Shopify is promoting its logistics unit to provide chain know-how firm Flexport, the businesses introduced Thursday.

The sale marks a reversal for Shopify, which had spent years constructing out its personal logistics and order-fulfillment operations. The unit consists of last-mile supply startup Deliverr, which Shopify bought final Could for $2.1 billion, its largest acquisition ever.

As a part of the settlement, Shopify will obtain inventory that represents a roughly 13% fairness curiosity in Flexport, “bringing us to a high-teens possession,” the corporate stated in an announcement.

Shopify and Flexport are deepening their alliance as Shopify seeks to compete with e-commerce rivals corresponding to Amazon and Walmart. The businesses introduced a partnership in February that provides Shopify retailers entry to Flexport’s freight providers, together with reserving worldwide shipments from suppliers to their warehouses. Flexport additionally counts Shopify as an investor.

Shopify president Harley Finkelstein stated in an interview that after occurring a “aspect quest” to develop the corporate’s personal success and logistics companies, it turned clear that it may supply these providers extra successfully by integrating with Flexport.

“This enables Flexport to do what they do finest, and permits Shopify to return to doing what we do finest, which is constructing unimaginable software program for e-commerce,” Finkelstein stated.

Flexport, which topped final yr’s CNBC Disruptor 50 record, has grow to be some of the invaluable logistics startups after elevating roughly $2.3 billion up to now. Flexport’s ocean, air, truck and rail-freight forwarding and brokerage providers turned essential instruments as provide chain bottlenecks roiled the worldwide economic system final yr.

Flexport has been bulking up its roster of ex-Amazon executives, together with hiring away its CEO Dave Clark from the e-retailer final June, the place he spent practically twenty years and constructed out Amazon’s transportation and logistics unit.

Clark stated in an interview that the acquisition will permit Flexport to scale the delivery capabilities it will possibly supply for Shopify retailers, and different on-line companies.

“The massive distinction between what we will supply, and an Amazon or perhaps a Walmart logistics or a number of the different locations supply, is that this is not only for one system or retailer or platform,” Clark stated. “Now we have very a lot the identical imaginative and prescient that Shopify has. We’re simply in regards to the success of the service provider and our clients, and we do not care in the event that they promote of their shops or on Amazon or on Walmart.”

Flexport might be Shopify’s official logistics supplier, and a most popular associate for its “Store Promise,” a badge displayed on Shopify retailers’ listings that ensures next- and two-day supply, much like Amazon’s Prime supply promise.

Shopify can even retain its Shopify Achievement Community app the place retailers handle their logistics course of.

The corporate is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings earlier than the bell Thursday.