Bill.com, a popular provider of cloud-based software that simplifies, digitizes, and automates back end financial transactions for smaller businesses has acquired fintech Divvy for $2.5 billion in a stock and cash transaction. 

The deal is expected to close around the end of September and of course, is subject to those pesky regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

According to Business Insider, Bill.com chose Divvy as the acquisition target because its customers have been asking for more tools to manage their B2B spending, and Divvy gives them real-time insight into all their B2B spend. The startup can also contribute its automated payable, receivables, and workflow capabilities.

The goal of this acquisition is so Bill.com can expand its product suite for clients, and in turn retain more business. The acquisition is part of Bill.com’s larger goal of creating a company that helps SMBs manage all their financial operations. The newly combined entity will catapult Bill.com’s reach to more SMBs beyond its existing 115,000 customers given Divvy’s 7,500 monthly active SMBs.

Surprisingly enough, a recent poll by Survey Monkey found that 86% of adults in the U.S. want to buy groceries themselves at the store. This negates the popular theory that eCommerce would reign supreme in the post-pandemic world. Turns out we’re all just a little antsy. 

Moreover, the survey reports that in-store shopping maintained strong preferences of 80% or more across gender (90% of men and 82% of women), age groups and income groups.

Beyond that main finding, the survey goes into the nitty gritty of shopping preferences across platforms, gender, and more. Other surveys have hinted that pickup will continue to dominate over delivery, but the Survey Monkey results suggest the two e-commerce options can each target different demographics. 

Consumers ages 18 to 34 were all for delivery, with 9% in that age group saying they prefer it, while the same percentage of people ages 65 and older said they favor pickup. 

With that being said, physical retailers have no choice but to amp up their in-store offerings to harness the momentum of foot traffic. With the vaccine rollout going pretty smoothly, the prep should start yesterday. For retailers, combining in-store discounts with immersive experiences so that cash-strapped, stressed-out shoppers feel that they’re getting more for their money than simply the products that they purchase could be the ticket to success. 

The visual appeal of stores combined with using interactive digital signage that fits within a broader design aesthetic could also ramp up a customer’s experience. Most importantly, stores must offer safe, efficient passage throughout with features like self-checkout and curbside pickup.

Alexa, play “Best of Both Worlds” by Hannah Montanna, because UberEats and GoPuff are joining forces. Uber Eats is launching an “everyday essentials” online shop powered by Gopuff, launching nationwide this summer. 

Now, in the same place that you can order some Thai food, you can also pick up some essentials like a toothbrush, a Klondike Bar, or even some treats for your cat. Customers will order through Uber Eats, and that order will be sent to one of Gopuff’s 250 micro-fulfillment centers.

The deal marks firsts for both companies. It’s the first time Uber has partnered with a vertically integrated delivery business, and Gopuff’s first white-label offering for another company. This emphasizes the ever growing importance of convenience in delivery. 

An important facet to note is that consumers who order meals on Uber Eats and convenience items at the same time will have those fulfilled by different drivers. However, both companies said the order process will be seamless, with customers paying directly through the UberEats app. Gopuff has a flat $1.95 delivery fee, but orders over $15 will be free for Uber Eats Pass and Uber Pass subscribers.

Thinking back to last summer, Uber launched a grocery delivery service that’s now available in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas to increase its number of locations that offer more than just restaurant food. Enter GoPuff. They have the infrastructure to deliver across more than 650 U.S. cities, but they also want to increase the business flowing through its more than 250 small dark stores. So it seems as though this pairing is a match made in heaven. 

Today on the show we have an interview with Jordan West, CEO of Mindful Marketing.

As a multi-brand owner and marketer with his own agency, Jordan shares insights with SUMO Heavy Co-founder and CEO, Bart Mroz on scaling his online audience:

Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.