Target hopes Grand Junction acquisition will help it compete with Amazon

By Lulu Chang August 15, 2017

target acquires grand junction store night

Look out, Amazon. Target is coming for your crown, or at least preparing moves in that direction. The brick and mortar retailer just acquired software company Grand Junction, a San Franciscan startup that connects distributors to a large network of over 700 carriers throughout North America. So what does this all mean? Well, it could be that Target is trying to rival Amazon’s famous two-day delivery standard.

As Target noted in a release, the goal of this new purchase is “to improve and expand Target’s delivery capabilities.” Arthur Valdez, Target’s executive vice president, chief supply chain and logistics officer noted, “Grand Junction’s technology and algorithms will help Target deliver to guests faster and more efficiently. This acquisition is part of Target’s ongoing effort to strengthen Target’s supply chain to provide greater speed, reliability, and convenience for guests.”

Recommended Videos

This marks Target’s first acquisition since 2013, and details of the deal have yet to be disclosed. The small Grand Junction team (all of 13 people) will move into Target’s downtown San Francisco office.

It has been difficult for traditional retailers to compete with the behemoth that is Amazon. As ecommerce and online shopping continue to grow in popularity, many companies seem to be realizing that going digital may be the only way to stay relevant.

“Target is transforming its supply chain and logistics capabilities so we can serve guests with more speed and convenience, while creating new offerings and services,” Valdez said in an interview. “Whether guests shop online or in a store, they expect to get products quickly and on their terms.”

Grand Junction is expected to help enormously in this capacity, aiding Target in its same-day delivery capabilities, and perhaps even assembly and installation services.

“Our team is excited about the opportunity to continue our work with Target on same-day delivery service, and for the software platform we created to be a real differentiator for Target throughout its entire network of stores and distribution facilities,” said Rob Howard, Grand Junction CEO. “It’s a thrill to join a brand like Target, especially at a time like this when the company is dedicated to making supply chain and local delivery a game-changer.”

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Deals

It’s time to get creative: Get up to 20% off Autodesk software with this deal

Tech Center at Birmingham, Hermle using autodesk software to design.

This content was produced in partnership with Autodesk.
AutoCAD has long been a staple of design and drafting tool sets, from architects and engineers to construction pros. It allows you to both design and annotate your creations, using 2D geometry and 3D models complete with textures, solids, surfaces, and mesh objects. Why does that matter? It massively helps design new physical objects and spaces in a digital form. But AutoCAD goes way beyond that, as do most of Autodesk's software tools. It can be expensive to sign up for access, especially if you have a small to medium-sized team. With the current Autodesk software deal, you not only have the opportunity to try out the tools for free, but also you can get a significant discount, and lock in your price for three years. Between April 17 and 20, you can get 20% off AutoCAD LT and Revit LT Suit, and 15% off AutoCAD. That discount drops AutoCAD's price down to $1,564 -- if paid annually -- saving you nearly $400 ($391). That's an excellent deal but it won't be available for very long so act soon.

This Autodesk software deal nets you access to the company's latest products, namely AutoCAD which is an incredibly useful design and creativity tool. The most important takeaway is that it helps you complete your professional projects faster by unlocking access to automations and customizations. For example, you can fully customize your workspace with add-on apps and APIs that essentially transform the way you create, manipulate, and work with objects in the toolset. You can make things faster, especially the more you use the tool for your designs.

Business

Find exceptional talent: the best hiring platforms for small businesses

For hire sign used by small businesses on hiring platforms to find top-tier talent.

This content was produced in partnership with ZipRecruiter.
Without the right talent or the right people rather, no business could thrive, big or small. But finding top talent is extremely crucial for small businesses, especially when it comes to remaining competitive in today's market. Smaller operations generally have limited resources, so it's necessary to improve productivity and efficiency wherever possible, which is precisely where securing good talent comes into the picture. But how do you find those people? The answer is via hiring platforms a la ZipRecruiter. They not only bring in the talent but also help you better understand the people, their work histories, and their overall expertise. Moreover, they help streamline the hiring process making it easier to find relevant candidates.

In light of that, here are the seven best hiring platforms for small businesses that can help you secure a competitive edge with top-tier talent:

Deals

Need Help? These Are the Best places to hire people online

ZipRecruiter Job Board Lifestyle Post

This content was produced in partnership with ZipRecruiter.
Hiring the right people is a crucial part of developing your business. The best person for the job will be one that shares your vision, is highly responsible, appropriately skilled, and is an efficient worker. You know what you want from your next employee but what do you do when it comes to finding that person? With many different sources out there for finding the best way to hire employees, we've picked out the best places to hire people online including ways to find employees online fast or for a long-term commitment. There are dozens of sites available but it's important to pick the best outlet for the task, so you can spend less time on your recruitment drive and more time interviewing the best candidates for the job. Take a look below at the best places to hire people online.
ZipRecruiter

One of the most reliable names in the job posting world, ZipRecruiter is a great way of finding staff and quickly. It aims to make the hiring process as smooth as possible. It works by connecting to more than 100 job boards so the moment you create a job listing for your firm, ZipRecruiter posts it across the huge network so you're casting the net as wide as possible without having to manually create job listings at numerous sources.