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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.

  • Dutch to Indonesia trade mission drums up business for Royal HaskoningDHV

    Dutch to Indonesia trade mission drums up business for Royal HaskoningDHV

    As part of a high level Dutch trade mission to Indonesia, Royal HaskoningDHV has managed to secure two contracts as part of the development of the $300 million Kuala Tanjung Port, as well as enter discussions to pilot a hospital development project in the country of more than 260 million peopale.

    A consortium of Dutch Government officials, including Prime Minister Rutte, Ministers Schultz van Haegen and State Secretary Dijksmarecent, recently travelled to Indonesia on a trade mission. A number of Dutch businesses joined the mission, including professional services firm Royal HaskoningDHV.

    The mission, aside from drumming up mutually beneficial business and political ties between the countries, whose history dates back centuries, also involves collaboration on a number of different projects, from a CEO summit focused on improving the working relationship between Dutch and Indonesian businesses, to investment and collaboration programmes in key sectors, from hospitals to shipping. Additionally, a key discussion point on the agenda related to efforts in solving a pressing problem for Jakarta: the city is sinking at 10 centimetres per year due to unsustainable use of groundwater from beneath the city – endangering up to 5 million people in the north of the city that face immanent flooding. The Dutch government, through the Dutch water sector, is involved in the development process for a lasting solution to sustainable water management for the city.

    Regarding the work, Royal HaskoningDHV Indonesia Resident Director Berte Simons, remarks “Since the Indonesian government asked the Dutch government for assistance in 2007, the Dutch water sector is contributing to a lasting solution to sustainable water management of the city. No small task in this area where space is scarce, stakeholder interests are large and government budgets limited. We are proud to contribute to the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) strategy that not only should be a sanitation, water supply, civil and hydraulic engineering feat but also one in which inclusive urban and socio-economic solutions are key.”

    For Royal HaskoningDHV, with around 350 employees working on projects for production sites in the country, the mission thus far resulted in signing two contracts with the Indonesian port operator Pelindo I for the development of Kuala Tanjung Port in North Sumatra. The port, which is expected to cost around $300 million, is part of the country’s wider maritime highway vision led by President Joko Widodo – which includes a total of 24 new strategic ports in the country. The value of the contracts for Royal HaskoningDHV has not been disclosed.

    Members from Royal HaskoningDHV’s healthcare practice, including Eduard Boonstra, the firm’s Business developer for the segment, also took part in trade discussions surrounding hospital development in Indonesia. The country, whose healthcare expenditure falls in the middle range in relation to its neighbours, offers considerable opportunities for joint benefit from work with Dutch providers – the country has one of the world’s most effective healthcare systems. The firm will work on a pilot project to deliver economically viable hospital designs that are able to contribute to the improvement of the public as well private health sector in Indonesia.

    Eduard Boonstra, remarks, “Together with the Ministry of Health, BPJS and local health authorities, we expect to work on a pilot project after successfully having performed a feasibility study regarding the improvement of the primary care system in Yogyakarta within the framework of Universal Health Coverage. We are proud to be recognised by leading Indonesia hospital operators as integrated design partner in the development of modern, efficient and patient safe hospitals which enable us to further build up our track record in Indonesia.”

  • Making the most of Asia intra-regional trade

    Making the most of Asia intra-regional trade

    Global economic volatility might be worrying some companies in Asia Pacific, but the small- and medium-size enterprise (SME) sector is bucking the trend with strength and optimism for the year ahead.

    Even if trade deals take a new path, the many opportunities that Asia intra-regional trade brings to small business leaders are here to stay.

    In fact, SMEs in this region are bullish about the future. To start with, exports are looking good.

    Among Asia Pacific SMEs, global export revenue for 2016 held steady with the year before, and most SMEs believe that will continue or increase over 2017.

    Trade within Asia Pacific is sparking the most confidence. Intra-regional exports are the driving force of this stronger trend – a recent study found almost nine in 10 Asian SMEs sell goods to markets in Asia Pacific and are set to do so even more. Stronger regional ties and trade linkages are also contributing to the sense of optimism and resilience surrounding small businesses.

    In fact, FedEx-commissioned research found four in 10 Asia Pacific SMEs forecast an average double-digit growth of 20 per cent in intra-regional export revenue in the year ahead.

    In addition, Asia Pacific SMEs also generate the highest level of revenue from intra-regional exports among the four global regions in the study.

    The figures are supported by the latest Asian Development Bank (ADB) findings which show that intra-Asia trade now accounts for 57 per cent of total trade in the region.

    That’s impressive against a backdrop of wide ranging business challenges from higher production costs to increasing competition, along with slower trade growth worldwide.

    It is also welcome news that the crucial financing of SMEs is getting better all the time, with SME finance markets forecasting healthy growth in 2017, especially in Asia.

    Another aspect of SME optimism lies in the fact that small businesses today are now more technology-savvy, well-connected, agile and able to hold their own on the world stage.

    Whether it’s eCommerce, mCommerce, social commerce, the cloud, search engine optimisation, content management systems (CMS), ePayment technology or sophisticated logistics solutions, SMEs can quickly connect with more intra-Asia as well as global markets than ever before.

    So it’s no surprise that eCommerce is generating significant growth – a trend that is particularly pronounced in Asia Pacific, where 80 per cent of SMEs are generating revenue from eCommerce.

    In line with the boom in eCommerce, momentum is building behind two important trends – mCommerce purchases made using mobile devices, and social commerce purchases made via social media platforms.

    Just under 70 per cent of small businesses in the region are currently selling their products via mobile platforms and a similar number offer customers the option of buying via social media platforms such as Facebook.

    These new technologies are essential to attracting and retaining customers.

    So too is the necessity to have an efficient supply chain – in order to enhance customer experience, win new customers and improve bottom lines.

    As eCommerce drives demand for faster delivery, around two thirds of firms operating in eCommerce are prepared to pay more to get products more speedily to market.

    Maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction in a difficult business environment is tough, especially since over a third of Asia Pacific SMEs cite increasing competition with foreign rivals as a major challenge.

    That’s why investment in new technologies and an efficient supply chain is essential for small businesses in navigating and exploiting the ever-changing digital economy, and tapping into all the opportunities ahead in intra-regional trade.

    –Karen Reddington, President of FedEx Express Asia Pacific

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  • YCH Group to develop high-tech DistriPark in Nantong

    YCH Group to develop high-tech DistriPark in Nantong

    YCH Group, Asia Pacific’s leading integrated end-to-end supply chain management and logistics partner signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CPC Nantong Northern New Town Management Committee to develop a DistriPark within the Nantong Integrated Logistics Park to support urban development of logistics infrastructures in Nantong City.

    As a key port and economic centre in the Jiangsu Province, Nantong City is a fast-growing coastal city strategically located along the Yangtze River Delta.  According to a report published by Milken Institute in September 2016, Nantong City is one of the top ten Best-Performing 3rd tier cities in China, characterised by its rapid development and growth of wages, jobs, GDP & FDI in the city.

    The new DistriPark will help to fill development gaps and intensified the growth of logistics infrastructure and capabilities, supporting the rapid urbanisation of Nantong City. The hub will also boost connectivity between the coastal and inland cities of China through the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, bringing further development prospects to China’s inland cities.

    “The DistriPark is strategic and instrumental to YCH’s expansion in the coastal and inland cities of China. With the rapid development and growth of second and third-tier cities in the country, the new facility will provide immediate access to the best-in-class Supply Chain solutions for our clients in the region.” said Dave Lim, Chief Executive Officer of YCH China.

    “The Nantong Integrated Logistics Park was designed to support the rapid growth of consumerism and urbanisation in Nantong City. We are delighted to collaborate with YCH, a notable Singapore company, who will add value in our efforts to develop Nantong into the next major economic centre of China.” said Zhou Yong, Director of CPC Nantong Northern New Town Management Committee.

    YCH has built a comprehensive network in Greater China since the mid 90s, expanding its growing presence in key cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Kunshan, Nantong, Chengdu, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macau and Hong Kong. In addition to this MOU signing, YCH has also recently launched a Retail Hub in Xiamen, and implemented its EduRISE Talent Development Programme at Jiangsu Vocational College of Business earlier this month.

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  • American Airlines Cargo transports priceless art to Hong Kong

    American Airlines Cargo transports priceless art to Hong Kong

    American Airlines Cargo safely delivered more than 3,000 pounds (1,500 kilograms) of priceless artifacts belonging to the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection from Los Angeles (LAX) to Hong Kong (HKG).

    Working with Cookes Crating, one of America’s oldest and most respected fine art shippers, over 100 artifacts, including paintings, sculptures, rare first editions, manuscripts and official records, were transported to The University of Hong Kong Museum and Art Gallery. The three month long exhibition tells the story of African American achievement and contribution.

    “With priceless artifacts like those in this collection, we offer customers peace of mind with our High Value service, which includes enhanced safety and security measures, such as special handling and surveillance at every touch point,” said Joe Goode, American Airlines Cargo’s managing director, Cargo Sales – Western Division. “Plus, with our direct flight from LAX to HKG, we were able to quickly and successfully deliver the shipment in prime condition before the exhibition’s debut in Hong Kong.”

    The Kinsey family’s long-standing relationship with American was just recently extended to the Cargo division for the shipment of their invaluable collection because of the carrier’s experience in handling high-value shipments.

    “My family and I have been loyal customers of American Airlines for nearly 40 years, beginning with my parents who have visited 100 countries and flown millions of miles,” said Khalil Kinsey, general manager and chief curator – The Kinsey Collection. “American has played an integral role in our business from a travel perspective, and we are excited to expand our relationship to the cargo and logistics aspect. The Cargo division provided a smooth and efficient experience that gave us great comfort and confidence that our crates full of priceless contents would be handled with the utmost care, as well as arrives safely and on time.”

     

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  • HACTL Achieves 1,6% Tonnage Cargo Growth in 2016

    HACTL Achieves 1,6% Tonnage Cargo Growth in 2016

    Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals handled a total of 1,653,938 tonnes of cargo in 2016, an increase of 1.6% compared to 2015. “From a disappointing start, 2016 shaped up to be a very satisfactory year for Hactl and its airline customers,” said Mark Whitehead, chief executive of Hactl.

    “The best results showed in the second half, and are hopefully indicative of a more settled picture for global air cargo that will continue into 2017. Particularly gratifying is the continuing growth of our ramp-handling business. We ascribe this both to the attraction of Hactl’s unique ability to provide combined terminal and ramp handling in Hong Kong, and to our recent investment in streamlining through the use of mobile computing; this has enhanced productivity and service standards.”

    According to Hactl, transhipments performed most strongly, having grown 29.6% year-on-year. Mail, courier and express traffic grew 8.4% and exports grew 2.1%. Imports declined 8.3%.

    Self Photos / Files - Hactl [2]

    The company’s SuperTerminal 1 set a new weekly record when it handled 41,926 tonnes of cargo from November 28 to December 4, 2016. The ramp-handling business also set new all-time daily, weekly and monthly records.

    Hactl handled 101 freighters on November 23, breaking the previous record of 98 which was set 19 days earlier. From November 28 to December 4, the company handled 628 freighters, beating the previous week’s record of 609. Hactl handled 2,579 freighters in November 2016. The previous record of 2,242 was set in November 2015.

    SuperTerminal 1 is the largest cargo facility at Hong Kong International Airport and is capable of handling 3.5 million tonnes per year.

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  • FedEx Trade Networks expands in Malaysia

    FedEx Trade Networks expands in Malaysia

    FedEx Trade Networks, a premier international freight forwarder, announced the opening of a new office in Malaysia. Based in Penang, the additional facility highlights the continued expansion of FedEx Trade Networks to meet the growing market demand.

    “With our network stretching into Malaysia, we are well positioned to proactively respond to customer needs and support them in simplifying the complexities of international shipping,” said Udo Lange, executive vice president and COO, FedEx Trade Networks.

    The new FedEx Trade Networks office is strategically located in Penang’s central business district, with close proximity to the airport and the seaport as well as the city’s key infrastructure facilities. FedEx Trade Networks offers a comprehensive portfolio of services, covering e-commerce, international air and ocean freight forwarding, surface transportation (domestic and cross-border), customs brokerage, trade and customs advisory services as well as other value-added services, including My Global Trade Data, the company’s online suite of information management tools.

    “The world requires a new type of freight forwarder that understands how to turn global logistics into strategic advantages,” said Lange. “FedEx Trade Networks makes the complexities of global shipping simple, striving to provide customers with unparalleled supply chain visibility and logistics transparency to help move their businesses forward.”

    Penang is one of the most urbanised and industrialised states in Malaysia with a high concentration of key industries and sectors, including high tech, electronics and electrical products, industrial goods as well as aerospace, retail and e-commerce. Home to multinationals as well as small and medium enterprises, the city is one of the leading industrial sectors in the world.

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  • DHL eCommerce has launched its fulfillment centre in Sydney

    DHL eCommerce has launched its fulfillment centre in Sydney

    “E-commerce has gone borderless, and order fulfillment needs to do the same,” said Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL eCommerce. “Our Australian facility adds another node to our standardized global network of fulfillment centres located in the US, Mexico, India, Hong Kong and Central Europe, eliminating the need for e-commerce merchants to hunt for new logistics partners as they look to expand their global reach.”

    According to DHL, the new facility integrates inbound freight, inventory and last-mile delivery into a single consolidated service, operating under the same service level agreements, management platforms and customer support as the rest of the DHL eCommerce fulfillment network. All services will be offered on a pay-per-use basis.

    “Australian shoppers are the second-most likely in the world to buy online from overseas merchants, and the significance of their purchasing power will only increase as cross-border e-commerce grows at an average of 29% per year until 2020,” said Damien Sheehan, managing director of Australia at DHL eCommerce. “Online retailers need to overcome the traditional problems associated with overseas expansion — finding new suppliers in each market, delivering shipments within days not weeks, and keeping costs in check — if they want to stay competitive in this borderless future. The launch of our Australian fulfillment centre gives our customers immediate access to one of the world’s most mature and fastest-growing e-commerce markets, with the scalability and quality needed to reach Australia’s highly savvy online shoppers.”

    Malcolm Monteiro, CEO of Asia Pacific at DHL eCommerce, said that cost-effectiveness and scalability are the most critical issues for online retailers in Australia because the value of the country’s e-commerce sales is expected to grow by almost 50% between now and 2020.

    “Whether it’s extending into new channels, offering more delivery options, or simply increasing inventory and warehouse capacity, global brands need fulfillment solutions that can adapt to their needs without requiring hands-on intervention every time a change occurs,” he said. “Global e-tailers can access our latest fulfillment centre for simplified nationwide inventory and last-mile delivery and also as part of a rapid and painless global expansion.”

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  • Ethiopian cargo terminal set for operation by April ‘17

    Ethiopian cargo terminal set for operation by April ‘17

    Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Terminal, which is under construction currently, has reached 82 per cent completion and it is scheduled to be operation by April 2017, the African carrier said. The first phase of the Addis Ababa terminal cost around US$150 million.

    The terminal will have an capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of cargo including facilities for perishable goods. The facility can also handle up to eight B747-400 freighters at one time. Commenting on the the new facility, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said: “Upon completion, our uplifting capability will be equivalent to the cargo terminals at Amsterdam Schiphol, Singapore Changi or Hong Kong.”

    The new cargo terminal is part of Ethiopian Cargo’s Vision 2025, aimed to support the country’s export of perishables including flowers, fruits, vegetables and meat. That plan includes expansion of its freighter network to eighteen aircraft serving 37 international cargo destinations by 2025.

    “At Ethiopian, we are very proud of the new heights Ethiopian has flown in the year,” Gebremariam said. “We celebrated our 70th anniversary, inaugurated the largest and the finest Aviation Academy in Africa and a state-of-the-art In-flight Catering facility which is the largest in the continent of Africa, introduced Africa’s first Ethiopian Airbus A350, and spread our wings to more countries on five continents”.

    Ethiopian has also constructed a flight simulator building and installed five of the latest full flight simulators, which includes Boeing 787, 777, 757, 767, 737NG and the Bombardier Q400. It plans to add simulators for the Airbus A350 XWB and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

  • Goodman secures five new customers signing at Goodman Pudong Airport Logistics Park

    Goodman secures five new customers signing at Goodman Pudong Airport Logistics Park

    Goodman Group (Goodman or the Group) is pleased to announce that it has secured five new major customer commitments totalling 98,120 sqm at the Goodman Pudong Airport Logistics Park (GPALP). The leasing success achieved reflects the continued robust demand for well located, high quality warehouse and distribution facilities in and around key gateway cities like Shanghai.

    Located next to the Pudong International Airport’s third runway, which is designated for airfreight only, the park is well serviced by strong transportation infrastructure. It comprises two-storey ramped up warehouses with sustainable features such as LED lighting, low-e glass curtain walls and steel structures made out of recycled materials.

    The five customers who have recently committed to GPALP are:

    • China Postal Express & Logistics, China’s leading postal services provider
    • DSV, a Danish transport and logistics service specialist
    • NTS Logistics Management Company, a leading Chinese integrated transportation firm
    • Shi Hao Vehicle Logistics Solutions, a Chinese vehicle logistics company
    • Success Master Consultancy Co. Ltd., an automobile pre-delivery inspection service provider

    Kristoffer Harvey, Chief Executive Officer, Greater China, Goodman said, “The strong demand for space at the Goodman Pudong Airport Logistics Park underscores our commitment to making it the preferred choice for companies wanting to locate in excellent proximity to China’s second busiest airport. We are pleased to welcome so many renowned customers to this facility and to be able to meet their requirements with our modern logistics solutions and high quality customer service.”

    China Postal Express & Logistics, one of the park’s new customers, committed to a total of 19,769 sqm.

    Wang Aiping, General Manager, Shanghai Branch, China Postal Express & Logistics said, “Shanghai Postal Express & Logistics is a modern and integrated state-owned express delivery and logistics company that professionally operates and manages Shanghai’s postal express and logistics services. Our business covers all of China and more than 200 countries overseas. Goodman has a strong reputation in the market due to the high quality of its warehouses, as well as its excellent property management capabilities.

    “We are very honoured to occupy Goodman’s best-in-class facility, which has been built in line with the highest standards. The adequate amount of space provided by the Goodman Pudong Airport Logisitics Park will play a key role in helping Shanghai Postal Express & Logistics improve its management and operational capabilities, boost its efficiency and provide integrated customer services. Meanwhile, Shanghai Postal Express & Logistics will also offer convenient, rapid, safe and reliable express delivery and logistics services to all segments of society.”

  • Russian Railways eyes high-speed Europe-China cargo trains

    Russian Railways eyes high-speed Europe-China cargo trains

    The president of Russian Railways, Oleg Belozerov, proposed a high-speed cargo railway connection between Europe and China, allowing transport of goods to take as little as two days.

    “We plan to reach China via Kazakhstan and to carry special, high-profit cargoes to Europe via Russia, because a ship sails now 60 days, which is a long time. It sails round India and only then arrives to Europe. With a high speed rail transport we will be able to deliver goods in two days, and to earn extra money for our country,” Belozerov told a United Russia party meeting recently according to an Executive Intelligence Review News Service (EIRNS) report.

    Earlier Russian Railways said it was working on developing a cargo train capable of carrying from 300 to 600 tonnes of cargo at speeds up to 300kph.

    The China-Europe cargo line will be part of the Moscow-Kazan high-speed railway, whose construction should begin in 2017, Belozerov said. With a distance of some 770 kilometers, and a speed of of 350-400 kph, the rail route will cut the time between the two cities to as little as 3-3.5 hours; the current time is 14 hours. The line could be commissioned before 2022-2023.

    The US$16.8 billion railway project could later be extended to China, connecting the two countries across Kazakhstan. The Moscow-Beijing railroad will be 7,769 kilometers, with a travel time of 32.8 hours — four times faster than the current 130.4 hours. The average annual passenger traffic is estimated at 195 million people.

    China is committed to providing $6.5 billion as a credit for 20 years and $1.6 billion as a contribution to the charter capital of the special-project company. The German Initiative Consortium (includes Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bahn, and other companies) is ready to allocate €2.7 billion to finance the construction of the high-speed railway line and to attract up to €800 million for the project.

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  • Singapore Airlines Cargo Achieves CEIV Pharma Certification

    Singapore Airlines Cargo Achieves CEIV Pharma Certification

    We are honoured to have been awarded the IATA CEIV Pharma certification, which reinforces our commitment to our customers from the pharmaceutical sector to deliver the highest standards of care and professionalism in handling their time- and temperature-sensitive shipments,” said Yau Seng Chin, president of SIA Cargo. “We are acutely aware of the important role that these shipments play in serving the broader community, and hope that this certification will give our ultimate customers additional assurance and comfort that these shipments, which are often life-saving, are in good hands.”

    According to SIA Cargo, the networks of Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot, covering more than 100 destinations, are included in the certification.

    The CEIV Pharma certification assesses an airline’s operations, processes and training to ensure that they comply with international good practices and standards.

    “The Asia-Pacific freight market is the largest in the world, accounting for close to 40% of total global trade,” said Glyn Hughes, global head of cargo at IATA. “Having SIA Cargo, one of the region’s largest operators, achieve CEIV Pharma certification is a significant boost not only for the airline’s customers but also the region. We congratulate them on their achievement and for taking the industry one step closer to having a global standard for transporting pharmaceuticals in place.”

    SIA Cargo is one of six companies that form Singapore Changi Airport’s cargo community, which Changi Airport Group is supporting to undergo the CEIV Pharma certification process.

    SIA Cargo and CAG are also members of Pharma.Aero, a new independent organization formed in October 2016 which aims to improve the quality of pharma handling by promoting collaboration between CEIV Pharma-certified airport communities.

    SIA Cargo is the eighth carrier in the world to be awarded the CEIV Pharma certification, joining AirBridgeCargo, Air France, CAL Cargo Airlines, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

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  • Amazon gains patent for drone ‘Mothership’

    Amazon gains patent for drone ‘Mothership’

    Amazon continues to push the envelope as a supply chain and logistics disrupter with the granting of a patent in late December for what has been dubbed a giant ‘flying warehouse’.

    The Amazon Technologies Inc. filing describes ‘airborne fulfillment centers’ (AFCs) comprised of large and robust flying drone made up of numerous smaller drones, designed to make long-distance flights or to carry heavy packages. By comparison, the average quadcopter drone — a design that incorporates four propellers — can typically fly continuously for up to 30 minutes and transport up to 4.5 kg.

    It also describes the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to deliver items from the AFCs to users.

    According to the patent, filed 19 February 2015 and granted 29 December 2016, individual modules could detach from the collective drone body once they were no longer required, and operate independently to deliver smaller burdens.

    The filing stated: “For example, the AFC may be an airship that remains at a high altitude (for example, 45,000 feet) and UAVs with ordered items may be deployed from the AFC to deliver ordered items to user designated delivery locations.

    “As the UAVs descend, they can navigate horizontally toward a user specified delivery location using little to no power, other than to stabilize the UAV and/or guide the direction of descent. Shuttles (smaller airships) may be used to replenish the AFC with inventory, UAVs, supplies, fuel, etc. Likewise, the shuttles may be utilized to transport workers to and from the AFC.”

    The filing continued: “An AFC may navigate to an area based on various positioning factors. For example, a temporal event (e.g., a football game) may be expected to produce a demand for certain types of items (for example, sporting paraphernalia, food products, etc.).

    “In advance of the event, the items may be delivered to the AFC in a quantity sufficient to satisfy the expected demand and the AFC may navigate to a position such that UAVs deployed from the AFC can safely navigate to the location of the event and deliver the items, thereby satisfying the demand.

    “In some implementations, the AFC may navigate to a lower altitude and provide advertising for the temporal event or for other occasions (e.g., product announcements, product releases, sales).”

    In a separate patent filing, Amazon was granted a new patent at the end of last month to protect its drones from possible threats and attackers with drawings detailing the possibility of a drone being fired upon by a bow and arrow.

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  • Electrolux names DHL as top logistics partner after 13 years of outstanding services

    Electrolux names DHL as top logistics partner after 13 years of outstanding services

    When assessing its relationship with DHL, Electrolux found 13 years of excellent service, competitive costs, and a willingness to go beyond the call of duty in even the most urgent logistics emergencies.

    Those factors led to Electrolux naming DHL Global Forwarding as its Global Logistics Supplier of the Year – making the leading international provider of air, sea and road freight services the first ever third party logistics provider to receive the award, now in its 4th year. DHL Global Forwarding supplies every Electrolux business sector worldwide with a range of services including Less-than-Container Load (LCL) ocean freight, air freight, customs brokerage, and freight consolidation.

    “DHL has truly distinguished themselves in supporting Electrolux’s global growth, bringing not only exceptional service quality but a true spirit of collaboration to our supply chain operations in more than 45 countries for 13 years running,” said Bjorn Vang Jensen, VP of Global Logistics, Electrolux. “The breadth and flexibility of the forwarding network under DHL have helped us maintain consistent and cost-effective shipping all over the world, and have also helped us manage through numerous logistics-related crisis situations over the years.”

    “DHL has proven its commitment through all seasons, no matter how complex or urgent the logistics situations we may face: this award highlights the immense value they have delivered for Electrolux over more than a decade of service.”

    The emergency shipments undertaken by DHL Global Forwarding have helped Electrolux maintain continuous production in even the most pressing of circumstances, ranging from major sales events to sudden changes in government regulation standards. Apart from standard air, ocean, and multimodal freight, Electrolux also uses LCL services from DHL Global Forwarding to deliver special high-value cargo in a cost-effective manner, including made-to-measure kitchen appliances and other bespoke orders.

    “Coordinating the numerous parts, part sizes, and supplier locations involved in the home appliance manufacturing process is no mean feat,” said Kelvin Leung, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific. “We have been extremely privileged to work with Electrolux across its entire supply chain, combining fast and cost-effective services with customs clearance, order consolidation, and even last-mile solutions to make the entire process as smooth and durable as the appliances we ship.”

    “This award truly honors our team’s commitment to supporting Electrolux in even the most extraordinary circumstances – not to mention 13 years of enthusiastic collaboration which shows no sign of waning.”

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  • DHL named Dell EMC 2016 Best Global Innovative Partner

    DHL named Dell EMC 2016 Best Global Innovative Partner

    DHL, the world’s leading logistics provider, announced it has been named a winner in Dell EMC’s 2016 Partner of the Year Awards.

    Presented by Dell EMC, the annual awards honor Dell EMC channel partners for delivering commendable solutions for their customers and were presented at the Dell EMC Global Partner Summit in Austin, TX. Award winners are selected from a group of nominations, based on their dedicated use of Dell EMC technologies to provide solutions for their customers’ needs.

    “We are extremely excited that our regional and Singapore teams have been presented with the Dell EMC 2016 Best Global Transport Logistics Partner and Best Global Innovative Partner of the Year awards respectively,” said Terry Ryan, CEO, DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific. “It is an honor for our warehousing and transport solutions, including bulk transportation capability, to be recognized for excellence in quality and cycle time performance. At the same time, the recognition for our innovative solutions – from an advanced storage and retrieval system to award-winning design, construction, operation and maintenance of ‘green buildings’ – is further acknowledgement of our efforts toward innovation and sustainability.”

    “We congratulate DHL on receiving Dell EMC’s 2016 Best Global Innovative Partner and Best Global Transport Logistics Partner of the Year Awards, which recognizes partners that have exhibited an exemplary commitment to Dell EMC and our joint customers throughout the year,” said John Byrne, President, Global Channels, Dell EMC. “Dell EMC’s partners are an important part of the Dell EMC ecosystem and provide customers deep expertise and exemplary support on their Digital Transformation journey.”

    As a Dell EMC Innovative and Logistics Partner, DHL provides a robust transportation and logistics infrastructure, which in tandem with Dell EMC’s expertise in hardware, software and services, helps to eliminate IT complexity for customers and create greater efficiencies.

    Through its partner program, Dell EMC offers partners like DHL greater value and choice to their customers, while rewarding investment in key Dell EMC solutions that will help drive business growth.

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  • Lalamove to expand to 100 Asian cities

    Lalamove to expand to 100 Asian cities

    Hong Kong-based logistics startup Lalamove has raised US$30 million in Series B funding to enable it to push into more than 100 cities in Asia by the end of the year.

    It is already established in 45 cities across China and Southeast Asia.

    Since it launched as EasyVan in 2013, the company has raised a total US$60 million in funding, with its latest round being led by Xianghe Capital from Beijing, with Blackhole Capital participating as a new investor. Previous investors Crystal Steam and Mindworks Ventures also contributed.

    Lalamove MD Blake Larson says the company is close to being profitable.

    Lalamove says it already has the largest service area for intracity deliveries in Asia with more than 500,000 drivers using the platform. More than 5 million people have used the service.

    Founder/CEO Shing Chow said he believes the logistics industry is underpenetrated by mobile platforms, citing the US$1.7 trillion market in China as an example.

    “The evolution of the logistics industry has not been as rapid as some other markets like communication, but we believe we are at a tipping point where transformation will now happen very rapidly.”

    Dubbed the “Uber for logistics” because it applies the on-demand economy to the delivery industry, Lalamove lets users choose pick-up and drop-off points, type of vehicle and either “advance booking” or “immediate delivery”.

    A company can schedule up to 20 stops per order, customise an account with “favourite drivers” and use one-click optimised routing to save time, reports E27.

    In Thailand, Lalamove partnered with Japanese chat company Line to set up Line Man so its user base could buy and deliver documents, packages, groceries and food items.

    In November, the company expanded into the Philippines, where its option to request round-trip deliveries for cash-on-demand was important.

    The company rebranded from EasyVan in November 2014, ahead of its Bangkok launch.

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