescriptions for these appetite-curbing drugs has drawn wide-spread attention from corporates across industries.  

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The post Counterfeits of drugs like Ozempic cost pharma companies billions of dollars annually. We look at the tech solutions that can help tackle the problem appeared first on CB Insights Research.

The industry is built around encoding information in quantum entities called “qubits” — which have a probability of being either 1 or 0, as opposed to traditional bits that can only be one or the other — to open up new computational approaches and ways of handling data that are not possible on conventional devices.

For example, quantum computing could allow entirely new algorithms that are much more efficient at some key tasks — like complex optimization problems, sorting through large datasets, and running simulations. Though the tech is not yet mature, companies are already working to apply quantum computing to commercial applications like drug discovery, finance, materials discovery, and logistics. Investors are excited — startups in the space saw equity funding surge to $1.3B in 2023, a rare bright spot for venture last year. As quantum computers become more capable in the coming years, expect commercial interest to rise quickly.

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The post The quantum information market map: The companies working on quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography, and more appeared first on CB Insights Research.

At the same time, rising fuel prices and a thinning labor force are pushing other industries like retail and pharma to favor privatized fleets that can better ensure timely delivery of goods to customers. For example, for Walmart, owning its fleet has been key to keeping prices down and ensuring products are in stock.

To successfully run a fleet, operators need to maintain high visibility into freight movement, optimize routes and schedules, and ensure compliance with driver regulations. They’re turning to tech solutions like transportation management and yard management systems to achieve this — as well as tech like AR/VR to train employees on skills like truck loading. 

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The post The trucking tech market map: The startups making fleets more efficient and connected appeared first on CB Insights Research.

While this has created a new level of accessibility for consumers, it has also led to spikes in drug shortages and counterfeit medicines. 

To combat these public health risks, regulations have been put in place to promote pharma supply chain traceability and safety. For example, the FDA announced that players along the supply chain must meet new Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) standards by the end of 2024. This will require companies throughout the value chain to maintain and share electronic documentation regarding the chain of ownership for their products.

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The post The pharma supply chain tech market map appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Across 2023, retail tech fundraising followed the overall venture slowdown: retail tech startups grabbed $19B in equity funding — just a third of the 2022 total ($55B) and 84% lower than the peak in 2021 ($118B). Deals also declined in 2023, down 44% YoY to 2,339.

But as the year closed out, some quarterly indicators turned positive. For instance, retail tech saw 10 mega-rounds (deals worth $100M or more) in Q4’23 — up from 6 the prior quarter. M&A activity continued its upswing after hitting a recent low in Q2’23. And funding to store tech companies more than doubled quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) in Q4’23.

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The post Retail tech in 5 charts: 2023 appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Consumer journeys have grown more complicated amid the rise of e-commerce, making options like BOPIS (buy online, pick-up in store) table stakes for any retailer looking to serve both in-store and online shoppers. To fulfill orders quickly and accurately, retailers must prioritize efficient distribution, inventory visibility, and last-mile flexibility. 

Striking this balance is especially crucial in grocery, where thin margins raise the stakes on profitability. A well-executed omnichannel fulfillment strategy can yield strong customer loyalty and repeat visits, while serving a wider customer base.

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The post How Kroger, Target, Amazon, and Walmart stack up in omnichannel grocery fulfillment appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Historically, uptake of reusable packaging has been slow due to logistical complexities, affordability, and worries about customer adoption. However, consumers are also ready for a switch: A 2023 pilot study conducted by the WWF found that one-third of consumers opt for reusable packaging when given the option. 

It’s important to note that for reusable packaging to actually be sustainable, companies need to ensure its return and reuse. For instance, plastic reusable packaging typically needs to be used 50+ times before its environmental impact outperforms paper packaging.

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The post The reusable e-commerce packaging value chain market map appeared first on CB Insights Research.

The company has raised over $800M in equity funding and has been a unicorn (a private company with a $1B valuation) since 2018.

The pain in supply chain & logistics tech, however, is not restricted to Convoy.

We also used CB Insights valuation comparables data to dig into Flexport — and it looks like its valuation is likely 80% lower than its 2022 round that valued it at $8B.

Want to learn more? We break it all down in this research brief.

The post Bezos-backed logistics unicorn Convoy shuts down appeared first on CB Insights Research.

In addition to these larger factors at play, procurement teams must work cross-functionally to ensure other parts of the business have the tools and supplies they need. This requires that they maintain relationships with suppliers, ensure legal compliance, and analyze data across their organization to evaluate how current vendors are supporting workflows. 

Tech companies are helping procurement teams more efficiently source and compare new vendors, maintain supplier relationships, assess renewals, and more. In the market map below, we identify 82 tech vendors addressing critical aspects of procurement across 9 categories. 

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The post The procurement tech market map appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Meanwhile, the pressure to adopt sustainable business practices is mounting with the rise of new legislation. For example, in the coming years, the EU is expected to require the implementation of digital product passports (DPP) across a number of categories, which will affect retailers in areas like apparel and consumer electronics. DPPs use QR codes and technologies like blockchain to trace individual products throughout the entire supply chain as well as post-purchase. These solutions can help ensure that products are sourced sustainably, and they can also be used to verify product authenticity for resale.   

To help retailers strengthen circular practices in order to keep up with evolving regulations and achieve their sustainability goals, tech vendors are developing a wide variety of solutions. These tools enable retailers to exercise sustainable production and transport, identify opportunities for repair, authenticate products and profit from resale, responsibly dispose of goods at the end of their lifespan, and more.

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The post The circular economy in retail market map appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Why? It’s a combination of the company being priced for perfection and macro headwinds.

Let’s dig in.

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The post Flexport’s valuation is likely 80% lower than its last valuation of $8B appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Tech vendors are helping fashion brands and retailers reduce their environmental footprint throughout the supply chain. Solutions include using generative AI and 3D modeling to help design garments more efficiently for production, bio-based materials that reduce plastic and water use, and alternative end-of-life plans for products like resale or recycling. 

In the market map below, we identify 93 vendors addressing critical aspects of the fashion supply chain across 14 different categories. 

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The post The fashion supply chain sustainability market map appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Companies offering weather risk intelligence solutions help organizations across industries — such as aerospace, agriculture, construction, government, insurance, and logistics — better assess and manage the risk of these weather events to ensure operational continuity and protect their assets. These solutions make use of AI, advanced analytics, and forecasting models, and they’re catching the eyes of investors.

Tomorrow.io recently raised an $87M Series E round after launching its second weather satellite into space. Five other weather intelligence companies — ClimateAi, Reask, Truweather Solutions, Salient, and PlanetIQ — have also raised funding in 2023 so far.

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The post Weather risk intelligence funding surges as extreme weather events pile up appeared first on CB Insights Research.

In his most recent letter to shareholders, CEO Andy Jassy announced that the e-commerce behemoth has shifted from national to regional fulfillment networks to reduce costs and speed up deliveries. This new strategy could make an acquisition of Ocado more compelling to the tech giant, given Ocado’s position as a leader in localized grocery microfulfillment centers (MFCs) and robotics. 

But would Amazon be getting value for money were it to buy the company?

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The post Amazon’s rumored takeover of Ocado would be one of its largest acquisitions to date. How likely is it to be good value for money? appeared first on CB Insights Research.

It is now cheaper than ever to send satellites into orbit, in part thanks to SpaceX‘s innovations, which have helped bring the price of launching rockets down by 10x vs. a decade ago.

At the same time, satellite technology continues to improve. Today’s satellites feature better imaging systems, more powerful sensors, and faster data processing than ever before.

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The post 3 applications of satellites that are transforming the industrials sector appeared first on CB Insights Research.

DroneUp, a leader in the drone delivery space, announced company layoffs last week. While the company attributes the cuts to its strategic shift toward the consumer market (and away from other services like mapping, photography, and surveying), it still signals some of the industry’s growing pains.

On the one hand, numerous startups have established major commercial partnerships — DroneUp, Zipline, and Flytrex have all inked deals with Walmart, for one — and a handful of players have recently secured significant funding.

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The post DroneUp’s layoffs point to growing pains in the drone delivery space appeared first on CB Insights Research.

Autonomous delivery unicorn Nuro recently announced that it plans to lay off 30% of its staff — about 340 employees — in addition to delaying production of its newest vehicle prototype, the R3. 

This follows the news that both Amazon and FedEx are scaling back their autonomous delivery programs as they prioritize more lucrative projects.

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The post The autonomous delivery market’s key players are facing headwinds. What are the valuation, investment and hiring trends? appeared first on CB Insights Research.

In 2021, Kroger launched its first Customer Fulfillment Center to serve e-commerce shoppers outside its geographical footprint. Then, in late 2022, the grocer made moves to acquire Albertsons — which is one of its largest competitors and has a stronger presence in the West and Northeast — for $24.6B. 

Kroger’s ambitions to grow its supermarket empire don’t stop there.

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The post How Kroger’s investments in omnichannel fulfillment have helped it expand to new markets appeared first on CB Insights Research.

With 90% of Americans living near a Walmart, the retailer has been leveraging its vast store footprint and distribution systems to provide customers with flexible and convenient fulfillment options. Its e-commerce business grew by 23% from 2020 to 2022. 

The retail giant has been playing catchup with Amazon through in-house experimentation, investments in emerging solutions, and acquisitions of leading tech providers. We used the CB Insights platform to benchmark Walmart’s activity across key areas of omnichannel fulfillment.

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The post How Walmart’s omnichannel fulfillment investments drove its e-commerce revenue to $70B+ appeared first on CB Insights Research.

After raising billions of dollars in funding in 2021 and seeing sky-high valuations, stalling growth and widening losses have led to several companies shutting down or being acquired. 

For example, ultrafast delivery leader Getir is reportedly in talks to acquire rival Flink. This comes just 6 months after it purchased Gorillas, another big player in the space, at a significant discount to the company’s last valuation. 

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The post From boom to burst: What happened to ultrafast delivery? appeared first on CB Insights Research.

While economic growth in advanced markets like the US and France is set to see a notable slowdown in 2023, per the IMF, the picture is more positive in emerging markets like China and many countries in Africa.

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The post 82 companies digitizing retail in emerging markets appeared first on CB Insights Research.