Tag: asia

  • DHL sharpens capabilities in China

    DHL sharpens capabilities in China

    Deutsche Post DHL Group is growing its established China operations to further sharpen capabilities as multi-national companies, small and medium-sized merchants and end-consumers alike demand more from logistics providers in the fast growing e-commerce sector. DHL shared insights at a press conference in Shanghai coinciding with FC Bayern Munich’s Summer Tour. As the official logistics and e-commerce partner, DHL launched FC Bayern Munich’s online store on Tmall Global in 2015 and continues to deliver official merchandise to fans in China.

    Figures show that the Asia-Pacific e-commerce market is led by China, accounting for two thirds of sales generated in 2016. With US$469 billion market size, China is by far the world’s biggest and fastest growing e-commerce market. The country’s cross border e-commerce is estimated to be worth US$839 billion by 2021 and expected to grow at 20.1% from 2015 to 20201, with huge opportunities both in the segment of low value items and high value items.

    “Our strategic aspiration is to become the leader in e-commerce-related logistics, with the Asia-Pacific region and especially China playing a crucial role in our strategy. Offering our customers worldwide flexible, innovative and eco-friendly delivery solutions is necessary to consolidate this development. By means of the innovations and green logistics solutions we brought to market, we are set to help Asian retailers grow and exploit the opportunities e-commerce offers,” said Juergen Gerdes, Board Member Post – eCommerce – Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL Group.

    Combining strengths
    Each of DPDHL Group’s well-established divisions in China offer unrivalled networks. The company helps e-commerce merchants with a full suite of logistics and value-added services ensuring goods are delivered in a manner that is compliant with local laws, avoiding unforeseen penalties and delays.

    DHL-Sinotrans, the Group’s international express joint-venture established in 1986 has developed the largest international express services network in China covering 80% of China’s major population and business centres. To cater to business-to-consumer (B2C) deliveries, the company rolled out On Demand Delivery to allow deliveries to be made at pre-arranged times and locations. In the e-commerce sector, the international express service is primarily used by customers for the delivery of high end, higher value goods where speed and guaranteed transit times are of paramount consideration.

    DHL Global Forwarding operates 37 branches, five Air freight Gateways and six Ocean freight Gateways in China2. The world’s leading air, ocean freight service provider, has also pioneered an extensive network of rail solutions through China to Europe. Extended by ferry to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and by road to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, DHL Global Forwarding China’s multimodal network leverages China’s rail network to allow a two-way flow of goods between Asia and Europe through a viable alternative solution which is cheaper than traditional air and faster than ocean freight.

  • Konecranes wins contract to supply a new customer in Indonesia

    Konecranes won a contract for the delivery of an Automated RTG (ARTG) system to a new customer, PT Prima Multi Terminal, a subsidiary of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I. The ordered ARTG system includes eight ARTG cranes with associated software, interfaces and services. The new order also comprises three Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes.

    The ordered ARTG system and the STS cranes will be delivered to the greenfield container terminal in Kuala Tanjung Port, North Sumatera. The terminal is prioritizing digitization right from the beginning and highlighted the importance of transparency, scalability and maintainability on top of the core function of handling containers cost-effectively.

    “We are delighted to collaborate with the world’s leading automated container crane supplier and are looking forward to executing the project successfully before starting to serve our customers in a most efficient way at the end of 2018,” says Hosadi Sikumbang, President Director of PT Prima Multi Terminal.

    Indonesia is a strategically important country for Konecranes, which has been operating there for 18 years. The government of Indonesia is carrying out a nationwide freight transport program to improve the movement of goods through the country’s vast waterways. With its products and services, Konecranes is poised to contribute to the country’s drive to become a global top ten economy by 2025.

    “We thank PT Prima Multi Terminal for placing their confidence in Konecranes and look forward to being part of their success story. The value our customers perceive from our automation system is delivered through elimination of unintended crane movements, reduced energy and maintenance bills, and increased productivity,” says Janne Eklund, Konecranes Sales Director, Port Cranes, Asia Pacific.

    The new ARTG system will be delivered at the end of 2018 and comprises:

    · Eight all-electric, automated Konecranes 16-wheel RTGs with Active Load Control and GPS Autosteering
    · Four Remote Operating Stations (ROSs)
    · Truck guidance systems
    · Intelligent gates for the container stacks
    · Interface for miscellaneous container yard infrastructure
    · Automation software, including the interface to the Terminal Operating System
    · TRUCONNECT® remote service, which gives the customer 24/7 access to Konecranes’ global network of crane experts

    The three Konecranes STS cranes of Post Panamax size will have an outreach of 48m and will be delivered 2 months before the ARTG system.

  • Amazon launches Prime Now in Singapore

    Amazon.com has today formally announced the launch of Prime Now in Singapore, following an industry tip yesterday the service was about to be introduced.

    Prime Now offers free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items right that can be ordered via smartphone app. These include eggs, beer, ice cream, baby strollers, toys, consumer electronics.

    Also available are local favourites such as MamyPoko diapers, Milo, Scotch-Brite and Tiger Balm, as well as products from such brands as L’Oreal, Pampers and Samsung.

    Free two-hour delivery is offered for orders of S$40 (US$30) or more.

    Singapore Economic Development Board assistant MD Kiren Kumar says Amazon has launched a new operating model for the service, using data and technology to achieve greater efficiency.

    “With Prime Now, Amazon will also play a key role in training and equipping our local ecosystem and workforce with cross-disciplinary digital capabilities. This is an excellent example of a global technology company contributing to Singapore’s ambition to be a smart nation where businesses can innovate and create new value for the world.”

    While Prime Now is an exclusive service for members of Amazon Prime, a membership program to launch in Singapore soon, for a limited time consumers can try it without membership. Also for a limited time, shoppers using a Visa credit card will receive $20 off their first Prime Now order. There is a promotional code for other customers to receive a $10 discount on their first order.

    Since launching in New York in December 2014, Prime Now has expanded to more than 50 cities in nine countries, including Tokyo. The Prime Now app is available for Android and iOS devices.

  • Maruti, Hyundai rule passenger vehicle sales in June

    Maruti, Hyundai rule passenger vehicle sales in June

    Country’s top two carmakers Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai Motor India dominated the Indian passenger vehicle sales segment last month with their models occupying all the slots in the top ten list.

    While car market leader Maruti has seven of its models in the list, rival Hyundai Motor India has three of its models in the top ten selling list of last month.

    Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Innova and Renault Kwid which were there in the June 2016 list have failed to find place in this year’s top ten list.

    According to the latest data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Maruti’s Alto retained the top position in June with 14,856 units, as against 15,750 units in June last year.

    Hyundai’s compact car Grand i10 stood at second position with 12,317 units. It was at third position in June 2016, with 12,678 unit sales.

    Maruti’s compact sedan Dzire occupied the third position with sale of 12,050 units as compared with 15,560 units in June last year.

    The car market leader’s compact hatchback Wagon R stood at fourth position with sale of 10,668 units during the last month.

    Hyundai’s Elite i20 stood at fifth position last month with 10,609 units. The company had sold 8,990 units of the vehicle in the same period last year.

    Maruti’s Swift retained sixth position with 9,902 units in June. It had sold 9,033 units in the same month of the last year.

    The carmaker’s premium hatchback Baleno stood at seventh position with sale of 9,057 units last month, while compact SUV Vitara Brezza with sale of 8,293 units took eighth position in June.

    Hyundai’s Creta retained ninth position with sale of 6,436 units in June. It sold 7,700 units in the same month last year.

    Maruti’s hatchback Celerio stood at tenth place with sale of 6,375 units.

  • Vietnam-Australia rice cooperation in fine shape

    Vietnam-Australia rice cooperation in fine shape

    Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, during his visit to the Australia, told a meeting with Australian businesses on July 24 that Vietnam can supply all types of rice in bulk to the country.

    Vietnam’s rice exports to Australia reached 220,000 tonnes last year, an increase of 50 per cent compared to 2015 and accounting for 4.5 per cent of all trade with the country.

    Mr. Rob Gordon, CEO of Sunrice, the world’s largest rice and food processor, said that some Vietnamese enterprises have exported micronutrient rice to islands in the Pacific Ocean under orders from Sunrice.

    He also suggested the Vietnam Government permit Sunrice to expand its business in Vietnam, transfer technology, and share its experience in rice production in a closed process with Vietnamese enterprises.

    Deputy PM Hue appreciated Sunrice’s goodwill and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government would direct the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with the company to support Vietnamese rice producers.

    Besides rice, Australian enterprises are also keen on other sectors in Vietnam such as tourism. Vietnam is becoming a popular holiday destination for many Australians, with 50,000 expected each year in the near future.

    Vietnam is now Australia’s 15th largest trade partner, with two-way trade of over $10 billion, while Australian investment in Vietnam has boomed over recent years. In the first six months of this year, Australian investors invested over $95.7 million in 27 projects in Vietnam (both new projects and additional capital in existing projects).

    The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicted in June that Vietnam would be among the Top 5 countries in terms of rice volumes this year. The five are China (with more than 142 million tons), India (over 110 million tons), Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

    Global rice volumes are likely to increase by 0.7 per cent this year compared to last year, to more than 502 million tons, according to the Food Potential report published by the FAO, due to policies promoting production in Asia and the recovery of production in South America and Australia.

    Vietnam exported nearly 4.9 million tons of rice last year worth $2.1 billion, a decline of 25.5 per cent and 20.5 per cent, respectively, against 2015.

  • DHL bolsters transport solutions with real-time freight visibility platform

    DHL bolsters transport solutions with real-time freight visibility platform

    DHL Supply Chain continues to engage the latest technology to enhance supply chain efficiency for its customers. The newest technology for the Transportation Sector is a patented technology called MacroPoint that will give DHL the ability to provide customers with real-time shipment status updates using predictive analytics and proactive alerts within the supply chain.

    The real-time freight visibility platform is just one of many technology enhancements DHL has made to its global transportation services offering. The company has also invested in technologies that provide transportation business intelligence and end-to-end supply chain visibility. They include: DHL Resilience360, an innovative cloud-based supply chain risk management platform that helps companies visualize, track and protect their business operations, and Connected View, a web portal that allows companies to query the status of shipments, warehouse orders, inventory snapshots and purchase orders.

    “Our focus is on our customers and we’re constantly looking for new ways to help them simplify their transportation management and optimize their transportation costs,” said Jim Monkmeyer, President of Transportation, DHL Supply Chain. “It all boils down to a commitment to innovation. That’s how we stay ahead of shifts in the marketplace so we can help our customers think beyond today’s shipment.”

    DHL Supply Chain offers comprehensive transportation management solutions, freight brokerage, dedicated fleet services and Lead Logistics Partner (LLP) capabilities around the world. DHL Supply Chain also provides customer focused solutions for a wide range of inbound, manufacturing, warehouse, distribution and outbound operations.

    DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, ecommerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 350,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

    DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 57 billion euros in 2016.

  • Amazon to raise the bar in Australian delivery

    Amazon to raise the bar in Australian delivery

    The arrival of Amazon will catalyse an uplift in consumer expectations around the speed, price and reliability of retail delivery, putting pressure on businesses to improve supply chain practices to remain competitive.

    That’s the message from Greencross chief information officer (CIO) Paul Kennedy, who isn’t buying the typical arguments against the viability of best practice delivery in Australia.

    “We like to use excuses,” he told an audience at Online Retailer on Wednesday. “We say Australia’s big, or that it’s not very densely populated…some of those things are true, but two-thirds of Australia’s population live within a day’s drive of Melbourne or Sydney.”

    “If you have distribution in those cities you should be able to get out to customers within a day…there are things within the retailers control, if it can get out of your DC the day it’s ordered then it has got a lot better chance of getting to customers the next day.

    “We need to focus on our internal teams, on order by here, ship it by there, get it to the customer by there,” he said.

    Kennedy, one of the architects behind John Lewis’ omnichannel strategy in the UK and former CIO of APG & Co., believes it’s only a matter of time before on-demand or so-called ‘uberised’ delivery becomes widespread in the Australian market

    He expects Amazon’s entry to propel the market towards that reality, redefining what Australian consumers see as acceptable offer.

    “You can overplay the Amazon threat, but you can’t overplay customer expectations – they’ll continue to go up and we need to respond to it.

    “That’s the most notable difference between sites in the UK and Australia. They’ll say, ‘order it by there and it’ll get delivered by here’,” Kennedy explained.

    Greencross, which owns pet supplies retailer Pet barn, is one of many publicly listed companies to have been thrown under a cloud in recent months, having had its earnings guidance cut by UBS earlier this year.

    Its share price is down almost 15 per cent since January as uncertainty over the impact of Amazon’s entry, as well as macroeconomic headwinds, continue to weigh on the market.

    It makes Kennedy, who was poached from APG & Co in late 2015, all the more important. As he says, supply chain may not be the sexiest part of retail, but it is where the money is made.

    He expects stores to be the cornerstone of logistical success for established retailers in an Amazon enabled environment, advising retailers to implement omnichannel strategies that leverage pre-existing assets.

    But there remains a disparity between what customers say they want and what they are willing to pay for it, Kennedy said.

    “Lots of people talk about same day delivery, lots of couriers do it, lots of vendors offer it and every customer will tell you they want it.

    “It’s a good idea, and I can see why in some sectors it’s really valuable, but the big challenge is that customers just don’t want to pay for it,” he said.

    Kennedy cautioned against investing too heavily in ultra-fast delivery services, noting that investing in same-day as a premium offer only makes sense if an adequate number of customers are prepared to pay for it.

    There are, however, ways to make it work. Kennedy agrees that the prime model has been successful in helping Amazon justify free same day, or next day delivery in many parts of the US and UK, and that a subscription/replenishment model has its place.

    “If you have replenished able items it might make sense to say, ‘sign up for $50 a year and we’ll cover your freight under this arrangement for the whole year’…we already do subscription dog food and that sort of thing, but for most retailers with less frequent purchases it would be a harder argument.”

  • Joe & The Juice owner buys back franchise rights

    Joe & The Juice owner buys back franchise rights

    Danish urban juice bar and coffee concept Joe & The Juice has bought back the brand’s franchise rights for Singapore and Hong Kong from Singapore’s Norbreeze Group.

    Norbreeze was running the brand’s network in both cities. Branches had opened in shopping centres such as Hong Kong’s Times Square and at Hong Kong International Airport.

    Founded in Copenhagen by CEO Kaspar Basse in 2002, Joe & The Juice uses natural and organic ingredients for its freshly prepared juices, shakes, coffees and sandwiches. The company has 198 stores internationally, with a growing presence in Asia.

    “Norbreeze has had great success in opening Joe & The Juice bars in Singapore and Hong Kong, and we have been able to use our experience and expertise from our core business to establish a strong network of juice bars,” says Norbreeze group CEO Anders Peter Juel Sauerberg.

    “At the same time we have experienced very strong growth in projects and orders from our core business, within watches and jewellery. So as not to dilute our engagement, we have chosen to focus on our core business and have Joe & The Juice continue the expansion in the region.”

    Basse says Asia holds a significant opportunity for Joe & The Juice. “Norbreeze Group has helped establish a strong platform for growth in Singapore and Hong Kong from where we can continue the brand’s expansion.”

    Norbreeze Group represents Pandora, Cath Kidson, Timberland, Cocomi, Bering, Daniel Wellington and Monica Vinader in Asian markets.

  • Jing Ting restaurant offers northern Chinese cuisine

    Jing Ting restaurant offers northern Chinese cuisine

    Just opened in City of Dreams Manila, Jing Ting is a casual-dining restaurant serving northern Chinese cuisine.

    Its speciality is Xi’an cuisine from the ancient Chinese capital which is the starting point of the Silk Road. It is Chinese-style food with different cultural influences including Middle Eastern. Jing Ting holds back on the more spicy dishes for which Xi’an cuisine is known to adapt to the Filipino palate.

    Chef Yang Chen Fei was trained by the chef of former Chinese president Hu Jintao and has had 15 years of experience in five-star hotels and restaurants in China.

    Jing Ting has an open kitchen and most of its dishes are served family style.

  • Kerastase launches own counter at Facesss Harbour City

    Kerastase launches own counter at Facesss Harbour City

    Previously available only in dedicated salons and professional hair-product stores, French luxury haircare brand Kerastase has launched its first dedicated counter, at Facesss Harbour City.

    It offers consultations and offers hair and scalp analysis at the counter.

    One of the main product lines available at the counter is the Chronologiste collection, which is based on a regenerative “mimetic pearl essence” and active marine ingredients. The star product of the collection is a scented hair perfume from a collaboration between Kerastase and perfumer Alberto Morillas.

  • AAI Worldwide Logistics goes live on Ramco ERP

    AAI Worldwide Logistics goes live on Ramco ERP

    Philippines-based logistics and freight-forwarding giant AAI Worldwide Logistics Inc. has completed first phase of implementing Ramco Systems’ ERP solution for logistics. In Phase I of the go-live, AAI has implemented group-wide centralized systems to digitize financial management and supply chain management functions.

    In addition, complete Project Cargo modules are live at AAI +PEERS Inc., a member of the Project Cargo Network (PCN) organization specializing in transportation and handling of Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC) used for engineering, procurement and construction companies across the island.

  • SuperAnt helps businesses to go digital

    SuperAnt helps businesses to go digital

    Malaysian company SuperAnt has been appointed as the Official Digital Partner for the 18th APRCE 2017 Kuala Lumpur. The longest running biennial regional retail conference in Asia-Pacific that debuted in 1983 in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan. APRCE is organised by the Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Associations (FAPRA) that has 18 association members from 18 countries, of which will all come together to discover the newest approaches to the latest issues faced by the region’s retailers.

    Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding with SuperAnt that appoints the latter as the Official Digital Partner for the 18th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (APRCE). Hosted by MRA, APRCE will welcome 3,000 APAC delegates in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from October 25 till 27.

    The ticket for APAC retailers to enter the era of Big Data and Digital Marketing

    APRCE highlights innovative solutions to help the retail industry embrace technology advancements and deliver greater value to the Asia-Pacific region’s consumers. This event will be the perfect focal point for international networking as renowned retail practitioners and speakers will be speaking about core retail topics and exciting new retail concepts, calling forth to discover compelling new ways of retail marketing of both the traditional and digital spectrums.

    SuperAnt will be gracing the event by providing seamless digital check-in procedures, engaging mobile application, digital media solutions and Internet of Things (IoT) utilization throughout the event.

    Intra-ASEAN business opportunities

    SuperAnt allows businesses to expand to other countries via digital marketing and B2B2C. SuperAnt is a Southeast Asia-focused technology company that has presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Specializing in key areas including Big Data, Internet of Things(IoT), digital marketing services and B2B2C.

    Experienced in localisation, SuperAnt can provide digital insights and customised solutions that are catered for business expansions abroad. Localisation is key to penetrate any market today.

    Providing a fundamental technology ecosystem that optimizes the accessibility of technology to everyone, SuperAnt aspires to make it easy and affordable for businesses to Go Digital.

  • Do you want fries with that?

    Do you want fries with that?

    If you could increase your average sales by 10 per cent, how much would your profit increase by? I am sure that all of us have experienced both good and bad service in a retail store. What creates that difference in the experience is made up of all the senses banding together and leaving an overall impression. But the most telling one is the interest shown in you by the sales personnel. The greeting, the smile, the relevance of questions asked and the interest shown in going that little bit extra to help you find what you are looking for. That’s what creates a good experience!

    In today’s ongoing search for additional sales, the difference between sales achieved by an average experience and great sales assistance can be as much as 25 per cent. On analysis of the difference in sales achieved between most staff and good sales people, the most telling factor is the average docket value. These good sales people consistently achieve more than the average, sometimes as much as double.

    Customers already in your store are by far the easiest way to find additional sales. So many times customers want to be given good advice and are quite willing to buy a second related item, if they were told about it, or introduced to something new.

    McDonalds is one business that realised this at the outset, have you? If a retail business sales increased by just 10 per cent across the board, due to the results of effective sales people, profits would increase exponentially, often double in most retail models.

    And that is true, even if one has to pay 10 per cent above the going rate to get the right people. Why then do business owners tolerate mediocre sales people? Do the sums in your business and see what a 10 per cent increase in sales will mean to your bottom line.

    Can any retail business afford not to have the best sales people? So simple, so effective, so ignored by so many businesses!

  • Vietnamese hospitality wins big

    Vietnamese hospitality wins big

    The government is allowing Vietnamese locals to gamble at two locations – the first in Van Don and the other on Phu Quoc Island – as part of a three-year pilot scheme. A third site in Ho Tram is expected to be added to the list.

    The news has evoked the interest of big international names such as Las Vegas Sands, along with local conglomerates like Sun Group, which is, so far, the only Vietnamese company approved to develop a casino in Van Don. More hotels across the country are installing electronic gaming to boost revenue, according to the real estate services firm’s latest report.

    “With Melco Crown Philippines being recognised as the best performing casino stock globally in 2017, it demonstrates that financial success can be achieved with the right planning, and has motivated investors to pursue such opportunities,” Frank Sorgiovanni, head of Research, Hotels and Hospitality JLL APAC, said on the appeal of casinos.

    “Viet Nam’s tourism industry’s renaissance has also driven corporate demand for hotels across the country, while visa exemptions, introduction of new direct air routes and improved marketing efforts have boosted appeal for leisure travellers,” Sorgiovanni said.

    Viet Nam’s gastronomical offerings are proving a further attraction for repeat visitors, especially from Asia, Sorgiovanni said. “The country is fast becoming a ‘foodie’ destination with a vastly improving food and beverage scene,” he added.

    “The outlook for the tourism and accommodation sector is bright with continued marketing efforts, improvements in infrastructure and further development of human resources and services,” Sorgiovanni said.

    “Foreign investors from across the region have shown significant interest in Viet Nam over the past 18 months and the country is becoming one of the most talked about markets in the Asia Pacific,” he added.

  • Michael Kors to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2 billion

    Michael Kors to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2 billion

    Michael Kors has been struggling in recent quarters with declining same-store sales as fewer people visit its shops. U.S. retailer Michael Kors has agreed to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2 billion, snapping up a British brand launched in the east end of London and made famous by celebrity fans including Princess Diana.

    Founded in the 1990s by bespoke shoemaker Jimmy Choo, the brand is known for its stiletto heals and accessories and sells in cities from London to Paris, New York and Tokyo.

    It put itself up for sale in April after its majority owner JAB signaled its intention to focus on consumer goods. At 230 pence in cash per share, the group is receiving a premium of 36.5 percent to its share price before the sale process was announced.

    Michael Kors, once the hottest name in affordable luxury with a hugely popular handbag range, has been struggling in recent quarters with declining same-store sales as fewer people visit its shops.

    In response, it has expanded into dresses and menswear, and invested in its online business. It said Jimmy Choo would continue to operate as it does today, under its existing management team.

    “Jimmy Choo is an iconic premier luxury brand that offers distinctive footwear, handbags and other accessories,” said Michael Kors, honorary chairman and chief creative officer.

    “We admire the glamorous style and trend-setting nature of Jimmy Choo designs.”

    Jimmy Choo floated on the London Stock Exchange at 140 pence in 2014. It closed on Monday at 195 pence.