Retail News CRM

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.

  • FedEx transports giant panda from United States to China

    FedEx transports giant panda from United States to China

    FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx, will donate its logistical services to transport a giant panda named Bao Bao from the United States to China on 21 February 2017. Working in conjunction with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, FedEx Express will fly the panda on a direct charter flight non-stop from Washington’s Dulles International Airport to Chengdu, China.

    Bao Bao, a female panda born in August 2013 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, is the offspring of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, both currently living in the U.S.  Bao Bao will be placed in a special crate provided by FedEx and travel onboard a custom-decaled FedEx Express 777 Freighter, known as the “FedEx Panda Express.”

    “The transport of Bao Bao represents the seventh time that FedEx is transporting a giant panda, a national treasure of China,” said Eddy Chan, senior vice president, FedEx China.  “We are honored and proud to serve as the trusted carrier.  Using our extensive global network and strong operations, our professional team will surely deliver Bao Bao to Chengdu, China fast and securely.”

    In addition to donating all the necessary air transportation for Bao Bao, FedEx Express will provide ground and logistical support in Washington, D.C., including a vehicle to deliver the panda from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to the airport.  FedEx pilots, drivers and operations specialists selected to transport the panda are among the company’s most seasoned team members.

    FedEx Express, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and the China organizers will work collaboratively to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to provide a safe and comfortable flight for Bao Bao.  The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is already preparing the panda for her move to make sure she is comfortable and safe throughout her journey.  Part of the preparations includes acclimating Bao Bao to a travel crate.

    One panda keeper and one veterinarian from the zoo have been granted special flight privileges to accompany Bao Bao onboard the aircraft.  The panda team will continuously monitor Bao Bao during the trip and will travel with a supply of water, bamboo and her favorite treats, including apples, pears and cooked sweet potatoes.

    Upon arrival in Chengdu, Bao Bao will be driven to one of the bases run by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.  A panda keeper from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo will follow and remain with Bao Bao for a short time while she acclimates to her new home.

    Due to security regulations, the departure and arrival events for the panda will be closed to the general public.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Newegg to launch in 20 new countries including China

    Newegg to launch in 20 new countries including China

    Newegg have just announced that they will be launching a standalone China Marketplace later this year, which will be the first of a few new Market entries in 2017. They have ambitions to launch in 20 new countries in the course of the next year.

    Newegg are a retailer without physical stores, but alongside their own products they enable third party merchants to list inventory and sell to their customers.

    The 20 new Newegg marketplaces

    The new marketplaces will allow US and European manufacturers and retailers to sell products to consumers in other countries. Existing marketplace sellers will be able to list products on foreign marketplaces through Newegg’s Seller Portal system, which allows sellers to target listings and prices by region.

    Newegg currently allows customers from eight English-speaking countries to shop from Newegg’s US and European marketplace merchants online. The countries Newegg is expanding this year will either have access to purchasing goods from Newegg’s current marketplace or a separate site translated into local languages.

    Newegg in China

    However, Newegg sees its biggest opportunity in China, although this is a tough territory to crack with Alibaba’s marketplaces accounting for about 80% of the Chinese e-retail market. The Newegg Chinese marketplace will incorporate local payment options, including mobile and social payment methods. Newegg also will have a mobile app just for Chinese consumers, as the majority of consumers in the country shop using smartphones.

    Newegg’s competitive advantages for sellers over dominant Chinese marketplaces is their relationship with its existing US and European seller base and the ability to address the challenges of selling into China, such as cross-border fulfillment. Chinese consumers have voracious appetites for genuine US and European branded goods and are sometimes wary of purchasing from Chinese retailers in case the goods are counterfeit.

    Newegg has a Chinese website, Newegg.cn, where Newegg sells merchandise it owns. The new Chinese site will soon list products from marketplace sellers. When it launches it will sell goods from US and European merchants, but it may allow Chinese retailers to sell on the marketplace if the interest is there.

    What’s in it for UK, EU and US retailers?

    China has traditionally been a tough market, not just for familiar marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, but also for retailers who want to list for example on Alibaba’s TMall. With $100k bonds required, local support, shipping, returns, the language barrier and different customer service and support expectations, the Chinese consumer can be quite demanding in Western terms.

    Newegg will remove many of the traditional obstacles of selling into China – they’re a retailer who already knows the country and partnering with them could become a key entry point to target Chinese consumers. Plus of course this is just one of 20 new territories that Newegg will open up to third party retailers this year.

  • EU expects free trade pact with Vietnam to take effect early 2018

    EU expects free trade pact with Vietnam to take effect early 2018

    The European Union is trying to capitalize on free-trade interest amid gloom over Trump policies.

    The European Union is seeing increased impetus around the world to move forward with Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the bloc, which will make the most of uncertainty over the outlook for U.S. trade policy, the EU’s trade envoy said late last week.

    The EU was close to finishing or implementing FTAs with Japan, Vietnam and Singapore and was readying to start talks with Australia, New Zealand and Chile – all members of a U.S-inspired Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) devastated by Donald Trump’s decision to pull Washington out of the deal on day three of his presidency.

    “Today, there is political opportunity to say that those of us who believe in open markets and good trade, we are willing to do trade agreements,” EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told in an interview.

    “Whether that (TPP) is dead, or partially dead, it is not for me to judge. But we have seen an increase of willingness to step up trade agreements.”

    One project thrust back on the table is an FTA between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that was abandoned in 2009 due to disparities in wealth and standards between its 10 markets.

    Malmstrom also said it should not be assumed an EU-U.S. trade deal had collapsed, despite indications the Trump administration would pursue a protectionist agenda.

    EU and U.S. officials were negotiating for more than three years on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and that could be easily resumed, she said, and should not be impacted by Britain’s looming departure from the EU.

    “We have left in a tidy order, when we stopped negotiating before the change of administration,” she said. “It makes a lot of sense to facilitate trade between the EU and the U.S.”

    She added: “We need to be patient. But while waiting for more clarity from the American administration, there are lots of other partners as well.”

    Malmstrom said ASEAN, a region with combined $2.6 trillion GDP and some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, had become integrated “in an impressive way.”

    EU figures show trade between the EU and ASEAN region was worth $220 billion last year. The EU is its biggest source of investment, according to the EU-ASEAN business council.

    FTAs with Vietnam and Singapore should come into force early next year, Malmstrom said, while negotiations with Indonesia and the Philippines were “at full speed” and discussions had taken place about reviving plans for an FTA with Malaysia.

    Malmstrom said establishing a bloc-to-bloc trade deal would be a challenge, so an FTA with ASEAN might be less comprehensive that others.

    “There’s still a lot of differences between the richest and poorest countries here, so there will have to be different levels and it will not be as ambitious,” she said.

  • NEC updates postal automation system for Hongkong Post

    NEC updates postal automation system for Hongkong Post

    In recent years, Hong Kong has witnessed a rise in the number of postal items addressed in traditional Chinese characters. This has in turn boosted the need for automated sorting and processing of addresses written in traditional Chinese characters in addition to those handwritten or printed in English.

    This new function has been introduced to 15 systems delivered to Hongkong Post by NEC on several occasions since 2008 that are currently in operation at the Central Mail Centre in Kowloon Bay. The introduction of this function enables the automatic sorting and processing of up to 564,000 postal items with addresses written in traditional Chinese characters per hour, thereby contributing to the improvement of Hongkong Post’s operational efficiency.

    NEC has been doing business with Hongkong Post for approximately 30 years since the postal operator’s introduction of a postal automation system in the latter half of the 1980s. The introduction of this function was made possible by the high acclaim NEC has received over the years for its achievements and technological capabilities.

    NEC began developing its postal automation system business in 1961, and has since then delivered systems to postal operators in more than 50 countries around the world. In Japan, domestic postal operators have utilized a function for reading and sorting addresses written in Chinese characters as part of postal automation processing since the 1980s. The introduction of this function by Hongkong Post was made possible by applying the wealth of knowhow NEC has developed in Japan over the years in reading and sorting addresses written in Chinese characters. Moreover, it has resulted in increased efficiency and a reduction in the amount of time needed for processing.

  • Hactl handles Longines Masters competitors for fifth successive year

    Hactl handles Longines Masters competitors for fifth successive year

    Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) has once again handled 60 horses competing in this year’s Longines Masters of Hong Kong. It is the event’s fifth year, and Hactl has handled the valuable equine competitors in every year of the competition.

    The transportation of the horses from Liege to Hong Kong, and their return journeys after the event, are being coordinated by European Horse Services (EHS), one of the world’s leading equestrian transport specialists. This year’s chosen carrier is Etihad Airways, and forwarding is being performed by DB Schenker.

    The Longines Masters first came to Hong Kong in 2013, and is now recognised as Asia’s largest and most prestigious equestrian event. This year’s Longines Masters of Hong Kong is the culmination of an intercontinental series which began in Los Angeles in September, moving to Paris in December; it is once again taking place at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo complex.

    EHS founder and president Filip Vande Cappelle is also vice chairman of the Animal Transportation Association, which held its annual conference in Hong Kong to coincide with the Masters.  Says Filip, “The Longines Masters has become one of the most important events in the global equestrian calendar, attracting the highest-calibre entrants from around the world.”

    “It’s an honour for EHS to have been selected once again as the official transportation partner by EEM, the event organisers. We are also very happy to be working with Hactl again; their facilities, and the attention to detail which their staff bring to the all-important handling process, are second to none.”

    Hong Kong’s top-ranked rider, Jacqueline Lai, accompanied her horses BASTA and DER SENAAT 111, on the inbound flight to Hong Kong. On arrival, she was greeted by Hactl chief executive Mark Whitehead. Jacqueline is a member of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team, and won Hong Kong’s first-ever equestrian medal, in 2010. She is the only Hong Kong resident taking part in this year’s contest.

    Says Mark Whitehead: “It’s great to be involved in this wonderful event again, and it was particularly good to have the opportunity of meeting Hong Kong’s very own competitor. Both Jacqueline and Hactl are enthusiastic supporters of the Longines Masters, which has really put Hong Kong on the equestrian map.”

  • Lalamove Releases ChomChob

    Lalamove Releases ChomChob

    Lalamove, the Hong Kong based on-demand delivery company has joined hands with ChomCHOB, a point accumulation app that converts a customer’s credit and debit card points into reward points, allowing them to purchase an extensive range of products and services from over 1000 merchants.

    From now until April 30th, ChomCHOB points can be redeemed towards Lalamove motorbike and pick up delivery services. Photo shows Thanwarat Chailert, COO & Co-Founder of ChomChob Group, (left) with Lalamove’s Managing Director Chanon Klahan.

    Lees ook:

  • Anchanto empowers merchants and enterprises with cross-border e-commerce

    Anchanto empowers merchants and enterprises with cross-border e-commerce

    Anchanto, the leading e-commerce logistics and selling platform, announced today the launch of SelluSeller – a one-stop platform that enables merchants and enterprises to sell on various e-marketplaces across Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, Anchanto developed the highly innovative platform as the most suitable tool which will empower sellers to cut across geographies and access global marketplaces to list products outside of their own country. Within the first month of launch of SelluSeller, Anchanto has had four major customer wins – Lazada, Bluebell Group, DKSH and PayTM.

    SelluSeller was officially launched at the Asia E-commerce Dialogue 2017, an industry forum hosted by Anchanto in Singapore which saw the participation of key stakeholders from the e-commerce and logistics industry from around the region.

    “Over the last five years, we have seen a rapid growth in online marketplaces, each portraying its individual strengths appealing to different segments of sellers across markets and product categories. We realised a critical factor which held an opportunity for us to provide a solution to these sellers to seamlessly list products and manage inventory across all channels with the ease of one single platform,” said Vaibhav Dabhade, CEO, Anchanto. “Sellers are also looking for simple platform to sell their products regionally in to Southeast Asia and India on cross-border model. SelluSeller is design and built for cross-border listing and shipping from day one,” he added.

    “The response from industry within the first month of limited launch has been encouraging. We are confident that SelluSeller will bridge the gap perfectly for enterprises, brands and retailers who want to be on e-marketplaces, merchants who want to expand geographies and make the whole process of selling online a fulfilling experience,” Dabhade further added.

    On the SelluSeller platform, sellers can manage prices and promotions, maintain a single common inventory with also comes with an order system, analytics and full-payment reconciliations. Sellers will be able to sell to these marketplaces whether they are a small home-operated seller or a major seller who sells on all the prominent marketplaces in Asia.

    The seller can choose to use any of Anchanto’s Global Fulfilment Network and e-commerce B2C fulfilment which will fully integrate with SelluSeller and provide them with preferred fulfillment rates. This will be further connected to the firm’s broad network of warehouses spread across the region.

    With the launch of SelluSeller, Anchanto will be establishing itself as a leading player in the e-commerce logistics SaaS industry that is focused on the development of its e-commerce selling and logistics platform.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • First CEIV Pharma Certification in Singapore for Bolloré Logistics

    First CEIV Pharma Certification in Singapore for Bolloré Logistics

    Bolloré Logistics Singapore was successfully awarded by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as CEIV Pharma-compliant at its platform located in the Airport Logistics Park, and is one of the first transport and logistics companies in Singapore to receive this certification. The aim of Bolloré Logistics is to deploy this action throughout its global network with on-going certifications on other sites in Asia-Pacific, including in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.

    This is a new success for the Bolloré Group, which shows its commitment to achieve the highest international quality standard in the global pharmaceutical supply chain for its customers, by continually improving its processes and infrastructures in compliance with the CEIV Pharma standards.

    With its modern and innovative facilities, the excellence of its quality management system, the expertise of its teams and its multiple certifications, Bolloré Logistics is a major global player in the supply chain of pharmaceutical products. Being certified by IATA CEIV Pharma, Bolloré Logistics Singapore fully conforms to all applicable pharmaceutical standards expected from pharmaceutical manufacturers in terms of facilities, equipment, operations and staff and being capable to provide seamless cool chain transportation.

    This global initiative, already in place on European sites in Paris Roissy CDG (France), Brussels (Belgium), Frankfurt (Germany) and Lisbon (Portugal) is also currently in progress on other sites such as Johannesburg in South Africa or Chicago in the USA. IATA created the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) in 2015. It aims at setting the industrial standard for air cargo supply chain in pharmaceutical handling excellence.

    It addresses the industry’s need for more safety, security, compliance and efficiency, by creating a globally consistent and recognized pharmaceutical product handling certification. CEIV Pharma encompasses – even supersedes – many of the existing pharmaceutical standards and guidelines, such as IATA Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), European Union Good Distribution Practices (EU GDP), World Health Organization Annex 5, and United States Pharmacopeia Standards.

    Lees ook:

  • GreyOrange Butler robots selected for japan’s largest home furnishing chain

    GreyOrange Butler robots selected for japan’s largest home furnishing chain

    GreyOrange and GROUND have been awarded the contract to supply robotics solutions to the Nitori Holdings Group, Japan’s largest furniture and home furnishing chain with over 400 stores. The robotics system will be deployed at Home Logistics which is a logistics subsidiary of Nitori Holdings, operating 34 distribution bases and an efficient logistics network for product delivery to stores and e-commerce customers across the country.

    GreyOrange is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures and deploys advanced robotics systems for automation at warehouses, distribution and fulfilment centres. GreyOrange, headquartered in Singapore, specialises in the design, manufacture and deployment of advanced robotic systems for distribution and fulfilment centres.

    Manabu Matsuura , corporate officer of Nitori Holdings and CEO of Home Logistics said, “We were impressed to find that the GreyOrange Butler is an entirely new robotics concept for warehouse automation unlike automated storage and retrieval systems. Also, Butler satisfies our corporate philosophy that we always pursue ideal workplaces for everyone. For example, we have been an early adopter of technology solutions and were the first user in Japan to leverage robotic storage systems in our warehouses last year.”

    Hiratomo Miyata, CEO of GROUND, the exclusive provider of GreyOrange Butler in Japan said, “We are really happy to announce that Home Logistics has become the first user of the Butler in Japan . They have evaluated several options and are glad to use the Butler as they believe the Butler goods-to-person technology will be a driving force in their strategy to increase productivity in their warehouse operations through robotics.”

    The GreyOrange Butler system will be installed at the Home Logistics Osaka distribution centre, to handle automated inventory storage (putaway) and picking. The Butler software adapts in real-time to changing inventory profiles and order fulfilment patterns, resulting in high productivity and accuracy. This system will be capable of delivering a far higher throughput.

    Nalin Advani, CEO – APAC, GreyOrange said, ” Japan has one of the world’s most mature distribution infrastructure and it is the fourth largest e-commerce market. Over 75 percent of consumers regularly shop online and e-commerce is forecasted to grow to US$200 billion by 2020. We are honoured to work with Nitori Group , including Home Logistics, to deploy our Butlers. The Nitori Group is far-sighted in anticipating the challenges of warehouse operations and addressing it with robotics. We are also excited to be selected for the Japan market where specifications for technology are among the most demanding in the world.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Next-gen logistics lab opens in China

    Next-gen logistics lab opens in China

    A new innovation lab is primed to benefit one of the top players in China’s e-commerce marketplace.

    Zebra Technologies, Digital China and Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, which Walmart owns a 12% stake in, have joined forces to develop a state-of-the art facility entitled the “IoT + E-commerce Logistics Lab.”

    Residing at JD.com’s pilot warehouse in Beijing’s Shunyi district, the lab brings together best practices, resources and talents in logistics management, data collection, mobile computing, machine vision, cloud computing and IoT.

    The facility will enable the alliance to research and develop, prototype implementation, test and evaluation, and conduct application demonstrations, all of which will support the creation of next-generation logistics solutions, according to Zebra.

    The retailer already utilizes the partners’ barcode printers and scanners and mobile devices in its warehouses and order fulfillment chain, all of which deliver real-time visibility into its operations.

    But now the company is ready to take the next step. Moving forward, lab output will enable JD.com to harness innovative technologies to further boost logistics capabilities, as well as increase enterprise efficiency and productivity — factors it hopes to use to improve its customers’ retail experiences.

    On tap for 2017, JD.com plans to improve the productivity of its current picking and packaging operations using mobile devices; increase the visibility of the tens of thousands of trays and cage trolleys used in JD.com’s operations; and to seek potential of applications of machine vision and data analytics in the logistics industry.

  • SingPost boosts stakes in Indonesian entity

    SingPost boosts stakes in Indonesian entity

    It will benefit from the growing e-commerce market in the country. Singapore Post announced just recently that it will be upping its stakes in an Indonesian entity through Quantium Solutions International Pte Ltd.

    According to OCBC Investment Research, QSI has entered into a share purchase agreement with PT Rantai Bumi Laut (RBL) to acquire 1,800
    ordinary shares, representing 18% of the issued share capital of PT Quantium Solutions Logistics Indonesia (QSLI) for a cash consideration of US$54k.

    QSI is a JV between SingPost (66% stake) and Alibaba Investment Limited (34% stake) whereas QSLI is in the business of e-commerce logistics fulfilment in Indonesia.

    “Recall that QSI set up QSLI with RBL in Jan 2014 with an initial paid-up capital of about S$375k, of which 49% was subscribed by QSI. According to a study by Google and Temasek last year, 18m people in Indonesia fell into the category of online buyers, representing about 7% of the population. By 2025, it is expected that Indonesia will dominate 52% of all e-commerce activity in SE Asia, due to its huge population and island geography,” OCBC said.

    Lees ook:

  • CC Containers boosts technology, efficiency and safety with United’s world class equipment

    CC Containers boosts technology, efficiency and safety with United’s world class equipment

    In a non-stop industry like container handling, efficiency is king and downtime can be costly. One company that knows this first-hand is Port of Melbourne- based CC Containers, which prides itself on efficiency, reliability and safety.

    CC Containers selected United Forklift and Access Solutions to provide the company with Konecranes empty container handling lift trucks to expand its container handling fleet with world-class equipment built tough to cope with high-pace demands and to optimise efficiency for its customers.

    United Forklift and Access Solutions, which is national distributor for Konecranes forklift and container handling equipment also backed the new technology with a dedicated full-time technician on-site for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the new units, as well as other existing units.

    United supplied a total of five Konecranes SMV empty container handlers to suit CC Container’s expanding operational needs.

    “The container handlers are reliable robust pieces of equipment,” said Mr David Muir, managing director of CC Containers, whose company places a high emphasis on standards of reliability and safety.

    “The other major bonus for us is that the drivers like using them. They have good visibility and comfort and are easy to use, which makes a big difference to staff performance,” says Muir.

    In addition to the advanced container handling technologies, United also provided CC Containers with an experienced full-time technician, Gene Roberts, who is on-site and can respond to any maintenance or repair issues quickly and effectively.

    “Mr Roberts has been a great help to us at CC Containers. He has helped with servicing, monitoring and OH&S requirements, which means we are always meeting or exceeding compliance and standards objectives,” said Muir.

    Konecranes is a major global player in the design and manufacture of heavy duty forklifts, reach stackers and container handling equipment, with its SMV series purpose-built to quickly lift, move and sort both empty and full containers in and around ports. Designed to cope with high demands with both speed and efficiency, the Konecranes empty container handlers in service with CC Containers offer a very fast total operating speed as a function of lifting, lowering and driving speed based on load-sensing hydraulics to cope with extreme demands. The container lift trucks also feature the new Optima cabin – which has enhanced cabin space and visibility – and an extensive range of innovative features which optimise quality, productivity and life cycle cost.

    CC Containers’ expanded Konecranes empty container handlersfleet includes:

    • The ECB 80 empty container handler, which can stack six containers high up to eight tonnes
    • The ECB 90 empty container handler, which can stack seven-eight containers highup to nine tonnes
    • The ECB 100DS empty container handler which can lift two boxes at the same time, up to 10 tonnes capacity, and stack six-seven containers high.
    Lees ook:

  • Arvato provides trade logistics for shoes and accessories by Marc O’Polo

    Arvato provides trade logistics for shoes and accessories by Marc O’Polo

    Arvato SCM Solutions and MARC O’POLO have expanded their cooperation: as of December 2016, the supply chain and e-commerce specialist is now also responsible for the trade logistics of the premium fashion brand’s shoes and accessories, using RFID technology. As well as storage, order picking and shipping, Arvato will be providing special value-added services from its distribution site in Dortmund. From now on, MARC O’POLO products will be sent from there to trade partners in 16 countries. Goods will be sent to both MARC O’POLO shops and franchise stores, as well as wholesale partners such as Zalando, Amazon, Görtz or Breuninger. The partnership between Arvato and MARC O’POLO was established in 2010. The full service provider initially supported the fashion brand with comprehensive services in the international e-commerce sector. Then, in 2015, Arvato organised a comprehensive omnichannel integration with processes such as Click&Collect, Reserve&Collect and cross docking, as well as introducing a new CRM system and the ‘MARC O’POLO for members’ loyalty scheme.

    Providing trade logistics contributes to a further link of the process chain. Arvato will be in charge of storage, order picking and preparing goods for shipment, all from its 32,000 square metre distribution centre. This task includes comprehensive value-added services such as the allocation of filling material and customer-specific labelling. The goods are then sent to trading partners in countries such as France, Croatia, Sweden, Russia or China.

    Furthermore, since the MARC O’POLO merchandise in both the high street and online shops is equipped with RFID tags, RFID technology has been introduced in the loading docks. This means that items are no longer scanned individually – instead, ready-packed product ranges can simply be recorded in bulk before shipping. This significantly reduces processing time and costs.

    “Storage area and transport costs can also be reduced, thanks to the consolidation of the B2B and B2C business. This is because the journey between the B2B and B2C warehouses in Munich and Dortmund has been respectively cut,” says Niels Weithe, Managing Director for Consumer.

    Products at Arvato SCM Solutions, pointing out another advantage. Karl-Heinz Lauterbach, Managing Director of MARC O’POLO Shoes, is also impressed by the advantages of an even tighter cooperation with Arvato: “Creating closer ties between the online shop and B2B warehouses will optimise our stock in the long term and increase availability in the online shop. Trading partners will benefit from this shelf extension through an optimised sales ratio and turnover.”

    Lees ook:

  • GreyOrange and Ninja Van partner on advanced sortation system for last-mile delivery

    GreyOrange and Ninja Van partner on advanced sortation system for last-mile delivery

    GreyOrange and Ninja Van have announced the commission of their first high-speed advanced Sortation System capable of handling 6000 parcels an hour at the Singapore hub of Ninja Van, Southeast Asia’s fastest growing last-mile logistics company. Recognised as one of the world’s Top 50 Robotics Companies by Robotics Business Review, GreyOrange, headquartered in Singapore, specialises in the design, manufacture and deployment of advanced robotics and automation systems for distribution and fulfilment centres.

    Nalin Advani, CEO, GreyOrange Asia-Pacific said, “The Linear Sorter has been tried and tested by many of Asia’s leading e-commerce and logistics companies and we are proud to welcome Ninja Van to this family. Both our companies share a similar history in recent years operating in a fast-paced logistics industry that has seen explosive growth in e-commerce and last mile delivery. We know what Ninja Van wants and are looking forward to installing the complete system within the next weeks.”

    Tan Bo Xian, co-founder and COO, Ninja Van Southeast Asia said, “At Ninja Van, technology is always at the heart of everything we do, and we are always looking to optimise and automate processes to improve efficiencies. We have been studying a solution such as this since our early days, and are happy to have grown to the point where our volumes well justify the investment. The GreyOrange Sortation system allows us to operate round the clock with a much leaner team of staff, reducing labour costs significantly. We are also pleased that the line is very compact, optimising space utilisation while increasing productivity.”

    The proprietary embedded system of the GreyOrange Linear Sorter combines advanced software and two lines of high-speed sortation conveyors capable of sorting thousands of parcels in various shapes and sizes including polybags, plus irregular and fragile packages. The system starts at the Auto-spacer where sensors determine how the parcels are spread to ensure gaps between the parcels are even. Each parcel is then identified by 1D or 2D barcodes where both its gross and volumetric weights are automatically recorded, before it quickly moves along the high-speed conveyor which sorts the parcels according to dispatch time, destination and other parameters as determined at different times of the day, including service levels such as same-day and next-day delivery.

    Lees ook:

  • Kerry Logistics supports fast fashion label Missguided’s global expansion

    Kerry Logistics supports fast fashion label Missguided’s global expansion

    Multi-channel fast fashion retailer Missguided is working with Kerry Logistics Network Limited, Asia’s leading logistics service provider, as supply chain partner to support its ongoing global growth.

    Kerry Logistics will handle all international air and ocean needs for the UK-based retailer, as well as providing a wide range of value-added services and on-the-ground logistics support through its extensive network across the Greater China region and Asia.

    Missguided will make use of Kerry Logistics’ Virtual Buying Office (VBO), a web-platform with supply chain and planning functions designed to provide visibility from Purchase Order (PO) creation through to final delivery, addressing inventory risk whilst further enhancing overall efficiency of its operations.

    “It is fundamental to our business strategy that we have a global logistics partner that has the flexibility to react quickly to our demands no matter where the consignment is coming from or going to,” said Brett Young, operations director of Missguided.

    “Our customers receive market leading options together with a high level of service for a very reasonable price, therefore the initial stock movements are imperative to our overall customer experience.”

    “By using proven, forward thinking partners such as Kerry Logistics, we are able to build on new initiatives, continually improve our customer experience, and in turn support our aggressive growth strategy,” added Young.

    “We are delighted to be working with one of the UK’s fastest growing and innovative brands. Seamless transparency will be fundamental in managing the fast-moving supply chain for Missguided. Our VBO is a highly functional supply chain management tool linking together all supply chain partners into one global system, optimising information flow and efficiency, and thus minimising risks along the supply chain,” said Emma Rowlands, sales director of Kerry Logistics (UK).

    “Our strengths in Asia, combined with the recent acquisition of Apex Maritime and its affiliated companies in the US, will enable a strong platform to manage the client’s strategic growth and expansion across the globe,” added Rowlands.

    Missguided opened its first physical retail space in Westfield, Stratford City, London, in November 2016, and its second, in Bluewater, Kent, is due to open in summer 2017.