FreshDirect is expanding its delivery services in the Washington, D.C., area with micro-fulfillment centers from Fabric, as both companies look to expand nationally.

Takeoff Technologies is among the companies seeing a spike in demand for automated microfulfillment centers, and its CEO explains the startup’s approach to the grocery market.

The expectations for e-commerce order fulfillment are accelerating expectations for supply chain insights, robustness, and flexibility, says Attabotics CEO Scott Gravelle.

A consumer survey supports predictions that online grocery orders will increase to 10% of total sales this year, reported micro-fulfillment provider Fabric. The novel coronavirus outbreak has accelerated this increase, it said.