Logistics

The coronavirus crisis has created rising e-commerce demand, with customers stuck indoors ordering everything from food delivery to clothing and items for home improvement. Clipper operates a fleet of more than 470 vehicles and counts U.K. retailers including Asda, John Lewis Plc and Marks & Spencer Group Plc among its clients.

The service, using Microsoft’s cloud software, will give big and small companies real-time data to determine ways to improve how they move goods.

The demand for automation and more fulfillment centers is driving deal activity from buyers, including XPO, C.H. Robinson and J.B. Hunt

The transportation and logistics sector has been consolidating for years because it’s highly fragmented and companies in the space can benefit from scale.