Postmates

“Anything, anytime, anywhere. Postmate it”

Founded: 2011 in California, USA

Category: Supply chain & logistics

Primary office: San Francisco, California (USA)

Core technical team: San Francisco, California (USA)

Status: Private

Employees: 1000+

Amount raised: $903 million (14 rounds – September 2019)

OVERVIEW

Provides an AI-driven online platform and delivery service that enables on-demand delivery of food, groceries and retail products and services

PERFORMANCE METRICS

ACHIEVEMENTS

500,000 in-app searches daily
Operates in 4,200 USA cities
Access to 600,000 merchants
Serve – World’s first autonomous, “socially aware”, navigation-friendly delivery robot (2018)
95% on-time rate

Postmate Fleet – on demand delivery as-a-service
Postmates for Business – Integratable API that enables seamless delivery service for businesses
Urban logistics platform connects customers with local couriers who deliver nearly anything in minutes

Founder-led Management team
Big data Analytics & Machine learning
Integration with popular technology platforms – e.g., Square, Shopify and Script
Seamless API/POS integration with Merchants’ websites or storefronts
Empower communities to shop locally and empower business to grow using Postmates platform

Assets

Processes

User-friendly omni-channel platform and dashboard for quick insight
Instant activation and customizable delivery schedule
Dedicated Customer service & technical support for various user segments – Customer, Fleet, Merchant
Real-time tracking system and messaging
Free sign-up, zero fees or time commitments, easy cash-out for delivery workforce/contractors
API to allow businesses to offer delivery through the platform
Uses their cities, towns, communities as warehouses – does not build warehouses and funnel groups into such – helps brick and mortar stores to compete against large retailers (in contradistinction with Amazon’s fulfillment centers approach)
Open 24 hours a day/365 days a year
Postmates works on a 4-step process: clients browse stores and products; payment is made (to postmates) and delivery fee added; notification of order sent to gig delivery person; order can be tracked, received and tips provided
Revenues generated from delivery fee, convenience fee (9% of order) and a merchant programme

Priorities

Develop and sell products that address a problem, job to be done or a need that is shared by a large and growing number of individuals and organizations in various regions to increase sales.
Increase value by arranging and directing a community comprised of groups that are external and internal to the company and connect everything needed to scale
Increase market share by applying digital technology to brand, market, sell, and service customers more cost-effectively than competitors
Increase the company’s value by continuously seeking and receiving funding to support the company’s plan to scale and improve its image in the marketplace
Continuously improve the user interfaces and applications that directly influence the entirety of the customer experience including personalized content, quality messaging, and the delivery and returns process to increase sales

Constine, J. 2018. Postmates unveils Serve, a friendlier autonomous delivery robot. [online]. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/13/postmates-robot-serve/

Wilhelm, A. 2019. Postmates raises $225million more at $2.4B valuation despite private IPO filing. [online]. Crunchbase News. https://news.crunchbase.com/news/postmates-raises-225m-more-at-2-4b-valuation-despite-private-ipo-filing/