Digital Next Ventures launches ShipSherpa on-demand and same-day delivery retail technology platform
Digital Next Ventures has officially launched ShipSherpa, a logistics platform built to disrupt the UK same-day and on-demand delivery market.
Phase one of the launch sees Digital Next Ventures begin building out a dedicated technology and e-commerce arm alongside its Digital Next agency.
Digital Next Ventures says that it has invested £100,000 to date into the development of ShipSherpa and e-commerce projects, with the ambition of creating the most elite technology enabled logistics network in the UK. It also plans to launch its own e-commerce brands, utilising the skills, knowledge and infrastructure of the Digital Next agency team across performance marketing, SEO, paid media, web development, automation, AI search and digital growth.
Built for logistics managers, businesses, self-employed owner-driver couriers and fleet operators, ShipSherpa has been designed to make same-day delivery easier, faster and more intuitive. The platform aims to solve one of the biggest problems in logistics: outdated, fragmented and manual processes. Logistics managers will be able to book, manage and track urgent same-day deliveries in one place.
Between now and the end of the year, ShipSherpa’s goal is to onboard 10,000+ self-employed owner-driver couriers across the UK, creating a verified network capable of supporting businesses that need to move goods quickly, reliably and on-demand. Self-employed owner-driver couriers and logistics operators can now sign up here.
A customer facing portal is scheduled to launch in August. Later down the line, fleet operators will be able to upload their own vehicles onto the platform, allowing them to generate revenue from idle fleet capacity and flex their operations up and down without having to invest in additional vehicles.
Justin Blackhurst, Founder at Digital Next Ventures, pictured above, says: “ShipSherpa is the first major move in our new technology and e-commerce strategy. We have built a strong agency team at Digital Next across performance marketing, SEO, paid media, web development, automation and AI. The next step is to use that expertise to build and scale our own technology platforms and ecommerce businesses.”
“Same-day delivery is a market that is ready for better technology. Too much of the industry still relies on manual processes, phone calls, spreadsheets and fragmented courier networks. “With ShipSherpa, our aim is to build the most elite logistics network in the UK, powered by technology that logistics managers actually want to use. The platform has to be simple, intuitive and operationally powerful.”
He adds: “We have invested £100,000 to date because we believe there is a huge opportunity to revolutionise how same-day delivery is booked, managed and fulfilled. Driver and logistics operator sign-ups are now live, and our customer facing portal is scheduled to launch in August. This is not just about building another courier platform. It is about building the technology layer for the future of on-demand logistics.”
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
On-demand delivery will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
