A startup Logistics engine firm known as Locad announced they raised USD 11M to boost modern consumer brands in the Philippines.
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The CEO Constantin Robertz speaking |
Locad raised USD 11m funds!
The company was launched back in 2021 in the Philippines and its logistics engine is a cloud supply chain that provides brands to store, pack, ship, and track orders for e-commerce and omnichannel retail through a tech platform that is then connected to a network of warehouse and shipping partners.
Think of them as a bridge to Shopping platforms (Lazada, Shopee, Shopify, TikTok shop), Sellers, warehouses, and the ultimate end user (customer).
As modern consumer brands in the Philippines and APAC are transforming to direct-to-consumer and omnichannel retail, we have seen that the supply chain and fulfillment infrastructure is a key barrier to scaling the business, and the bar is only rising further due to higher customer expectations for fast delivery, and the complexity driven by an increasing number of sales channels. Ultimately, our goal is to enable a frictionless movement of physical goods and data across the supply chain for SME and enterprise brands, enabling anyone to sell anywhere, on any sales channel, and deliver seamlessly, says Locad CEO and Co-founder Constantin Robertz.
The round was headed by Reefknot Investments, a fund anchored by Temasek and logistics brand Kuehne and Nagel.
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The fund's purpose |
The company says it will use the funding for expansion, product development, and talent acquisition.
When they say expansion, they will add more warehouses to cater to the demand and partner with transport operators. While product development refers to system updates, protecting servers from hackers, and ensuring that the inventory data of merchants is in sync with the e-commerce platforms.
While talent acquisition refers to hiring professionals that can contribute to or help them in achieving the goals of the company.
For me, it speaks volumes that Locad sees the potential of SMEs to grow into big brands one day. And we’re very happy with the decision to work with Locad because we grew so much —our overall orders increased by 200% when we went live on Shopee and Lazada through the help of Locad, shares Ena Quitain, COO of dermatology brand DMD Skin Sciences
Currently, Locad was able to provide services to International companies like Havaianas, Century Tuna, Reckitt Benckiser, and Emma Sleep.
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Locad's dashboard |
For locals, they were able to support DMD Skin Sciences, Rawbites PH, Nuprene Co, and many more.
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It even provides sales overview |
Right now, the logistics engine firm says they have a 99 percent same-day order fulfillment rate and after 2 years they were able to expand its regional presence with 15 warehouses in the country.
What do you guys think?
Locad's successful Series A funding round, which raised USD 11 million, marks a significant milestone in enhancing modern consumer brands in the Philippines. This influx of capital will enable Locad to expand its logistics capabilities and provide better support for local businesses aiming to thrive in the e-commerce space. With the growing demand for efficient supply chain solutions, this funding could pave the way for more innovative services in the region.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, as businesses look to adapt, keeping an eye on the SASSA grant status could present further opportunities for financial support. While not guaranteed, this funding avenue could complement Locad’s initiatives, offering a chance for businesses to grow and succeed in the competitive market.