Via.Delivery

Via.Delivery provides a Buy Online Pickup Anywhere (BOPA) solution for online retailers and direct-to-consumer brands. It operates a network of over 36,000 US pickup locations, enabling Click and Collect, Hold at Location (HAL), and access points. This technology integrates into retailer platforms, optimizing last-mile logistics for convenient customer parcel retrieval.

The company was co-founded by Mitchell Nikitin, CEO, Olga Nikitina, CPO, and Vladislav Baginsky, CTO. Mitchell Nikitin, an experienced technology product founder, identified a market need for flexible delivery alternatives. This insight, along with Olga Nikitina’s executive background in meal kit delivery, shaped the company’s focus on accessible logistics.

Via.Delivery targets e-commerce businesses aiming to expand delivery choices and improve satisfaction. Its vision centers on solving supply chain and logistics complexities by growing its network and advancing technology. Via.Delivery seeks to be a crucial element of modern delivery infrastructure, adapting to consumer preferences for convenient parcel access.

High-Level Overview

Via.Delivery is a cloud-based delivery platform providing Buy Online, Pickup Anywhere (BOPA) solutions for e-commerce retailers and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. It enables shoppers to select from over 36,000 U.S. pickup locations—including pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, and retail chains—for convenient, secure package collection, solving last-mile delivery challenges like missed deliveries and high shipping costs.[1][2][4][6] The platform integrates seamlessly with tools like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Salesforce, and ShipStation, generating compliant labels, handling shipping via optimized carriers, and sending branded notifications, with over 1 million parcels delivered to date.[1][2][4][6]

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the seed-stage company has raised $3.53M, partnering with brands like Wineshipping, Perry Ellis International, and others to reduce costs and boost customer convenience in a competitive e-commerce landscape.[1][2][6]

Origin Story

Via.Delivery was co-founded in 2019 by Mitchell Nikitin (CEO) and Olga Nikitin (CPO), drawing from their prior experience in delivery and e-commerce businesses that highlighted gaps in last-mile logistics.[2] Vladislav Baginsky (CTO) joined with 20+ years as a CIO/CTO to architect the AWS-based platform, enabling instant integrations via APIs and plugins.[2] Jeff (COO) brought 30+ years of retail supply chain expertise, including managing a $12B organization, securing key U.S. logistics partnerships.[2]

The idea emerged from identifying demand for flexible pickup options amid rising e-commerce shipping frustrations, leading to the creation of the largest BOPA network. Early traction included a 2021 PRWeb announcement as first-to-market for Shopify merchants and a 2023 exclusive Wineshipping partnership, with rapid growth to 36,000+ locations.[1][2][3]

Core Differentiators

• Massive BOPA Network: Access to 36,000+ commercial pickup locations (28,000 wine-compliant), far exceeding typical options, including HAL (Hold-at-Location) sites that eliminate missed deliveries via staff sign-off and ID-required pickup.[1][2][4][6]
• Seamless Integrations and Speed: Plugins for Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, ShipStation, and OMS systems; setup in under 30 minutes with map/list-based checkout selection and automated compliant label generation.[2][4][6]
• End-to-End Logistics: Carrier contracts optimized for BOPA deliveries (matching or beating ground residential times), branded notifications, interactive dashboards for tracking/returns, and concierge communication.[1][4][6]
• Cost and Convenience Focus: Reduces shipping expenses for retailers without physical stores, offers shoppers proximity-based options (e.g., 1-minute average pickup), and supports D2C scalability with high NPS (70) and TrustScores (4.7-4.8).[3][4][6]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Via.Delivery rides the e-commerce logistics boom, fueled by post-pandemic shifts to flexible fulfillment amid rising consumer expectations for speed, affordability, and sustainability—BOPA cuts residential delivery failures and emissions via existing retail infrastructure.[1][3][7] Timing aligns with 100,000+ merchants seeking ShipStation carriers for local options, as startups like Via.Delivery enable B2B growth in enhanced customer experiences.[6][7]

Market forces favoring it include carrier cost pressures, urban/suburban density enabling dense networks, and integrations with dominant platforms like Shopify, positioning it to influence ecosystem-wide adoption of alternative delivery, potentially standardizing BOPA for D2C brands.[1][2][6]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Via.Delivery is poised for expansion through deeper partnerships (e.g., more OMS/Commerce7 support) and network growth, capitalizing on e-commerce's projected doubling by 2027 amid logistics crunches.[1][2] Trends like AI-optimized routing, wine/alcohol compliance scaling, and omnichannel retail will shape its path, potentially attracting Series A funding post its 2022 raise.[1]

As BOPA becomes table stakes for competitive shipping, Via.Delivery's first-mover network and tech stack could redefine last-mile norms, empowering retailers to match Amazon's convenience without its infrastructure—watch for winery/apparel sector dominance evolving into broader verticals.[1][6]