Europe’s direct to consumer e-commerce fulfilment company, Alaiko, is expanding into the UK. To serve the local market, they are partnering with a state-of-the-art fulfilment centre north of London. Unlike other logistics providers, Alaiko is a tech-first fulfilment company.
What does Alaiko bring to the UK market?
The revolutionary platform enables shops to manage e-commerce operations from start to finish, using its unique platform, the Alaiko Logistics Operating System®, along with industry leading warehouse tech and robotics to pick, pack and ship orders and process returns.
Alaiko will offer British e-commerce businesses with a unique fulfilment option and allow them to seamlessly scale their business domestically and across Europe. Alaiko recognises the huge growth potential for e-commerce businesses in the UK, which is home to Europe’s largest e-commerce market, with almost 50 million clients. Since Brexit, British businesses have struggled to import and export, facing customs backlogs and increased shipping costs.
With its expansion alongside its EU fulfilment capabilities, Alaiko creates channels for British businesses to trade in Europe and the UK, empowering mid-size businesses to win market share against large firms. Outsourcing through Alaiko offers faster delivery times and simplified returns management through its network of fulfilment centres across Europe.
Products can be stored in the EU and shipped to enable fast national and cross-border shipping to avoid customs bottlenecks. In a first for the DTC market, Alaiko’s unique software offering combines processing and logistics in an end-to-end solution. The tech landscape for DTC brands is fragmented, with suppliers forced to patch together different solutions.
Moritz Weisbrodt, CEO, Alaiko, said, “Alaiko’s UK launch is an exciting growth step and we see huge potential in this market for brands looking for a more effective way to deliver for their clients. We’re looking forward to facilitating warehouse and logistics for UK and EU clients.”
“We believe that the people scaling an e-commerce brand deserve the best tools at their fingertips to run a business effectively and look after their clients, so we created an intuitive, industry-leading service. We run the logistics so that businesses can focus on growth.”
Why is Alaiko a revolutionary DTC fulfilment provider?
Alaiko’s industry-leading platform offers brands full transparency and control across the whole supply chain. Once an order is received, Alaiko uses automation and robotics to enable picking, packing and shipping with efficiency and precision, and businesses can follow and manage this entire process in real time. Seamless communication for tracking and self-service options enable brands to focus on growth while offering a great customer experience.
“As a DTC brand, we work with various fulfilment providers in different regions. Alaiko stands out with its tech-first approach of warehousing and its software that leads to highly efficient operations. With the launch of the UK warehouse, we expect an even better experience for our clients in the UK and to grow our business faster,” said Jan Sapper, CEO of Paperlike.
Where real-time tracking, fast delivery, and easy returns were once exclusive to e-commerce giants, Alaiko levels the playing field by making this possible for SMEs. Unlike other third-party logistics providers, Alaiko helps brands to increase sales through its track and trace offering.
Alaiko’s delivery tracking emails, which typically have very high open rates, do not redirect customers to third-party sites like delivery providers’. Instead, they send customers to a dedicated tracking page in the brand’s online shop. This allows e-commerce brands not only to trace the traffic of their link, but also to retarget customers with personalised marketing.
What is the wider industry context of this product news?
The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has had a significant impact on the country’s supply chains. The introduction of new customs procedures, increased paperwork, and border checks have all contributed to delays and disruptions. This has led to shortages of goods, higher prices, and uncertainty for businesses.
One of the most significant challenges facing British businesses is the increased paperwork required for cross-border trade. Under the terms of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), businesses must now complete a range of customs declarations and other paperwork for goods moving between the UK and the EU. This has added a significant administrative burden to businesses, and has led to delays and disruptions.
Another challenge facing British businesses is the introduction of new border checks. Under the TCA, businesses must now have their goods inspected by customs officials at the border. This has led to delays and backlogs at ports, and has made it more difficult for businesses to get their goods to market.
The combination of increased paperwork and border checks has led to shortages of goods in the UK. This is particularly evident in sectors such as food and drink, where there have been shortages of products such as lettuce, tomatoes, and beer. The shortages have been caused by a combination of factors, including delays at the border, increased costs, and a lack of available labor.
The higher prices of goods is another challenge facing British businesses. The increased costs of importing goods from the EU have been passed on to consumers, leading to higher prices for a range of products. This has put a strain on household budgets, and has made it more difficult for businesses to compete with overseas rivals.
The uncertainty created by Brexit has also been a challenge for British businesses. The future of trade between the UK and the EU is still unclear, and this has made it difficult for businesses to plan for the future. This uncertainty has led to some businesses delaying investment, and has made it more difficult for them to access finance.
The supply chain challenges facing British businesses are significant. However, there are a number of things that businesses can do to mitigate the impact of Brexit. These include:
- Streamlining their supply chains to reduce the amount of paperwork required.
- Working with customs brokers to help them navigate the new customs procedures.
- Building relationships with suppliers in the UK and the EU to ensure a secure supply of goods.
- Investing in technology to help them track their shipments and manage their inventory.
The supply chain challenges facing British businesses are complex and challenging. However, there are a number of things that businesses can do to mitigate the impact of Brexit. By taking the right steps, businesses can adapt to the new trading environment and continue to thrive.
In addition to the challenges mentioned above, British businesses are also facing a number of other challenges related to Brexit, such as:
- A shortage of skilled labor.
- Increased competition from overseas rivals.
- Changes to regulations.
Despite these challenges, there are also some opportunities for British businesses as a result of Brexit. For example, businesses may be able to take advantage of new trade deals with other countries. They may also be able to attract new investment from overseas.
The long-term impact of Brexit on the UK’s supply chains is still uncertain. However, the challenges that businesses are facing are significant. By taking the right steps, businesses can adapt to the new trading environment and continue to thrive.
Gerald Ainomugisha is a business news reporter and freelance B2B marketer with over 10 years of experience in writing high-converting copy and content for businesses of all kinds, especially SaaS providers in the niches of HR, IT, fintech, eCommerce and web3. Since joining Upwork in 2012 (back when it was still eLance), Gerald A. has delivered great results for hundreds of clients, maintaining a 98% Job Success rate as well as 5+ years of Top Rated Plus rating (and Premium Writers Talent Cloud membership). Book a meeting with Gerald A. today to get the powerful SEO content you need!
