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Category: Logistics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Logistics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • DHL Express recognized as APAC Employer in 2018 by Aon Hewitt

    DHL Express recognized as APAC Employer in 2018 by Aon Hewitt

    DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has been named Asia Pacific Best Employer 2018 by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc. This is the fifth time DHL Express has won this award in the region, since 2013. This accolade is conferred to companies which have won Aon Hewitt awards in at least three countries across the region, and DHL has exceeded this expectation by winning Best Employer in India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

    Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific said, “It is an honor to be recognized as a leading employer and an excellent workplace in Asia Pacific again. This award is a huge win for the region because it is strong proof that we have been successful in building positive relationships with our employees, who are such vital assets to the success of our organization. As we aim to remain Employer of Choice, employee engagement continues to be our top priority and we are committed to sustained investment in our employees to help them realize their full potential.”

    Based on a comprehensive study, nominated companies were thoroughly assessed by an independent external committee based on three types of sources: employee opinion survey, human resources practices, and CEO questionnaire and interview. According to Aon Hewitt, DHL Express has demonstrated and achieved consistently high performance in key areas of Employee Engagement, Compelling Employer Brand, Effective Leadership and High Performance Culture across the region. Additionally, employee perception indicates that DHL Express excels in critical execution enablers including infrastructure and technology that drive productivity and encourage collaboration, and openness to diversity in the environment.

    DHL Express’ continuous investment in talent growth, including its Certified International Specialist (CIS) and Certified International Manager (CIM) programs has trained over 60,000 employees in Asia Pacific as of 2017. Employees are trained on the company strategy, and fundamentals of international and management skills such as ensuring respect and results while interacting with colleagues.

    In addition to the CIS and CIM programs, DHL Express regularly organizes activities that celebrate and recognize employees’ dedication and cultivate employee engagements at all levels. These include initiatives such as ‘Staff Appreciation Week’ and ‘Employee of the Year’. Most recently in August 2018, DHL Express held its DHL AsiaCup in Singapore — the annual employee football and cheerleading event involving more than 1,000 employees, to rally teams across the region to build an even stronger employee network and celebrate their successes.

    First conducted in Asia in 2001, Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers study aims to recognize companies that have a real competitive advantage by investing in its people, and to explore the winning attributes of a workplace of choice.

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  • JD.com expands logistics services to include parcel delivery

    JD.com expands logistics services to include parcel delivery

    Chinese e-commerce company JD is opening its logistics network up to consumers to send parcels around the country, marking the first entry by an e-commerce company into the parcel delivery business. The new JD parcel delivery service announced enables users of the company’s app in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to send items intra-city and throughout Mainland China, using the same fast and reliable delivery service JD offers with online purchases. The company, which will expand the program to include high-value items like luxury products and high-end consumer electronics, as well as more diverse options based on delivery timing, aims to eventually make residential and business deliveries for shippers from anywhere to anywhere within Mainland China in the future.

    JD is the only large-scale e-commerce company in the world to operate a nationwide in-house logistics network, down to the last mile. The company says its network, powered by its proprietary supply chain management technology, is able to deliver more than 90 per cent of orders same- or next-day, and reaches 99 per cent of China’s population.

    The new JD parcel delivery service includes a range of competitively priced options, including same-day delivery between different cities; same-day intra-city delivery; standard next-day or two-day delivery and next-day delivery between cities.

    “Depending on the delivery option chosen, packages may be sent by high-speed rail or air,” the company said in a statement. “Individual shippers can use the same JD app they use for shopping to schedule a pickup by one of JD’s full-time logistics staff, and have a parcel delivered thousands of miles away at the speed they choose. They will even be able to select JD’s luxury ‘white glove’ delivery service if they want to make the delivery extra special.”

    Zhenhui Wang, CEO of JD Logistics says the JD parcel delivery service marks the next step in leveraging the nationwide logistics network that JD has built over the past decade, to expand the range of services offered to its customers.

    “JD is known throughout China for the fastest and most reliable delivery, and we are confident that users will appreciate the convenience of this new service.”

    The program has already begun user trials with multiple ways for customers to request pickups. In addition to the JD app, shippers can request pickups on a JD Delivery mini program in WeChat, China’s largest social network operated by JD’s partner Tencent, and a JD “Delivery Team” WeChat account.

    JD unveiled the parcel delivery service at its 2018 Global Smart Supply Chain Summit held in Beijing today. Other initiatives announced at the summit – part of JD’s Global Smart Supply Chain Network Strategy – include JD’s smart warehouse management system initiative, an expansion of the company’s green initiatives, and the formation of a new energy union with 20 industry partners.

  • DHL Express Malta to expand capabilities on next-day deliveries

    DHL Express Malta to expand capabilities on next-day deliveries

    DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has taken a strategic decision to focus the activities of its Malta operation solely on Time Definite International (express) deliveries, reinforcing its commitment to ensure its parcels and documents are delivered on time.

    “Our express business is growing, and we want to focus on the cross-border e-commerce opportunities,” Charles Schiavone, Country Manager of DHL Express, said. “We will dedicate our resources on Express Services and achieve growth through quality.”

    As the company gears up for the forthcoming seasonal peak, Schiavone is keen to ensure the amount of successfully delivered shipments grows even higher. This service promise is backed by a further strengthening of the On Demand Delivery infrastructure through strategically placed automated DHL Parcel Lockers that are highly popular with its clients and can be accessed 24/7.

    DHL Express Malta has plans for five new Parcel Lockers in localities around Malta, including Mellieha, Zabbar, Zebbug and Zejtun, taking the total to 13. Additionally, another three add-on units will increase capacity to existing lockers. This will ensure that customers have a broader range to choose their preferred hi-tech unit.

    “We have seen our shipments growing by 20 per cent in the first six months of this year and we expect a similar increase in inward e-commerce business towards the end of the year,” Schiavone said.

    DHL Express Malta also plans to double the size of its facility in Luqa by the end of next year.

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  • DHL looks to pilot driverless trucks

    DHL looks to pilot driverless trucks

    A driverless car on Indian roads may still be a distant dream, but companies are actively looking at ways to use other autonomous vehicles like tractors, buses, trucks, and even choppers. German logistics giant DHL, for instance, feels driverless trucks can halve logistics costs and improve customer service.

    “In the last mile, on the line haul itself, the driverless technologies that are being piloted in Germany, we believe, have the potential to reduce line haul costs by 50 per cent,” Malcolm Monteiro, CEO, DHL eCommerce India told.

    About 65 per cent of logistics movements in India happen by road and about 85 per cent of these are in the unorganised sector; typically, a driver takes a truck for a long distance, and has to make stops for rest and food, which reduces the efficiency of truck use.

    “There’s a tremendous shortage of skilled drivers. We’re looking to see whether these vehicles can ply driverless in line haul on the last mile. If that happens, it brings in a lot of reliability into the system, besides reducing cost. Then we’ll probably not have to work on a hub-and-spoke model; we can even work point to point. So the entire business models could be looked at afresh with these technologies,” Monteiro said.

    Govt ‘favourable’ to idea

    Monteiro said the initial discussions with the Indian government over driverless technologies have been positive. “The government is favourable in terms of looking into it because it does realise there is a tremendous shortage of skilled drivers. So it will look at any technology to make sure the demand side is addressed. But we don’t have a concrete timeline. The intent is there, there’s ongoing discussion,” he added.

    Safety aspects

    But Moteiro said the company will test the safety aspects of driverless technologies in Germany before beginning pilots in India to ensure there is no scepticism about the technology here.

    “If we get this to work, it might look at it, pilot it. The intent is there, there’s ongoing discussion,” said Monteiro.

    DHL, however, is taking it one step at a time. “For a vehicle to be autonomous, driven fully, one of the first things that needs to happen is the electrification; we have a concrete target for electrification. And for autonomy to happen, we need everything electric. So, we are really focussing more of our efforts to electrify all our vehicles as a first step,” said Pang Mei Yee, Vice-President, Head of Innovation, Asia Pacific, Customer Solutions & Innovation, DHL.

    Yee feels these technologies can make the existing trucks a lot safer and more efficient even as the company prepares itself for a fully autonomous future.

    “Our smart trucks are a fantastic example where we are introducing a lot of optimisation efforts, notification to drivers for their behaviours. There are sensors that allow drivers to get reminded when they are eating while driving or when they are dozing off. So, progressively you’ll see intelligence built into the truck. Full autonomous vehicles are still some time off,” Yee said.

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  • Shopee Sellers in China to use DHL to Delivery across Thailand

    Shopee Sellers in China to use DHL to Delivery across Thailand

    DHL eCommerce, a division of logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), has announced a partnership in China with Shopee, a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. The partnership enables sellers in China to access consumers nationwide in Thailand, with an expansion of the partnership to other Southeast Asian markets in the pipeline. According to Statista, the e-commerce gross merchandise revenue in Thailand will exceed US$5 billion by 2022, making it the second largest e-commerce market in Southeast Asia.

    “Direct selling to overseas consumers has never been easier and has become a key growth driver for many businesses, with e-commerce as an easy platform to enable international expansion. With logistics as a key enabler for cross-border retailing, we want to empower our customers to tap into this huge growth opportunity,” says Zhi Zheng, Managing Director, DHL eCommerce Greater China & North Asia.

    “Over the past few years, we have witnessed extremely strong growth of B2C parcels from China, mainly powered by e-commerce. We are pleased to partner Shopee to enable Chinese sellers to easily sell and deliver in Thailand, whether it’s doorstep delivery or for consumers to collect their orders from our growing network of easily accessible ServicePoints — which is set to reach over 1,000 in Thailand by end-2018.”

    With DHL eCommerce integrated on Shopee in China, sellers can easily sell and deliver on one single platform and keep track of all shipments directly on the app.

    “In recent years, we have witnessed the rapid development of Southeast Asia’s e-commerce market, and a growing number of Chinese brands and sellers are staking a claim in this e-commerce goldmine. However, the geographical complexity of this region has created some logistical challenges. As a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, Shopee has built its Shopee Logistics Servcies (SLS), a highly efficient logistics delivery network that links China with Southeast Asia. We are delighted to work with DHL, the world’s leading logistics service provider, to grow SLS from strength to strength. Our collaboration will make Shopee the e-commerce platform of choice for cross-border sellers in China who aspire to sell into Southeast Asia,” said Jianghong Liu, Head of Shopee Cross Border eCommerce.

    Currently, Shopee’s SLS is operational in seven markets in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. With shipping costs 20% to 30% lower than typical market rates and better transit times, SLS makes cross border logistics a breeze for Chinese sellers. The collaboration between Shopee and DHL eCommerce will further enhance the capabilities of SLS. DHL will provide Shopee sellers with door-to-door logistics services, ensuring products will reach consumers in Thailand safely and quickly.

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  • DHL Global Forwarding puts Japan’s FIA races into top gear

    DHL Global Forwarding puts Japan’s FIA races into top gear

     DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international provider of air, sea and road freight services, will provide end-to-end multimodal freight support for the back-to-back Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the WTCR — FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) Race in Japan. As the official logistics partner of the global championship races for the seventh year, DHL Global Forwarding will deliver racing cars, spares and equipment via air, ocean and land freight to the WEC’s Fuji International Speedway and WTCR’s Suzuka Circuit.

    To support the races, DHL Global Forwarding will manage all transportation, customs clearance, and ground handling for 36 racecars, spares, and ancillary equipment — including everything from specialized tires to high-performance engine blocks. Prior to the WEC race at Mount Fuji, DHL will ship the cargos via a combination of ocean and air freight from the United Kingdom and Germany to the Port of Tokyo, before delivering the cars and other equipment to the race circuits via road. In the lead-up to the WTCR’s race, a second set of vehicles will arrive via ocean freight direct from their previous race in Wuhan, China.

    “It is our honor to be partnering with the FIA once again for both the World Endurance Championship as well as the WTCR Race of Japan,” said Charles Kaufmann, President/Representative Director — Japan K.K, and CEO, North Asia South Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding. “As with all of the motorsports events we support around the world, our goal remains the same: deliver the race’s critical ingredients with speed and agility, while also ensuring the utmost safety and regulatory compliance of these precious cargos. Given the relatively tight scheduling between each championship’s events, we’ve also optimized our delivery patterns to ensure the cars move swiftly from their prior engagements to Japan before continuing on their global tours.”

    DHL Global Forwarding’s rapid shipments and expertise in automotive handling will play a major role in ensuring the cars move from circuit to circuit according to the FIA’s precise schedule. Immediately after each race, DHL’s teams will load all goods, transport them from circuit to port, and clear customs within 72 hours, before conveying the cars to their next outings in Shanghai (WEC) and Macau (WTCR).

    The FIA WEC, also known as 6 Hours of Fuji, will be held from 12-14 October 2018 at the foothills of Mount Fuji. The three-day event will see the likes of world-renowned racers like Fernando Alonso, Bruno Senna, Jenson Button and Oliver Webb race to the finish line during an endurance competition that lasts six hours, stretching over a 4.5-kilometer loop with 16 spectacular twists and turns.

    Meanwhile, the WTCR Race of Japan will be held over the weekend of 26-28 October 2018, consisting of three races totaling 42 laps and 168 kilometers. At the Suzuka Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix since 1987, drivers will be tested on their skills thanks to a unique figure-of-eight layout and variety of corners.

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  • TIGERS to expand China and Malaysia as e-commerce booms

    TIGERS to expand China and Malaysia as e-commerce booms

    Global e-commerce fulfilment expert Tigers has opened an office in Suzhou, China, and a new fulfilment centre in Selangor, Malaysia, as part of ongoing expansion plans to serve the region’s booming e-tail market. The new e-Fulfilment Logistics Centre in Selangor is Tigers’ second Malaysian operation, after the automotive fulfilment centre in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia.

    The new Suzhou office is located 30 minutes from Shanghai, China, where Tigers has recently opened a new facility to meet growing e-customer demand in both the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) sectors.

    “China and South East Asia are two of the fastest growing regions in the world for online retail, and we will continue to support that growth by providing state-of-the-art facilities to meet customer demand,” said Andrew Jillings, Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director, Tigers.

    Tigers specialises in e-commerce fulfilment, transportation, and supply chain solutions across a wide range of industries, including automotive, fashion, outdoor and active lifestyle, health, technology, wine, and perishables.

    “Suzhou is the perfect location for Tigers, and our historic city is fast becoming a hub for international logistics organisations,” said Edison Zhang, General Manager – Sales, China, Tigers.

    “We are experiencing strong sales activity in Suzhou, and there are plans for further expansion into the Chinese market, where we already have 15 locations.”

    The 10,000 sq ft Selangor facility will operate as a headquarter for sea freight, e-commerce, and logistics, and is located 20 minutes away from Port Klang, 40 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and one hour from Kuala Lumpur city centre.

    The automotive fulfilment centre in Kota Kinabalu is a 12,000 sq ft (1,115 sq m) facility, which supplies the entire East Malaysia region with a spare parts delivery service on a B2B basis.

    The new facilities in Asia follow the opening of a new office at Frankfurt Airport in Germany in July, which will act as a gateway to Europe by creating a trade lane between Germany and South Africa.

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  • Budapest Airport Starts Construction Of A New European Gateway For Air Cargo

    Budapest Airport Starts Construction Of A New European Gateway For Air Cargo

    Construction of Budapest Airport’s (BUD) new dedicated freight centre, Cargo City, part of the EUR160 million BUD:2020 Development Programme at the Hungarian hub, has begun. The EUR32.6 million investment into a new 20,000 sq m cargo handling facility and new dedicated B747-8F freighter stands, will centralise cargo operations and expand the airport’s handling capacity to handle increasing air cargo volumes at BUD in the years to come.

    After unprecedented cargo volume development of 39 per cent over two years, BUD processed a record 127,145 tonnes of cargo in 2017, and has seen a further 15.5 per cent increase in tonnage between January and August 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

    As part of the BUD:2020 Development Programme, Budapest Airport opened two state-of-the-art express facilities in 2017 with a total area of 16,000 sq m in order to supply increasing volumes from the express and e-commerce business.

    “This is an exciting milestone for the Hungarian cargo community. Following on from our infrastructure developments for the integrator market, our aim is to provide the ideal environment for air cargo with our Cargo City project,” said René Droese, Executive Director Property and Cargo at Budapest Airport.

    “With the start of AirBridgeCargo and Silk Way West Airlines services in 2018, we now have five freighter operators at BUD.

    “Volumes from our existing full-freighter partners, such as Cargolux, Turkish Cargo, and Qatar Airways Cargo, are also increasing.

    “The cargo connectivity of BUD is also continuously expanding via the new belly cargo services of LOT, American Airlines, and Qatar Airways, as well as Emirates, Air China, and Air Canada Rouge.”

    President of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) Róbert Ésik added, “Hungary is the world’s seventh most popular investment destination, according to IBM’s Global Location Trends 2017 Annual Report.

    “The Cargo City development at BUD supports and warmly welcomes the new investments in Hungary.”

    Jost Lammers, CEO of Budapest Airport said, “Air cargo is of strategic importance to BUD, and Cargo City will ensure that we continue to provide our growing customer base with efficient, modern facilities, so that they can thrive in our booming catchment area.”

    Budapest this summer welcomed Kuehne + Nagel to its cargo community and saw four new North American routes launched, connecting New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia in the USA, and Toronto, Canada to Budapest.

    As part of ongoing investment in its cargo offering, the Central European hub will once again team up with its sister airports Düsseldorf and Hamburg, both in Germany, to take part in The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA)’s Air Cargo Forum in Toronto from the 16th to 18th October 2018.

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  • How a local logistics-retailer partnership boosted sales volumes from the Asian markets

    How a local logistics-retailer partnership boosted sales volumes from the Asian markets

    The lucrative Asian e-commerce market is growing fast, with sales in the Asia-Pacific region having increased by 31 per cent in 2017 to $1.349 trillion – 83 per cent of which came from China. A leading e-commerce logistics provider is helping one of Australia’s largest online retailers expand its presence into these markets.

    Quantium Solutions is one of Australia’s major end-to-end logistics providers – delivery, mailing, warehousing and fulfilment. Owned by Singapore Post, Quantium Solutions operates in 19 markets and is a key logistics market leader in the Asia-Pacific. It enables major e-commerce companies – including some of Australia’s largest fashion and beauty brands – to move their products around the world.

    Quantium Solutions’ warehousing volume is steadily increasing, growing 21 per cent last year, on the back of stronger demand from local companies looking to take advantage of the e-commerce growth in Asia. Its services that connect the Asia-Pacific e-commerce markets grew to 35 per cent of its revenue in 2017.

    One such local e-commerce company is MySale Group, which owns 24 websites across 8 countries including OzSale, TopBuy, DealsDirect and oo.com.au. Through its international services, Quantium Solutions has helped MySale Group grow its revenue in Asia, by providing a seamless shipping solution into the Philippines market, and helping it expand further into Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

    As the exclusive logistics partner of Mysale Group in Asia, Quantium Solutions helps distribute, process and return all of MySale Group’s merchandise from around the world to and from customers in Asia.

    Quantium Solutions is also the e-commerce logistics provider of choice for Clarins Australia, a leading international premium skincare brand. Quantium Solutions is the heart of Clarins’ e-commerce solution in Australia, offering state-of-the-art warehousing, order packing and domestic distribution. Over the last two years, Quantium Solutions has demonstrated its agility and ability to scale by supporting Clarins Australia’s rapid e-commerce growth.

    Per Gustafsson, Australia and New Zealand General Manager at Quantium Solutions, says: “Quantium Solutions is ideally positioned as the gateway to Asia for Australian e-commerce businesses wanting to reach the world’s largest e-commerce market. With fulfilment centres around the world, including in competitive and lucrative markets like Singapore and Malaysia, Quantium Solutions helps Australian e-commerce businesses expand in Asia. With our well-established delivery eco-system and full suite of customised fulfilment and delivery solutions, we are the leading end-to-end delivery provider in the Asia-Pacific region.”

     

     

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  • DB Schenker launched new service at China’s 1st International Import Expo

    DB Schenker launched new service at China’s 1st International Import Expo

    DB Schenker, one of the world’s largest logistics service providers, will showcase its range of logistics services for various industries at China’s 1st International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai from November 5-10, 2018 (hall 1H, booth 1B2-004).

    China is transitioning from being an export orientated country to becoming the world’s largest importer. With a presence of over 50 years in China, DB Schenker has been deeply involved with this market transformation since, and is in an excellent position to catalyze this shift.

    “We are excited to demonstrate our strong network in China and internationally which enables us to provide reliable and high-quality logistics services to our customers worldwide, who are increasingly importing to China”, says Chris Pollard, DB Schenker’s Chief Executive Officer for the Greater China Cluster.

    DB Schenker will also present its customized industry solutions for the growing industries in China, including automotive, consumer products, retail and e-commerce. Logistics experts for specific trade routes to and from China, industries and product areas, including air, ocean and rail freight, as well as contract logistics and supply chain management, will be on site introducing DB Schenker’s services as well as providing extensive information to visitors.

    “Our fair appearance at CIIE will focus on modern and innovative logistics solutions for import shipments to China from any industry and trade, involving smart ways of connecting our different modes of transportation – air, ocean, land and rail, which are tailored to the specific needs of our customers,” says Pollard.

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  • DHL Express Australia extends partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia

    DHL Express Australia extends partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia

    DHL Express remains committed to deliver safer beaches, by extending its partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia for another three years, till 2021. This year marks 15 years of continued support from DHL Express for Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA). Since 2003, DHL Express has featured prominently on the uniforms of more than 42,000 surf lifesavers each patrolling season, alongside the iconic red and yellow flags that guide beach-goers to safe swimming zones.

    Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President at DHL Express Oceania said, “At DHL Express we are incredibly passionate about connecting people and improving lives – and we are proud to support Surf Life Saving Australia in doing exactly that for many years to come.”

    Graham Ford AM, President, Surf Life Saving Australia said, “On behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia I would like to thank DHL Express for their ongoing commitment and enthusiasm to the movement. As an organisation, we aim to form partnerships that echo our own values and vision for the future and indeed DHL Express do this, bringing to life the shared values of speed, passion and a can do attitude.”

    Since the establishment of the partnership there have been 2.2 million Surf Life Saving members, performing more than 14.4 million preventive actions and 180,000 rescues. In addition to surf lifesaving services, SLSA works to educate children and the greater community on coastal safety awareness.

    “From the beginning, our partnership has been built on a strong foundation of shared core values that make our missions a success. Surf lifesavers around Australia display the four key attributes our own DHL employees uphold – passion, speed, pride in getting things right first time and a can-do spirit. This, combined with Surf Life Saving’s advocacy for cultural diversity, collaboration and empowerment make a winning formula for success,” Edstein concluded.

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  • Some of Amazon’s brand-new Mercedes delivery vans are facing mechanical failures

    Some of Amazon’s brand-new Mercedes delivery vans are facing mechanical failures

    Mercedes-Benz has identified a power-steering problem plaguing its highly touted Sprinter vans. The cause of the problem is a fluid leak that can make it difficult to turn the wheel of the vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman, Catherine Gebhardt. It has affected Amazon, which recently became Daimler AG’s biggest buyer of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans with an order of 20,000 vehicles — up from a previous order of 5,000 — for its growing last-mile-delivery program. The program enables courier companies to lease the vans, which are emblazoned with the Prime logo, for Amazon package deliveries.

    One Amazon delivery service provider has encountered the power-steering problem in about a quarter of the 40 Mercedes-Benz vans that the company received at a delivery station in early September, according to an employee of the company, who asked to remain anonymous. This person said Mercedes-Benz had since repaired the affected vehicles.

    Mercedes-Benz notified Amazon’s delivery service partners of the issue on September 18 and asked them to schedule an on-site inspection of the power-steering system with their local Mercedes-Benz dealer, Gebhardt said.

    “This is being done as a proactive measure to minimize downtime,” she said, adding that the vehicles can still be driven safely in the event of a leak.

    “If there is a leak in the power-steering system, the power assist (especially at a standstill) may be greatly reduced,” Gebhardt said. “When driving at slow speeds it will require some additional steering effort, but again, the van can still be controlled.”

    It’s likely that other Mercedes-Benz Sprinter customers in addition to Amazon have been affected by the issue. Mercedes-Benz declined to comment on other customers and on how many vehicles have been impaired by the power-steering issue overall.

    Amazon announced its bulk order of the Prime-branded vans at a joint press conference with Mercedes-Benz in September celebrating the opening of the automaker’s new factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, which specializes in making Sprinter vans.

    The vans can be leased to Amazon’s existing delivery service partners, some of which have worked for Amazon since 2015, as well as partners that have been recruited through the new program.

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  • DHL MENA launches new e-com campaign for merchants

    DHL MENA launches new e-com campaign for merchants

    DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, is set to launch its global campaign ‘Where Everything Clicks’ in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, to guide online merchants to navigate and access the booming and lucrative global e-commerce marketplace. DHL Express aims for the campaign to reach companies ranging from start-ups to large enterprises, advising merchants on how to optimize their websites for international sales and to create a competitive advantage via shipping options offered. DHL helps sellers traverse an increasingly global landscape, in which buyers progressively make purchases from international websites.

    The campaign reveals purchasing habits of online shoppers, including always important delivery preferences, and shows merchants how to use this information to increase sales.

    ‘Where Everything Clicks’ includes a rich database of how-to videos, white papers, customer insights, and trend videos that inform merchants and business about evolving consumer behaviour.

    A 2017 study by KPMG reports that consumers across Middle East and Africa were the most likely to import consumer products bought online, almost 50 percent of purchases, showcasing  the rise in cross-border shopping that is driving international retail trade.

    The survey also revealed ‘Enhanced Delivery Options’ as one of the key company attributes that contribute to deciding where shoppers choose to buy online.

    The study findings illustrate that companies must continually innovate to improve and shorten delivery times, to satisfy increasingly demanding consumer expectations.

    “The MENA region is witnessing rapid growth and change in e-commerce trends. Cross border e-commerce presents strong growth opportunities that is yet to be tapped into by many businesses in the region,” said Nour Suliman, CEO MENA, DHL Express. “With the proliferation of online trade, a product in one corner of the world today is now easily accessible to customers at the opposite end in just a few clicks. This has allowed online merchants to access markets and customers from around the globe.”

    Faysal Elhajjami, DHL Express MD, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said: “We recognise that our customers’ success is closely tied to their buyers’ satisfaction with the delivery experience and the delivery options offered. With ‘Where Everything Clicks’ campaign we want to showcase to business across KSA  how an international express shipping option can increase e-commerce value helping merchants boost revenue and tap into new markets.”

    Geoff Walsh, UAE Country Manager, DHL Express said DHL would be particularly focusing on SMEs and start-ups. “We aim to support local ecommerce start-ups by providing them with tailor made solutions that will allow them to easily address potential global consumers, therefore improving their e-commerce proposition within the current market,” he said. “The ‘Where Everything Clicks’ campaign highlights how an international express shipping option can increase e-commerce value helping merchants boost revenue and tap into new markets.”

    DHL has developed services that enhance customer experience and support web merchants as they access new markets. Using advanced market intelligence tools, DHL can quickly identify shopping sites that receive traffic from international locations, identifying potential sales outside of the seller’s core market. DHL can compare website engagement metrics and suggest service enhancement via addition of a cross-border express delivery option.

    With DHL’s On Demand Delivery, buyers are notified proactively via email or SMS about a shipment’s progress. Receivers can schedule delivery for another day, arrange delivery to a nearby DHL Service Point or an alternate address, and even request that a shipment is held during vacation. DHL Express offers On Demand Delivery in over 100 countries, with about 50 more coming this year.

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  • Singpost Links up With Axa Insurances

    Singpost Links up With Axa Insurances

    AXA Insurance and Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) have announced the launch of a pilot for AXA@POST Virtual Assist, a digital sales advisory service that virtually connects SingPost customers with AXA Financial Consultants who can provide high quality advice and services. This is the first advisory service in Singapore that provides financial advice to customers remotely, coupled with the ease and convenience of online application for insurance solutions for their car, home, family, travel, business, savings, health, and life protection and investment needs.

    With AXA@POST Virtual Assist, SingPost customers will receive end-to-end sales advisory services via a live, interactive video feed – from having their financial needs and goals ascertained, to receiving advice on insurance solutions based on suitability, and completing the entire insurance application online in one sitting. Onsite SingPost Financial Services Ambassadors (FSAs) will guide customers to the AXA@POST Virtual Assist booth, where they will begin their discussion with an AXA Financial Consultant via a video interface.

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  • aCommerce Forms Strategic Partnership with Fluent Commerce to Advance Omnichannel Strategy

    aCommerce Forms Strategic Partnership with Fluent Commerce to Advance Omnichannel Strategy

    aCommerce, Southeast Asia’s leading brand ecommerce enabler, and Fluent Commerce, the cloud-native order management company that allows omnichannel retailers to out-convenience competitors and offer their customers flexible fulfillment options, have signed a strategic partnership to bring together the best of ecommerce and omnichannel order operations.

    Under this partnership, Fluent Commerce will provide the smart omnichannel management and unified ecommerce that retailers and brands are looking for. aCommerce will act as a system integrator for retailers and brands in Southeast Asia, enabling them to provide a seamless experience to their consumers, regardless of online or offline channels.

    “The relationship with aCommerce is an acknowledgment of the imperative for retailers to provide an innovative experience for their ever more sophisticated customers, such as same-day delivery and collect in store options,” said Jamie Cairns, Channel Sales Director at Fluent Commerce. “By working together we’ll grow and unlock new opportunity for our clients by enabling them to rapidly deploy an end to end, unified commerce strategy. We’re certainly very excited by this combined proposition, which is unique in the region.”

    “Despite the ample growth of ecommerce in the region, Southeast Asia’s retail scene is largely happening offline. Combining the strengths of aCommerce and Fluent Commerce enables us to help retailers and brands execute New Retail strategies by leveraging technology to digitize and connect offline stores,” comments Mandy Arbilo, Group Director of Direct-to-Consumer Ecommerce at aCommerce. “By partnering with Fluent Commerce, we will be able to provide convenience, choice of delivery or pickup, return anywhere options, and up-to-the-minute inventory visibility.”

    Currently, aCommerce is working with leading Singaporean retailers to expand omnichannel and New Retail capabilities. The Southeast Asian leading ecommerce enabler will offer this service in Malaysia by March 2019.

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