Google is creeping more and more into the logistics space and now appears to be targeting Amazon for a lead within the e-commerce space. This past week, the IT Company acquired BufferBox for $17m.

BufferBox, a Canadian-based company, developed an automated, self-serve kiosk for parcels which allows for 24/7 pick-up deliveries. The kiosk supplies the user with a unique BufferBox address to have their parcel delivered to. Upon the arrival of a parcel, the user is emailed a unique, one-time-use PIN code for the kiosk to retrieve their purchase on their schedule. The company has been offering the service for free this year to help build up a user base. Eventually, it plans to charge $3 or $4 per package delivered to its boxes.

The parcel drop box phenomenon appears to be growing in the North American market as Amazon, USPS and Canadian start-up Kinek have all introduced their own versions. Reduced shipping costs, reduced mis-deliveries and the security these kiosks offer are among the appeal to both shippers and customers.

When asked why Google acquired BufferBox, the company stated "We want to remove as much friction as possible from the shopping experience, while helping consumers save time and money, and we think the BufferBox team has a lot of great ideas around how to do that."

Indeed, the company has made some interesting investments that have many wondering what Google's logistics plans may be. For example, in 2011, the company received a patent for shipment notifications and in 2012 another patent was granted for shipment tracking and monitor. In another interesting move, the company introduced its Blue Dot service in 2010. If an item is out of stock at one location, this mobile app service allows the user to locate alternative locations. Best Buy, Sears, Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn are part of this service by providing local inventory details to Google.

Its acquisition of Motorola's patents may also play a major role in its move into logistics. Google's patents, as well as it Blue Dot service, are designed for mobile commerce. Mobile commerce is growing quickly. While still in its infant stage, Forrester estimated mobile commerce grew 80% in 2011 and is likely to double that in 2012.

The use of mobile devices is also growing within the logistics industry – tablets, smartphones – are all being utilised to track goods, manage inventory and more. Perhaps Google is looking towards this opportunity as it continues to build out solutions for visibility and collaboration?

For more information on Google, Amazon and e-commerce logistics, check out Ti's latest report: North America e-commerce Logistics 2012. This is the first in a series of e-commerce reports with Asia and Europe market reports scheduled for publication in early 2013.

Kirby Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Penn Maritime and Maritime Investments, an operator of tank barges and tugboats participating in the coastal transportation of primarily black oil products in the US.  The total value of the transaction is approximately $295m.

Penn operates a fleet of 18 heated, double-hulled tank barges, with a capacity of 1.9m barrels, and 16 tugboats along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the US.  Penn's tank barge fleet has an average age of approximately 13 years with a product mix that consists primarily of refinery feedstocks, asphalt and crude oil.  Penn's customers include major oil companies and refiners, nearly all of whom are current Kirby customers for inland tank barge services.

Joe Pyne, Kirby's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to announce our agreement with Penn Maritime.  Penn is a well-respected US Jones Act coastal tank barge operator with a well-maintained fleet, and earns the majority of its revenue from term contracts with blue chip domestic and international oil and refining customers.  Penn's fleet will extend our coastal product capabilities, particularly transporting asphalt, which we expect to benefit from the need to repair and upgrade aging highway infrastructure throughout the United States.  Penn also has vessels operating in the Gulf Coast crude oil trade which is benefitting from the production and transport of shale-based crude, particularly out of the Eagle Ford shale formation."

HOYER announced it has acquired the bulk liquid division of Dutch logistics company De Rijke. The company stated that the acquisition will significantly improve its market position in European chemical logistics.

"De Rijke's portfolio is an ideal match for HOYER's growth strategy," said Günter-Friedrich Maas, head of the Chemilog business unit at HOYER, explaining the takeover. "We will be gaining market share, particularly in our relations to and from the UK, Scandinavia and Italy."

One particular advantage is also De Rijke's pronounced intermodal focus: more than 75% of sales of De Rijke's bulk liquid unit are generated by intermodal transport. "Development of these services is an important component in HOYER's strategy," Maas continued. "For the HOYER Chemilog business unit, the acquisition adds up to an increase of 40% in intermodal business alone."