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AfterShip: Leveraging Google Cloud for E-commerce Parcel Tracking Growth
Technology Category
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Public Cloud
Applicable Industries
- Cement
- E-Commerce
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Construction Management
- Infrastructure Inspection
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
The Challenge
AfterShip, a Hong Kong-based company providing e-commerce shipment, label and rate calculation, and self-service return services to 300,000 merchants worldwide, was facing a significant challenge. The company was experiencing rapid growth, tracking about 30 million packages per month and doubling its revenue, package transaction numbers, and team size every year for the past three years. However, it was struggling to maintain this growth trajectory while automating key infrastructure processes, implementing a continuous deployment model, and controlling costs. The company was also keen on maintaining a global presence and high-quality service. AfterShip had initially delivered its applications and services from an incumbent public cloud service, but it was not meeting their needs for scalability and cost-effectiveness.
About The Customer
AfterShip is a technology company founded in 2011, headquartered in Hong Kong, with a 40-person team spread across China and India. The company provides e-commerce shipment, label and rate calculation, and self-service return services to 300,000 merchants worldwide. It tracks about 30 million packages per month and has expanded its services to include label and rate calculation and self-service return. The company has been experiencing rapid growth, with its revenue, package transaction numbers, and team size doubling every year for the past three years. Key customers of AfterShip include Wish, Etsy, and Groupon. Nearly half of AfterShip’s customers are based in the United States, about one third in Europe, and the remainder are located in Asia.
The Solution
AfterShip decided to migrate to Google Cloud to address its challenges. Google Cloud's network of global data centers with deep connectivity allowed AfterShip to place its infrastructure close to its customers, enabling it to maintain a global presence and high-quality service. The ability to horizontally scale its global database using tools such as Google Cloud Spanner eliminated any limits to its geographic expansion. The managed services provided through Google Cloud allowed AfterShip to focus on building better features for online merchants. AfterShip moved its websites into Google Cloud infrastructure in three data centers around the world. The company used Google Kubernetes Engine and Google Cloud Spanner, and Google BigQuery to store and analyze transaction information. This migration was completed with the help of Google and AfterShip's skilled team members.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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