Amazon now looks at licensing or buying freight forwarding technology

© Prasit Rodphan

The WSJ’s Erica Phillips has revealed that Amazon, not content with simply leasing aircraft for its freight ambitions, now needs technology to take them even further. The e-tailer is looking to either licence or buy technology which will enable it to find efficient shipping routes and book carriers – of all modes – to move its goods. In the past fortnight, writes Ms Phillips, Amazon has contacted several freight forwarding technology companies, suggesting that once again it plans to cut out the middleman and accomplish its freight efforts alone – allowing it to control its suppliers’ supply chains too. Interestingly, its entry into the tech start-up business could prove too competitive. The article notes that Flexport’s Ryan Petersen “politely declined” to give Amazon a presentation of his company’s technology.