< PreviousSPECIAL REPORT KNOWLEDGE PARTNER| LOG SQUARE 30JULY-AUGUST 2020 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com MOVING AROUND Automation is transforming the age-old logistics industry, and LogSquare is playing a critical part to balance human capital and machines LogSquare is by no means a young player in the market when it comes to warehouse automation and robotics. Over the last decade the Dubai-based logistics turnkey supplier has assisted many companies realise their digital transformation goals. LogSquare offers a long list of solutions some of which include conveyor and sortation systems which is split into three lines of application. The company also specialises in advanced picking modules, rail transportation, robotics and AGV, movers and rack clad solutions to name a few. A key component in LogSquare’s suite of offerings is its automated storage and retrieval solution (ASRS). An ASRS is generally designed to minimise the space within warehouses and to obtain higher levels of efficiency and productivity. LogSquare’s ASRS range of products addresses small, medium pallet loads through families of cranes and shuttles with a wide range of load handling devices. The mini-load cranes are able to move goods ranging from 50kgs to 500kgs, whereas the company’s maxi-load offering is able to move goods ranging from 500kgs to 2,500kgs-plus. Another example is seen with the LS 770 PSH and LS 780 Mover, which are used for the storage of pallets and containers up to 1500 kg in multiple depth storage configurations. The LS 770 PSH is paired with an ASRS machine. Jacques Adem, executive director, LogSquare tells Logistics ME that the company is a pioneer when it comes to high density storage solutions in the Middle East and African region. With numerous implementations across several countries it has compiled a wealth of expertise in this space. Adem says: “The best part about LogSquare is that we are a systems integrator and we are able to adopt our solutions to what our clients’ needs, there is no concept of pre-defined solutions with us. “Our approach to automation and digitisation is with a view to further strengthen the core team of any company. We try to empower personnel in any LSP or supply chain to further perform, while doing more with less. The objective is not for machines to replace people, however, beyond a certain limit you need assistance from machines to scale operations.” Automated storage and retrieval solutions are taking centre stage for LSPs and supply chain firms as companies look to do more within existing facilities.LOG SQUARE | SPECIAL REPORT KNOWLEDGE PARTNER 31LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JULY-AUGUST 2020www.logisticsmiddleeast.com Jacques-Adem, co-founder and managing director, Logsquare-FZCO There is no denying that jobs around the world have been impacted with the onset of automation, AI and robotics. Adem reiterates that some jobs “have changed or have simply lost importance over time”. He says: “We cannot make a categorical claim that robots or machines will replace humans in a period of five to 10 years. That’s a testament to the importance of our capability and the power of the human brain over AI. Some tasks will be made redundant and performed by machines.” Companies will always want to know the return on investment when investing in a simple or complex system. It’s important to consider several factors before we quantify investments. Adem says: “It’s pivotal when embracing digitisation, especially in logistics and warehousing, to have clear objectives. At the end of the day it’s a means to a purpose. “It’s also important to have laser- specific KPIs when you consider the ROI of a project. Some are directly tangible financially and some are non-tangible that translate to human effort. Hence, it is important to focus on customers, employees and infrastructure requirement. The digital world will enable a company to do more with less and to maintain better visibility.” The pandemic has led to LSPs and supply chain firms to take stock of their business and re-tool where required. For LogSquare enquires have been pouring in from various entities operating with existing warehouses, conversation surrounding retrofits have taken centre stage. “Lately we have seen plenty of movement on retrofits in response we have launched a solution termed ‘Adapt & Leverage’. “We cannot expect companies that have invested heavily in the last 10 years, whether in technology or storage, to drastically shift overnight. Change needs to happen gradu- ally. There are many retrofitting applica- tions that we refer to as ‘soft automation’ which can be carried out to address a spe- cific requirement. ,” Adem says. Soft automation generally entails shorter deployment times and a quicker ROI. Retro- fits can be carried out across several existing premises. No doubt it requires the solution provider to have a high level of flexibility and resourcefulness. Adem recommends a three-step process: “Step one is about processes and operations, step two involves software and technology, and step three brings in automation and engineered solutions.” In conclusion Adem says: “LogSquare has a good track record despite being in the mar- ket for a little over a decade. We know how to bring the all-important equation of human capital and the right amount of automation together. And create a solution based on it.”FEATURE | SWISSLOG 32JULY-AUGUST 2020 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Covid-19 has dramatically changed customer behaviour, presenting a new set of challenges for the supply chain industry. Businesses have lost critical response time during the crisis, and many failed to collect the essential data needed to identify opportunities or make informed inventory choices. Another challenge faced by retailers was labour constraints amid restrictions and the necessity to keep those frontline onsite employees safe. Now is the time to embrace new automation technologies to weather future disruption in the post Covid-19 era. Warehouse automation is an extremely attractive option for many businesses looking to increase storage capacity within their existing infrastructure in a convenient and efficient manner. A recent PwC survey indicates that CFOs from across different sectors are now increasingly focused on implementing automation within supply chain functions, as they exit the initial shock period of the current. Integrating automation technology including using robots to pick and pack online orders will result in lower prices and faster fulfilment, accelerating demand for online shopping and creating meaningful opportunities to advance market share. Automated warehouse solutions and the right automation technology can help brick and mortar stores evolve their models to remain viable and profitable. An industry that has been slow to go digital has now meaningfully shifted technology adoption, due to the pandemic. Demand for e-grocery services is now accelerating and e-grocery automation is no longer an option, it is a requirement for survival. Swisslog automation experts can help you quickly determine the right fulfilment approach and identify the flexible automation technology that — fits your operation. Learn more by downloading Swisslog’s new e-book, “A Shopper’s Guide to E-Grocery Fulfillment.” Automation can result in lowering costs not only for logistics companies but for clients as well THE TIME TO AUTOMATE IS NOW SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS TODAY For sponsorship enquiries: Benjamin McGladdery | Sales Manager Tel: +971 4 444 3227 Email: benjamin.mcgladdery@itp.com Anthony Chandran | Table Sales Executive Tel: +971 4 444 3685 Email: anthony.chandran@itp.com #AVBAwards GOLD SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR Daniel Fewtrell | Director of Awards & Marketing Tel: +971 4 444 3684 Email: daniel.fewtrell@itp.com For nomination enquiries: Joe Peskett | Editor Tel: +971 4 444 3305 Email: joseph.peskett@itp.com Advanced T r aining a member of KHANSAHEB INVESTMENT NEW CATEGORIES RELEASED Celebrating 14 years of acknowledging excellence within the aviation sector in the Middle East, Aviation Business is pleased to bring you the Aviation Business Awards 2020. The Awards this year will also recognise businesses and individuals that have shone through adversity during the Covid-19 crisis with the introduction of four new categories. For more information, visit www.aviationbusinessme.com/awards or contact one of our team today. For event enquiries:AWARDS | LOGISTICS 2020 34JULY-AUGUST 2020 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com The 13th annual Logistics Middle East Awards, the longest running industry awards in the region, is set to be held in November 2020. The Logistics Middle East Awards is set to bring together the top executives in the logistics and supply chain industry in the region. Established more than a decade ago to recognise the excellence championed by the industry, and the advancements achieved by individual companies in various sectors of the supply chain, the awards this year will continue that tradition. With economies and governments around the world beginning to open up, industry experts predict things should return to a ‘new-normal’ by Q3, 2020. Which brings us to November, and will give us all a moment to celebrate the resilience of the Logistics industry in helping overcome the pandemic together. For further information relating to sponsorship, branding and event details contact Sanjay Khatan, sales manager, Logistics Middle East on sanjay.kathan@itp.com; mobile: +971 52 421 0698 A list of the shortlisted nominees for this year’s Logistics Middle East Awards are on the facing page. All the best. 3PL OF THE YEAR • AL MADINA LOGISTICS SERVICES COMPANY SAOC • INTERGRATED NATIONAL LOGISTICS • THAKRAL GULF FZE / JEBEL ALI • AL-FUTTAIM LOGISITCS • HELLMANN WORLDWIDE LOGISTICS • GAC DUBAI • PREMIER LOGISTICS • IQ FULFILLMENT • POSTA PLUS • GLOBAL SHIPPING & LOGISTICS BESPOKE LOGISTICS PROJECT OF THE YEAR • LANDMARK MEGA DC • PREMIER LOGISTICS • ALMAJDOUIE LOGISTICS • KAR FREIGHT FORWARDING The 13th annual Logistics Middle East Awards will be held in November 2020 that will honour the resilience and camaraderie of the logistics sector BIG WINNING The Logistics Middle East Awards will be held in November 2020, with the judges spending the next few months scrutinising the shortlist.LOGISTICS 2020 | AWARDS 35LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JULY-AUGUST 2020www.logisticsmiddleeast.com CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE YEAR • AL MADINA LOGISTICS SERVICES COMPANY SAOC • APM TERMINALS – BAHRAIN • QUALITY EDUCATION – TRISTAR GROUP • EMIRATES TRANSPORT • ACCIONA 100% ECO POWERED • RED SEA GATEWAY TERMINAL (RSGT) ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN OF THE YEAR • RIYADH CABLES • SOHAR PORT & FREEZONE EXPRESS LOGISTICS COMPANY OF THE YEAR • ESNAD EXPRESS • FEDEX EXPRESS • UPS • POSTA PLUS • DHL EXPRESS UAE • FLEET LINE SHIPPING SERVICES LLC FMCG SUPPLY CHAIN OF THE YEAR • HELLMANN WORLDWIDE LOGISTICS • GAC DUBAI • PREMIER LOGISTICS • GLOBAL SHIPPING LOGISTICS LOGISTICS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR • JEAN-FRANCOIS CONDAMIN – UPS • NEIL MCMASTER – GAC DUBAI • GARY BLYTHE – STARLINKS • FADI AMOUDI - IQ FULFILLMENT • ABDULLA MOHAMED SHADID – ETIHAD AVIATION GROUP RETAIL SUPPLY CHAIN HUB OF THE YEAR • LANDMARK MEGA DC • AL-FUTTAIM LOGISITCS SUPPLY CHAIN HUB OF THE YEAR • GLOBAL SHIPPING & LOGISTCS • THAKRAL GULF FZE / JEBEL ALI • LOGIPOINT BREAKBULK OPERATOR OF THE YEAR • THAKRAL GULF FZE / JEBEL ALI • MAERSK • SOHAR PORT & FREEZONE • FLEET LINE SHIPPING SERVICES LLC AIR CARGO OPERATOR OF THE YEAR • ETIHAD CARGO • FLEET LINE SHIPPING SERVICES LLC TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR • SHIPWAVES ONLINE LLC • LOAD ME FZE • IQ ROBOTICS • UPS • TRUKKER TECHNOLOGIES • SAP • ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES EUROPE LIMITED • FERO.AI • LOCATION SOLUTIONS • LOGSQUARE • SWISSLOG MEFEATURE | SYGIC 36JULY-AUGUST 2020 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com With more purchases currently happening online, delivery companies are expected to step up and respond to the demand. Some big players have already announced that they will create new jobs in the near future and smaller fi rms may follow suit. While this presents a unique opportunity, there is a hidden pitfall as scaling up may also make the existing process inefficiencies more apparent. Problems and costs may arise, for example, as a result of a higher number of returns and errors. An uneven ratio of new hires is also to be expected, as drivers are more in demand than other roles. However not every business has a structure and processes in place to support this unprecedented growth. Moreover, a significant portion of new employees won’t have enough experience driving professionally, as they will be switching occupations as a result of lay-offs in other industries. Devising new on-boarding programmes and having strong tech in place will play a crucial role in supporting this new team dynamic. Increasing fi rst-time delivery success With more orders to process, optimising the delivery success rate is more important than ever before. The key is to keep the recipient in the loop by providing ETAs or time windows, as opposed to simple information about the delivery date. Offering a narrow time slot usually works better, as customers make adjustments on their end to be available to receive the order. This leads to lower wait times for the driver and increases the chance of first-time delivery success. The pandemic is creating new opportunities but delivery companies need to take responsible measures in order to ensure stable and controlled long-term growth SCALING DELIVERY DURING COVID Workforce entering the logistics industry will need to receive on-boarding centred around strong tech in place.SYGIC | FEATURE 37LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JULY-AUGUST 2020www.logisticsmiddleeast.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR Miroslav Remecky, Vice President of Enterprise Business Unit at Sygic, a global GPS navigation pioneer, offers his views on taking strategic steps to address the current higher demand for delivery services resulting from Covid-19. Gaining visibility into vehicle locations Real-time visibility might come in handy in regard to the previous point if the information is shared with the recipient. For example, in food delivery, where customer expectations are quite high and good service is necessary to achieve the much-valued consumer loyalty. We have recently seen companies like Wolt or Bolt Food using this technology to gain competitive advantage. We can only expect this segment to be more and more reliant on providing convenience to the end customer. This information is also valuable to the back-office staff, who can check if the planned number of deliveries is being met, or quickly reassign routes if needed. The data can also be revisited later and examined to obtain insights into what is happening on the road and improve efficiency. Making remote work possible In the current situation, the previously mentioned visibility becomes a part of a larger issue. With some employees working from home, it is important to adopt practices that minimise the number of communication touchpoints and prevent slowdowns. For example, automating certain processes and giving more agency to the driver may save their time waiting for instructions, hand-offs, or approvals. Maximising vehicle utilisation, minimising fuel costs Many companies are already using software to plan and optimise routes. But that’s still only half the battle because execution is as important as planning. If drivers end up not following the routes properly, the additional time and fuel costs make the effort pointless. So how do you optimise the routes and then ensure drivers follow them exactly as planned? In Sygic Professional Navigation, there’s an option to use Guided Routes, which means the dispatcher pushes the exact route to a vehicle’s navigation, which suppresses its own routing and accepts the route. Route calculation gets triggered only in case of a mistake, where the navigation gets the driver back on the right track. This feature significantly helps decrease fuel cost estimation discrepancies. Improving driver behaviour Categorising drivers based on their performance and motivating them to be careful can have a higher impact on costs than one might think, as suggested by the Iron Mountain Case Study from 2018. The study found that launching a driver training programme and deploying driver behaviour telematics resulted in significant savings in incidents (87%), damage costs (78%) and maintenance (30%). Speeding incidents also decreased by 92%. Telematics solutions can reliably identify events such as speeding, braking, or cornering, which, besides minimising risks, offers a new way of prolonging the life of vehicles. The downside of these solutions is the cost, as they usually come in a form of black boxes or dongles to be fitted or plugged into the vehicle. The expenses often can’t be justified for small and mid-size companies. Sygic addresses this market gap by including its own driving behaviour monitoring and scoring algorithm into its professional navigation. Monitoring is performed directly by the navigation without the need for any additional hardware investments. FEATURE | INFINITE IT SOLUTIONS 38JULY-AUGUST 2020 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Infinite IT Solutions DMCC has been digitising supply chain processes in the Middle East since 2014. In the Middle East market, it has worked with major retail and logistics players to eliminate paper from their purchase-to-pay processes as well as make internal business processes, such as document signing, completely digital. “The supply chains of many companies across the Middle East were severely disrupted with the coronavirus pandemic. This unprecedented situation only emphasised what has been known for quite a while that supply chains need to undergo digital transformation from the purchase-to-pay within the B2B channel,” explains Łukasz Spirała, area manager at Infinite IT Solutions DMCC. Having said that, exchanging commercial documents digitally, instead of the traditional method via paper, proves to be the only reliable method these days. “In a typical supply chain scenario, a buyer sends a large number of purchase orders for new stock fill-up to its suppliers by e-mail. These orders then need to be printed and analysed by the supplier, followed by the manual data entry process to record a document in the ERP / back-office system. All this just means the two parties are engaged in a time-consuming process of exchanging commercial documents, these include confirmations, notes and invoices to name a few which are all paper-based and prone to error,” Spirała explains. The alternative is an automated exchange of commercial documents with supply chain partners. In the paperless scenario, Infinite IT Solutions has two IT systems communicating with each other, regardless of the system type. “Our solution acts as a middleware connecting buyers and suppliers to ensure smooth, fully automated and secure exchange of validated data,” he explains. Paperless transactions have gained momentum thanks to initiatives such as Smart Dubai THE POWER OF THE POWER OF PAPERLESS PAPERLESS Łukasz Spirała, Area Manager of Infi nite IT Solutions DMCC INFINITE IT SOLUTIONS | FEATURE 39LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JULY-AUGUST 2020www.logisticsmiddleeast.com With the Smart Dubai initiative undertaken by the UAE government the ‘paperless’ concept has already gained a foothold across the region. “We are pleased to see that many private companies are committed to Smart Dubai pledging to reduce their own paper consumption in B2B transactions,” Spirała comments. PAPERLESS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN “In recent years, with the introduction of VAT across the UAE, we have seen that e-invoicing with supply chain partners has become a priority for many local businesses. Electronic invoicing helps achieve total transparency of invoice circulation between seller / buyer and tax authorities. This way both sellers and buyers can avoid any potential penalties arising from noncompliance. At Infinite IT Solutions we make sure that each e-invoice has the highest data accuracy before it reaches the accounts payable software, making the AP process fully automated and touchless” Spirała reveals. However going paperless in the supply chain can mean much more than exchanging documents digitally. Spirała says it’s a new approach to managing business data and communicating with business partners. Electronic document signing is one of the pillars of digitising supply chain processes, it goes a long way in realising the concept of a ‘touchless economy’. Spirała explains: “Let’s take an example of a customer signing delivery papers. In the paper-based scenario, the delivery note has to be printed out, handed to the delivery team, signed by a customer and only then the document makes its way back to the head office to be archived. “What if the delivery note was signed by the customer on a tablet? That’s the concept Infinite IT Solutions wants to promote, adding the biometric analysis of a signature in order to ensure the highest security standards. Whether on a business trip, at office or working from home you can sign any business document, including contracts, on a tablet or via a web platform.” Elsewhere in the Middle East, Infinite Paperless Suite is saving retailers, 3PLs, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers significant costs on their supply chain operations. The company has helped several establishments realise its digital transformation goals which include Integrated National Logistics, Hisense Middle East Trading, Truebell Marketing and Trading, NTDE, and Transmed to name just a few. Next >