Amazon.com is reportedly looking for partners to coordinate its growing shipping and logistics operations.
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources at freight technology companies, reported Wednesday that the world's largest e-retailer reached out to those companies to inquire about their services.
Amazon, long plagued by rising shipping costs and delays among its traditional parcel delivery contractors, dramatically stepped up its internal shipping operations in recent months.
The Seattle e-commerce giant purchased truck trailers and leased cargo planes in the U.S. and took over a French parcel carrier.
Amazon's boldest effort, however, appears to be a move to establish a massive shipping network between factories and suppliers in Asia and customers in the U.S.
The company registered as an ocean freight carrier in both the U.S. and China, and reports noted that sellers overseas could likely book cheaper shipping through Amazon due to its enormous volume.
But in order to coordinate those projects, Amazon will likely need to join the ranks of other large companies that rely on transportation management software to move goods through their supply chains.
The Journal reported that Amazon wants to license or acquire technology that will find efficient shipping routes and hire planes, vehicles or vessels.
The move also comes at a time of upheaval for the freight forwarding industry. Although many transactions are still conducted on pre-Internet technology, startups and established companies alike are working on systems to easily book and track shipments online.
