On the dot, the machine learning-driven last mile delivery start-up, and part of the CitySprint Group, has announced it has appointed Thorsten Runge as its international director. Thorsten will drive the company’s global strategy to help retailers expand and compete on an international scale, starting with the US market.
Thorsten brings years of experience having led Amazon and eBay’s delivery innovation strategy for almost ten years. In his previous roles, he defined retailers’ delivery propositions, shaping their ability to expand and compete across new markets.
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On the dot now counts more than 300 brands as its customers, a number that’s tripled since it received £8 million funding earlier this year. This year, the company has processed a total of 500,0000 deliveries. Capitalising on its momentum in the UK, On the dot is launching a pilot in New York City with a London-based global luxury retailer who is looking to scale its operations.
Recent research from CitySprint Group shows that although 33% of SMEs say Brexit is having a negative impact on their business, 25% of businesses want to grow their customer base and increase trade in North America over the next 12 months.
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Benefitting from Thorsten’s experience, On the dot has selected NYC for the trial as it shares many similarities with London, the birthplace of the company’s technology, including a population of over 8 million and a high concentration of financial services, media and tech businesses. This trial is designed to collect data on the nuances in the US courier and retail markets before rolling out its operations across other states. ‘Training’ in the harshest conditions for delivery in the world, On the dot’s machine learning-driven technology will be able to stand up to the rigours of new markets and scale quickly.
Commenting on the appointment and the expansion, Santosh Sahu, founder and CEO of On the dot, said: “On the dot’s SaaS-based approach to delivery was built with international aspirations from day one. The technology we’ve built to help retailers compete with Amazon has potential well beyond the UK. When our customers began asking if we could support their global expansions and with Brexit around the corner, we knew it was the right time. And New York City, a hotbed of tech innovation, is the right place. It’s the only city rivalling London’s challenging operations and ‘on-demand’ consumer segment of time-poor, convenience-driven, affluent individuals. Success in these markets will ensure we’re poised to conquer any metropolitan area around the world.”
