< PreviousPRODUCTS | WHAT’S NEW 40DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Logistics Middle East reviews the latest gadgets, essential kit and product innovations making an impact in the GCC supply chain market PRODUCT FOCUSSWISSLOG ITEMPIQ PRODUCTS Swi s slog ha s launched its lat- est robot-based solution ItemPiQ, designed for re- peated, reliable picking of a wide range of items to ful ll fast delivery of orders at low operating costs. With picking and palletising making up to 60% of warehouse operational costs, the ItemPiQ robot can handle a wide variety of common products in retail, e- commerce and pharmaceutical industries weighing up to 1.5 kg and can reach 1100 mm. By using 3D vision technology for object recognition, ItemPiQ’s unique gripper can pick up to 1,000 items per hour and al- lows picking of a wide range of products of different shapes and sizes, error-free. Alain Kaddoum, general manager at Swisslog Middle East commented: “According to a recently published report by global management consultan- cy firm Bain & Company, the e- commerce market in the Middle East & North Africa is expected to reach $28.5 billion by 2022. “The UAE itself has the high- est penetration in the region with 4.2%, followed by KSA - 3.8% and Egypt - 2.5%. We are committed to supporting Mid- dle Eastern retail and e-com- merce companies to help them achieve fast product delivery, high accuracy, and reduce op- erational costs. Swisslog’s intel- ligent automated item picking applications like ItemPiQ ad- dress the warehouse require- ments of today as well as help our customers prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.” Being one of the fastest robots today from KUKA AGILUS, ItemPiQ is operational 24/7 and can pick and place a wide range of single SKUs from a source into a target bin, measuring weight of product and identify- ing other metrics. D O Y O U W A NT T O S H OWC A S E Y O U R P R O D U C T H E R E ? E- m a il y o u r pr o d uc t in for m a ti on t o : sh a u n .e b e lt h it e @ it p.com 01 Machine Learning Built-in intel- ligence within its software enables ItemPiQ to learn as it picks 02 Flexible Different suc- tion modes and grasping methods for dif- ferent product characteristics 03 Fast By using 3D vision for object recognition, it can pick up to 1,000 items per hour 04 WMS Integration Seamless integration into the SynQ ware- house manage- ment system is also possibleWHAT’S NEW | PRODUCTS 41LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | DECEMBER 2019www.logisticsmiddleeast.com CHALMIT PROTECTA X LED CAMSO SOLIDEAL RES XTREME NMAS LIEBHERR LIUP HONEYWELL PX940 INDUSTRIAL PRINTER The in-house developed Liebherr crane driver elevator LiUP is designed to transport the op- erator in a save and efficient way to his work- place. The LiUP saves the drivers energy and time compared to climbing up several stairs. Service engineers also save themselves the trouble of climbing up stairs to the crane cab to carry out maintenance work. The lift is capable of transporting up to two people or a payload of 200 kg. Honeywell, the global technology provider, has introduced a new high-performance industrial printer with integrated label verification and precision printing features that deliver error- free printing. The Honeywell PX940 Industrial Printer features the industry’s first internal verification system providing customers in the Middle East with defect free and accurate bar- codes every time. Barcodes that do not meet an established threshold are retracted, voided and a new label is reprinted. Camso introduces the Solideal RES Xtreme NMAS, a new patented non-marking forklift tire, which resolves the important safety issues linked to static electricity generated in non-marking tires (because of the silica used as the reinforc- ing filler). The Solideal RES Xtreme NMAS also reduces vibration, which increases operator comfort and lowers heat build-up for enhanced tire life. Its design borrows key features from the popular Solideal RES 660 Xtreme Series and ben- efits from Camso’s proven anti-static technology. Chalmit, the leading luminaires manufac- turer, has launched the Protecta X LED, a revolutionary light for the logistics industry. Up to 50% brighter than any traditional lin- ear light on the market, the Protecta X has a user-definable light distribution, a main- tenance-free lifespan of over 120,000 hours at 25’C, is easier to maintain, and thanks to an optional batter y stick, can be installed in half the time. WAREHOUSE MHE T e c h IQ Robotics: Au- tomation and AI transforming GCC warehousing Automation and AI-driven technologies are changing the face of Middle East’s warehousing industry, pushing advanced in- ventory control high up the industry agenda and sharpening cost-control, space optimisation and competitiveness, accord- ing to Fadi Amoudi, the founder and CEO of IQ Robotics. Amoudi, one of the exhibi- tors at Materials Handling Middle East, the region’s dedicated warehousing, intralogistics and supply chain solutions show, said: “The robotics industry is dramatically changing the global business landscape. Within the Middle East region, governments are focusing on digital trans- formation and the op- portunity for fast-paced development, leveraging the potential offered by robotics. “The UAE is already at the forefront in driving this change, with a clear strategy for the advance- ment of automation and next-generation tech- nology development. IQ Robotics is one of the pioneering businesses in the region that is using the advantages offered by ro- botics to support business growth. We will showcase how this is transforming the logistics sector at Ma- terials Handling ME 2019, which is the ideal platform to highlight advancements in robotics for business.” THE BACK PAGE | FIVE MINUTE S WITH ... 42DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com THE BACK PAGE | FIVE MINUTE S WITH ... FIVE M I N U TE S WITH ... WHAT ARE THE KEY TRENDS AT PRESENT IN THE RETAIL LOGISTICS SECTOR IN THE GCC? The retail market in the GCC is changing at a rapid pace. Consumers are increasingly aware today and expect more from last mile deliveries. The need to improve customer engagement across all touch points has never been more important. Technology is one of the biggest catalysts in shaping retail logistics model in GCC; some key trends are: Outsourcing to 3PLs vs In House Fleets: While significant disruptions have matured the outsourcing last mile delivery models, many GCC companies also realize the need for in-house fleets. The care and customer satisfaction that employees offer to a brands loyal customers cannot be matched by outsourced fleets. The personalized real time interactions with customers through in-app notifications, Whatsapp and SMS engagement allows businesses to react and serve their customers better. Growing demand for home deliveries: Busy lifestyles, a tech savvy culture and an increase in millennial and Gen Z consumers fuels the demand for home deliveries. There is increased pressure on retailers and e-tailers alike to fulfil deliveries with the right user experience to retain todays demanding customers. Express deliveries and same day delivery demands are at an all-time high and customers are willing to pay more for better service. Big Data: Smartly positioned personalized promotions backed by intelligent data yield far better ROI to GCC businesses. The realization today to engage with the right customers at the right time through the correct mediums is critical to any retail operation. Omni channel approaches are being adopted rapidly across the GCC to give ubiquitous notifications, shipment tracking, Proof of Deliveries, convenient scheduling and immediate customer satisfaction surveys. A well-integrated and unified system allows retailers to deliver unparalleled customer experience which can set a business apart and enhance loyalty for repeat customers. Big Data also helps retailers analyse delivery behaviours across their channels for forecasting demand, evaluate trends and improve operational efficiencies. Reverse Logistics: Traditionally the costliest undertaking for any retail logistics operation is the return process. While return pickups are still being scheduled separately in GCC, newer approaches in EU & Western countries adopt same trip returns. Today’s consumer expects efficient deliveries at their door step and expects the returns process to be just as painless. HOW ARE THESE TRENDS IMPACTING YOUR CLIENT’S LOGISTICS OPERATIONS? We constantly see our clients maturing their logistics processes and trying different technologies to assist with operational efficiencies. Monitoring response times at each step from orders origination, pick & pack, load planning, route optimizations, dispatch, loading to final delivery, every aspect of the logistics process is constantly evolving. It’s a race against the competition to give a better customer experience and fulfilling deliveries and return requests in a seamless fashion. Companies who excel in meeting the growing needs of market have a better chance of becoming market leaders in their industry. HOW ARE YOU INNOVATING LAST MILE DELIVERIES MANAGEMENT TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF DIGITISATION, INDUSTRY 4.0? Mile as a platform is uniquely positioned across several industries i.e. Couriers, Cargo, eTailers, Retailers, Bakeries, Restaurants, Pharmacies, Laundry companies etc., to help Digitize everything that moves. Mile consolidates orders from multiple channels, digitizes back office operations, allocates routes, prioritizes shipments, automates load planning, provides digital FAWAD AHMED, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MILE NOW Fawad Ahmed, chief technology offi cer, Mile Now route optimizations, evaluates zone behaviours and recommends dispatch through AI algorithms. HOW THE IS THE RETAIL LOGISTICS SECTOR PERFORMING AT PRESENT? THERE IS TALK OF A DOWNTURN, ARE YOU SEEING THIS? Mile sees Retail logistics as growing rapidly in GCC, businesses across industries are enhancing their delivery operations and constantly evaluating the dynamics of logistics operations and how automation can help. Outsourcing models are booming, while insourcing of fleets is making a comeback facilitating the need more automation. Reason is very simple, brands want to have complete visibility and control on a unified customer experience, timely deliveries and seamless data integration. It’s a continuous evolution, expect to see much more from the industry moving forward.Next >