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Tag: Ninja Van

  • Ninja Van Streamlines Operations with 12% Workforce Reduction in Singapore

    Ninja Van Streamlines Operations with 12% Workforce Reduction in Singapore

    Ninja Van is making headlines this week with a significant restructuring aimed at sharpening its focus on business growth. A company spokesperson announced on Tuesday that recent layoffs form part of a broader strategy to enhance its business model, emphasizing the difficult nature of these decisions, as reported by The Straits Times.

    Streamlining for Growth: Ninja Van’s Strategic Realignment

    “By streamlining our headquarter functions, we are also aligning resources to support our critical growth areas of tech-enabled business-to-business restock and cold chain, while ensuring seamless operations across all services,” the spokesperson stated, underlining a commitment to fortify the company’s core offerings.

    While the exact size of Ninja Van’s workforce in Singapore remains undisclosed, the company is actively seeking to fill more than ten positions based in the Lion City, ranging from operations roles to service delivery. This mixed message might leave some guessing: are they in hot water or just reshuffling the deck?

    Last year, Ninja Van implemented some painful cuts, slashing 10% of its tech team in April, followed by a 5% reduction in its Singapore workforce by July, when it employed approximately 450 people at its corporate headquarters in the country.

    To support those affected by the latest layoffs, Ninja Van is offering a severance package that includes benefits for employees with less than two years of service, as detailed by Channel News Asia. The support doesn’t stop there; the company is extending medical insurance and mental health resources for impacted employees through the end of this year, providing a safety net during this transition. Furthermore, employees will have a full year to exercise vested stock options, a notable extension from the previous 30-day deadline.

    Ninja Van Eyes New Funding Amidst Restructuring

    In a move that underscores its ambition, Ninja Van is reportedly in negotiations to secure US$80 million in a new funding round, which is expected to value the company around $1 billion— a figure that marks a significant drop from its previous valuation. This news, brought to light by Bloomberg, comes as part of the company’s efforts to stabilize and grow following tumultuous times.

    In 2021, Ninja Van had achieved a remarkable feat, raising US$578 million in a Series E funding round featuring high-profile investors such as Alibaba and B Capital, the venture firm co-founded by Meta Platforms’ Eduardo Saverin. This funding not only bolstered its services across Southeast Asia but also propelled Ninja Van into unicorn status with a valuation surpassing $1 billion.

    Today, Ninja Van continues to carve its niche in the logistics sector, with operations spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, despite the headwinds it currently faces.

    Questions & Answers

    What prompted Ninja Van to initiate layoffs?
    The layoffs are part of a strategic effort by Ninja Van to realign resources and bolster its business model, particularly focusing on growth areas such as tech-enabled services and cold chain solutions.

    How will affected employees be supported?
    Ninja Van is offering severance packages, extending medical insurance, and providing mental health support for impacted employees until the end of the year, along with an extended deadline for exercising stock options from 30 days to one year.

    What is the company’s current valuation and funding situation?
    Ninja Van is in talks to raise US$80 million, which would value the company at approximately $1 billion, a significant reduction from its previous valuation after securing US$578 million in 2021.

  • Malaysia Faces Surge: Online Shopping Scams Reach 3,500 in Q1, Reports Ninja Van

    Malaysia Faces Surge: Online Shopping Scams Reach 3,500 in Q1, Reports Ninja Van

    Scams are on the rise in Malaysia, with Ninja Van reporting over 17,000 parcel scam incidents last year alone. The most common of these scams involved cash-on-delivery schemes, where unsuspecting consumers paid for items they never ordered, as detailed by the Malaysian tech news outlet Zen The Geek.

    Ghost Scams and Phishing Woes

    But the woes don’t stop there. A sinister variety called “ghost scams” has gained traction, tricking victims into buying non-existent products or services advertised online. Adding to this digital quagmire are phishing attempts, where fraudsters employ text messages to impersonate Ninja Van, luring victims into their traps.

    Elderly Victims and Unrealistic Offers

    Fariz Maswan, Ninja Van’s chief sales officer, shared that many victims are from the older generation, easily lured into purchasing dubious items—think herbal products and amulets—pitched on social media. Often, these victims either receive nothing at all or are delivered items that strayed far from what was initially advertised. “It’s always a case of items being offered at a price that is just too good to be true,” Maswan noted, revealing that while losses can reach up to MYR1,000, most victims lose about MYR200.

    Raymon Ram, a fraud risk management expert, underscored the widespread fallout from these scams. “They erode public trust—not just in businesses, but also in the institutions that are supposed to protect us,” he declared, pointing out that scammers exploit weak governance and consumer ignorance. In phishing scenarios, victims receive messages claiming that a Ninja Van package was undelivered, only to be directed to fraudulent websites designed to pilfer their banking information.

    For cash-on-delivery scams, Fariz elaborated on the deceptive tactics. Scammers masquerade as delivery personnel, convincing targets to pay for a package supposedly ordered by a spouse or family member. “Scammers exploit the sense of familiarity that victims have for the person they think the parcel is for,” he explained.

    Combating the Rise of Scams

    In response to this alarming trend, Ninja Van has initiated the ScamMinar Panel Discussion, a proactive measure to combat fraud. They’ve also teamed up with the Royal Malaysia Police to bolster anti-scam efforts.

    Last year, Malaysia saw over 35,300 reported scams, leading to staggering financial losses of MYR1.6 billion (US$378 million), according to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department. This marks a 29% increase compared to 2023—a surge deemed “alarming” by the department’s director. The types of scams varied from fraudulent phone calls to enticing investment schemes promising astonishing returns. Who knew scammers could be so diverse?

    Questions & Answers

    What are the most common types of scams reported by Ninja Van?
    The most prevalent scams involve cash-on-delivery fraud, ghost scams for non-existent products, and phishing attempts disguised as undelivered parcel notifications.

    Who is primarily affected by these scams?
    Many victims belong to the older generation, often targeted through social media promotions that feature enticing offers on dubious products.

    What measures is Ninja Van taking to combat these scams?
    Ninja Van has launched the ScamMinar Panel Discussion and partnered with the Royal Malaysia Police to implement effective strategies to prevent fraud.

  • Ninja Van Unveils White Paper on Live Selling in Southeast Asia

    Ninja Van Unveils White Paper on Live Selling in Southeast Asia

    Ninja Van Malaysia, a tech-enabled logistics company, has released its first-ever white paper on Live Selling in Southeast Asia. The white paper introduces Live Selling as one of the up-and-coming Southeast Asia’s e-commerce trends and shares Live Selling insights collected from over 1,000 Ninja Van’s e-commerce sellers across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

    While Live Selling is still a nascent industry in most Southeast Asian countries, the increase in the number of Live Selling solutions shows that the new retail trend shaping the future of e-commerce is here to stay – and sellers are taking note.

    In Malaysia alone, 40% of live sellers conduct their sessions daily, ranking higher than its regional neighbours Singapore (17%), Indonesia (23%), and Vietnam (27%). Additionally, 47% of live sellers in Malaysia conduct each session for up to 2 hours.

    “Live Selling is an interesting marketing tactic for e-commerce sellers,” says Winston Seow, chief marketing and enablement officer, Ninja Van Group. “It’s the only tactic that can fast-track shoppers’ purchase journeys from awareness straight to conversion. Live Selling also gives e-commerce sellers the ability to build relationships at scale with their shoppers, both new and existing.”

    One in three of the surveyed Southeast Asian e-commerce sellers is now doing Live Selling, spending up to six hours weekly conducting Live Selling sessions. Most of the early adopters of Live Selling are from low-involvement product categories such as fashion, beauty & personal care, food and beverages, as well as home & living.

    While Shopee (27.0%), Facebook (25.5%), and TikTok (22.5%) are ranked as the top three Live Selling channels, the close margins signal that the champion has yet to emerge in Southeast Asia. This could be explained by the fact that on average, the surveyed e-commerce sellers use two channels for Live Selling, presumably to maximise their outreach to shoppers.

    Live Selling also offers e-commerce sellers a new way to better connect with customers. “Since we started Live Selling, we’ve seen an increase in our sales and have built a stronger relationship with our customers.

    “We sell over 1,600 household products made from different materials and through our live sessions, we’re able to engage directly with our customers and answer any questions they may have about our products. I believe this makes for a more positive shopping experience for our customers, allowing them to make informed decisions about their purchases,” says Tan Jie Xian, Digital E-commerce marketing executive at Elianware.

    The white paper also explores the challenges of Live Selling, such as keeping Live Shoppers engaged, preparing on-set logistical requirements, as well as sales and post-sales arrangements. Recommended solutions are included too.

  • Singaporean logistics unicorn eyes Vietnam as key expansion market

    Singaporean logistics unicorn eyes Vietnam as key expansion market

    Ninja Van, a Singaporean logistics startup and new ASEAN unicorn, is set to drive a broad strategy in Vietnam to benefit from the country’s strong e-logistics market growth.

    After successfully raising $578 million in Series E funding, Ninja Van has officially become an ASEAN “unicorn,”.Dzung Phan, president of Ninja Van, said while revealing the startup’s expansion plans for Vietnam and his assessment of its e-logistics market.

    Why did Ninja Van choose Vietnam as a key investment market?

    We believe Vietnam is ready for a new phase of growth in e-logistics. According to Agility, Vietnam ranks 8th among the top world’s fastest-growing logistics markets and 3rd among ASEAN in 2021. Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) also stated the number of postal parcels sent through express delivery services shot up by 47 percent last year.

    Also, e-logistics is strongly driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce. Vietnam’s e-commerce market expanded an average of 30 percent per annum during the period 2016-2019, from $4 billion (2015) to $11.5 billion (2019). According to VECOM, the market will grow at 29 percent annually in 2020-2025, to reach $52 billion (2025).

    The strong potential of Vietnam’s e-logistics market is a good foundation for our ambitious plan. A market with 600,000 sellers and 49.3 million buyers across e-commerce platforms and social networks will generate significant demand for logistics.

    Leading a new unicorn in the e-logistics industry, how do you assess its competitive advantage in Vietnam?

    The domestic e-logistics market is competitive with several “deep pocket” players. The market comprises three main segments: local shipping companies, international shipping companies, and e-commerce platforms with their own in-house shipping ecosystems.

    Domestic enterprises only account for 20 percent of the logistics market share; the remaining 80 percent belongs to international firms with strengths in capital, technology, and experience. Local firms may be backed by international groups, including GHTK by Kerry and AhaMove by Temasek.

    Although the e-logistics market is vibrant, its growth potential is not fully invested in. A survey showed that 60 percent of sellers and 80 percent of buyers are not satisfied with the current quality of express delivery services. Buyers are frustrated by late delivery or the inability to track the flow, while sellers expect more parcels to be delivered.

    Is pricing a major competitive edge in the current e-logistics market?

    Except for the inhouse shipping units of e-commerce platforms, domestic and international players are using price competitiveness to acquire customers quickly. Whenever there is a “newcomer”, delivery costs will drop significantly to maintain the market share and retain customers. Notable discounts were given at the entry of J&T in 2018 and Best in 2020.

    The average shipping price in the Vietnam market fell continuously by 15-20 percent per year from 2017 to 2020. The trend has a negative impact on smaller domestic players, for example, GNN in 2017 suffered a sharp drop in revenue that led to its liquidation. Even international players without strong financial support cannot survive this market, with DHL e-commerce ceasing operations in Vietnam during 2021.

    How does Ninja Van improve the customer experience? Ninja Van focuses on providing a quality and authentic service experience to customers, rather than on pricing alone. Parcel tracking and recovery services for lost or damaged parcels need to be improved.

    Given a tech-enabled personalization of the customer experience, Ninja Van’s nationwide personal delivery service on the Grab app has stepped up during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, we are strengthening our partnership with e-commerce giants including Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, and Sendo.

    With more than 300,000 orders per day, Ninja Van is among the top three partners on all major platforms in Vietnam. These collaborations brought Ninja Van into the top growth 15 companies in the Asia-Pacific region in 2021 as reported by Financial Times.

    To gain trust, we do all possible to help our customers succeed, such as ensuring timely pickup, prompt delivery without loss. In addition, we understand that our partners are working at a large scale, so we do our utmost to optimize our cost structure and provide an attractive rate.

    As a result, we became the most active provider by offering various value-added services, such as return pickup to Lazada, bulky and super bulky delivery for Tiki, or installation services for Shopee.

    With an additional $578 million in Series E, what is the level of ambition in terms of your expansion strategy?

    – Ninja Van is committed to driving a broad strategy in Vietnam in particular and in ASEAN in general. This strategy will cover all three sectors: operations, technical systems, ecosystems for small and retail customers.

    Specifically, Ninja Van will increase its coverage in 63 cities and provinces to reach 100 percent of the Vietnamese population. We will also prepare an automatic sorting system with a capacity of two million packages at five major cities to increase delivery speed.

    We will build and improve web and mobile application platforms to enhance customer experience. We seek to enable both sellers and buyers to track parcels and make inquiries in real-time.

    Notably, we will broaden our cross-border delivery with two new services: Ninja Direct, which helps Vietnamese sellers look for better sourcing with better rates in multiple countries; and Ninja Crossborder, which helps Vietnamese manufacturers reach out to buyers all over the world.

    Moreover, we will complete business activities for the fourth quarter of 2021. For example, based on our big data analytics, we have opened training courses to detect anomalies and outliers to provide timely resolutions for all customers. In 2020, we created 40 different training modules for our shippers and warehouse staff to avoid recalcitrant buyer behavior on COD free delivery services.

    Ninja Van will launch a promotional campaign in Vietnam “Giao thong suot, Nhan ven nguyen” (Smooth delivery, Parcel intact) to support sellers in the fourth quarter. With all staff vaccinated against Covid-19, Ninja Van will maintain its service delivery price during the pandemic to support hard-hit customers.

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  • 7-Eleven Outlets In Singapore Are Now Lazada Collection Points

    7-Eleven Outlets In Singapore Are Now Lazada Collection Points

    Lazada and Ninja Van have teamed up with the Singapore 7-Eleven convenience store chain to allow online shoppers to designate any of the nearly 350 stores island-wide as collection points. The collaboration will offer the largest network of collection points around Singapore. The new service debuted at 159 7-Eleven stores this week, with a progressive rollout planned for the rest of the store network by the end of the year.

    Lazada and last-mile logistics provider Ninja Van say the new service eliminates the need for a purchaser to ensure someone is home to receive goods bought online. They can nominate any participating Singapore 7-Eleven store as their delivery point upon checkout.

    “More than 35 per cent of Singaporean households have only one or two residents, with close to 25,000 new dual or single person households forming just between 2016 and last year,” said Crispian Leong, Singapore 7-Eleven head of marketing.

    “Most are working during the day, and many may not find it convenient to receive parcels at their office. With close to 350 participating stores islandwide, we are excited that we can partner with Lazada and Ninja Van to offer this added convenience to consumers’ daily lives and online shopping habits.”

    Ray Chou, country head of Ninja Van Singapore, said the problem will address the high number of failed deliveries its partners encounter, “which is disruptive not only for our customers, but for sellers and delivery companies as well”.

    Users of the service will enjoy free delivery, as opposed to S$1.49 for normal and S$2.99 for express drop-off to their homes.

    Pierre de Bellescize, CEO at Lazada eLogistics Singapore, said partnering with 7-Eleven and Ninja Van will bolster the click-and-collect options the company already offers with SingPost’s PopStations, SPH Buzz Convenience Stores and Parcel Santa Lockers located in Condominiums and others.

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  • Ninja Van ready to pounce on rivals in Singapore

    Ninja Van ready to pounce on rivals in Singapore

    Like the Japanese warrior it is named after, homegrown logistics tech startup Ninja Van is taking the fight to its rivals in its bid to become the top delivery e-commerce service here and in the region.

    For a start, Ninja Van plans to increase its parcel collection points to 500 by the end of the year — more than doubling its current number of 200 stations around the island. They are usually found near MRT stations and in shops, and the locations include Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Clementi, Punggol, and Orchard Road.

    To help enhance the customer’s delivery experience, it plans to give them a “live” option to redirect their parcels. Mr Lai Chang Wen, 31, Ninja Van’s co-founder and chief executive, said in an interview with TODAY that the service will be launched here before the end of the year, and will be gradually rolled out in other countries in South-east Asia.

    It will provide customers with information on when their parcels will arrive, and if they are unable to receive it in person, they can redirect it to a nearby Ninja Point, or request for it to be left at the door or neighbour’s house via the company’s website or mobile application.

    Mr Lai said this service is designed to cater to customers’ demands, making it “hassle-free”, and that it will help improve the collection experience.

    “We want to give customers more options, rather than just tracking,” he said.

    Currently, customers can also choose to self collect the parcels rather than have them delivered to their homes. Some collection points, such as those at shopping malls, are very “popular”, he added.

    The collection point service, known as Ninja Collect, includes automated parcel lockers called Ninja Box, as well as Ninja Points that allow for collection at retail shops.

    Ninja Van’s 500 points islandwide ensures that there is a pick-up point located within 500 metres from any residential home, said Mr Lai. TODAY understands that its rival, government-linked company Singapore Post (SingPost), has over 150 automated parcel lockers, called POPstations, in Singapore.

    While this push by Ninja Van could be seen as a threat to SingPost, Mr Lai insisted that both firms can “co-exist and challenge each other to keep improving”. He believes that Ninja Van’s e-commerce parcel delivery service is “on par” with SingPost’s.

    In the next three to five years, the firm will focus on strategies such as social commerce where customers shop on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Internet forums.

    He added: “We are looking at how we can allow mid-tier Korean cosmetic brands to sell (their products) in South-east Asia. For social commerce… the sellers need to find a way to ship the parcels. We provide that solution for them.”

    Ninja Van’s social commerce business is currently focused on Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. An expansion within the region would potentially increase their driver numbers by over 300 per cent, bringing the total count in the region to between 30,000 and 50,000 drivers.

    WE’RE A RHINOCEROS, NOT A UNICORN

    Founded here in 2014 by Mr Lai and his partners, Ninja Van has since expanded its business to the rest of South-east Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

    The Singapore office employs 200 staff and 400 drivers, while its businesses overseas have a total of 2,000 full time staff and 10,000 drivers.

    Early this year, the tech company raised a record amount — believed to be over US$85 million (S$111.5 million) — in its series C funding round. It is believed to be the largest series C funding raised for the region.

    The development drew the attention of observers, who said that Ninja Van could be the next “unicorn”, which is a privately held startup company that is valued at US$1 billion or more.

    Ninja Van has raised more than US$115.5 million to date.

    Mr Lai said that the company’s expansion plans are “on track”. The startup currently covers about 80 per cent of South-east Asia, and with the funding, it can grow its network of depots, trucks, drivers and sorting spaces, he added.

    He also said that the firm is focused on South-east Asia for now. There are also no plans to diversify from its core logistics business, nor does it plan to pursue new projects such as ride hailing firm Grab’s e-wallet payment solution Grabpay, for instance.

    Dismissing talk that the company could be a “unicorn”, Mr Lai prefers for it to be seen as a rhinoceros instead.

    “A unicorn gives the connotation of being sexy, too prim and proper, and elusive,” he said.

    “A rhinoceros is more grounded. It’s rare but you can actually find it. It is a bit grungy, and dirty and real. That’s the business we are in.”

    LIVING THE DREAM?

    Looking to the future, Mr Lai said that Ninja Van needs to keep its digital and innovative culture alive and well in order to prevent it from being “disrupted” by competitors.

    Aside from its staff, technology is also a key part of its business. For example, in Vietnam, the company uses a “certain form of machine learning” and tech algorithms to identify addresses in the country and check if the location is accurate.

    While running a startup and being your own boss might sound like he is “living the dream”, Mr Lai, who did not have any experience in logistics when he co-founded Ninja Van, said that would-be entrepreneurs should not think that way.

    He said: “People join for the wrong reasons. They think it is very cool, but it is quite tiring. The real reason to start a company should be because you want learn, to challenge yourself, and to try to make a difference.”

    The busy entrepreneur works seven days a week, and he is always on his phone replying to messages and taking business calls. He only spends around 80 days a year in Singapore, with the rest of his time spent travelling around the region for his business.

    He added: “There is no line (between business and leisure). Whatever needs to be done, you do it.”

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  • 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.

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  • Ninja Van gets $30m capital boost

    Ninja Van gets $30m capital boost

    Dubai-based Abraaj Group has led a US$30-million Series B round of fundraising for Singapore’s Ninja Logistics (Ninja Van), a technology-enabled last-mile logistics provider with a presence in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and just lately Vietnam.

    Ninja Van plans to use the fresh capital to roll out in the Philippines and Thailand this year, and to also upgrade its systems and triple its customer service headcount.

    Others in the funding round were existing investor Monk’s Hill Ventures joined by B Capital Group and YJ Capital. In its Series A in March last year, the startup raised US$2.5 million. This latest transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to wrap by the end of the month, according to Abraaj.

    Ninja Van uses algorithms to solve complex logistics issues and optimise delivery routes. It also forges partnerships with complementary transport fleets through a capacity-sharing model.

    While starting out as a logistics provider for eCommerce businesses, Ninja Van now supports more than 3000 clients across a range of industries, delivering about 15,000 parcels a day.

    “This vote of confidence from Abraaj and our other new investors will allow us to expand beyond tier-one cities in Southeast Asia,” says Ninja Van cofounder/CEO Lai Chang Wen.

    Abraaj is an investment firm specialising in private-equity investments in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. This is its 28th investment into Southeast Asia.