Stowga warehousing marketplace scales up to drive On-Demand Logistics reality

Logistics tech specialist Value Chain Lab (VCL) has completed the acquisition of UK-based warehousing marketplace Stowga to further build out its On-Demand Logistics platform for a global audience.

Based in London, Stowga is the largest On-Demand Warehousing Marketplace servicing the UK and global markets. Its clients include 3PLs (Third Party Logistics), industrial property owners, and partners with vacant space within existing commercial warehouses.

The Stowga marketplace connects businesses that need additional flexible warehousing services with suppliers that meet their chosen requirements. The search interface allows customers to identify the most appropriate site, view service offerings as well as price indications for handling and storage, then connect directly with the provider to discuss specifics and agree on a transaction.

Going forward, all existing capabilities will be maintained and enhanced, but the main aim is to add new operational functionality to the marketplace that ushers in the era of fully flexible and efficient logistics services for customers worldwide. What this means in real terms is a streamlined Control Tower type functionality with an intuitive dashboard and collaborative end-to-end fulfilment tools for customers to optimise operational efficiency and control costs, whilst maximising Customer Service delivery.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Ostroumov, CEO of VCL, said: “The acquisition of Stowga is a key part of our vision to completely transform the logistics and fulfillment experience. We aim to take Stowga from a marketplace of searchable sites and partners, to a platform that will enable day to day operational communication between all parties.

The end-to-end flow of physical products can be orchestrated via the platform, which will offer everything from control tower, to invoice tracking, to performance management from a single dashboard.”

Stowga has already digitised the entire process of searching for and booking warehousing services, so the process takes only a fraction of the time normally taken. Further development of the platform will extend its capabilities with action orientated analytical engines and predictive functionality to support effective decision making and pre-empt potential inefficiencies.

“The aim is to simplify and demystify the process of logistics management,”* said Ostroumov. “We want to help our customers move away from spreadsheets and emails as the main management tools to an intelligent, streamlined, and efficient way of running the supply chain. This allows the business to focus on doing what they do best.”*