WSJ: Flexport’s Ryan Petersen on exceptions to supply chain automation

Flexport's first liveried aircraft with Atlas. A second is due to arrive today.

13/12/2023

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL reports:

Ryan Petersen started freight forwarder Flexport with the goal of bringing digital tools to the shipping business. A decade later, he says picking up the phone can be just as important as rolling out new technology.

Petersen returned to day-to-day operations at the 10-year-old company in September after his handpicked successor, former Amazon.com logistics executive Dave Clark, resigned. San Francisco-based Flexport’s revenue fell dramatically this year as shipping prices and volumes cratered from pandemic-driven highs—the company isn’t profitable.

Petersen spoke with the Logistics Report about what is needed to turn a profit and what he sees as the role of technology in running a global logistics company. A podcast of the full interview is available here. Edited excerpts are below:

WSJ: Flexport has pitched itself as a disrupter coming into what you describe as an old-school industry running off emails and faxes. At the same time, you believe there is a need for hands-on customer service. Do you feel like technology has been overhyped in its ability to make supply-chain operations more efficient?

Petersen: One thing that has really differentiated Flexport from the rest of tech companies in logistics is that we see ourselves first and foremost as a customer solutions company. We’re going to solve problems for customers and that means we are willing to pick up the phone…

The full post is here.