Hot Take Series – Lessons from the Frontlines of Enterprise Growth

Mike shares candid insights from the field, from why integration isn’t optional anymore to how AI automation and trusted partnerships redefine growth in last-mile delivery.

Industry
September 2, 2025
6 minutes
Burq Blog: Hot Take Series Featuring Mike Canney

Integration Isn’t Optional Anymore

Enterprise last-mile priorities can shift, but lately one thing keeps rising to the top: integration.

“Companies want flexibility and scalability, but above all, they want something that makes their life easier, not more complex,” Mike said. “An all-in-one platform where they can do everything is key to sustainable, scalable operations.”

For enterprises juggling multiple tools and fragmented workflows, micro-optimizations aren’t enough. The real win comes from unifying systems so teams can manage it all in one place — without the patchwork headaches.

The Same Pain Points, Everywhere You Go

Industry? Size? Doesn’t matter. Mike hears the same things from every enterprise he talks to: cost control, delivery optimization, and better visibility.

“Everyone is looking to reduce costs while improving service,” he explained. “They also want better tracking and communication throughout the entire delivery experience.”

And then there’s driver availability, a pain point that’s only getting louder. “Especially in hyperlocal cases,” Mike said, “companies need last-mile providers who are both flexible and cost-effective.”

The Complexity Myth

Some enterprises assume bringing on a platform like Burq will make things more complicated. Mike’s seen the opposite.

“I’ve spoken to hundreds of enterprises, and the way they’re doing delivery now is inefficient,” he said. “Enterprises are juggling multiple DSPs and refunds while fighting to maintain service levels. That’s complexity they don’t need.”

The fix? A single partner who’s already mastered that complexity for them.

Aligning the Big Picture

When you’re consulting with an enterprise, you’re rarely talking to just one department. Mike knows getting everyone on the same page is half the battle.
“The key is figuring out the goals they want to achieve and the pain points preventing them from getting there,” he explained. “Whether it’s Marketing, Operations, Customer Service, or IT, they all need to agree on cost, customer experience, and scalability.”

That alignment isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s what drives real progress.

Looking Past the Quick Fix

In-house fleets look good on paper — until you run the numbers.

“I’ve worked with merchants doing tens of thousands of deliveries a week with their own fleets,” Mike said. “On paper, it seemed cheaper than using third-party providers. But once we broke down vehicle costs, insurance, taxes, gas, wages, and everything else, they were losing money.”

Switching to a platform that secures better rates and optimizes provider selection? That’s how they turned delivery into a profit center instead of a drain.

Vendor vs. Partner

Mike’s been around enough to know that not all delivery providers are created equal.

“A vendor just gives you a product or service. A trusted partner understands your challenges, aligns with your strategic goals, and acts as an extension of your team,” he said. “That’s what Burq does. We care at the end of the day.”

The One Change That Changes Everything

If there’s one thing that could make a delivery platform indispensable, Mike doesn’t hesitate: automation.

“AI automation and predictive analytics,” he said. “Auto-routing, automated workflows, and predictive tools that can detect when a delivery is about to go bad and fix it before the customer even notices.”

Because in enterprise delivery, the best problems are the ones your customers never know existed.

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