The Lion City’s Ultimate Project

Singapore’s logistics industry is preparing a revitalisation as the government unveiled its Industry Transformation Map (ITM) late last year.

Under the S$4.5bn programme, roadmaps will be developed for 23 industries to address issues within each industry and deepen partnerships between Government, firms, industries, trade associations and chambers. As one of the shortlisted industries to receive the coveted makeover, the Government aims for the logistics industry to become operationally excellent, innovative, and supported by a strong core of Singaporean talent and firms, be leaders in innovation, and build up a strong core of local logistics talent and firms.

Continue reading “The Lion City’s Ultimate Project”

Finalising Brexit

After nine tumultuous months of debates and discussions following Britons’ votes to leave the European Union (EU), the official Brexit process is finally under way. On 29th March, Prime Minister Theresa May dispatched a letter to the EU to invoke Article 50 of the EU treaty, marking the point at which Britain’s withdrawal from the union became all but inevitable.

Continue reading “Finalising Brexit”

Red & Yellow: The Colours of Global Domination

Interview with Dr Frank Appel, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Post DHL Group

Anyone who drives down Singapore’s Tampines Road can be forgiven for being awestruck by the massive building looming in the horizon. It is almost impossible to miss it. Occupying a massive warehouse footprint in excess of 90,000 sqm, the facility is DHL Supply Chain’s recently launched Advanced Regional Centre (ARC). Built at an investment of more than S$160m, the ARC features an S$18.8m multi-customer automation system with advanced robotics.

Continue reading “Red & Yellow: The Colours of Global Domination”

Making Progress that Makes Sense

Interview with Mr Ditlev Blicher, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Asia Pacific, DB Schenker

When we talk about the future of supply chain and logistics industry, we are no longer discussing about increasing low-cost labour and large-scale warehouses. Gone were the days when we focus on low investments while expecting higher returns. The conversation now has squarely shifted to the impacts of new technologies, such as driverless trucks, drone deliveries and robots in warehouses, on the industry.

Continue reading “Making Progress that Makes Sense”

The Assassin Deliveryman

Interview with Mr Muhammad Aidil Abdullah, Singapore Group Leader, Qxpress Pte Ltd

The e-commerce market in Singapore is expected to be worth US$5.4bn (S$7.46bn) by 2025, according to a recent report by Temasek and Google. The report states that the Republic’s e-commerce market was valued at US$1bn in 2015, with online shopping making up 2.1 per cent of retail sales – the highest proportion of all Southeast Asian countries surveyed. By 2025, Singapore’s e-commerce market is expected to make up 6.7 per cent of all retail sales, behind Indonesia’s eight per cent.

Continue reading “The Assassin Deliveryman”

The Gentleman who Lives Life on the Edge

Interview with Mr Peter Michael Belz, Founder, AEB GmbH

It is no secret that successful entrepreneurs tend to be extremely adventurous folks. Examples include Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, who has kite-surfed across the English Channel, and Mr Elon Musk, the mastermind behind SpaceX and Tesla Motors, who once wing walked on a bi-plane mid-air during his vacation.

Continue reading “The Gentleman who Lives Life on the Edge”

Goodbye Amazon Empire, Hello to the New Kid on the Block

Interview with Mr Wang Zhenhui, Chief Executive Officer, JD Logistics

Despite the thriving landscape however, the Chinese market stays predominantly in the hands of its local companies. Even American heavyweight Amazon has a less than one per cent market share in China. In fact, there is a new kid on the block that not only keeps out challenges from overseas, but is also quickly threatening the position of one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies that generates more gross merchandise volume than Amazon and eBay combined.

Continue reading “Goodbye Amazon Empire, Hello to the New Kid on the Block”