What was Webvan's stance regarding Inventory Ownership, contrasting with later models?
Answer
Yes (Owned warehouses)
The historical context shows that Webvan attempted to replicate the entire supermarket experience digitally by owning the supply chain entirely. As detailed in the comparison chart, Webvan maintained ownership over the inventory housed within their own massive, dedicated warehouses. This proprietary ownership of stock and storage infrastructure is listed as a key characteristic distinguishing their asset-heavy model from the asset-light approach adopted by subsequent app-based services like Instacart, which utilized existing retailer stock.
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