Extensiv > Case Studies > LastObject: Eliminating Single-Use Plastic with IoT

LastObject: Eliminating Single-Use Plastic with IoT

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Technology Category
  • Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Applicable Industries
  • Packaging
  • Retail
Applicable Functions
  • Sales & Marketing
  • Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
  • Intelligent Packaging
  • Inventory Management
Services
  • System Integration
About The Customer
LastObject is a Danish company that was launched in 2019 through Kickstarter. The company is on a mission to create sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic products. Their primary products include the LastSwab, a reusable cotton swab, and the LastTissue, a handkerchief-tissue pack combination. After raising nearly $800,000 each for LastSwab and LastTissue, LastObject started shipping their products worldwide. They aim to offer worldwide seamless fulfillment, integrate with an Asia-Pacific based 3PL, and ship all products with plastic-free, eco-friendly packaging. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LastObject created the LastMask, a reusable face mask with a silicone carry case.
The Challenge
LastObject, a Danish company launched in 2019, is on a mission to create sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic products. Their primary products include the LastSwab, a reusable cotton swab, and the LastTissue, a handkerchief-tissue pack combination. After raising nearly $800,000 each for LastSwab and LastTissue, LastObject started shipping their products worldwide. However, they faced challenges with international shipping, including handling taxes and other legal issues. Packages would occasionally not reach the customer due to customs issues and would have to be resent, wasting time for all involved. LastObject hoped to find an Asia-Pacific based shipping solution that worked with Skubana, their existing operations platform, to seamlessly fulfill orders to Asian and Australian customers. They also wanted their packaging to be plastic-free, requiring support from their potential fulfillment partner.
The Solution
LastObject partnered with Skubana, an operations platform that could manage orders across dozens of platforms, including websites such as Shopify and eBay. This allowed LastObject to get a complete view of their sales channel activity. They also partnered with Floship, a fulfillment partner that reached out after backing the Kickstarters. Floship was a better fit for many of their processes, including their plans to integrate it with Skubana. In May of 2020, LastObject signed on with Floship and was set up in their Hong Kong warehouse, ensuring easy shipping to both Asian and Australian customers. Floship worked hard to achieve LastObject’s goal of packaging all orders without plastic. They helped LastObject source the correct packaging and ensure they were supporting LastObject’s mission of environmental sustainability. Since Floship integrates directly with Skubana, LastObject is able to monitor available supply while selling single-use plastic alternatives to regions that need it most.
Operational Impact
  • The partnership with Skubana and Floship has brought significant operational benefits to LastObject. The ability to see multichannel order data in a single dashboard allows LastObject to easily identify top customer segments. With real-time data, LastObject is able to grow strategically and spread their mission based on areas with the highest customer density. To keep up with demand, inventory alerts let LastObject's operation team know when an item is running out of stock. Automated POs mean high-velocity SKUs are replenished just in time without the risk of overstocking. The integration support allows LastObject to manage their entire sales process from pricing to shipping all under one platform. This has helped LastObject to continue their mission of eliminating single-use plastic globally.
Quantitative Benefit
  • LastObject was able to expand its retail operations to new channels including eBay, Amazon.com, and five of Amazon’s international marketplaces.
  • LastObject is able to connect Skubana to each of its sales channels, 3PLs and accompanying warehouses in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
  • LastObject is able to manage a global wholesale and direct-to-consumer business, unifying data and operations within one platform.

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