“Supply chain organisations may have been expected to take a step back in pursuing DEI objectives in light of increased scrutiny and economic pressures,” said Dana Stiffler, distinguished VP analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain Practice.

“Our data instead showed strong gains, with a steep increase in representation of underrepresented races and ethnicities at every level of the supply chain. The key driver of these gains is an increase in accountability via formalised management goals.” Dana Stiffler

Figure 1: Growth in general and formal accountability for DEI, 2021-2023

The survey data revealed major DEI gains, including that the percentage of full-time employees of underrepresented race/ethnicity in the supply chain organisations evaluated increased from 32% to 48%. Compared to 2022’s survey sample, the average representation of talent of underrepresented races and ethnicities is 1.5 times what it was in the 2022 sample.

The data showed a strong alignment between DEI and broader business objectives. Among those who have either formal or general DEI objectives, respondents provided the following reasons for having such goals:

• Attract new talent (68%)
• Engage and retain new employees (64%)
• Improve business performance (58%)
• Attract customers (48%)
• Reflect and support local communities (44%)
• Attract investors (40%)

Stiffler noted that the recruitment focus of DEI initiatives is crucial, with a higher percentage of supply chain employees actively seeking a new job at the highest rate since 2021. “The focus on engagement and retention is also well-placed with supply chain employees less likely than other professions to be highly engaged or have a high intent to stay. Their discretionary effort in mid-2023 was at its lowest point in the past two years,” she added.

“Say-Do Gap” closing; attrition remains high

Beyond formal objectives, a second reason pushing representation higher in 2023 was a greater emphasis on actual DEI initiatives within supply chain organisations. In 2022, while 75% of supply chain organisations reported that they focused on some dimension of diversity, only 40% reported working on specific DEI projects or initiatives. Gartner refers to this gap between intention and tangible action as the “say-do gap.”

“While nearly the same proportion of organisations focused on one or more aspects of DEI in 2023, we saw a much higher percentage of supply chain respondents working on specific DEI projects and initiatives with measurable outcomes, jumping from 40% to 73%,” said Stiffler. “In 2023, the ‘say-do gap’ was reduced to nearly half of what it was in 2021; the connection between tangible action and improved DEI outcomes seems increasingly clear.”

The top four DEI initiatives invested in were learning and development (L&D), benefits, employee engagement and recruitment. In terms of effectiveness, employee engagement and L&D led the list, which is a departure from previous surveys, where inclusive leadership and recruitment were most effective.

While top-line findings in the survey showed progress on diversity efforts, 43% of respondents reported that the attrition rates of underrepresented talent were somewhat or significantly higher compared to their majority workforce. The data suggests talent pipelines need to be assessed and strengthened further to maintain recent gains.

Chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) seeking to reduce attrition must evaluate several potential root causes, including the desire among these employees to seek career changes, the most highly cited reason underrepresented talent left their roles in 2023.

The post Gartner: 51% of supply chain organisations don’t have formal DEI objectives appeared first on FutureIoT.

It has grown to become the leading on-demand platform in Indonesia, with additional operations in Vietnam and Singapore. The Gojek platform now comprises over 2.7 million driver partners across the region. Gojek is part of the GoTo Group, the largest digital ecosystem in Indonesia, consisting of Gojek, Tokopedia, GoTo Financial, and GoTo Logistics.

Rewards and challenges

Herman Cahyadi, the head of People and Culture at Gojek Indonesia, shares the ins and outs of his role, especially in the era of post-pandemic digital transformation.

His role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities related to managing and developing the organisation's workforce, fostering a positive and productive work environment, and aligning the company's people-related initiatives with its overall business goals. It also includes strategic leadership, employee development and training, employee engagement and culture, compensation and benefits, change management, internal communication, and workforce analytics.

From the multiple responsibilities on his plate, talent acquisition and retention remain to be a big challenge for him. He also observes a talent shortage, especially in the field of technology.

"This scarcity made it challenging to find qualified candidates due to the increasing demand, leading to a rush to hire for specific roles."

Herman Cahyadi

There were also pandemic-related challenges such as a rapid shift to remote working for many companies. "Organisations had to quickly adapt to remote hiring and onboarding processes, which posed challenges in maintaining company culture and ensuring employee engagement," he added.

Aside from that, the pandemic also prompted a widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work models. Companies had to navigate challenges related to managing remote teams and maintaining a cohesive work environment.

The Oxford Group researchers noted that the pandemic dramatically changed the way people work, citing a PwC survey revealing that 55% of employees prefer a hybrid work model post-pandemic. Hybrid work setup also offers a lot of benefits such as improvement of work-life balance, greater flexibility, increased productivity, and reduced costs. The study noted that businesses embracing this model shall reap its benefits.

Despite the challenges, Cahyadi finds a lot of rewarding things in his job such as learning and growth, ownership and autonomy and the ability to innovate.

"Leaders have the opportunity to expand their skill set, learn from challenges, and develop leadership qualities that can be valuable throughout their careers. This level of responsibility can be deeply fulfilling, allowing leaders to shape the company's direction based on their vision. We have the chance to foster a culture of creativity and exploration, driving the development of new products, services, and approaches," Cahyadi says.

Courage to Transform

The recent pandemic became one of the biggest drivers for transformation at Gojek. Cahyadi explains how he learned three important things during the pandemic. The first one is leadership through uncertainty. He shares that "leaders discovered that their ability to provide stability, direction, and a sense of purpose was crucial during times of uncertainty. Authentic and transparent leadership helped build trust and confidence."

Also, for Cahyadi, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools and technologies. He was able to learn the value of embracing digital transformation to ensure business continuity, enhance customer experiences, and streamline operations.

Aside from that, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work on a global scale. "It demonstrated that remote and distributed work arrangements can be effective, and many organisations realised that they could maintain productivity and collaboration even when employees are not physically present in the office," he adds.

As a result, Gojek was able to implement changes to transform company culture such as regular one-on-one meetings, transparent communication and encouraging diversity and inclusion.

"In embracing diversity and inclusivity in your teams, ensure that managers promote an inclusive environment where everyone's voices are heard and respected," Cahyadi notes.

"A lot of people are coming from different countries, different cultures and different attitudes that we never saw before. When you sit down here, you may be from Singapore, from India, etc., but we are here to build something out of the collaboration between all of us," adds the Gojek head.

Pew Research Centre noted that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace contribute to a positive work environment. The United Nations cited DEI as a key driver for resilience and plays a crucial role in driving the high performance of the workforce.

He encourages others to have the courage to transform which for him "is about making a conscious choice to embrace change despite the initial discomfort it may bring. It's acknowledging that while staying within the comfort zone might provide temporary ease, it's the journey beyond that brings lasting fulfilment, growth, and the possibility of reaching one's full potential."

Wisdom for Leaders

"The most important thing about being a leader," he shares, "is that you can adapt to all the changes and know how to put yourself in the middle of any hot situation."

He encourages leaders to lead by example. "As a leader, your behaviour sets the tone for the entire organisation. Demonstrate the qualities you wish to see in managers – approachability, transparency, empathy, and open communication," he adds.

Julia Martins, an Asana leader, reinforces the importance of leading by example. She says that it is the difference between, "you can do this" and "we can do this together". The former shows support and encouragement but the latter builds camaraderie, connection, and trust.

Cahyadi also encourages leaders to set clear expectations, foster trust, and psychological safety, manage expectations, and learn from mistakes. He says that leaders should embrace an iterative approach "that allows for adjustments based on feedback and evolving circumstances. This flexibility enables the organisation to adapt to unforeseen challenges and capitalise on emerging opportunities."

Self-transformation

Cahyadi, who finds his passion in HR, shares that he is not initially from the field. "I never touched human resources, even if you look at my educational background. I am from the business marketing management industry."

He shares that since high school, he has been exposed to the ins and outs of organisations through the student body and his church. That is where he learned to connect with people and to increase work quality and productivity.

Through his experiences in life, he now advocates that "at the heart of Human Resources Strategic Management lies the convergence of two critical elements: people and strategy."

He believes that the role of Human Resources (HR) has evolved from administrative tasks to a strategic cornerstone.

"As someone deeply passionate about Human Resources Strategic Management, I have come to recognise the profound impact this field has on shaping organisational success. This passion has driven me to explore the intricate interplay between people, strategy, and innovation, and has led me to appreciate how strategic HR management can drive an organisation to new heights," he shares.

* Editor's notes: This article is part of the Cxociety Coffee Table Book project (The Project) which chronicles the journey and experiences of senior business, operations, finance and technology leaders in Asia in recent years. The Project illustrates the tenacity, ingenuity and resiliency of the human spirit in the face of seemingly endless challenges.

With nearly 50 stories chronicled in The Project, it is a must-read compendium of learnings and experiences from seasoned professionals in the region.

Click on the link here to order your copy.

The post Transforming processes, changing lives appeared first on FutureIoT.

Transport infrastructure includes roads, railways, ports, and airports. A transport system is a vital driver of social and economic development, which generates opportunities for both poor and facilitating economies to become competitive. It facilitates the supply of goods and services globally.

The Transportation Infrastructure Market report paints a positive outlook for the market from 2022 onwards. “As the industry continues to recover globally, it remains an attractive investment landscape, attracting new ventures and setting the stage for future developments,” concludes the report.

Fitch Ratings paints a more sombre outlook for the industry reflecting what it perceives as slowing economic growth in 2023, with high inflation and rising interest rates offsetting strong sector fundaments.

Speaking to FutureIoT at the 2023 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards, Dustin Parkman, vice president for Transportation at Bentley Systems, believes that the ongoing transformation of the sector may have been led (or kickstarted) by China and its One Belt/One Road initiative.

What is different about recent developments, he reckons, is diversification outside of China, in places such as India, as well as Southeast Asian countries.

“What we're seeing particularly in urban areas is a change in attitude, particularly in as far as how projects are done,” he started. “The engineering methods in transportation tend to be rooted in tradition for a very long time. You can argue there is resistance to change.”

However, he acknowledged that resistance to change is peeling away as a result of a combination of a greater number of more complex technical projects, involving more subcontractors – meaning more people to coordinate and collaborate with, and a greater reliance on data to support these mega projects.”

Demand for BIMs on the rise

The concept of Business Information Modelling (BIM) has been around for decades. Its evolution, however, may have accelerated with the development of the Internet and the realisation that digital connectivity facilitates even higher productivity while lowering the chances for errors.

Parkman noted that BIM allows different engineering disciplines and planners to coordinate and share their information.

“You have people that are designing roads, people that are designing and engineering bridges, tunnels, and drainage. All these things come together to form a complex system. Despite this complexity, BIM allows those participants to share their data and be able to match it up in 3D space and allows them to identify all the different mismatches that happen.”

Dustin Parkman

He opined that BIM helps mismatches be identified and sorted out during construction. “This way you can identify potential problems much earlier in the design and engineering phase because you are essentially able to simulate the construction.”

Click on the video to see Parkman’s responses to the following:

1. Provide of state of where we are in Asia's transportation sector.
2. Which technologies are proving to be effective tools in the modernisation of public transportation?
3. What are the top challenges slowing/hindering modernisation?
4. How/where do you see data-centric digital workflows supporting modernisation?
5. How do you see AI/ML technologies being applied (low-value to high-value) to support modernisation?

The post Asia's transportation trends in 2024 appeared first on FutureIoT.

This AI revolution holds significant implications for manufacturers, retailers, and other supply chain participants, promising a more synchronized, responsive, and cost-effective supply chain across the region.

The IDC Future Enterprise Resiliency & Spending Survey 2023 revealed that most supply chain organizations in the Asia/Pacific region (80%) expect the economy in 2024 to either remain stagnant or shrink compared to 2023.

To stay competitive and keep growing, these companies are focusing on productivity and efficiency. Over the next 5 years, investments in AI will need to focus on creating substantial efficiency gains and cost reductions to counteract the potential economic stagnation.

Supply chain organizations are, therefore, poised to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives, with a heavy emphasis on AI-driven technologies that can streamline and optimize operations, enhance decision-making, and foster more proactive and predictive supply chain strategies.

Enterprises throughout the Asia/Pacific region are starting to acknowledge the importance of utilizing AI to enhance their supply chain processes. This shift is crucial because AI can help companies extract valuable insights from data, enabling predictive analytics and intelligent automation, leading to improved demand forecasting, resource allocation, and customer satisfaction in an increasingly volatile market.

How AI will impact supply chains in Asia/Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ)

Logistics visibility and performance optimization: By 2027, 40% of APEJ logistics teams will deploy advanced visibility, using AI/ML analytics for insights that optimize performance and achieve 3% savings in logistics spending.

Parts planning productivity: By 2026, 40% of the A2000 will look to autonomous service parts planning to ensure mean time to repair can be improved, ensuring customer or operator assets are productive.

Last-mile profitability improvements: By 2028, increased planning and execution integration, nearshoring, improved inventory allocation, AI-based e-commerce, and fulfilment optimization will improve last-mile profitability by 5%.

The transformative power of AI in Asia/Pacific supply chains is reshaping workforce dynamics and amplifying cybersecurity needs, while also promising enhanced forecasting and strategic decision-making. Enhanced visibility and optimized performance in logistics are just the beginning. New performance standards will be set using predictive shipping and algorithmic supply chains, increasing productivity and improving inventory availability and customer service.

It's worth noting that while AI is an essential component of future supply chain technology, a comprehensive approach to technology is required to realize the advantages of a digital business fully. Other significant predictions for the future of supply chain technology include:

Robotics automation surge: By 2025, 50% of APEJ companies will implement broad robotics automation to improve order fulfilment speed and accuracy, resulting in an increased pick speed of 10% and reduced pick errors by 2% to 3%.

Ecosystem operations digitalization: By 2025, 60% of A2000 organizations will have a digital commerce platform in place for ecosystem operations, driving a 10% higher data capitalization rate and improving customer retention by 10%.

Operational role augmentation: By 2027, 60% of Asia/Pacific-based organizations will augment operational roles with automation technology, elevating employee engagement and unlocking a 50% increase in worker efficiency.

Embracing the circular economy: By 2028, 50% of Asia/Pacific-based manufacturers will operationalize circular economy principles to improve the availability of strategic/direct materials and improve supply reliability by 15%.

Relocation of Final Assembly: By the end of 2026, 30% of A2000 companies will have relocated final assembly capabilities closer to demand, resulting in a 10% reduction in overall logistics costs.

Increasing Supply Chain Orchestration: By 2028, 35% of A2000 companies will be using supply chain orchestration tools that integrate key suppliers/customers, including digital twin capabilities, improving supply chain responsiveness by 15%.

"The integration of AI within supply chains signifies a crucial evolution, anticipating an accelerated adoption of advanced technology. This shift is poised to bring substantial improvements, ranging from heightened productivity to more engaged workforces. The immediate focus is on use cases that enhance short-term productivity and efficiency, with a long-term vision encompassing broader ecosystem integration and an increased emphasis on sustainability," says Rani Ratna, senior research manager at IDC Asia/Pacific.

The post Supply chains to use GenAI appeared first on FutureIoT.

“CSCOs see GenAI as supportive of their broader digital transformation objectives,” said Noha Tohamy, distinguished VP analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice.

"Many supply chain leaders were already leveraging supply chain technologies and advanced analytics, and it’s clear from this data that the majority also see the value in GenAI to enhance productivity, improve business agility and reduce costs."

Noha Tohamy

“The challenge for many of these organisations over the next 12 months will be in scaling their pilot projects to broader adoption,” she continued.

Gartner surveyed 127 supply chain leaders in November 2023 on their plans to utilize GenAI within their function for 2024. Nearly two-thirds of respondents plan to, or are already in the process of, implementing the technology, with just 2% of respondents having no plans to do so over the next year (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Supply chain leaders’ GenAI utilization plans

Tohamy noted, however, that the survey responses show that the supply chain lags behind other enterprise functions, like marketing and sales, in adoption. This could present an opportunity for supply chain organisations to be “fast followers” by capitalizing on early learnings and technology investments from other functional partners.

The survey data showed that the most impactful supply chain use cases for GenAI include areas such as code augmentation, providing more insights into supply chain key performance indicators and staff assistance chatbots.

The survey also showed that supply chain leaders are backing up their implementation plans with significant budget allocations. Supply chain leaders will allocate 5.8% of their budgets to the technology, as well as incremental employee spend to deploy GenAI. Sixty-five per cent of respondents said they will hire dedicated staff and experts to help deploy the technology in 2024.

Tohamy said that the projected budget data shows that supply chain leaders are serious about making progress on GenAI solutions this year and that they also recognize the need for additional resources to successfully move beyond small-scale pilots.

“CSCOs may also be factoring in impacts on employee roles required of their staff as they shift to higher value-add activities, while lower-level tasks are increasingly automated,” concluded Tohamy.

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Syed Najam us Saqib, a senior technical team lead – IoT Operations at Vision Valley in Dubai, believes that Yes, the Internet of Things (IoT) can play a significant role in addressing climate change challenges by providing data-driven insights, improving resource efficiency, and enabling smarter decision-making in various sectors. In his LinkedIn posts, he lists 13 use cases – an interesting read IMHO.

IoT driving green

The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the operations of buildings account for 30% of global final energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions1 (8% being direct emissions in buildings and 18% indirect emissions from the production of electricity and heat used in buildings).

When incorporated into building automation systems (BAMs), Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are helping to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance building operations.

Lian Jye Su, chief analyst for applied intelligence at Omdia says the primary role of IoT technology in building and infrastructure energy consumption and monitoring is data collection. More and more enterprises are deploying an intelligent energy management system that can control energy consumption depending on ambient conditions and automatically report defects or malfunctions.

He adds that data from various IoT sensors are consolidated to provide a better picture of overall usage. He noted that the number of sensors being deployed is directly proportional to the granularity and comprehensiveness of energy utilization patterns.

“In some cases, drones and automated aircraft with infrared sensors have been deployed in industrial and commercial buildings to detect potential leakage and wastage,” he added.

Tsubasa Bolt, a senior ESD consultant for Surbana Jurong, explained that IoT devices are being used to monitor systems at a more granular level compared to traditional building management systems (BMS).

“One such example would be smart branch circuit monitoring systems or smart sockets. This allows for the monitoring of receptacle loads at higher resolution which can then be fed back to users to modify their behaviour to eliminate standby power.

“Smart lighting systems also have more granular sensor coverage which reduces the size of lighting zones (sensors are per fixture). This means that the sensors are monitoring and responding to much more localised occupancy and daylight which reduces overall lighting consumption,” he continued.

IoT in waste management and recycling

Asked in what ways is IoT contributing to the optimisation of waste management and recycling processes, Bolt pointed to IoT devices being used at weighing stations to monitor waste production at facilities where devices are fitting onto bins or at collection points where bags may be weighed.

He added that digital tracking and associated data provide critical insight into:

• The proportions of the different waste streams.
• Frequency of recycling bins contamination with non-recyclable waste.
• Opportunities for cost optimisation.

“With this data, interventions could be made upstream at the source of the waste with the aim of overall reduction. Contaminated recycling bins are also a major issue and data can be used to provide user feedback to educate and initiate behavioural change,” he elaborated.

IoT in air and quality monitoring

“Like IoT in energy consumption monitoring, air and water quality in urban environments are tracked through different sensors, such as humidity, chemicals, and light, to detect pollutants, turbidity, and hazardous content,” said Su.

Surbana Jurong’s Bolt confirms adding that these provide user feedback on various indoor air quality (IAQ) metrics (CO2, VOCs, PM2.5, PM1, Radon, etc.) to raise awareness on the importance of IAQ concerning human health in office spaces.

The WELL Certification standard, which allows organisations to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of occupants, includes IAQ monitoring as achievable credits. IAQ metrics must be kept within specific thresholds which incentivise building operators to regularly maintain air handling unit filtration systems.

Another exciting application of IAQ sensor data is CO2 data as a data domain for airside system AI optimisers. Bolt explains that CO2 is a better measure of occupancy than traditional occupancy sensors since CO2 is correlated to the number of occupants.

“Aside from demand-controlled ventilation, this has the potential to ensure enclosed office or meeting room ACMV systems only operate when CO2 levels are rising instead of the triggering of motion detectors,” he continued.

When it comes to water quality, IoT devices could be deployed to obtain more granular datasets that can provide insight into the maintenance health of a distribution network. Bolt noted, however, that water quality generally has to be tested in a certified lab for verification.

IoT in supply chain

The supply chain is arguably one of the earliest use cases for IoT in the form of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Indeed, nearly everyone in the supply chain ecosystem depends on RFID tags to track product and equipment movement.

Chan Hsien Hung, vice president of Integrated Enterprise Services & Sustainability at AETOS, says transportation is recognized as a critical factor in Scope 1 carbon emissions within the supply chain.

“Without IoT integration, the management and measurement of carbon emissions would heavily rely on manual processes, introducing inaccuracies and inefficiencies,” he added. “Traditional methods like manual log books and even GPS tracking, while capturing digital data, often fell short by omitting crucial information such as fuel consumption, influenced by variables like vehicle efficiency, fuel type, and driver behaviour.”

He cites the integration of IoT sensors within AETOS fleet of 200 operational vehicles. “This IoT-driven approach enables real-time tracking through a cloud-based platform, offering a comprehensive and accurate overview of our environmental impact in supply chain operations.

“This not only enhances efficiency but also empowers us to make informed decisions aimed at reducing carbon emissions and advancing sustainable practices,” he continued.

IoT in transportation

The US government, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, defines sustainable transportation as low- and zero-emission, energy-efficient, and affordable modes of transport, including electric and alternative-fuel vehicles, as well as domestic fuels.

“IoT platforms help to track fuel usage better,” reveals Su. “They can identify driver behaviour, such as heavy acceleration or vehicle idling, increasing fuel costs, and contributing to emissions. Fleet platooning is also an area of autonomous trucking that many believe will reduce emissions by programming the vehicles to maximize fuel efficiency.”

AETOS’ Chan says in promoting sustainable transportation, IoT applications monitor driver behaviour in real time. “IoT sensors in our vehicles track events like harsh braking, fast acceleration, speeding, and idling,” he revealed.

“This information is crucial in influencing driving habits to improve fuel efficiency and subsequently reduce carbon emissions. Through the utilization of data from our advanced smart telematics system and increased data transparency, we observed a 20% decrease in negative driver behaviour and a notable reduction in carbon emissions.

“Any reduction in carbon emissions contributes to achieving carbon emission reduction certifications, which can be utilized for green financing,” he concluded.

The post Supporting green projects with IoT appeared first on FutureIoT.

That’s a big number!

It’s especially large when you consider that most organizations are trying to stabilize, pilot or get approval to change their planning tools.

Proportion of Supply Chain Transformation Benefits Achieved

When trying to think about what is missing, or why so many are failing to adopt new technology, the main theme that comes up is that most organizations are trying to implement a solution based on current processes and ways of working. Technology enables a transformation of your operating model that includes processes and organization. But shouldn’t your mindset evolve as well?

When I started working in planning, the first thing I learned was that if our company’s plans were precise everything would work out. I just needed the magic number that would make everything flow.

If only life would be so easy.

The reality is that even when you set a magic number, plans always deviate. Things are dynamic. You most likely don`t have exact plans in other areas of life. Then why do you keep focusing on a single number that will make — or, more likely, break — your supply chain plans?

As companies invest in technology, they should invest in changing the mindsets within their organizations from the obsession with a single forecast to using a range of possibilities.

Range of Possibilities

Assuming that all you need is a single plan that will make everything work is like assuming that the exact optimal circumstances will always occur. But that’s not true. The exact internal and external dynamics will rarely come together in the exact right way. By assuming all you need is a single plan, a single number, organizations make their supply chains fragile. Anything that goes above or below that number will register as a surprise.

And from that point, you know the story. … You rush in with emergency teams, firefighting these new situations as they impact your business results. Let’s face it, anytime you expedite deliveries or steer inventory due to the plan going awry it will impact your cost to serve. In fact, organizations report that they suffer a 4% increase in the cost to serve for every disruption. And they have at least five disruptions per year. So, at minimum, you’re talking about a 20% hit to the P&L.

By changing your mindset to plan for a range of possibilities and probabilities you’ll be better prepared for what will most likely occur. You can’t rely on being precise. There is a range of options from variability of lead time to variability of product mix to variability in order placement. In fact, by abandoning the idea that you must be precise, you can plan for most of the possible options you might face. 

Even if you do plan for a range of possibilities, will all of them be right? Of course not. Only one option will be correct. The rest of them will be wrong. Embrace the idea that you will be wrong most of the time. Think of it this way: you have to be wrong to be right.

Now, I know that nobody likes being wrong. Because everybody wants to avoid errors, they avoid taking risks. But if you avoid risk, then how are you going to win? From Gartner’s most recent survey of supply chain technology user wants and needs, we found that 38% of those surveyed are not encouraged to take risks. Within that group, 12% are actively discouraged from taking risks.

As supply chain planning leaders, you must actively work with your teams to change this point of view.

Just like you’re investing in processes and technology, you need to make an investment in change management — you must embrace a new mindset. You can’t adopt a different operating model and new tools but continue to be stuck in your old way of thinking. If you are planning to transform your supply chain — or even if you’re in the middle of such a transformation — change your planning approach and you will be more than halfway there.

First published on Gartner Supply Chain Insights

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The Gartner CEO Survey shows that business growth remains the CEO's highest priority. Simon Bailey, VP analyst at Gartner reveals the first trend as showing leading chief supply chain officers playing their part by identifying where the supply chain can seize opportunities to support growth while mastering the risk that could undermine business performance.

Click on the video to watch Bailey elaborates on three points:

1. Identify and seize new opportunities for growth while mitigating risks

2. Transform how organisations work by reshaping skills, roles and relationships

3. Drive collective progress, leaving a lasting impact on industries and societies through ecosystem partnerships

“Leading supply chains drive customer retention through increased customer satisfaction and reduced customer effort,” said Bailey. “Those with a deep understanding of their customer needs also unlock new opportunities through customer enablement.”

By mastering risks through supply chain agility and resilience during times of disruption, they (supply chain) are also able to exploit emerging opportunities quicker than their competitors.”

The second trend sees leading supply chains transform how their organisations work by redefining the skills roles, relationships, and structures within them.

Bailey noted that to accelerate cultural transformation and enable innovation, the leaders are focusing on creating a new intersection between people and technology. “They enable employee autonomy and flexibility with enhanced employee value propositions and use digital tools to reduce fatigue whilst increasing productivity,” he added.

Gatner’s third trend is about driving collective progress. The analyst says leading chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) are delivering valued business outcomes like innovation, sustainability, and resilience through the power of ecosystem partnerships.

“By leading their supply chains to shift from independent networks to interconnected ecosystem, they're delivering in ways that no one company could do on its own,” said Bailey. “Take the learnings from our top 25 and master supply chains and use them as a resource to show you the way to solve problems and unlock opportunities in today's disrupted environment.”

The post Game-changing strategies in the supply chain in 2023 appeared first on FutureIoT.

A Gartner survey of 164 supply chain professionals in June 2023 revealed that 28% of supply chains expected no gain or loss in revenue, while 63% of respondents expected a loss of revenue due to exposure to uncertainty (see Figure 1).

“An antifragile supply chain starts with the Chief Supply Chain Officer’s mindset,” said Tim Payne, vice president analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain Practice.

“Rather than trying to keep uncertainty out of the supply chain, antifragile supply chains embrace uncertainty with the objective of learning, evolving and adapting their capabilities based on their improved knowledge of it.”

Tim Payne

Gartner’s analysis identified a select group of antifragile capabilities for Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) to deploy that are 2.1 to 4.9 times more likely to gain revenue for their organisations when confronted with uncertainty.

Figure 1: Supply chain professionals’ estimated impact of uncertainty exposure on revenue

Payne opines that the inability to cope with uncertainty is driven by a misallocation of initiatives to the wrong strategy. He noted that in the survey nearly half of respondents said that more than 50% of their supply chains’ key capabilities are set up to attempt to keep uncertainty outside the supply chain. “This overinvestment in a barrier to keep uncertainty out stifles the ability to learn from it, keeping most supply chains today in a fragile state,” he added.

Antifragile capabilities to cope with uncertainty 

CSCOs must assess their current ability to cope with uncertainty so that appropriate strategies can be applied to evolve towards the antifragile supply chain state. Gartner’s research shows that supply chains can be in either a fragile, resilient or antifragile state. While resilient supply chains may not lose during periods of uncertainty, the focus remains on keeping most uncertainty out, reducing the ability of organisations to learn from it often leading to “resiliency fatigue.”

“An antifragile mindset changes how CSCOs approach and shape their capabilities, including in areas such as integrated planning, ROI calculations, supply chain redundancy and assessing uncertainty,” said Payne. “Our research shows that a select group of antifragile capabilities are especially effective in moving a supply chain into the antifragile state.” 

Gartner’s analysis of the survey data revealed the top six antifragile capabilities that are highly significant in driving a supply chain towards gains during uncertainty. These antifragile capabilities lead to a significantly greater likelihood of positive revenue gains when exposed to uncertainty, compared with the fragile or resilient versions of these capabilities.

Most impactful antifragile supply chain capabilities

Decision processes and collaboration: Enabling dynamic decision processes during uncertainty (4.9x more likely to have a positive revenue impact).

Calculating ROI for supply chain investments: Assessing the value of investing at different times due to uncertainty (4.5x).

Managing the assessment of uncertainty: Performing a high degree of experimentation on the supply chain to stress test it (3.7x).

Supply chain redundancy: Viewing redundancy (e.g., inventory, capacity, multiple suppliers) as an investment opportunity (3.6x).

Supply chain planning: A focus on end-to-end (E2E) planning policies (probabilities, options, thresholds) in the midterm and accurate functional short-term planning (2.5x).

Monitoring, adjustments and responsiveness: Monitoring at “arm’s length” to intervene only if policies are breached and empower local stakeholders to adjust within policies (2.1x).

The post Gartner survey says 91% see VUCA limiting value of supply chain appeared first on FutureIoT.

When pit against the numbers from 2019, the grocery delivery market has expanded significantly and is now more than three times its previous size in the Asia-Pacific region. It is projected that this segment will achieve a value of US$325 billion within 2023.

This surge in demand has posed logistical challenges for retailers throughout the supply chain. Consequently, grocery warehouses are struggling to cope with the escalating volume of orders, resulting in delays and dissatisfied customers. Businesses must explore methods to optimise their grocery warehouses and cater to these newfound demands effectively.

Traditional Grocery Warehousing

To tackle the challenges posed by modern demands, it is important to understand the operations of traditional grocery warehouses. These warehouses are operated primarily through manual labour, heavily relying on human workers for tasks such as order picking, packing, and shipping. While this system has been effective for many years, it falls short when it comes to meeting the scale and speed expected in today's online grocery shopping landscape.

One huge issue is the significant amount of time spent by workers navigating through aisles in search of products and manually fulfilling orders—time that could be better to used fulfil more orders. Although this simple process can be easily implemented, its reliance on manual labour also makes it susceptible to errors that result in further delays and ultimately lead to customer dissatisfaction.

Due to the physical nature of this method involving human contractors within a limited space, there are limitations on how many orders can be fulfilled simultaneously. Online customers will then experience longer waiting times which often prompts them to turn towards competitors for their needs.

In addition, the conventional method of warehousing presents challenges in terms of inventory visibility. Maintaining accurate stock levels becomes difficult for retail stores, resulting in an increase in Out-of-Stocks.

The surge in online orders further exacerbates this issue, as warehouse employees struggle to keep up with stock checks and replenishment. Again, Out-of-Stocks have a detrimental impact on customer loyalty and provide a surefire way to drive consumers towards competitors.

As a result, adopting a wait-and-see approach is no longer viable in today's rapidly evolving digital economy. Consumers now expect nothing less than efficient, dependable, and high-quality service delivery. Retailers understand that to remain relevant and retain their competitive advantage, they must make investments in automation technology.

Automated aid in grocery logistics

An Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) refers to a mechanised system that stores and retrieves inventory or products. These systems have been developed as an alternative to traditional shelving and manual warehousing methods in grocery warehouses. This innovative solution employs robots to directly transport goods to workers, eliminating the need for manual labour.

According to Zebra Technologies, 27% of decision-makers currently employ goods-to-person solutions, with an estimated 90% planning on implementing them by 2027. The top three priorities for these decision-makers include reducing unnecessary tasks so that workers can focus more on customer-centric work, optimising the utilisation of seasonal labour, and addressing worker comfort.

The automated nature of ASRS liberates workers from less impactful aspects of warehousing such as physically traversing the warehouse during picking operations. Instead, it allows them to concentrate on tasks that require human intervention. Consequently, this not only benefits businesses but also enhances the quality of life for workers involved in these activities.

The ASRS offers immense flexibility, allowing for customisation to suit the specific needs of each customer. This is achieved through the incorporation of various components such as cube storage, robotics, carousels, and shuttles. To effectively manage all these elements and ensure seamless operation, a Warehouse Management System (WMS) is utilised.

When implementing an ASRS, several factors come into play. The size and weight of the products stored in the warehouse are crucial considerations. In the case of grocery warehousing, it is relatively straightforward to accommodate common household items and foodstuffs within the system. Additionally, aspects like storage structure design, physical automation capabilities, conveyance interface setup and control software integration are carefully evaluated.

By conducting a thorough analysis on these factors mentioned above specially tailored solutions can be developed to optimise efficiency in grocery warehousing operations. Based on this comprehensive understanding, the ASRS solution can be precisely customised according to unique requirements resulting in enhanced productivity, increased efficiency, and ultimately driving better outcomes for businesses operating in the grocery industry.

Combining Cube Storage with ASRS

Cube storage in warehousing generally comprises a grid structure that functions as the foundation of the automated systems in place. This grid holds storage bins and robots, which are responsible for navigating and transporting said bins that contain various products or stock items.

Storage efficiency-wise, cube storage outperforms other ASRS by effectively utilising available space. Unlike traditional shelving methods that result in empty spaces between items, cube storage eliminates this wastage by organising products based on their popularity. This means that the most sought-after items are strategically positioned at the top of the grid to ensure quicker retrieval times.

Cube storage offers a significant benefit in its modular structure, enabling effortless installation and expandability. Warehouses can enhance their storage capacity by up to fourfold within the same area through cube storage, surpassing traditional storage methods. This enhancement creates substantial value for grocery warehouses that embrace this design.

When comparing cube storage to conventional warehousing, it grants businesses up to four times more space for storing goods and services without increasing the footprint. Moreover, with technological advancements, ASRS empowers nearly all grocery warehouses to achieve automation.

ASRS and grocery warehousing

Implementing an ASRS in a grocery warehouse leads to significant advantages in meeting consumer needs. The modernised automated warehouse not only saves on labour, energy, and space but also greatly improves accuracy, productivity, and efficiency.

In the local context, NTUC FairPrice, Singapore's largest supermarket chain, recognised the importance of catering to fast online service demands. To achieve this goal, their subsidiary, Grocery Logistics of Singapore (GLS) decided to revamp their e-commerce platform and embrace a new approach to grocery warehousing by implementing an AutoStore ASRS.

The system, consisting of over 55 robots and 20,000 storage bins, has significantly enhanced GLS's operational capabilities where they can efficiently handle up to 3,000 daily orders. Compared to the previous form of traditional warehousing, order fulfilment at GLS has quadrupled.

Another notable benefit has been the reduction in physical strain for employees since they no longer need to cover long distances for tasks such as picking items or printing labels.

In a similar vein, industry leader Amazon is also exploring the potential of ASRS technology. They are currently conducting tests at their upcoming fully automated grocery warehouse located in the New York area. By leveraging automation, these e-commerce giants aim to streamline their operations and achieve higher levels of efficiency and productivity.

Not Just for the Future

An ASRS provides an exceptional solution for grocery warehousing by optimising space usage, improving accuracy, and boosting productivity. These automated systems have transformed traditional warehousing practices, ensuring efficient operations and timely order fulfilment in the age of e-grocery shopping.

The combination of ASRS and cube storage is revolutionising grocery warehousing, allowing businesses to effectively tackle new challenges while enhancing space utilisation, order fulfilment, and employee well-being.

As the trend of online grocery shopping continues to grow each year, automation is no longer just a future solution but a necessity for adapting to the present demands.

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The SiTime Epoch Platform is a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based, oven-controlled oscillator (OCXO) that delivers an ultra-stable clock to the datacentre and network infrastructure equipment, unlocking a cumulative US$2 billion served addressable market (SAM) in the next decade.

SiTime confirmed that it plans to extend the Epoch technology to other high-growth electronics markets, such as aerospace and defence, industrial controls and more.

Declaring that precision timing will be a catalyst for innovation in all electronics and drive the company's future success, Rajesh Vashist, CEO and chairman of SiTime, says the Epoch Platform delivers higher performance and reliability with lower power that was unavailable until now. These benefits are a result of a half-decade of engineering investment and a systems-based development approach that combines MEMS, analogue, packaging, and algorithms.

The value of precision timing

Precision timing is critical to network performance and reliability. All nodes in the network must be synchronised in time. In the case of a 5G network, nodes must always be synchronised within hundreds of nanoseconds – 10X more stringent than 4G. Just as important the synchronisation must be maintained despite network outages.

The company says by delivering up to 2X better performance, 9X smaller size and 3X lower power in applications such as data centre switches and routers, 5G base stations and core infrastructure, the Epoch Platform sets a new bar in performance and reliability.

“As the world embraces next-gen technologies, like the explosion of AI, the reinvention of the cloud data centre, and high speed 5G/6G cellular networks, advanced circuit and network timing solutions have become critical in ensuring performance, fault tolerance and reliability,” said Dave Altavilla, co-founder, president and principal analyst at HotTech Vision & Analysis.

Citing the example of AI, he commented that the high bandwidth, low latency data centre infrastructure needed to support AI will require robust precision timing for critical wired and wireless network connectivity. "These technologies will also be deployed at the edge and in the field, where tough environmental conditions will require more ruggedness and higher reliability than ever before,” he added.  

Quartz just doesn't cut it

A synchronised network relies on multiple, redundant timing sources to ensure continuous operation. One of these sources is an ultra-stable, local oscillator, typically an OCXO, which will “holdover” the network and ensure continued operation when other timing sources are impacted.

Legacy quartz OCXOs are inherently unreliable and prone to performance degradation due to environmental stressors such as temperature changes and vibration. To date, electronics companies compromised on real-world performance, reliability, size, power, and warm-up time, to get the one thing that an OCXO delivered – a stable clock reference.

With the Epoch Platform, SiTime is breaking through all these limitations of quartz OCXOs. Epoch delivers 2X longer holdover, even under environmental stress, enabling telecom and cloud service providers to provide service continuity in real-world conditions.

Key Features of SiTime Epoch Platform

• Any frequency between 10 and 220 MHz, programmable up to 6 decimal places of accuracy.
• 8 hours of holdover, up to 12 hours with ageing compensation – 2X better than other solutions in real-world environments.
• ±1, ±3, ±5 ppb frequency stability over temperature
• Highest operating temperature range: -40 to 95°C
• 2.5, 2.8, and 3.3 operating supply voltage
• 3X lower power: 420 mW
• 3X better ADEV under airflow: 5e-12 at 10 seconds averaging time
• 3X lower aging: ±0.08 ppb/day
• 2X faster time to stability – 60 seconds
• 9X smaller, 3X lower: 9 mm x 7 mm x 3.73 mm
• Digital control with 5E-14 resolution: I2C and SPI interfaces

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The trend is driving the adoption of technologies to help track, allocate, and optimise assets in the yard. ABI Research forecasts that the installed base of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled cameras in the yard will reach 11.2 million globally by 2030, and the uptake of autonomous yard trucks will rise significantly at a global CAGR of 52.7% from 2022 to 2030.

Trending

“Yards surrounding warehouses, distribution centres, and manufacturing facilities are becoming the new stomping ground for established supply chain solution providers as they diversify into Yard Management Systems (YMS) and join a growing number of emerging companies focusing on automating yard trailer movements and live asset tracking.

In a bid to digitalise and update yard operations, instalments of yard systems, enabling tracking technologies, and autonomous tractors are expected to rise considerably in the short to medium term,” explains Ryan Wiggin, industry analyst at ABI Research.

Competitive landscape

Blue Yonder, Körber, and FourKites are adding YMSs to their extensive software portfolio, joining more focused yard solution vendors such as Kaleris and C3 Solutions.

To enable tracking and visibility of assets and workers in the yard, handheld devices and AI-enabled yard cameras will see increasing deployments in yards globally, growing at a CAGR of 13.0% and 14.8%, respectively, from 2022 to 2030.

Established providers Advantech, Honeywell, and Zebra will lead the rise in handheld devices, while Blue Yonder, Peripass, and Robovision are pioneering AI-enabled yard camera systems.

Outrider, Phantom Auto, EasyMile, and Fernride are some of the few companies doubling down on yard automation, with small-scale deployments paving the way for wider commercial uptake in the coming years.

Wiggins says advancements in AI are breaking down many of the limitations faced by technologies in outdoor environments.

"Advanced computing power helps to process data from camera feeds, identify trailers and equipment, and guide autonomous vehicles safely. Where certain technologies couldn’t operate before, AI has helped unlock new use cases and will continue to drive solution adoption within yards."

Ryan Wiggin

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In its report, Hype Cycle for Mobile Robots and Drones, 2023, Gartner experts said that many organisations already deploying mobile robots will expand their fleet in the next three years. It’s likely companies will have hundreds, if not thousands, of mobile robots in use, while drones will be deployed in more targeted ways, such as for inspection at a location or delivery of critical goods like medicines to remote areas.

“By 2027, over 75% of companies will have adopted some form of cyber-physical automation within their warehouse operations,” said Dwight Klappich, vice president and fellow in Gartner’s Supply Chain Practice. “Labour shortages and challenges retaining talent, coupled with technology advances such as machine learning and AI, will continue to drive adoption of smart robots.”

The 2023 Hype Cycle includes several technologies that have been rated “transformational,” including machine learning (see Figure 1), which is expected to hit mainstream adoption within the next five years. Additionally, many technologies with “high” impact will also mature within the next few years, creating an accelerated market for increasingly capable smart, autonomous and mobile robots and drones.

Figure 1: Gartner Hype Cycle for Mobile Robots and Drones, 2023

Advanced technologies accelerate the adoption of smart robots

Smart robots are nearing the “Peak of Inflated Expectations” where early publicity produces success stories, but expectations rise above the current reality of what can be achieved. These AI-powered, often-mobile machines help supply chains automate multiple physical tasks.

Smart robots can rely on advanced technologies such as machine learning to incorporate tasks into future activities or support unprecedented conditions.

As companies expand their use of robotics, most will eventually have heterogeneous fleets of robots from different vendors performing various tasks, which will require standardized software that can easily integrate into a variety of agents and robot platforms.

As such, multiagent orchestration (MAO) platforms, which help orchestrate work are “on the rise” in this year’s Hype Cycle. MAO platforms will reduce the time, effort and cost to onboard new robots and will lower support costs, ultimately making organisations more efficient.

Klappich noted that in the past year, we’ve seen increased interest in smart robots and MAO platforms as companies are looking to further improve logistic operations, support automation and augment humans in various jobs.

“Rapidly emerging and evolving technologies, like MAO, will enable organisations to leverage heterogeneous fleets of mobile robots to assist with more complex activities, delivering cost savings and productivity benefits.”

Dwight Klappich

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ABI Research says AGV seaport deployments worldwide will have a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 26% from 2022 to 2030 and exceed 370,000 global deployments by 2027.

“Automation improves port operations' reliability, consistency, and workplace security. Also, from an environmental perspective, automation can lead to efficient operations and faster services. Automated ports are also far safer than conventional ports,” explains Adhish Luitel, supply chain management & logistics senior analyst at ABI Research.

He notes that the number of human-related disruptions falls as performance becomes more predictable with automation and data capture solutions.

In addition to AGVs in seaports, adopting solutions in other modalities of the global supply chain, such as rail, air, and road, has also seen growth. Automaton solution providers, including VisionNav Robotics, Konecranes, HERE Technologies, and VDL Automated Vehicles, have provided various automation and digital tools that enhance operational efficiency and visibility across different modalities.

Rail camera systems in rail infrastructure are a particularly growing sector. Over 29,000 inspection robots were deployed in rail infrastructure globally in 2022.  This number is set to grow to over 43,000 by 2030 with a CAGR of around 5%, falling in line with the rising rail freight volume.

Over 14 billion tons were transported in 2022 via rail freight. This number is set to grow to over 16 billion by 2030.

“Automation in various modalities, despite its benefits, can also bring costs of which supply chain managers might need to be wary. Although automation can streamline workflows and make tasks easier in the long run, they come at the expense of initial potential productivity losses that come with equipping workers with the right skillsets to operate and maintain these solutions."

Adhish Luitel

"So, there is a change management aspect of which managers and authorities must be more mindful,” Luitel concludes.

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A few data points from Gartner’s 2022 Supply Chain Technology User Wants and Needs Survey back up our findings. Before looking at some of the data, a key point to note is this study is cross-industry, cross-company size and cross-geography.

When asked if they were investing, or were planning to invest, in any form of cyber-physical automation, 97% of respondents said they were.

Of the respondents, 30% said that labour and talent issues were one of their top two internal challenges and 59% said that labour availability issues were leading them to consider automation.

When specifically asked about robotics, a staggering 96% said they were investing or were planning to invest, in robotics over the next two years, with 36% either fully deployed (7%) or actively deploying currently (29%).

Also, 93% of current robot users said that they planned to expand the fleet size of their existing robot platforms, with 94% saying they were pursuing additional use cases for robotics in their operations.

All this combined is why we believe the ISR market will continue to grow so rapidly. Because of this rapid growth, we also believe that 40% of large enterprises will have heterogeneous fleets of ISRs in their warehouse operations within the next five years.

So, the good news is lots of companies will begin to leverage ISRs in their operations. But this creates challenges for companies. Namely, how do they integrate with, and orchestrate the work of, a heterogeneous fleet of robots?

As companies deploy heterogeneous fleets of robots from different vendors performing various tasks, integrating with, and orchestrating the work of, this varied fleet of robots will require standardised software that can easily unite a variety of agents and robot platforms. Gartner refers to this emerging software as multiagent orchestration platforms.

These solutions act like intelligent middleware that integrates and orchestrates work between various business applications, heterogenous fleets of operational robots and other automated agents like doors or elevators.

These solutions will assign work to the right robots based on the characteristics of immediate tasks and will orchestrate communication between different robot platforms and other types of automation agents.

When companies invest in their first ISR platform, they will typically just create a one-off connection between their business applications — such as a warehouse management system — and their robot provider’s fleet management system.

This, while not optimal, works for one robot. However, as a company’s fleet of robots grows, simple point-to-point API integration will not be enough. Companies will need an orchestration capability that can assign work to the right robots based on near-real-time information that takes into consideration the characteristics of the activity and the capabilities of various automation agents.

This will reduce the time, effort and cost to onboard new robots and will reduce support costs, ultimately making organisations more efficient because work will be assigned to the robot best suited for the task.

Consequently, companies will need a platform that can help integrate with and orchestrate the work across their fleets of robots. Because of this, we believe that by 2026, more than 50% of companies deploying intralogistics robots will adopt a multiagent orchestration platform.

To achieve this, companies should start by analysing the integration requirements as the robot fleet expands beyond a single vendor. Along with that, they should study how work will be assigned to the various robots and other automation agents, like doors or elevators, and determine what orchestration logic will be needed to support this simultaneously.

First published on Gartner Blog Network

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Globally, automation will account for 25% of capital spending, and companies expect to reap rewards in terms of output quality, efficiency, and uptime. In Asia alone, the warehouse automation market is estimated to be worth US$10.76 billion and will reach US$23.89 billion by 2028. However, there are questions that need to be addressed when it comes to adoption, especially in terms of costs and level of understanding.

The survey highlighted another key challenge - the implementation of new technologies in setups consisting of legacy technologies and different interfaces. 42% of surveyed noted that they face challenges in (i) getting access to end-to-end solution providers capable of customising solutions to their needs.

There are concerns regarding the (ii) seamless integration of robotics into existing spaces and manned operations, and (iii) compatibility between machines and products. These concerns are compounded by (iv) the expected return on investments and (vi) the lack of implementation experience.

Overcoming barriers to automation adoption

This article details the potential solutions to enable companies in reaping the rewards of automated solutions.

In response to the lack of access to customisable solutions that support traditional warehouses, more global OEMs are establishing partnerships with robotics startups to offer innovative solutions. Their goal is to offer hardware and software solutions while providing a seamless operational experience and faster deployment in the warehouse.

To address the challenge of integrating robotics and automation into existing spaces and manned operations, companies could explore brownfield-friendly solutions that require minimal reconfiguration.

Essential features like real-time obstacle avoidance should be included in the chosen autonomous solution to enable safe operation within a hybrid environment of both manned and unmanned operations, optimising productivity while maintaining a safe and harmonious coexistence between human and machine-driven tasks.

Companies could also adopt intelligent warehouse control systems to ensure compatibility and interoperability between machines and products. By integrating diverse warehouse sub-systems and equipment into the control system, companies can then facilitate seamless coordination of workflows without manual intervention, thus resulting in increased productivity and throughput.

When it comes to costs associated with automation, there are two schools of thought. From a traditional ROI perspective, the upfront investment needed to automate processes might seem greater than traditional methods solely based on capital expenses.

However, an increasing number of companies acknowledge that the ultimate cost implications of not implementing automation can surpass the required initial investment. Through automation, businesses can enhance efficiency, mitigate risks related to labour scarcity, and ultimately attain long-term cost reductions.

Lastly, to address the challenge of a lack of implementation experience, companies could seek collaboration with experienced automation firms that have a good track record.

Starting with pilot and small-scale automation projects will allow companies to identify potential issues before scaling up. This process allows for a controlled environment where companies can learn, iterate, and fine-tune the implementation process for larger and more complex automation endeavours.

Enhancing scalability and adaptability through automation

Automation, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning algorithms, and integrated advanced sensors, optimises production schedules, allocates resources efficiently, and allows companies to swiftly respond to market conditions and unexpected disruptions, ultimately driving higher levels of productivity and output.

Without automation, companies risk relying on error-prone manual processes, leading to higher costs, extended production cycles, and difficulties in responding to changes in customer preferences or disruptions in the supply chain.

Embracing automation can be challenging, but partnering with like-minded intelligent solutions providers can pave the way for a successful business model, especially in today’s evolving business landscape.

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ABI Research forecasts automated storage & retrieval system (AS/RS) revenues are expected to surpass US$15 billion globally by 2030, and warehouse management system (WMS) revenues are expected to exceed US$10 billion by the same period.

“Global supply chain challenges over the last three years have highlighted the need for digitalisation and a deeper restructuring of inventory management. Labour constraints, geopolitical trade shifts, and inventory gluts continue to pressure warehouse operations, and the most impacted organisations continue to be those with lower focus on digital transformations,” states Ryan Wiggin, supply chain management & logistics industry analyst at ABI Research.

Competitive landscape

AS/RS vendors, including AutoStore, Ocado, and Swisslog, as well as autonomous mobile robot (AMR) vendors such as inVia Robotics, Locus Robotics, and Vecna Robotics, are leading the structural automation charge.

Established and emerging WMS vendors such as Blue Yonder, Manhattan Associates, and Snapfulfil continue to add new functionalities to orchestrate and optimise both manual and automated workflows.

The growth in automation and management systems and high investment in hardware and devices are expected to increase worker productivity, as manual worker involvement remains necessary alongside the adoption of automated equipment.

Global shipments of handheld devices for warehouse workers will grow at a CAGR of 20% to 2030, led by market leaders such as Zebra and Honeywell.

The new warehouse building is expected to drop by as much as 35% in 2023 compared to 2022. It is creating an even greater incentive to invest in the automation of current facilities to ease operational constraints.

Disruption to new developments will be short-lived, with steady growth in warehouse construction expected to 2030, led by a much greater CAGR in global e-commerce fulfilment centre development at 18%.

“Successful deployments by Tier One organisations continue to spur the adoption of technologies within small-medium enterprises. Solutions providers must continue to offer accessible adoption through as-a-service models and scalable structures, and exploring partnerships with complementary technology will be key to deploying market-leading end-to-end solutions,” concludes Wiggin.

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The move away from personal transport, paralleled by the intensifying thrust on integrated, multimodal, and sustainable transport networks, is providing a fillip to the shared mobility market.

Such seismic shifts are being underpinned by evolving customer expectations and a raft of enabling technologies. Accordingly, total GMV from the shared mobility market is set to exceed $1 trillion in 2023, catalysed by the ride-hailing segment.

Rising maturity in terms of shared mobility services means that operators can now move closer to achieving consistent profitability. The fulcrum of this shift will be technology, with start-ups and technology companies at the forefront of this transition.

Transformation in the shared mobility market will be led by accelerated electric vehicle (EV) penetration in car sharing and ride-hailing fleets and reinforced by deepening partnerships between OEMs and shared mobility operators.

Simultaneously, dynamic changes in mobility patterns and demands will emphasize the need for traditional public transport operators to synergize with new mobility service providers.

Drivers of market development

From car-free cities, integrated multimodal transport systems and favourable car sharing policies to preferential parking fees, supporting infrastructure development and EV integration in shared fleets, cities are playing a key role in proactively driving shared mobility usage.

The switch to electrified or alternative fuels in shared mobility fleets will represent a high impact trend in 2023 that will align with sustainability agendas being championed by cities.

Autonomous shared mobility is disrupting the traditional automotive ecosystem, compelling component manufacturers and automotive companies to strategically recalibrate and strengthen their technological capabilities.

Based on its varied applications and stage of development, Frost & Sullivan expects the market for autonomous shuttles to develop faster than that of robo-taxis.

The autonomous shuttles segment will develop rapidly, penetrate new verticals, and deploy a range of third-party solutions. Lessons from the pilot testing phase will be leveraged to design economical, next-generation shuttles capable of Level 4 autonomy in real-world settings.

From a competitive standpoint, there will be increasing consolidation in fragmented segments like micro mobility sharing as participants strive to achieve economies of scale. Consolidation will also result from a shrinking pool of participants: a flurry of exits is anticipated as companies leave the market to focus on more profitable areas.

Connectivity, machine learning and artificial intelligence-based technologies will emerge as powerful tools to help operators realize seamless and effective fleet data management, workflow automation, and enhanced security.

Such technologies will also be crucial to addressing the looming threat of bans on kick scooters over safety concerns. With cities mandating safety standards for kick scooters, technology-enabled changes will be implemented in the manufacturing stage even as supporting infrastructure is built to ensure more permanent changes in driving behaviour.

Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) has become the fulcrum of public transport, with over 100 B2G DRT projects being launched globally in 2022. The rising implementation of DRT in rural areas mirrors the need to meet transport needs in underserved rural areas. The momentum of DRT is set to carry over in 2023 as well.

Strategic partnerships and business model diversification will be crucial

As a new ecosystem develops, strategic partnerships and service diversification will be crucial. Stakeholder collaboration—between automotive and technology industry participants, city authorities and government policy makers, and shared mobility service providers with OEMs and public transport administrators will incubate new business models.

Participants in the shared mobility space should strengthen their core technological competencies to capture emerging growth opportunities. Identifying technology partners with complementary expertise will enable shared mobility operators to boost fleet efficiencies and profitability. Meanwhile, data sharing between public transport and private mobility operators could create integrated solutions that spur the uptake of mobility as a service (MaaS).

Amidst technology disruption, automotive and technology industries should deepen their partnership and design new business models that maximise on the opportunities offered by shared mobility. Simultaneously, fleet operators should work towards making transportation smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

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To overcome this challenge, London Stansted Airport selected Samotics’ SAM4 Health solution to increase reliability and meet industry uptime standards. Until now, 80% of baggage handling downtime at London Stansted Airport was due to mechanical faults leading to the failure of conveyors.

SAM4 Health addresses this by delivering continuous insights into the health and performance of critical assets. This empowers maintenance teams to take proactive measures against developing faults and prevent unexpected breakdowns.

The system’s superior detection performance across both electrical and mechanical faults will enable London Stansted Airport to identify and prevent over 90% of potential faults up to five months in advance.

Paul Marshall, a reliability engineer at London Stansted Airport said: “By leveraging Samotics' SAM4 system, which has already been proven at a leading international airport, we can increase the reliability of our baggage handling system to significantly reduce delays and impact on travellers.”

Samotics’ SAM4 technology enables the remote capture of performance data by using a technique called electrical signature analysis (ESA). ESA analyses the current and voltage signals of electric-driven motor systems using sensors installed in the motor control cabinet, rather than on the asset itself. This means that SAM4 is quick to install and does not incur an upfront downtime, enabling rapid deployment at minimal cost.

Jasper Hoogeweegen, CEO at Samotics claimed its technology helps airports address a fundamental challenge by identifying and resolving developing faults before they happen.

"With accurate health and performance data, operational teams can schedule maintenance at their convenience rather than reacting to an unforeseen fault."

Jasper Hoogeweegen

"With less downtime, passengers and airlines benefit from reduced delays and a smoother travelling experience. We look forward to supporting London Stansted Airport to harness the potential of proactive maintenance,” he continued

Samotics’ SAM4 Health solution will be rolled out to dozens of baggage handling systems located across arrival and departure halls.

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"The last few years have shown that connecting with a digital infrastructure is no longer a luxury, but a necessity," said Carlos M. González, research manager for the Internet of Things at IDC. "For organisations to excel in data-driven operations, investing in IoT projects is essential."

"Connecting devices to data networks to gather insight, expand operations, and increase performance are the hallmarks of executing an IoT ecosystem."

Carlos M. González

Industry perspective

Discrete and process manufacturing are the industries that will see the largest investment in IoT solutions in 2023 and throughout the forecast period, accounting for more than one-third of all IoT spending worldwide.

Professional services, utilities, and retail are the next largest industries in terms of overall IoT spending with roughly 25% of the worldwide total. State/local government and telecommunications will deliver the fastest spending growth over the five-year forecast with CAGRs of 12.0% and 11.7% respectively.

IoT investment is a key building block to supporting an increasingly digital and distributed organisational footprint. Most of these investments are seeking solutions that can help organisations achieve a specific business goal or customer challenges, such as cost savings or supply chain efficiency. As such, use cases are the focus of most IoT investment plans.

Use cases

The two IoT use cases that will receive the most investment in 2023 are both closely tied to the manufacturing industries: manufacturing operations (US$73.0 billion) and production asset management (US$68.2 billion). The next largest use cases – inventory intelligence (US$37.6 billion), smart grid (electricity) (US$36.9 billion), and supply chain resilience (US$31.6 billion) – will benefit from strong investments from the Retail and Utilities industries.

The use cases that will experience the fastest spending growth represent the diverse application of IoT technologies – electric vehicle charging (30.9% CAGR), next-generation loss prevention (14.5% CAGR), agriculture field monitoring (13.9% CAGR), and connected vending and lockers (13.8% CAGR).

The influence of digital transformation is evident

IDC says updates to the IoT use case taxonomy in this release of the IoT Spending Guide reflect the evolving digital transformation investment objectives of enterprises.

Thematically, greater investment in goods production and supply chains resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and global reactions that caused massive business and societal disruptions are evident in the new use cases.

"These production and supply chain-related use cases can be seen in the discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, retail, and transportation industries," said Marcus Torchia, research vice president with IDC's data & analytics group. "Meanwhile, digital business investments are ramping up in other industries such as the resource industries. For example, IoT is helping to improve upstream supply chain processes in agriculture, such as growing, harvesting, and delivering higher quality products to market."

Technology view

From a technology perspective, IoT services will be the largest area of spending in 2023 and through the end of the forecast, accounting for nearly 40% of all IoT spending worldwide.

Hardware spending is the second largest technology category, dominated by module/sensor purchases. Software will be the fastest-growing technology category with a five-year CAGR of 11.0% and a focus on application and analytics software purchases.

Regional view

Western Europe, the United States, and China will account for more than half of all IoT spending throughout the forecast.

Although Western Europe and the United States currently have similar levels of spending, Western Europe will expand its lead with an 11.0% CAGR over the 2023-2027 forecast, compared to an 8.0% CAGR for the United States.

China's IoT spending is forecast to surpass the United States by the end of the forecast due to its 13.2% CAGR.

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The new study, Vulnerable Software Supply Chains Are a Multi-billion Dollar Problem, highlights the need for greater emphasis on the software elements of the supply chain as a critical security vulnerability. The study analysed how both shifts in wider cybersecurity processes, and the mindset around the management of the software supply chain are needed to address these risks.

“The software supply chain has been neglected over the years as a source of risk, leading to a situation where organisations face significant issues if they cannot change the way they operate,” said Nick Maynard, report author and head of research at Juniper Research.

“As software supply chains become more complex, the problem becomes exponentially more complicated, requiring immediate attention to resolve, through regulations, SBOMs (Software Bills of Materials), embedded security, and cybersecurity solutions.”

Nick Maynard

BlackBerry CISO Arvind Raman says enhancing the security of software supply chains is critical for national security and for building a trusted digital world. He stresses that software supply chain security practices must be adopted by all industries.

The study also examines the importance of software supply chains across several verticals, including, financial services, government, automotive, and healthcare, making the study vital reading for key stakeholders in those high-risk industries.

The post The staggering cost of vulnerable supply chain software appeared first on FutureIoT.

Existing cold chain services in Hong Kong have not been meeting the expectations of food importers, wholesalers, retailers, and the catering industry. Most cold stores lack temperature control for goods once they leave the cold room, leading to the deterioration of fresh ingredients.

To bridge these gaps in the current cold chain logistics services in Hong Kong, TAHUHU launched what it claims to be the first automated and smart cold chain logistics service in Hong Kong.

The solution includes a seamless temperature-control loading dock, “muti-level no man zone” and top-of-the-line automation equipment, such as "goods-to-person" systems and “automated vertical cargo lift”.

Describing the innovation

TAHUHU utilises state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure, refrigeration systems, temperature control equipment, and stringent temperature control to maintain stable and optimal temperatures for goods in every single step.

With TAHUHU's dual-temperature refrigerated trucks, goods are transported directly to the temperature-controlled loading dock, to prevent the intrusion of hot air. Before loading, the truck will be pre-cooled to the target temperature to ensure all goods are loaded at the correct temperature.

TAHUHU's cold storage is divided into three temperature zones (0-4°C, -18°C, -25°C), allowing fruits, vegetables, flowers, sake, frozen meat, and ice cream to maintain their optimal condition, achieving a complete seamless cold chain connection.

What it means

With its advanced automation and innovative systems, TAHUHU is setting a new standard for cold chain logistics in Hong Kong. The facility's ability to optimise storage space and increase productivity while maintaining the highest quality standards is a testament to its commitment to excellence. TAHUHU's flexible approach to transforming traditional industrial buildings into high-standard cold chain logistics centres, not only increases productivity and enhances property value but also showcases the company's adaptability and innovation.

TAHUHU says its solution can ensure that all goods are seamlessly connected throughout the entire cold chain logistics process. In addition, TAHUHU's new CSA standard is poised to address long term shortcomings in the industry, such as inflexible delivery times, a tight supply of warehouse space, and difficulties in monitoring the performance of delivery drivers.

By utilising advanced CSA, TAHUHU can provide its customers with the most reliable, efficient, and seamless cold chain logistics service available.

The post TAHUHU redefines the industry standards for seamless cold chain logistics appeared first on FutureIoT.

Successful smart factory initiatives require accompanying cultural and operational transformations that are slow by nature and in many cases will require entirely new organisational designs to integrate the new capabilities within the broader supply chain.

“Smart factory operations hold the allure of numerous benefits for supply chain leaders, from expanding lights out manufacturing capabilities to improving quality and solving labour challenges,” said Simon Jacobson, VP analyst in Gartner’s supply chain practice.

“The potential for transformational benefits can also present the biggest pitfall, as organisations may rush into launching smart factory initiatives without a clear understanding of the extent of the challenges facing them.” Simon Jacobson

Five top risks to avoid when launching new smart factory initiatives

Confusing factory optimisation with business model transformation: The optimisation benefits of a smart factory are confined to that single site. When smart factory initiatives are disconnected from the rest of the supply chain, the site level benefits can come at the expense of creating costly constraints elsewhere in the business. This risk can be mitigated by ensuring factory objectives are synchronised with supply chain operating models and enterprise digital ambitions, flexibility and automation opportunities.

Overlooking the scope of change management: New technology acquisition may be straightforward and relatively cheap. Underestimating the resulting changes to existing processes, integrations and new performance targets can drive up both cost and time. This risk can be managed in part by treating such changes as part of an enterprise-wide initiative that requires alignment between senior leadership and the utilisation of continuous improvement teams to ensure initiatives are properly sequenced. 

Underestimating the complexity of aligning and converging IT, OT and ET: Governance for smart factories is not just centred on plant-business connections but also on how IT, operational technology (OT) and engineering technology (ET) are managed. These three are inseparable, and their convergence and alignment are critical as production models change.

To mitigate the complexity of this risk, supply chain leaders should familiarise themselves with alternative organisational models for IT/OT alignment and evolve governance and organisational structures in line with new production models.

Insufficient funding for upskilling, reskilling and talent development: Modernising learning and development (L&D) programs to help associates learn, acquire and retain knowledge to acquiesce to new experiences is essential. So too is enabling employees to execute the work they are aligned to support through additional education and upskilling.

Narrowly focusing on a single use case and technology: As technology options increase and expand, too much focus on enabling technologies and the “art of the possible” can expose organisations to a significant IT backlog and technical debt.

The environment is complicated by the fact that there is no single dominant technology or vendor that fulfils all smart factory requirements. Technology purchases must be balanced between strategic considerations such as the ability to scale, along with the pragmatic, such as planning appropriately for operational disruptions.

The post Five smart factory implementation risks for supply chain leaders appeared first on FutureIoT.

If you said no, it’s probably because when it comes to mitigating cyber threats, most people talk about it in the context of protecting IT assets such as the systems, data, applications, and networks that organisations depend on every day to keep the business operating.

Whilst IT assets are important, OT is a whole other realm of digital infrastructure that also needs protecting and its growing, importance, and potential vulnerability all the time. That’s why understanding and testing an organisation’s Operational Technology security is so important.

Keeping the lights on

We take it for granted that we can just flip a switch to get a light and turn on a tap to get water. But the infrastructure that makes these things possible is extremely complex and it requires significant digital capability.

For example, to meet the cycles of consumer demand for electricity, a power grid must create exactly the amount of electricity that is being used at any given moment. This means the grid’s power generation and transmission lines must constantly adjust to meet demand wherever and whenever it is needed.

Managing this electrical cycle of demand is made possible because of the electrical utilities’ OT systems. The real-time control and influence these systems have on our day-to-day lives only amplify the need for strong OT security.

Many Asia Pacific countries have legislation to protect their critical infrastructure from cyber threats, including in Australia, where the recent revisions to the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Act 2021 represents the Australian Government’s response to the growing cyber threats faced by critical infrastructure organisations.

In Singapore, the Cybersecurity Act was introduced in August 2018 however last year the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSAS) announced it was reviewing the Act to improve Singapore’s cybersecurity posture and support its digital economy.

The Agency also announced it was updating the Cybersecurity Code of Practice (CCoP) for the 11 Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors to better deal with new and emerging threats. The Cyber Security Act had initially focused on the CIIs, which support the delivery of essential services such as water and power.

OT systems — often referred to as Industrial Control Systems, or ICS — are also increasingly prevalent in industrial and manufacturing environments, as we’ve put robots on our assembly lines and stuck chips in virtually every piece of equipment we deploy.

So, while we might at first think of the so-called “Internet of Things” (IoT) in terms of our smart homes and our cars, a large percentage of the world’s estimated 11.5 billion chip-enabled devices are in OT infrastructure.

Operational technology-related risk

The risks associated with critical OT infrastructure are obvious. We’ve seen them in the movies (e.g., Die Hard 4) and in real life (e.g., Ukraine in 2015) but as we implement more OT, our threat surface keeps growing. And as we add more features and functionality to our OT control systems, system complexity adds to our cybersecurity challenge.

Global tensions also increase our OT-related risk, since critical infrastructure is an attractive target for state actors seeking to do harm. However, OT infrastructure is also an attractive target for ransomware attacks—since it could potentially allow cybercriminals to hold vital services hostage.

Utility companies and other operators of critical infrastructure are aware of this risk, so they tightly control access to their OT systems. OT networks are also typically kept separate from IT networks and are not connected to the public internet.

This air gapping obviously poses a significant obstacle to any would-be attacker. However, there are growing caveats to this idea of air gapping. As operators of OT infrastructure get more aggressive about leveraging the intelligence of their OT networks, they increasingly need to tap into those networks via wired or wireless connections using fixed or mobile computing devices. That connectivity — as secure as operators may hope it is — often creates potential points of exposure to an extremely skilled and dedicated hacker.

Security testing is key to OT integrity

The importance of testing cannot be more underscored than in OT. If your organisation has OT infrastructure, it is important to engage the services of a qualified penetration testing (pentesting) team to independently validate your cybersecurity posture on a regular basis.

Before working with a pentesting partner, it is important to ask questions about the team’s previous OT experience, any OT certifications they hold, and the types of industries they have OT experience (e.g., water infrastructure is different from energy infrastructure).

Pentesting and adversarial testing will help you gain both confidence and a deeper understanding of the integrity of your IT and OT infrastructure. In the worst-case scenario, when security vulnerabilities in your IT or OT infrastructure are found, you will have the time to mitigate and take the necessary steps to prevent a threat actor from leveraging those vulnerabilities.

A proactive approach to security allows you to take an important step in protecting your organisation — as well as the customers you serve – from the serious consequences that would come from a breach of your OT infrastructure.

Just as our businesses and our personal lives have become increasingly digital, so has the infrastructure on which we all depend every day. It is only when our access to these services becomes disrupted that we realise how much we rely on them. Like our health, maintaining it should not be put off or ignored until it is too late.

The post Why OT is the other digital infrastructure that needs protecting appeared first on FutureIoT.

IoT Analytics market research, Matthieu Kulezak, observes that within the (ICT) supply chain there are three distinct submarkets: software, hardware, and connectivity. The software itself is further segmented into sourcing software, supply chain planning and design software, and supply chain execution software.

This software is then connected to hardware like packing and place machinery, and automatic sorting and retrieval machinery for logistics. Finally, there is the connectivity submarket such as IoT-based track and trace devices. Network operators fit into the connectivity submarket.

Changes introduced during the pandemic

According to Kulezak, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, CEOs and CFOs assumed that supply chains just operated unencumbered by the day-to-day problems of running a business. The pandemic revealed just how complicated supply chain issues were – vulnerable not just to business cycles but to operational issues of suppliers and business parties.

“They realise that supply chains are important, and they need to work to have their business working so that that's clear. And they'll ask way more questions on supply chain visibility,” he added.

He concluded this is why supply chain managers are undertaking digitisation.

Digitalisation and transformation of the supply chain

Kulezak noted the recent big push for digitisation in part to support remote work and to gain supply chain visibility.

“There's been a lot of issues on the structures of the supply chain, on the networks. For example, an automotive or pharmaceutical manufacturer realised that they could not produce, not because of their own production capabilities, but because of a supplier that couldn't produce,” he added.

He acknowledged that at times, it’s the very little things that can stop an entire production system. He noted that the adoption of digital twins is enabling manufacturers to create replicas of the entire supply chain network to identify and pinpoint where the issues are.

Trends influencing the digitisation of the supply chain

He reiterated the big push towards visibility across the supply chain. He observed that the different players in the supply chain will have their view, albeit narrow, as to what constitutes visibility within their supply chain.

This complicates the challenge for IT vendors who, according to Kulezak, face a “fight for semantic” where depending on the business of the party in the supply chain will have a different interpretation of what visibility within the supply chain is important.

By way of example, a transportation company may have a different track and trace requirement compared to a manufacturer or warehouse distribution hub or parts supplier.

The cybersecurity angle

Complicating the digitisation journey for organisations in the supply chain is cybersecurity. Kulezak concede to have a functioning supply chain requires that all parties are connected.

“For example, an automotive manufacturing company will need to have all of the inventory of production capability data from suppliers, as well as the suppliers of its suppliers, in order to have a good prediction of the future,” he elaborated.

The predicament here is that some organisations may not be so open to sharing their data with others in part because they are concerned about cybersecurity risks. He called out efforts in some industry sectors to create third-party platforms that allow for data to become available to participants in the supply chain in a secure fashion.

Conclusion

Kulezak sees healthy growth in the software and hardware sectors of information technology supporting the supply chain.

He sees a growing demand for the simplification of technologies that deliver supply chain visibility. This, in turn, is resulting in a consolidation of the technology solutions marketplace. He foresees pe challenge for ICT players – choosing the right product to go for.

Click on the PodChat player to listen to Kulezak’s observations and recommendations for supply chain leaders in 2023.

1. Define Digital supply chain.
2. Looking back from pre-pandemic to this period (mid-August 2022), how have things changed regarding digital supply chains?
3. In accelerating digital transformation, which areas of the software have gained relevance in the industry verticals of the supply chain?
4. Which trends are helping in terms of digitisation of the supply chain?
5. How are companies approaching the topic of cybersecurity in the supply chain?
6. In summarising everything we’ve discussed, what are IoT Analytics’ recommendations for business, operations and technology leaders?

The post PodChats for FutureIoT: Changing the future of global supply chains appeared first on FutureIoT.

As Asia comes out of the three-year economic slump because of the pandemic, what lies ahead for businesses? What is the role of IoT in the return to some form of normalcy?

FutureIoT spoke to Danny Mu, principal analyst at Forester Research on recent trends around IoT adoption in Asia and where this will lead us in 2023 and beyond.

Drawing from the Forester Report, state of IoT in Asia Pacific in 2022. Where is the concentration of IoT?

We have seen that companies in Asia-Pacific are shifting the share of IoT engagements toward production deployments.

Five years ago, in 2017, production deployments comprised just 25% of engagements, and these were predominantly POCs or pilots.

But in 2021, 61% of engagements were production deployments. That is a clear indication that Asia-Pacific firms are getting more confident in the potential of IoT initiatives to generate business value.

Among all the IoT use cases, smart industry, smart consumer services, and smart infrastructure are popular in Asia-Pacific.

Why do you say the smart city industry in Asia Pacific's leading the world in terms of IoT?

As we know, Asia Pacific contributed 35% of the world's GDP, but when focusing on industry value added, including manufacturing, construction, and utilities, Asia Pacific contributed 44%. That is why the smart industry is a leading IoT use case.

What’s driving this deployment of IoT?

Three drivers. The first appearance and rising maturity of specialised IoT solutions and cloud-based IoT. Second, connectivity technologies such as 5G. Third capabilities and offerings of IoT consultants and service providers.

In Asia, which industries are leaving the deployment?

In Asia Pacific, two-thirds of telecom decision makers say their firm is currently adopting IoT solutions.

Adoption and investment are highest in high-tech manufacturing, 81% followed by telecom, 71%. General manufacturing and pharma are broadly in line with Asia-Pacific outreach.

Adoption rates below the average are found in financial services and insurance, 60%, and retail in wholesale 56.

Compared to other regions outside Asia, how sophisticated do you see the level of use of IoT in our part of the world?

According to the survey data, the IoT solution and application adoption rate in Asia Pacific is higher than in Europe and North America. Particularly in the high-tech manufacturing sector, the adoption rate in Asia Pacific is more than 10% higher than in Europe and North America.

Within the leadership at organizations deploying IoT, what do you see are the primary motivations most surveyed?

Asia-Pacific Telecom decision-makers are confident that IoT solutions will generate significant operational efficiency. Half of them expect IoT initiatives to significantly improve customer experience and increase revenue.

How do you see these IoT deployments impacting other initiatives like digital transformation and modernization, for instance?

Impacted by IOT solutions, enhancing customer experience in public places is the most often mentioned. Other use cases related to smart consumer services are also popular.

The two years of the pandemic have likely driven this trend as customer experience in public. It's driven by private companies, public infrastructure operators, and governments.

IoT Solutions also help to enable new business models, particularly in financial services and insurance – a clear indication that those firms will spend the extra IoT budget on usage-based insurance financing and lending.  

Given that security is a rising concern among business leaders, how should enterprises deploying IoT manage the security strategy of the company? 

Security is on top of the concerns with deploying IoT 10% higher than the second option. To help protect data in IoT scenarios, confidential computing can help to isolate sensitive operations in a trusted execution environment during processing.

To support the transfer of data between edge and cloud while appearing seamless to the developers, two networking markets, zero trust/edge, and multi-cloud networking will combine to create a business-wide networking fabric.

Finally, as we step into 2023, how should enterprises review IOT deployment strategies to ensure that these initiatives meet expectations?

We have found that Asia-Pacific companies are less confident in their in-house skills to deliver IoT solutions successfully. These points will need for consulting partnerships.

We also predict that the adoption of in-region digital industrial platforms will gain significant growth. Embracing these in region platforms and industry-specific cloud solutions will help Asia-Pacific firms meet their expectations.

The post PodChats for FutureIoT: IoT in Asia in 2023 and beyond appeared first on FutureIoT.

MaaS defined

MaaS is a service through which users are able to plan, book and pay for a variety of types of mobility services, through a joint digital channel. It is a shift away from personally owned modes of transportation services towards mobility provided as a service.

It is achieved through the combination of public transport, e.g., trains and buses, as well as private transport, and micromobility, including bikes and scooters, to get users from one destination to another. Users can pay for the service provided either monthly or pay per trip.

MaaS platforms provide consumer urban transport solutions, such as bus, metro and ride hailing, all integrated into a single platform; enabling users to organise a multi-modal journey through one billing relationship.

Growing by 357% over the period, the main drivers will be the cost and convenience of MaaS solutions and the increased investment into MaaS infrastructure.

The Juniper Research whitepaper, How Incentivisation Can Increase Mobility-as-a-Service Adoption, says MaaS provides an opportunity to offer a multimodal subscription package, which would entail one monthly charge for unlimited use of transport services.

Among the benefits including:

Cost Efficiency: By using a MaaS subscription, users will be able to realise cost savings over their existing forms of travel. For the cost of an existing train season ticket, users will be able to access a multimodal system. This will be a significant driver in itself.

Incentives: As MaaS is intended to improve environmental sustainability, vendors can offer users incentives for changing their behaviours. This can include free miles or discounted subscriptions, which will further enhance the user experience.

Simplicity: By offering access to services via a single payment, the user experience is greatly simplified. Users will not have to check what services they are using, and the allowances involved. This will be a great benefit, particularly for travellers with substantial travel usage such as commuters and business travellers.

Adoption challenges ahead

Juniper Research cautions that for this to work the subscription model will need to establish its value quickly. Users will need to take full advantage of the transport modes included in their packages to justify the significant price tag, compared to the costs associated with traditional public transport. Education will be important.

Another challenge is how to reconcile public transport operation investment and whether they can offer bundled prices.

According to research author Cara Malone posits the idea of an ad hoc model whereby MaaS vendors can offer usage-based pricing models that can be sold on a pay-as-you-go basis. She opines that introducing an ad hoc model will allow users to get familiarised with the benefits of the platform and move to subscription models eventually.

Subscriptions to boost revenue growth

The report predicts that, by 2027, 65% of global MaaS revenue will be generated through subscriptions – for a flat monthly fee, users gain access to a variety of transport services, providing a more cost-effective and convenient transit proposition.

However, the report anticipates that the current use of an ad hoc charging model will continue to be crucial in fostering consumer trust; enabling potential users to trial MaaS journeys for a one-off fee. Ad hoc models enable users to pay for a single journey, rather than committing to an ongoing subscription.

Malone added that the ability to pay for a single journey in an app, despite leveraging multiple modes of transport, will create substantial cost savings for users, in comparison to individual transit services.

“MaaS platforms must promote these savings to attract users away from established transport services and towards subscription plans for MaaS services.”

Cara Malone

The data challenge

All operators within the MaaS space must be willing to share the data they collect in order to support other actors within the MaaS ecosystem.

The access to travel in aggregated and anonymised form is essential to MaaS providers’ ability to offer up-to-date travel information and a variety of modes, tailored to each user.

Juniper Research stressed that it is key for vendors to take into consideration the fact that data is used in every phase of a user’s journey, from planning to getting real-time updates whilst travelling. Therefore, it is important that the data collected from them is anonymised and stored correctly in line with regulations, as well as to increase the public’s support.

Access to travel data is important to other actors in a MaaS ecosystem. MaaS providers and local authorities should also be willing to share their data with transport operators so that they can better understand travel demand and gaps in their services, as well as customer preferences, which in turn will enable them to improve their own services. Acts like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) in the UK ensure that individuals’ personal information is kept secure and never shared.

Driving MaaS beyond 2022

As urban populations increase over the next five years, transit planning authorities must consider the potential of a MaaS solution to ease congestion and reduce pollution from private vehicles.

The report urges transit planning authorities to take a holistic approach to urban mobility by integrating MaaS into the wider smart city ecosystem to leverage real-time data from smart city sensors and maximise reductions in congestion and pollution.

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The Border Security Market forecasts the border security market to reach US$65,150 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.61%

As the travel industry, border authorities face the need to win in operational efficiency and user convenience. For years, biometrics has been used by authorities to simplify traveller experiences at borders, speeding up people's enrolment and ID checks (ex: the eGates or Entry-Exit Systems).

The new Thales multimodal biometric pod is an efficient enrolment and identification solution that helps smoothly manage travellers’ border and immigration processes. It combines ‘iris & face’ capture and recognition capacities to enable fast and secure people enrolment and ID verification at borders. The pod features a modern design that perfectly suits the authority’s needs in high-security environments.

With the Thales multimodal biometric pod, border authorities can easily integrate automation into their processes, without compromising on passenger and employee security nor on the confidentiality of the data exchanged as the solution offers ‘security and privacy by design’ parameters.

Featuring a camera and a high-resolution LCD screen, the biometric pod can recognise pre-enrolled travellers’ iris and face from 0.5m and up to a record of 1.5m, with excellent accuracy. Boosted by AI, the solution captures dual iris and face in two seconds, leading to swifter operations and visibly shorter waiting queues.

Thales biometric pods can be set at any border checkpoint (airports, seaports, etc.) managing both the first traveller enrolment upon arrival and quick biometric checks whenever required (upon territory exit, internal flights etc).

“The combination of biometric patterns applied to touchless people authentication, is a sought-after solution for many stakeholders to address security, operational and convenience challenges”, said Youzec Kurp, VP of identity and biometric solutions at Thales.

“Thales relies on its in-house biometrics, border, and smart travel expertise to design, develop and deliver top tier responsible biometric solutions to meet users’ expectations and authorities’ requirements.”

Youzec Kurp

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A report by Grand View Research values the global location intelligence market size at US$14 billion in 2021 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6% from 2022 to 2030, largely driven by increased investment in the Internet of Things (IoT) and a growing focus on location services across industries.

Regionally, the indoor location-based services market is expected to grow by 36.7% year-on-year owing to the rising demand for digital platforms amid the pandemic.

The state of indoor location services today

The problem with indoor wayfinding is the fact that global positioning systems (GPS) simply does not work well indoors. For GPS receivers to work, they need to be able to receive signals from the constellation of satellites orbiting earth from more than 20,000 km away.

That is why GPS systems in cars take seemingly forever to initialise, and why receiving these signals through concrete walls indoors is seemingly impossible.

So, current indoor access points (APs) on their own do not provide accurate location information. Indoor location-based applications have therefore used alternative technologies such as Bluetooth or other wireless systems to improve the accuracy of indoor positioning and this is typically a separate network to Wi-Fi.

As a result, we have not seen the widespread adoption of indoor locations nor a set of standard applications like we have in the outdoor space.

Users usually end up having to manually map out the location points of their APs. This results in inaccuracies due to human error, to speak nothing of the labour-intensive nature of this process. Each time the location of this AP is changed, time and resources must be devoted towards recalibration.

Imagine the cumbersome process of manually mapping each device or machine within a multi-storey hospital that operates over thousands of devices daily, each taking about 10 to 15 minutes to manually perform.

How GPS is making self-locating indoor access points

GPS-enabled APs, on the other hand, automate this process and drastically lower the cost of operations. APs are generally static—they do not move around a lot—and they need to communicate with other APs around them to self-locate by using high-sensitivity GPS receivers that are embedded in and optimised for APs.

By combining GPS with fine time measurements (FTM), which can orchestrate and coordinate the measurements between APs across the network, AP locations are accurately represented in both latitude and longitude—meaning the true height of the access point is also calculated in the process.

Furthermore, these GPS-enabled indoor APs can be located on ceilings, with their antennas facing the floor, and even in basements—traditionally the worst kind of environments for GPS solutions. But we made it work.

The integration of APs with GPS capabilities puts an end to any abstraction in location services. Instead, these APs communicate automatically with each other and algorithmically determine an optimal anchor point for all APs within the network.

This enables a self-correction of sorts over time after the initial set-up—performed through repeated measurements and correction of anchor APs to provide businesses with the most accurate location possible.

By standardising how APs share their reference locations with the ecosystem—over-the-air and via cloud-based APIs, existing GPS navigation applications can leverage location coordinates supplied by the APs to extend their coverage indoors.

This is highly beneficial for businesses that operate on large premises. In hospitality, for instance, precise indoor location can vastly improve the customer experience by providing guests with better navigation to event halls and food and beverage outlets, as well as easy and secure access to hotel facilities and services.

Beyond navigation, GPS-enabled indoor access points introduce many potential possibilities, including asset tracking of expensive medical equipment in hospitals, and geofencing in daycare centres to ensure child safety.

These self-locating indoor access points engender greater efficiencies across all layers of operations and simultaneously improve the accuracy of today's networks to bring greater value to customers.

By working out how to successfully integrate GPS receivers into indoor access points, network administrators can manage these APs in the long term to enable the delivery of improved indoor location services that make things like object and people tracking more accurate than ever. The potential use cases across industries are staggering, and that's game-changing.

The post Bringing GPS Indoors – access points as the North Star to your buildings appeared first on FutureIoT.

Sensible 4 released its first product DAWN earlier this year. The automated driving software platform enables different types of vehicles to operate autonomously in any weather. The company is rolling out DAWN to the industrial segment where commercial viability can be realised today. The automated software platform will be utilised in vehicles that operate in industrial-type environments, such as mines, factories, refineries, wood processing plants, ports and logistic centres.

“We know that the legislation and technology needed for automated vehicles to operate autonomously on public roads, without a safety driver on board, will still take time to establish”, says Harri Santamala, CEO of Sensible.

“The key benefit of the industrial site is that it’s a closed environment, so customers can realise the benefit of our technology today. DAWN is ideally suited to the challenges of the industrial environment, where solutions must thrive in changing and challenging weather, such as sun, rain, wind, and snow."

Harri Santamala

"Further, our ability to operate without road markings, in daylight, and darkness, enables site operators to reliably increase their productivity,” said Santamala.

The dump truck market alone is worth up to US$25 billion. The growing shortage of drivers is affecting the transportation industry across the world. Today, there is a 20% shortage of truck drivers in Europe, by 2028 there will be a shortage of 280,000 truck drivers in Japan.

An automated truck brings more flexibility and predictability to the operation which is repetitive - pick up, drive, dump - repeat.

An automated fleet of vehicles enables on-demand or continuous operations, whilst reducing operating costs and increasing productivity.  Because of automation, more vehicles don’t lead to increased driver costs.

Some operations, that currently run with heavy haul trucks, can be replaced by a larger fleet of smaller, fuel-efficient electric trucks. The commercial viability is why automated trucks are operating in industrial sites.

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One such recent innovation is the Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), which has seen accelerated by pandemic-mandated measures such as social distancing, border closures, and remote work.

ReportLinker forecasts the global market for ASRS is estimated to reach US$10.5 billion by 2027, up from US$6.8 billion in 2020. In Asia Pacific, ASRS is projected to reach US$1.2 billion by 2027, led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea.

Seeing the opportunity, cube storage automation company, AutoStore opened its office in Singapore to address the market opportunities in Southeast Asia. It also has operations in Japan and South Korea.

“We have already witnessed the rising demand for automated warehouse solutions in Asia Pacific. With Southeast Asia being one of AutoStore's core markets in Asia Pacific, it makes perfect sense to expand from Singapore with a team of capable people. I am confident that Clement will add value to AutoStore, and be the anchor for our expanding team," said Philipp Schitter, vice president of business of development for APAC at AutoStore.

AutoStore will vie for the business with competitors Kardex, Vallen, Muratec and Hai Robotics to name a few.

Recent deployments

According to Mordor Intelligence, many of the food and beverage industry companies have recognized the advantages provided by the ASRS systems and have increased their focus towards market adoption.

In Australia Cadbury Schweppes upgraded its national distribution centre in Melbourne. The upgrade resulted in a 20% productivity improvement to its warehouse's automated storage and retrieval system while maintaining full distribution capability. It involved refurbishing and upgrading four ASRS cranes and modernising the distribution centre's conveyor and sortation system.

South Korea has always been one of the world's top automotive manufacturing countries and one of the largest automotive exporters since the 1990s. Eco-friendly vehicles, including electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel-cell electric vehicles, are expected to be the fastest-growing automotive end-user segment in South Korea during the forecast period. This provides a massive opportunity for automation in the automotive industry in the country.

With Japan’s adoption of lean manufacturing concepts in intralogistics, the close-knitted structure allowed the nation to adopt AS/RS systems at every level, economic and efficient.

Indonesia has recorded increased robotic usage for industrial work. Since Japan is both its supplier and consumer, Indonesia is expected to benefit from the trade with Japan. Thus, increasing the demand for automation in the region.

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The award recognises companies from all sectors which implemented the most creative and effective solutions using IoT and telematics technologies. This year saw projects from no less than 24 countries compete for the “project of the year” title, with the winners delivering efficiency and cash savings measured in millions of dollars.

The IoT project of the year winners were selected by an international jury of internet of things (IoT) experts, assessing entries in categories ranging from cold chain transportation and long-haul shipping to agriculture and public safety. The IoT project of the year award is software and hardware agnostic, and open to any company.

The winning projects show a wide array of business solutions, from reducing waiting times in cold-chain management in UAE, to tracking the railway construction wagons in Switzerland preventing cargo and vehicle theft in Mexico or Thailand, and reducing fuel consumption by 30%-50% for fleets in Central Asia, South America and Africa, optimising staff transportation and associated costs in Sri Lanka, developing GPS tracking in agriculture in Israel or enabling driver safety monitoring in remote areas with severe weather conditions in the Arctic. 

The IoT project of the year award demonstrates how fast IoT and telematics are developing and shows how innovative applications change not only a specific business, but also our everyday lives. 

Aliaksandr Kuushynau, head of Wialon, Gurtam said,“Telematics today is becoming embedded into an increasing number of industries across the globe. The flexibility of the technology means solutions are limited only by users’ creativity.

“And the IoT project of the year contest highlights the best industry solutions that have been delivered over the past year – inspiring businesses to become more efficient through IoT.”

Aliaksandr Kuushynau

IoT Project of the Year 2022 Winners

Cold chain transportation and Community Choice. MaliaTec (Lebanon) -Learn more.

The solution allowed the carrier to reduce waiting times and increase the number of delivery windows to four per day, significantly higher than industry standard of two.

Ready-mix concrete. Geoservice - Learn more.

The solution significantly improved the level of transparency, control and automation keeping dispatchers and clients updated on 500 orders daily.

Long-haul shipping. Cobertura Total en Telemetría (Mexico) -Learn more.

Accident monitoring system with AI cameras for a transportation company in Mexico can determine responsibilities in accidents and identify poor control and driver management.

Fuel transportation and storage. Geoservice -Learn more.

The fleet management and fuel consumption monitoring solution made 30-50% in fuel savings. 

Construction and demolition. Tracking Africa (South Africa) -Learn more.

The fuel monitoring system saved 4,500 litres a month from theft.

Public transport. KLOUDIP (Sri Lanka) -Learn more.

The IoT technology helps save $12,500 per month by optimising staff transportation and associated costs.

Agriculture.Ananas Global (Israel) -Learn more.

A GPS tracking solution for agriculture management will soon be launched internationally.

Public safety. MONTRANS -Learn more.

A driver safety monitoring system for an Arctic-based transportation company ensuring safe transportation in remote areas with severe weather conditions.

Local deliveries. Ruptela (Lithuania) -Learn more.

The GPS fleet tracking system for the Thailand Post Distribution ensured authorized vehicle use, reduced theft, improved driver behaviour and reduced fuel consumption.

Special recognition. Afritrack (Tanzania) -Learn more.

Adriver risk management system for a cargo management company that led to 90% of the incident alerts being addressed in a timely manner.

Special recognition. Traklink (Jordan) -Learn more.

Adriver behaviour monitoring solution that improved driving behaviour by 85%, decreased speeding by 90% and increased compliance with labour laws by 95%.

Special recognition. Gotthard Handels AG (Switzerland) -Learn more.

A LoRa asset tracking solution that improves railway wagon management and provides better customer service.

Andrei Liatsetski, jury chairman, and head of project implementation, Wialon, said, “Just looking at the logistics sector, this technology solves problems that cannot be addressed any other way. Businesses in this industry are exposed to numerous risks such as theft of vehicles, cargo and fuel and these risks can be monitored and mitigated using telematics and IoT technology.”

“IoT also allows fleet managers to reduce the cost of unplanned maintenance by monitoring all aspects of a vehicle’s performance to ensure remedies are in place before any malfunction occurs.”

The post IoT awards honours 12 telematics solutions for 2022 appeared first on FutureIoT.

Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis finds that carriers and insurance companies’ emphasis on risk management requires telematics solutions on trucks that carry dangerous or expensive goods. This market will reach 2.59 million units by 2027 from 1.12 million in 2021, registering commendable growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%.

“More than 62% of freight transportation is through the road in Brazil. This highlights the importance of the truck fleet in the country and the urgent need for telematics adoption to reduce the total cost of ownership,” said Ingrid Schumann, mobility industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

“Additionally, although the telematics market in Brazil is still focused on track and trace solutions, other segments, such as driver and vehicle management, are increasing in demand.”

Ingrid Schumann

Schumann added: “The commercial vehicle segment in Brazil will grow rapidly in the next decade due to the expansion of agribusiness and eCommerce. This will positively impact the telematics market as these new vehicles represent opportunities for telematics service providers (TSPs), original equipment manufacturers, and start-ups to increase their market shares.”

To reap the benefits of the growing Brazilian connected trucks telematics sector:

TSPs should invest in solutions that impact fuel consumption, such as vehicle and driver management, in addition to routing.

Fleet companies should demand an open telematics system as it offers benefits such as truck data that will be easily read and understood.

TSPs that work with last-mile deliveries should invest in solutions requested by the end customer, such as routing, estimated time of delivery, and order status checks. For this type of product portfolio, it is vital to invest in logistics integration.

The post Drivers of telematics adoption among trucks in Brazil appeared first on FutureIoT.

To capitalise on the opportunity, Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific (MLAP) and XSQUARE will collaborate to provide businesses with a solution to overcome labour shortages while increasing warehouse productivity and operational efficiency by:

• developing a new line of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) based on Logisnext’s brands of forklifts, and
• distributing xSQUARE’s intelligent warehousing solutions through MLAP’s distribution network in Asia, Oceania, and South Africa

The solution is implementable across all types of warehouses, factories, and dynamic environments, seamlessly supporting daily operations and making safety an integral part of the logistics value chain. 

Yasuo Kubota, managing director of Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific, said, “We believe that our partnership with xSQUARE will help strengthen our ability to expand the product and service offerings in the material handling equipment industry. This collaboration will also enable us to be a complete solutions provider in this domain.”

“We’re excited to work with xSQUARE to bring new cutting-edge solutions to the market so that our customers can manage high order volumes in a seamless manner while reaching their sustainability goals.”

Yasuo Kuboto

XSQUARE’s intelligent warehousing solutions enable warehouse operators to overcome automation fragmentation and achieve full interoperability – all while dealing with high volumes of goods movement.

XSQUARE CEO, Jens Bohnwagner, says the company’s intelligent warehousing solutions have been specifically designed to deliver benefits that impact not just companies in the industry but also their customers and the environment.

“Our shared vision with MLAP is to become market leaders that will push the boundaries of innovation and transform the warehouse automation industry with solutions powered by intelligent systems and pioneering technology.”

Jens Bohnwagner

Going forward, the two companies intend to roll out the solution in the Asia Pacific market according to the partnership agreement.

The post Partnership to tap into burgeoning smart warehouse demand appeared first on FutureIoT.

This is the case of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government's Flood Control System in the Jakarta Smart City application. Developed by Jakarta Smart City in collaboration with the Jakarta Water Resource Service (DSDA) to optimise flood risk management in Jakarta, the project involved the use of IoT, AI and ML as part of an early warning system against the risk of floods in the city.

As more organisations deploy IoT in commercial and industrial environments, the amount of data that is derived from these devices and sensors may prove important in improving quality, operational efficiency, and in the case of Jakarta – saving lives and property from natural disasters.

Kenneth Koh, head of industry consulting at SAS Institute, argues that the speed and accuracy with which an IoT system reacts to its environment is critical. However, with the devices and other sensors in a typical system generating overwhelming amounts of data, traditional tools and methods can slow down the process of making sense of that data.

Can you explain what AI-embedded IoT is?

Kenneth Koh: Processing data at or near the edge allows IoT systems to be nimbler and more impactful. But the quality of a data-led action is only as meaningful as the quality of the data-based insights it is acting on.

IoT by itself is not new to manufacturers. Manufacturers have been collecting and storing sensor data from machines for decades. The value proposition for them is in AIoT -analysing that data, at the edge in real-time, using AI and ML to drive efficiencies and value.

By equipping IoT systems with AI capabilities, a wide variety of data, both structured and unstructured, can be processed on the edge. High-quality insights are made available at increased speeds for systems to act on.

AI-embedded IoT and how it unlocks business value

Kenneth Koh: AI-embedded IoT improves operational efficiency and productivity while reducing costs. It also drives innovation towards better customer service, better products, and faster product deployment to the market.

Embedding AI in IoT devices enables edge computing, allowing for the deployment of IoT systems in situations where consistent 5G networks are unavailable. For example, logistics providers can use IoT sensors in their transportation fleet to monitor the internal and external conditions in their vehicles, even in remote parts of the latter's routes.

Aside from edge computing, AI-embedded IoT utilises machine learning to develop actionable insights from the terabytes of data an IoT system generates daily. In the example above, data collected from these sensors are sent to the cloud in real-time, enabling technicians to address vehicle breakdowns more accurately and much faster.

Manufacturers can also use these insights to predict when a particular factory system or piece of equipment would fail, allowing technicians to implement preventive maintenance. Proactive detection of faulty equipment saves precious man-hours while reducing costly unscheduled downtimes.

On the retail side, insights from IoT systems can be used to identify optimal prices for products and minimise disruption to their supply chains.

ML and its role in IoT analytics

Kenneth Koh: Machine learning is the edge AI-embedded IoT has over other IoT deployments. Systems can learn as it processes sensor-generated data using diverse advanced analytical methods such as decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, neural networks, support vector machines, and factorization machines.

This creates savings for enterprises in terms of man-hours and specialists in the organisation. Without the need to extensively train AI systems, specialists can focus on other critical tasks as non-data scientists can access, view, and process data.

Machine learning capabilities also increase the range of data that AI systems can access and process: visual images online and offline, text, and even verbal speech. The increased volume and quality of available data increases the value and impact of insights derived from it.

Combined, these machine learning capabilities enable both increased speed and volume of data processing, enabling real-time actionable insights which are crucial in many IoT systems.

How AIoT supported Jakarta Smart City: Using SAS's AI-powered platforms, Jakarta Smart City was able to integrate multi-source data in real-time and provides advanced analytics with IoT, machine learning & AI technology to provide emergency/disaster predictive capability and optimisation to serve the public. The result is a flood emergency response to mitigate the risk of floods in Jakarta.

Given that IoT historically falls under operational technology, who should own the securing of IoT?

Kenneth Koh: The introduction of IoT is blurring the lines between IT and OT across enterprises. Sensors and devices are connected to the network to create new systems and improve processes. At the same time, this convergence exposes traditional OT equipment and systems to threats they were previously insulated from.

The fact is that true device security is a combination of technologies, processes, and best practices. Thus, securing IoT systems should not be the sole domain of either OT or IT teams but engendering closer, more effective collaboration between both.

However, this is easier said than done, as IT security teams and OT security teams often don't speak the same language and find it difficult to understand each other's point of view.

Responsibilities are distributed quite differently; priorities often diverge and regulations governing OT security and IT security can sometimes contradict one another. Gaining an overview of all assets within the given environment makes clear what assets and processes must not fail under any circumstances.

By doing this, organisations can establish and practice unified cybersecurity that ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.

Name one best practice for IT and operational technology staff working together.

Kenneth Koh: In manufacturing, data is very time sensitive. For example, if the chemical concentration of a process is drifting away from optimal, the engineer may have only minutes to react to save many tons of product. 

In many semiconductor processes, engineers have only seconds to react. In such situations, Analytics needs to move to the ‘edge’ which means the data must be analysed and decisioned at the machine or on the shop floor, not in the back office or engineering.

This requires the ability to do analytics wherever it is needed –at the machine, on the production floor, in the cloud or the back office.

One of the major challenges faced is data silos. For organisations that are not implementing IT/OT convergence, due to a patchwork of unintegrated or partially integrated apps and enterprise systems. Without careful planning, introducing new sources of data (e.g. IoT sensors) will compound the problem.

Implementing a data integration platform to connect IoT systems with organisations' existing technology stack breaks down silos between historical and future data while providing all teams the same access through a single point of control. This ensures that IT and OT teams are with the same page, establishing a foundation for better IT/OT convergence.

The post The value of AI in IoT analytics appeared first on FutureIoT.

“Industries cannot be formed without standards”, Xu Li, executive chairman of the board and CEO of SenseTime. He posited that standardisation would lead to a flourishing AI industrialisation.

“Through powerful infrastructure, we can produce high quality and standardised models with replication in various scenarios, as well as efficiently manage the whole process of model production. It is worth mentioning that standardisation is not a constraint and will ultimately create infinite possibilities in AI applications,” he explained.

Xu stressed that a standardised AI manual is needed to enable scalable AI innovation.

As AI develops towards commercialisation, AI models become the standardised features for the intelligent era, supporting various applications such as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), city management, surgical planning, and intelligent agents in games, in which issues can be resolved through the same standardised AI models. 

The four new AI platforms

Stressing the importance of standards for the further adoption of AI at scale, Hong Kong-based SenseTime unveiled four new AI platforms covering different fields including AI cloud computing, vehicle-road collaboration, AI in gaming and smart hospitals, aim to drive AI’s scalable industrial application through standardised, more efficient, easy-to-use, and low-cost platform services.

The SenseCore AI Infrastructure, as an innovative “Yingzao Fashi” developed by SenseTime, achieves highly efficient, low-cost, and scalable AI innovation and empowerment for industries.

SenseCore AI Cloud is developed into an out-of-the-box industrial-grade AI toolchain underpinned by the SenseCore AI Infrastructure. It can facilitate AI infrastructure’s comprehensive digital management, effectively meeting the requirements for future industrial AI pipelines as well as the large-scale training, verification, and reasoning for AI models.

SenseCore AI Cloud can help customers double the efficiency of AI research and development with lower infrastructure costs by providing a full-stack deep learning platform and a series of advanced algorithm platforms and models.

Essentially, it creates a new paradigm of AI cloud infrastructure that innovatively empowers various application scenarios including autonomous driving, smart city, AI for Science and Metaverse.

SenseAuto V2X is SenseTime’s vehicle-road synergy platform committed to providing a one-stop analysis and decision-making solution for future mobility by integrating “smart cars, intelligent roads and collaborative cloud”.

Through the fusion control and analysis of vehicle and road information, it can achieve intelligent operation of “vehicle, road and cloud” platforms to improve traffic management efficiency.

SenseAuto V2X can transmit sensory output from roadside sensors to the vehicle and empower intelligent vehicles with more comprehensive sensing capabilities to better adapt to complex traffic scenarios.

Currently, SenseAuto V2X is deployed in the management of national Internet of Vehicles (IoV) pilot zones, closed parks, highways and urban traffic, facilitating the decision-making for traffic management with higher efficiency and safety.

SenseMAP Multi-Agent Platform is SenseTime’s tailor-made AI gaming production and operation platform. Leveraging the strength in computing power, deep learning and intelligent decision-making technologies, SenseMAP provides game developers one-stop full-cycle production services, covering auto-adaptation in gaming ecosystem, auto-creation of gaming content, and auto-operation of gamer community.

It has largely elevated the productivity of game development to create a better competitive experience for gamers. SenseTime will continue accelerating the diverse applications of AI in games and join hands with industry partners to boost the innovation and development of the game industry.

SenseTime Smart Hospital Solution provides a suite of smart services across various scenarios with the goal of delivering “patient-centred and quality-first” services.

For medical professionals, the SenseCare Smart Health Platform provides high-quality, efficient AI diagnostic assistance throughout clinical processes; for patients, the Smart Outpatient Assistant can streamline the outpatient procedure and optimize the patient experience.

For hospital operators, the Smart Management Service accelerates hospital operation and management’s digitalization.

For research organizations, the Intelligent Clinical Research Platform facilitates R&D work and boosts research efficiency.

For regional-level medical alliances, the Smart Medical Collaborative Platform optimizes the allocation of regional medical resources. SenseTime is committed to leading the development of AI-powered smart hospitals and accelerating the digital transformation of high-quality hospitals.

The post New AI platforms to drive scalable industrial applications appeared first on FutureIoT.

ABI Research suggests that by reformulating business models, operations, and strategic goals, shared micro-mobility companies can unleash the potential of a market worth US$9 billion in ride revenues in 2030.

Maite Bezerra, smart mobility & automotive industry analyst at ABI Research, explains that after years of rapid but disorderly expansion, most players have high idle vehicle rates and low profitability in various markets due to a mismatch between vehicle supply and demand.

She opines that to thrive in the shared micro-mobility market, operators must optimally relocate or expand operations based on data-driven insights and analytics rather than intuition.

"It is also imperative to adopt measures to reduce costs that have skyrocketed with the enhancement of vehicle durability, safety, electrification, and recent restrictions and demands made by city authorities,” elaborated Bezerra.

By the numbers

Vehicle charging accounts for 50% of the operating costs per vehicle. Combined with rebalancing, they are the highest operational costs in shared micro-mobility. These costs can be significantly reduced by outsourcing field operations and adopting swappable batteries.

Swappable batteries reduce recharge costs by 30% to 60% because vehicles do not need to be transported to the warehouse to be charged.

At the same time, charging time can be cut from 4 hours to 15 minutes. When embedded connectivity is available, operators can use cloud-based fleet management platforms to automate vehicle rebalancing, charging, and servicing tasks, reducing vehicle downtime by up to 80%.

Moreover, location information enables the development of a plethora of services, such as demand heatmaps, which can increase fleet usage by 22% in six months.

Competitive landscape

Data analytics and fleet management platforms, like the ones offered by Otonomo, Anadue, Targa Telematics, and Autofleet, use machine learning and predictive analytics to maximize operational efficiencies, and optimally expand or relocate existing operations, and ultimately increase ROI based on data-driven insights.

Moreover, they provide quantifiable impact metrics, which are advantageous assets for competitive tender applications. Business model reassessment is another urgent need because presently, ride revenues are insufficient to cover their costs.

Advertising-led revenues, gamification, dynamic pricing, and diversification into last-mile delivery or vehicle manufacturing for the consumer markets are some tools that can significantly increase profitability.

"Shared-micro mobility operators have a tough road ahead, including the need to downsize/restructure, consolidations, and slower growth rates. However, those who are quick to understand the importance of data analytics and implement efficiency and profitability-based goals will be able to navigate the market successfully,” Bezerra concluded.

The post Tapping US$9 billion shared micro-mobility opportunity appeared first on FutureIoT.

"More startups are developing dedicated software that handles specific robotics functions, such as simulation, fleet management, and computer vision. In addition, some startups focus on offering dedicated operating services based on drones and AMRs, such as aerial data collection, infrastructure inspection, and last mile delivery, creating an increasingly diverse and robust robotics ecosystem," said Lian Jye Su, industrial, commercial and collaborative robotics research director at ABI Research.

Coming off a muted market in 2020 with fewer deals  in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market research firm valued venture capital investments in robotics worldwide reached US$5.7 billion in 2021, a 38% year-on-year growth. This growth was driven by successful startups in China, Israel, United Kingdom and the United States, according to ABI Research.

The market research firm added that leading startups demonstrated strong capabilities in three major areas: mobility, autonomy, and collaboration, specifically human-machine collaboration.

Su noted that companies are currently looking for ways to automate labour-intensive, repetitive and hazardous tasks. This is driven by the ongoing labour shortage caused by COVID-19 and by the supply chain disruption.

"More precisely, businesses are looking for robotics solutions that are mobile, can navigate through obstacles in unstructured environments, and work alongside human employees without much supervision and control," said Su.

This is reflected in the large funding raised by robotics vendors in three major verticals: delivery, warehousing, and healthcare.

Among the startups that raised a significant amount in 2021, medical surgical system startups, including CMR Surgical, Memic Innovative Surgery, Edge Medical Robotics, Procept BioRobotics, and Changmugu Medical, continued their growth trend in recent years. These systems encourage collaborations between surgeons and robots, improve surgical outcomes, and enhance surgeon capabilities.

Furthermore, Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) vendors were also leading the investments, with Nuro in last mile delivery, Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) startups Fabric and InVia Robotics in warehousing, Gaussian Robotics in cleaning, Gideon Brothers, Pudu, and ForwardX Robotics in general purpose AMR.

"All these robots are increasingly relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies such as semantic Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), computer vision, and sensor fusion, supported by the advancement in processing chipsets and environmental sensors. As such, autonomous robots have proven themselves as reliable partners in the workplace. At the same time, businesses are also slowly realisiing the business value of robotics automation and actively trialing various solutions," said Su.

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“The rising ‘Asia for Asia’ approach sets the stage for the growth of supply chain networks in the region, particularly in Southeast Asia and India, and also highlights the critical factors that contribute towards the optimisation of these networks,” said Tim Foster, head of supply chain & logistics advisory, Asia-Pacific at Cushman & Wakefield.

So how to capture that future, FutureIoT spoke to Tim McCain, global business development, digital partner program at Rockwell Automation, for his thoughts on how to be smarter at navigating the new and evolving supply chain.

RECAP: Supply chain visibility has always been important to players in the supply chain. What was different during the COVID-19 pandemic? What has COVID-19 taught supply chain decision-makers?

Tim McCain: Many corporations who spent years establishing extended supply chains with offshore dependencies were disrupted due to COVID shutdowns.

The impact varied by region and industry but the sharp decline in consumer demand and resource availability in certain markets created a “ripple” similar to the supply chain concept of the “bullwhip” effect.

There was a combination of dramatic changes in consumer demand in specific industries and spot closures making nodes in the supply chain unavailable which made planning and forecasting difficult, to say the least.

We’ve seen preventative reactions take shape with organisations reshoring manufacturing and increasing critical inventory. It’s easier to buy more inventory than build new plants, but reshoring of manufacturing is occurring.

The lesson for supply chain decision-makers is that improved supply chain visibility means you have access to more real-time data that can be coupled with investments for enabling resiliency and greater agility to adapt to future disruptive events (ex. forecasting and demand planning tools utilising analytics).

Tim McCain

What is hindering the adoption of traceability technology and practices within the supply chain? What needs to happen for better visibility/control of elements of the supply chain?

Background: The Forrester commissioned the report, Increase Brand Loyalty and Generate ROI with Improved Traceability, revealed that almost half of companies surveyed lost up to 60% of sales income each year due to counterfeiting, while almost 9 out of 10 reported the ‘grey market’ as problematic to them. However, 45% feel that they are prevented from implementing practices that might help mitigate these elements through a lack of a clear path to ROI.

Tim McCain: (Citing the Forrester report) Historically, the catalyst for many organisations to invest was regulatory compliance. Compliance as a trigger leads to organisations seeking compliance at the lowest possible cost.

Many traceability systems are implemented to address a specific need and don’t offer the flexibility to address multiple use cases.

The investments to improve visibility will need to be justified by a combination of use cases that span organisational business functions.

Concerns on integration complexity and ROI to justify upfront non-recurring costs to implement mass serialization and end-to-end traceability are the root cause for organisations not investing faster.

What was also notable from the Forrester survey, while organisations were looking to make a business case to invest, many saw a negative impact on their topline due to counterfeit and grey market activities.

Seems as if a compelling financial justification to invest in serialization and traceability infrastructure could be made for deterring small percentages of the current counterfeit and grey market activities.

For true sustainability to be practised by participants in the supply chain, what needs to happen? What is the relationship between traceability and supply chain visibility?

Tim McCain: A combination of business environment factors such as regulatory evolution, industry standardisation, and organisational discipline will lead to sustainability practices.

New forms of regulation are coming. For instance, publicly traded companies along with the broader financial services industry will see more formalised guidance from the SEC on environmental impact and climate-related disclosures.

Companies shouldn’t wait for regulation because consumer expectations are evolving in parallel. Take as an example the Food & Beverage industry (in the US) where consumers prioritise information on ingredients today but are clearly becoming more ESG conscientious.

Improved transparency will support evolving consumer behaviour and enable supplier trust and brand loyalty. Industry associations like FMI are taking steps to help constituents assess overall transparency and identify specific areas for improvement.

Industry Standardisation on information format (ex. standard barcodes and QR codes) will help reduce the cost of adopting systems to enable visibility. GS1 digital link is an example that will force a certain degree of multi-party conformance but also guide individual organisations on a path to creating the necessary data-generating infrastructure that enables increased transparency.

In the months and years ahead, how should organisations prioritise supply chain strategies?

Tim McCain: We’ve used the terms traceability, visibility, and transparency. Let’s assume the following definitions to clarify where and how these terms apply to supply chain strategies:

Traceability is the means to provide provenance (history) of materials, work in progress, and finished goods along with the actual routes.

Visibility is the means to locate and subsequently plan, forecast and/or predict within the supply chain. This definition includes external entities that are both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (point of sale) of manufacturing.

Transparency means making specific information about the supply chain available to external stakeholders.

Given the dynamic macro business environment conditions, many organisations will see changes in their own supply chain maps (complete picture of all potential actors) or face changes in their role as a supplier to their customers and will need to make investments to ensure traceability and enable visibility.

Tim McCain

Traceability investments can be justified when use cases across multiple business functions are identified and addressed. Depending on the industry there is likely lost revenue to grey market and counterfeit activity that can be recovered.

The investments in traceability enable the data infrastructure to provide visibility inclusive of advanced analytics and (external) transparency.

Transparency will be necessary for supporting ESG-related objectives and regulatory obligations.

The post Strategies to achieving a sustainable supply chain appeared first on FutureIoT.

The vehicle was developed by Shenzhen Unity-Drive Innovation Technology (UDI), which is founded by the Intelligent Autonomous Driving Technology Center of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). It is the first unmanned vehicle to obtain a test licence from Hong Kong’s Transport Department.

UDI designs autonomous vehicles for industrial logistics, unmanned distribution, terminal operations and other scenarios.

According to Professor Ming Liu, leading developer at UDI, Hercules is a level four autonomous vehicle (based on a five-level scale ranging from assisted driving to a fully autonomous vehicle).

“The body of the UDI unmanned vehicle is covered with various sensors such as LiDAR, camera and ultrasonic, which let the machine sense the surrounding environment in real time and can also autonomously plan and change the driving path when encountering obstacles,” said Liu, adding that Hercules can carry loads of nearly a tonne – a capacity of 800 kilograms and volume of 2,900 litres.

Moreover, Hercules can plan and adopt its own routes so long as it has a detailed map of the environment.

“Just as people need to know the driving trajectory through a map, the unmanned vehicle has a high-precision map [so it can determine] its own position and destination and plan its path,” Liu added.

The vehicles are mass-produced but can be adapted and configured for many different scenarios

Similar to Hercules, UDI has  tailor-made unmanned vehicles for delivery company SF Express to serve two universities in Shanghai, which made more than 1,000 express deliveries during the Singles Day (11/11) peak period.

SF Express is looking for autonomous “last mile” delivery, which is appropriate for UDI’s low-speed, high-frequency point-to-point delivery model.

Unmanned driving in controlled areas

UDI’s self-driving vehicles can be adapted and configured for many different scenarios, and the company is now developing a new vehicle that can carry up to 3 tonnes for use in locations such as airports and harbours.

“In the past four years, UDI has accumulated benchmark customers in express logistics and industrial logistics, represented by SF Express, Foxconn, etc, and provides transportation-as-a-service (TaaS) solutions,” Liu said.

He added: “Our products include unmanned industrial logistics vehicles, unmanned delivery vehicles, unmanned shuttle vehicles, unmanned sweeping vehicles, unmanned security vehicles, unmanned retail vehicles, and technology for unmanned vehicles for use during epidemics. As policies and regulations improve, UDI will also expand the scope of unmanned vehicle applications to make UDI unmanned vehicles travel throughout cities.”

Since UDI provides TaaS, its vehicles can work in synchronised swarms. Liu said UDI’s technology allowed for navigating through active traffic, though controlled environments remain the company’s core focus currently.

Use case in new retail

Meanwhile, the IoT capabilities of UDI’s unmanned vehicles have been deployed in an unlikely industry – retail.

According to Liu, UDI last year worked with new Chinese tea brand  CoasTea to transform the carriages [of the unmanned vehicle] into retail cabinets for ‘new retailing’ in shopping malls with high customer traffic.

“Customers scanned a QR code to place an order without going to the store. Our unmanned retail vehicle can also capture the pedestrian volume and improve the efficiency of matching people and goods,” Liu said, adding that UDI is looking to expand into other retail functions.

GBA opportunities

UDI, which began at HKUST, is now based in Shenzhen. With its close ties to both cities, the company hopes to further establish close cooperation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

“There are many commercial opportunities and requirements. We have participated in the Greater Bay Area Auto Show for two consecutive years to actively expand the resources of the GBA,” said Liu.

“In terms of market applications, we have put a number of unmanned vehicles on the market in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Guangzhou etc. At the same time, we provided IGV autonomous driving navigation solutions in Guangzhou Port, and provided unmanned vehicle technology anti-epidemic solutions in Shenzhen and other places,” he added.

The post UDI sets big goals for its self-driving vehicles appeared first on FutureIoT.

The  ESS will contribute to helping the SGMS to improve the energy efficiency of port operations by 2.5%. It will also reduce the port’s carbon footprint by 1,000 tCO2e per annum, the equivalent of removing around 300 cars off the road annually.

“Electricity demand will grow in the next decade with increasing electrification. The adoption of innovative demand-side technologies such as smart energy management systems and energy storage systems will help us optimise our energy supply and power grid capabilities,” said Ms Jeanette Lim, director of the industry development department at the Energy Market Authority (EMA).

She added that  innovative digital solutions such as this project will play a part in making Singapore’s energy systems more efficient and resilient.

The SGMS project is part of the S$8 million partnership between the EMA and PSA Corporation (PSA) to transform PSA’s energy usage in port operations through the use of smart grid technologies and energy management systems. A consortium led by Envision Digital has been tapped for the project, which also includes the installation of solar panels.

The EMA-PSA partnership is part of EMA’s Accelerating Energy Storage for Singapore (ACCESS) programme to facilitate ESS adoption in Singapore by promoting use cases and business models. This project will also go towards supporting EMA’s target of deploying at least 200 MW of ESS beyond 2025.

Real-time automated forecasts

With the dynamic nature of port activities, energy demand can fluctuate throughout the day. Port operations involve the use of energy-intensive equipment such as cranes and prime movers. Due to the dynamic nature of port activities, the energy demand can fluctuate throughout the day.

The ESS is managed by the EnOSTM platform uses machine learning to provide real-time automated forecasts of the terminal’s energy demand. This enables long-term planning of port assets, short-term scheduling and real-time energy management within the Pasir Panjang Terminal to reduce overall energy costs and carbon footprint.

Whenever there is a forecasted surge in energy consumption, the 2 megawatt/2 megawatt-hour battery ESS is activated to supply energy to help meet demand. With this enhancement to Pasir Panjang Terminal, spikes in energy demand of the port will be minimised.

“As a premier hub port driving innovation, digitalisation and sustainability, PSA can play an active role in contributing and co-creating Singapore’s smart grid architecture and energy systems. We are excited to partner EMA in unlocking the full potential of battery energy storage solutions to achieve cleaner and more efficient energy for our operations. As PSA enhances efficiency with port automation, we will continue to drive collaborative innovation with our partners for greater resilience in our energy future,” said Alvin Foo, head of new technologies and sustainability at PSA.

Meanwhile, at times when the ESS is not being used at the terminal, it will  participate in the National Electricity Market of Singapore to provide ancillary services to the power grid and to generate revenue. Insights from the project may also validate the possibility for commercial and industrial users to adopt ESS to serve multiple purposes, such as demand management on-site and providing commercial ancillary services to support power systems.

Sustainable development journey

Tan Joo Hong, head of global ports solutions at Envision Digital said its collaboration with the PSA will result in a reference model for ports embarking on sustainable development journey.

“With energy, machines, and systems orchestration through the use of EnOSTM, our jointly developed SGMS solution will support PSA in its sustainable development initiatives such as large-scale electrification and enable better management capabilities when PSA adopt different green energy sources,” said Tan.

Insights from the SGMS can also be applied for advanced energy management and optimisation at the Tuas Port, which would be the world’s single largest fully automated terminal upon completion in the 2040s. For greater sustainability, retired batteries from port equipment such as automated guided vehicles can be repurposed into second-life ESS.

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Called “Connected Product”, the packaged offering is jointly developed  by the two companies as part of their strategic alliance signed in 2020. The tracking solution provides greater visibility across the entire supply chain, and agility to activate immediate reactionary procedures, in case of damage or delays.

“What we’re announcing today improves supply chain visibility for logistics companies and insurers here in the APJ region, and delivers on NTT and SAP’s shared vision of helping companies around the globe achieve greater resiliency and agility to ensure they are prepared for future disruptions,” said Paul Marriott, president of SAP APJ, at the SAP Sapphire Conference held in Tokyo yesterday.

Logistics and supply chain disruptions have been commonplace these past two years as a result of the COVID pandemic and climate change, with marine transportation one of the most affected areas in the global supply chain model.

According to NTT DATA, there are instances when products were not tracked for three months and found out to be damaged or lost in transit – resulting to  more than US$5 billion in insurance claims.

“More than ever before, global logistics need to be resilient and adaptative. Long-term planning alone is no longer sufficient, and organisations must be able to react quickly especially in times of uncertainty. Critical to enabling this type of agility is to have the right data in the right hands, in real time,” said Norbert Rotter, SVP, NTT DATA Corporation, and CEO, NTT DATA Business Solutions.

The Connected Product solution responds to this need by monitoring the location and environmental conditions of goods in transit, particularly fragile goods, such as solar panels; bulk liquids, such as wine and olive oil; and sensitive cold chain shipments, such as cheese, pharmaceuticals, and even vaccines.

Making insurance management easier

More than 70% of supply chain claims are due to breakages and until the cargo arrives at its destination. Nobody has any idea of its actual condition and if it is suitable for sale to end customers.

Losses due to poor transportation conditions is becoming a multi-billion dollar problem, because it is almost impossible to know who did what and when an incident was caused.

This lack of visibility prevents companies from taking proactive decisions to avoid significant contractual penalties by setting accountability for each stakeholder.

To make insurance management easier, the new Connected Product solution connects SAP business network for logistics with smart insurance policy management assets powered by NTT DATA.

This provides real-time information on operations to all stakeholders, digitising all shipment and insurance documentation – triggering  and executing insurance policies automatically through NTT DATA smart shipments and giving everyone the ability to adapt to potential incidents quickly.

How it works: it all starts with sensor data

The solution starts when goods are loaded in the container a sensor is installed and linked to the logistics order shipment and the smart shipment policy the sensor collects data and sends its geo-location and transportation conditions every hour.

Alongside marine transportation of the goods, the solution monitors all variables that could affect the cargo. All this real-time data gathered remotely facilitates automatic decision-making provided by NTT DATA smart shipments that optimises insurance-related processes significantly and assures all stakeholders across the supply chain that everything is in hand no matter what happens.

Meanwhile, all stakeholders across the supply chain can follow the order conditions using dynamic dashboards showing insurance policy coverage and impact with light medium or heavy categories to anticipate potential breaches.

If the transport conditions defined in the policy are breached during the shipment of the goods, the NTT DATA  smart insurance policy is triggered and executes the payments of the insurance policy reducing claim management overheads and general costs

Piloting the solution

Right now, SAP and NTT DATA are piloting the solution with 20 shippers. From March to September this year, the Connected Product solution are tracking 400 container shipments bound for Europe, Asia and Europe. The journey spans more than 5 million kilometres, collecting more than 200,000 pieces of data from the sensors

It is especially useful for tracking fragile goods, such as solar panels; bulk liquids, such as wine and olive oil; and sensitive cold chain shipments, such as cheese, pharmaceuticals, and even vaccines.

The data gathered by IoT sensors helps to ensure that conditions critical for the goods – like temperature, luminosity, or shock-proofing requirements – are managed during the journey. That information gives customers the opportunity to quickly react to incidents.

After the pilot,  NTT DATA plans to incorporate the system into business operations, extending the solution to more international insurance and logistics companies.

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Takeaway business for the city’s F&B businesses have skyrocketed in the last three years with social distancing measures encouraging people to stay at home.

The Japanese fast-food chain has tapped Zeek, an on-demand logistics technology platform, to provide is SaaS solution to expedite the creation of Yoshinoya’s online store in the territory.

Established in 2017, Zeek deploys logistics technologies and big data analytics to provide a range of logistics services covering quick commerce freight, takeaway and grocery goods for individual, corporate and e-commerce clients. Its SaaS solutions are tailored to corporates' business needs to empower seamless digital transformation.

ZeekSolutions enables corporate clients, using ZeekStore module, to build their branded Quick Commerce ordering channel, apply geofencing for intelligent store assignment and integrate with POS/CRM/Apps.

Janet Yuen, CEO of Hung's Food Group, said: "Optimising customers' satisfaction in the food ordering process has always been one of the missions of Yoshinoya. With the collaboration with ZeekStore, Yoshinoya customers will enjoy the convenience of food ordering at their workplace or at home.”

He added that Zeek’s territory-wide delivery network enables Yoshinoya to reach customers easily from anywhere and at any time.

“We can also streamline the entire ordering process starting from order placement to final delivery for enhancing the customer-restaurant relationship. I believe that the seamless setup of Yoshinoya's online ordering platform by ZeekStore will offer our customers a beneficial dining experience,” said Yuen.

Yoshinoya has been in the Hong Kong market since 1991 and currently has around 50 stores across the city, serving millions rice bowls every month.

"We are thrilled to partner with Yoshinoya which is a leading multinational brand,” said KK Chiu, CEO of Zeek adding that  besides enhancing diners’ takeaway experience, the fast-food chain can now also leverage their customer data with analytics to curate strategic marketing promotions in a cost effective manner.

To date, ZeekSolutions has already assisted over 50 brands and simplified the connection from restaurants and e-commerce to their customers and was instrumental in assisting these brands to venture their Quick Commerce business in the new normal.

Zeek’s market coverage reaches beyond Hong Kong to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia and the company plans to expand to the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan this year.

It currently operates a delivery team of over 30,000 fleet members as of December 2021.

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The VoltNet service is being launched by eMobility platform provider Voltality, a company owned by Singapore startup Beep which builds universal automation platforms for the Internet of Things (IoT).

VoltNet will digitally connect Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs) on a single network, providing EV drivers in the Lion City with the convenience of using any EV charger across city state with a single interface.

The pilot programme will onboard 25 private hire drivers from ride-hailing company Gojek Singapore who will be issued with a VoltNow Card, and will be progressively expanded to all Gojek drivers renting EVs from its GoFleet partner, Singapore Electric Vehicles Pte Ltd. This pilot programme counts Charge+, ComfortDelGro ENGIE, Shell Recharge, Keppel Volt and QuickCharge.SG as CPOs.

Lien Choong Luen, general manager at Gojek Singapore, said the VoltNet service arrives at a crucial time when the automotive and transport services industries are locking step with the government’s comprehensive roadmap to drive EV adoption among local residents as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

“We hear first-hand the concerns of our driver-partners when considering switching to an electric vehicle. Creating a simplified charging experience and payment process is a significant step towards helping to remove barriers and encourage EV adoption among drivers. We look forward to our driver-partners experiencing the benefits of VoltNet through this pilot, ultimately helping improve EV infrastructure in Singapore, contributing to Singapore’s Green Plan 2030, and our own ambitious target to transition the entire Gojek fleet to EVs by 2030,” Lien said.

Gojek’s participation in the VoltNet pilot comes on the heels of the company’s recently announced partnership with CRX CarbonBank, which will enable its EV driver-partners to benefit from monetised carbon credits through the Electric Vehicle Accelerator (EVA) programme.

Seamless and interoperable eMobility payment

With VoltNow Card in hand, EV drivers can simply tap and go at participating charging points to seamlessly pay  for their charge session. An e-receipt will be sent to drivers via SMS to upon the completion of a successful charge session.

“I am pleased to finally see a solution that will help to make EV charging easier and payments seamless,” said Brian Heng, Gojek driver-partner. “We all know EVs are better for the environment, but many drivers, like me, still find the systems challenging, particularly when it comes to paying to charge our vehicles. Charging points vary hugely, often requiring different payment methods or different apps to operate.”

Freddie Chew, general manager of ComfortDelGro ENGIE, echoed that the new service alleviates the anxieties of EV drivers and encourages EV adoption across various stakeholders in Singapore.

“With the rapid growth of the EV population, we recognise the need for increased interoperability in the eMobility ecosystem. It is therefore timely that ComfortDelGro ENGIE is now on VoltNet as it will provide EV drivers greater accessibility to more EV charging services, including ours, under a single charging network,” said Chew.

Kumail Rashid, general manager, Greenlots (Shell Recharge Solutions), APAC, pointed out:  “A seamless driver experience is pivotal for EV uptake, not only in Singapore but for the region as well.  The Shell Recharge network already spans across borders, including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and it is our aim to continue to provide the freedom of travel.  We look forward to working closely with Beep and Voltality on this pilot to provide added convenience to EV drivers.”

Meanwhile, Voltality hopes to expand VoltNet’s seamless and interoperable eMobility payment experience to the EV industry across Southeast Asia.

Kristoffer Jacek Soh, co-founder and CEO of Beep, said: “We are heartened by the support of the various CPOs in our eRoaming initiative, VoltNet, which is a first in Southeast Asia. With Voltality & VoltNet, we look forward to providing a seamless and interoperable charging solution for EV Drivers, eMSPs and CPOs in the region.”

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UAP builds net-zero ground infrastructure for eVTOL passenger air taxis and autonomous delivery drones.

Critical to this digital infrastructure will be BI’s Vertiport Information Management System (VIMS), powered by its proprietary device integration platform capable of remote beyond visible line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous control and operation of drones to autonomously perform tasks that would normally require human input.

“The development of the new vertiports will see the perfect marriage of ground and air architecture driven by an autonomous digital platform at the core,” the companies said in a press statement.

In addition, BI and UAP  will work together on several proofs-of-concept (POCs) for practical applications of autonomous drone operations such as transportation of medical supplies, industrial maintenance/inspection work and logistics solutions, paving the way for remote pilot passenger operations and ultimately autonomous passenger air travel.

Since 2016, BI has been conducting extensive research and development into a vertiport system, the “BEP Port”, in collaboration with the Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the University of Tokyo, which combines their VIMS digital platform with infrastructure design – the expertise UAP will bring to the table. This groundwork has already seen BI conducting multiple POCs throughout Japan.

The agreement between UAP and BI will enable further POCs to be developed in an effort to create social implementation of AAM not just in Japan, but on a global scale.

“Japan is a key market for Urban-Air Port. Collaborating with Blue Innovation establishes us in Japan, providing best-in-class technology as well as a platform for further development and co-operation,” said Adrian Zanelli, chief financial officer, Urban-Air Port.

He added: “Similarly, this agreement gives Blue Innovation a far broader reach in terms of geography and customers. We’re excited to make this announcement today and look forward to making the strongest AAM ecosystem in Japan and across the world.”

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“With the electric double-deck bus and later the first hydrogen fuel cell double-deck bus, we can run these new energy buses in parallel to gather valuable operational data that can assist the government in the formulation of a comprehensive zero-emission transformation plan,” said Roger Ma, general manager for operation, Citybus and New Word First Bus.

The city’s first electric double-decker bus will later be deployed in Kowloon to operate Citybus Route 20, 20A and 22M that run from Kai Tak to Tai Kok Tsui, Tsim Sha Tsui and Tok Kwa Wan, subject to approval of the Transport Department.

The construction of the bus is a joint project between Bravo Transport Services  – the parent company of Citybus and New World First Bus – and Wisdom (Fuijian) Motor Company. They worked closely from the concept, to design, to production, with a focus on enabling the bus to handle the city's topography and operating environment.

The bus will undergo a series of rigorous internal tests before completing the Transport Department's official vehicle inspection. The actual service operations will be announced in due course.

Bravo is committed to operate a full-fledge of zero-emission buses across its operations by 2045, five years head of the Hong Kong government carbon neutrality target. Currently, the company operates over 1,700 buses across Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories and carries over one million passengers daily.

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This was one of the key takeaways from a newly released global study entitled “The Race to Decarbonization”, which evaluate progress companies have made in pursuing  their sustainability goals.  Forrester Consulting in collaboration with Johnson Controls conducted an online survey in September 2021, polling over 2,348 sustainability strategy leaders in 25 countries  and across 19 industries.

“The survey clearly shows that business leaders in Southeast Asia see sustainability as the number one business priority now. And among the different key sustainability initiatives, energy efficient buildings and workspaces is high on the agenda, with 91% deeming this an investment priority within three years," said Charles Lim, leader, Southeast Asia, Johnson Controls. “More than three quarters of respondents have goals to reduce carbon emissions across their portfolio of buildings by 26% or more; and 11% are gunning for net zero or carbon negative.”

The global survey found that North America is the most aggressive with their carbon reduction goals. While the urgency among the private sector is picking up in Southeast Asia, more is needed. The ASEAN State of Climate Change Report noted that “there are still large gaps in implementation and ambition” based on emission reduction targets in 2030 and emission trends up to now.

Where to start a challenge

Although organisations recognise the benefits of implementing sustainability practices, many companies do not know where to start in preparing for critical business transformations. Top five hurdles today relate to managing multiple parties involved, lacking strategic plan, lacking external partners, understanding of changing policy requirements, and struggling to scale up.

The survey further found that only 18% of respondents in Southeast Asia have ESG reporting software to help measure their progress while 41% of respondents believe their organizations have a shortage of internal expertise, preventing them from tracking their carbon emissions effectively.

"In the race to decarbonisation, companies must align priorities to the demands of many stakeholders, work with partners to develop transparent sustainability roadmaps, and identify  metrics and adopt tools to track progress," said Mei Peng Hor, business development director, sustainable infrastructure, Asia Pacific, Johnson Controls.

She added: "More customers are looking for ways to make this process easier, and are transferring their sustainability commitments and the risk to reach these targets to an external partner that has the capability, scale and ecosystem. Our OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service, for example, has helped the University of Hawaii reduce energy use by 80% across four campuses, saving US$80 million, through energy retrofit and renewable energy solutions."

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Indeed, more than nine in 10 operators in all regions - including Asia Pacific- indicate they will increase the use of wearables, mobile printers and rugged tablets over the next few years, along with mobile dimensioning software that automates parcel and carton measurements.

In addition, 27% of warehouse operators globally and in APAC have already deployed some form of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) today. Within five years, that number is expected to grow to 92% in APAC and 90% worldwide.

These are some of the key highlights of a new Warehousing Vision Study conducted by Zebra Technologies between January and February 2022.  The survey polled more than 1,500 warehouse decision-makers and associates around the world, including Australia, China, India, Japan and Singapore.

“Labour shortages resulting from the recent global events are straining the regional and global supply chains, presenting a fulfilment gap across many sectors,” said Aik Jin Tan, APAC Vertical Solutions Lead for Manufacturing, Machine Vision/Fixed Industrial Scanning, Zebra Technologies. “This highlights the importance of a resilient and flexible supply chain. Hence it is encouraging to see warehouse operators increasingly adopt modern technologies to augment their workforce and mitigate these labour challenges.

Warehouse associates are also becoming more comfortable with their employers’ use of advanced technologies. Less than half (45%) globally said their employers have increased wages or offered bonuses amid labour constraints, yet most (82%) feel positively impacted by the situation. This trend continues in APAC, where nine in 10 warehouse associates report a positive outlook despite only 34% reporting that employers increased renumeration.

Employers are improving work conditions in other ways, such as giving them more technology to use on the job and leveraging technology to create more flexible work shifts. In fact, more than nine in 10 warehouse associates around the world agree on some level that technology advancements will make the warehouse environment more attractive to workers, even in times like these when supply chains are strained, demand is surging, and there’s increasing pressure to meet tighter deadlines.

Warehouse challenges a catalyst for change

The survey results showed warehouse operators are having a harder time getting customer orders out the door on time than they did three years ago, and they’re struggling to maintain inventory accuracy and visibility.

They also admit they’re expected to deliver orders faster than ever to keep up with the on-demand economy, with rising transportation costs taking their toll on over 40% of warehouse operators spanning manufacturing, transportation, wholesale distribution, logistics and retail. This may not be surprising considering that respondents indicate their shipping volumes have increased more than 20% on average over the past two years.

However, warehouse operators are viewing these challenges as catalysts for change and growth. Between now and 2025, over eight-in-10 expect to increase the number of stock-keeping units (SKU) they carry and the volume of shipped items. They also plan to expand returns management operations, offer more value-added services, and increase their physical footprints, with both the number and size of warehouses increasing.

While 61% of warehouse operators globally also want to increase headcount within the next year to right-size their workforces, they admit finding (55%) and training (54%) workers in a timely manner remain big challenges. This is especially true in APAC where 53% report difficulty finding workers and 59% indicate training is challenging. As a result, over eight in 10 decision-makers around the world agree they will have to rely more on automation in the future.

Augmenting the Workforce with Automation

While most warehouse operators worldwide will deploy AMRs for person-to-goods (P2G) picking, material movements and other automated inventory moves, more will invest in software that helps automate analytics and decision-making. In APAC, 95% of decision-makers indicated this willingness to invest in such software in a bid to raise worker effectiveness and efficiency and reduce labour costs, outpacing the global average by just a bit (94%).

“Automation is allowing businesses to create different types of work environments and allowing people to take on roles that are more interesting, fulfilling and career elevating,” said Christanto Suryadarma, Southeast Asia (SEA) Sales Vice President, Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific. “As a result, 56% of APAC decision-makers believe that the most important labour initiative is to reduce unnecessary tasks so associates can focus on more customer-centric work and utilize their workforce more efficiently. By investing in RFID technologies that improve situational awareness, automate workforce and task management like RFD90 and FX9600, decision-makers can effectively scale warehouse operations and keep up with the on-demand economy.”

Automation increases job satisfaction and worker retention rate

 Contrary to popular opinion, the study respondents believe automation may help keep more people in their jobs and fill empty ones. Nearly eight in 10 warehouse associates in APAC (79%) and globally (78%) say walking fewer miles per day would make their jobs more enjoyable, even if they had to pick or handle more items, and many strongly believe AMRs could make warehouse jobs less stressful.

Decision-makers should take note; only 36% of those surveyed in APAC and 41% worldwide completely agree implementing warehouse technologies such as robotics and devices can help attract and retain workers even though most associates:

• who work alongside AMRs today confirm they have helped increase productivity and reduce walking/travel time (83%), reduce errors (73%), and enable advancement to new roles or opportunities (65%);
• claim they are more likely to work for an employer that gives them modern devices to use for tasks versus an employer that provides older or no devices (83%).

“Though automation has been a priority for companies for years, it has increasingly become an urgent investment area due to unexpected disruptions and seasonal peaks which requires the workforce to scale quickly,” added Tan. “Interestingly, associates feel more strongly about this than warehouse operators right now, which further adds to the business imperative of an augmented workforce in the warehouse environment.”

Five-year technology outlook

Globally, 85% of decision-makers say they have implemented mobility so front-line workers can capture each inventory move they make, and most feel they are optimising the use of their devices to fit the task, safety, and ergonomics.

However, warehouse associates (84%) and decision-makers (79%) are concerned they will not meet their business objectives unless more technology investments are made to improve operations, with associates in the transportation (92%) and logistics (88%) sectors feeling most strongly about this need.

As a result, more than six in 10 decision-makers said they will invest in technologies that increase inventory and asset visibility within their warehouses and overall visibility throughout supply chains over the next five years.

Nine in 10 expect their use of sensor-based technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), computer vision, fixed industrial scanning, and machine vision systems to become more prevalent over the next five years.

As businesses invest in advanced technologies that enable more visibility, real-time guidance and data-driven performance, they’re focusing on increasing team productivity and better utilisation of assets, equipment and people, which equates to improved worker well-being and overall market competitiveness. However, it will become critical for warehouse operators to become more thoughtful about how they implement and integrate technologies as they increasingly digitalise workflows and scale systems.

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Seaports globally have increased their automation initiatives to mitigate port congestion. Equipment like gantries, automated port gates, stacking cranes, and horizontal transport solutions, such as AGVs that are transport containers and loads to and from ships, have been the most productivity-enhancing solutions in seaports.

"Automation enhances the reliability, consistency, predictability (via data analytics), and security of port operations. From an environmental perspective, automation can lead to lower energy consumption, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. Automated ports are also far safer than conventional ports. The number of human-related disruptions falls as performance becomes more predictable with automation and data capture solutions," said Adhish Luitel, senior analyst, supply chain management and logistics at ABI Research.

Ports future-proofing infrastructure

To complement the deployment of automated equipment, port authorities have also been investing in future-proofing infrastructure and introducing 5G/LTE private networks covering entire port premises.

Recently, seaports have become a primary focus for the telco sector as cellular private networks are imperative for streamlined operations of automated solutions, data capture via Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and communications between devices or personnel.

Telco providers like Vodafone and Huawei have been partnering with authorities to deploy private networks in various seaports worldwide. Similarly, vendors like AEye, VDL Automated Vehicles, and Konecranes have been deploying solutions, such as AGVs, automated cranes, and sensors, to integrate with the private network infrastructure.

"Streamlined automation in ports also highlights the need for huge volumes of timely data that is required to control and monitor all the moving assets. To enable automated solutions to function to their fullest and work with each other, ports need to provide a level of data reliability in a cost-effective manner. For this, wireless connectivity is the best option," said Luitel.

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"A lot of thought went into the design of the new warehouse. It is a best-in-class facility that will serve our customers more efficiently. It is also a green building with sustainable practices to reduce carbon emissions and help our customers achieve a greener supply chain," said George Lawson, managing director, DHL Global Forwarding Australia.

The company broke ground today of the site where the 4,880-sqm facility will rise to meet Brisbane’s growing demand  for international cold chain services. The facility will also support the growth of general cargo in Queensland.

Lawson said: “The expansion of our facilities at Brisbane airport reflects the tremendous growth in perishables export and a growing south east Queensland population that is expected to rise by 31 per cent over the next 20 years. Brisbane's economy is predicted to surge by 2031 and with the new facility, we are ready to support our customers for future growth."

Set to be ready by early 2023,  DHL Global Forwarding is investing AU$17 million over ten years for  the new facility.

Strategically located at Brisbane airport, the facility offers air side access, the first and only freight forwarder to have such exclusive access, and is close to the Port of Brisbane within 20 km or 18 minutes’ drive.

The new facility is a five green star rating according to the Green Building Council of Australia, featuring solar panels, reusable batteries to power most of the warehouse operations, rainwater harvesting and EV charging stations. Plans are also in the works to introduce carbon offsetting and insetting for a carbon neutral supply chain for customers.

The facility is also designed to be a great working space to support a mobile and hybrid workforce and to enhance safety. "We want this new facility to also be a great space for our employees. Interactive screens are in place to facilitate virtual and physical collaboration, while new technologies will be implemented to enhance safety," Lawson said.

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The companies have established their first EV station in Fanling.

The newest Shell Recharge station, located in China Hong Kong City (CHKC) on Tsim Sha Tsui, is touted to be the fastest EV charging station in the city. It provides four rapid direct current (DC) chargers for all EV brands in Hong Kong.

Complementing Halo’s patent distribution system, one of the chargers operates at a speed of 300kW that allows an EV to be fully charged within 15 minutes. Together with Halo’s 40 semi-quick charging stations, CHKC now holds the most EV charging stations within Tsim Sha Tsui, enabling convenience for EV drivers and enhancing charging experience.

As EVs become ubiquitous, expansion and upgrading of charging facilities is essential in fostering the long-term development of existing residential and commercial properties.

Martin Tsang, CEO and founder of Halo Energy, said the company has always been proactive in enhancing charging services through the integration of local science research and global charging technologies.

“We are proud to establish the fastest charging station in Hong Kong in the city’s core business area – China Hong Kong City. With as fast as 15 minutes to provide 200km mileage for latest model EVs, an equivalent of 3 back-and-forth journeys from CHKC and the Airport,” said Tsang.

He added: “ The station will address every resident’s concern about using an EV and they will now experience the convenience of fast-charging that is as convenient as filling up a gas tank. Furthermore, through Halo’s patent Load Management electric distribution system, EVs will be parked in a similar manner as at CHKC in order to achieve a large or even full EV charging coverage with a big saving on the power load for the charging station thereby building a real showcase of EV Ready building.”

Installing EV stations in existing properties

In marking this latest EV project at CHKC, Sino Group reiterated its commitment to collaborating with partners to achieve sustainability goals through the use of innovation and technology.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Shell and  startup company Halo on this project to work around challenges faced in the installation of additional charging facilities in existing buildings, through the adoption of the refined electric vehicle charging and management system,” said Bella Chhoa, director of asset management at Sino Group.

She added that a comprehensive network of charging stations is crucial to promoting the wide adoption of electric vehicles.

“To this end, increasing electric vehicle charging stations will be a key focus of Sino Property Services in promoting sustainability in property management. In the future, we will further expand the coverage of electric vehicle charging stations at our properties. It is estimated that the number of chargers will see a substantial increase of 67% to over 1,400 in 2022, in an effort to encourage the use of green transportation in the wider community,” said Chhao.

A journey towards net-zero emissions

Meanwhile, Shell is staying true to its mission actualising sustainability initiatives to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.

“We will spare no effort to help the city achieve its aim of reducing carbon emissions to actualise low-carbon transport. We are privileged to work with Sino and Halo to establish the fastest EV charging station in the territory by consolidating every party’s asset thereby leading the industry towards supporting the HKSAR government’s plans for enhanced EV adoption,” said Anne Yu, managing director of Shell Hong Kong.

In the near term, Yu said the company will collaborate with more car factories and stakeholders to provide more than 300 Shell Recharge charging points across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.

“More Shell Recharge Stations will be set up in Sino’s properties as well with an end-year target, providing EV drivers with different speeds of charging stations to speed up the transition towards net zero emissions in Hong Kong,” Yu said.

Shell is set to become the first gasoline company in Hong Kong to offer a comprehensive EV charging network. The company’s brand-new facility at its Airport (Cargo Terminal) Station, schedule to start operations in Q2 2022, will be the first service station with both EV charging and conventional fuel facilities.

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BotAiot will build a blockchain-based electronic certificate consortium chain for the Highway Research Institute to store and encrypt data collected by online metering and calibration-testing equipment of commercial transportation vehicles originating from both highways and vehicles.

BotAiot's electronic consortium chain will also provide consortium chain member management, intelligent contract development, certificate issuance, query, cancellation, management and other functions, as well as blockchain custody services. The total number of devices in the e-certificate alliance chain service exceeds six million units, which are expected to be completely covered in the next two years. BotAiot will charge a fixed service fee per unit per year.

“Luokung has been actively promoting the application of blockchain technology in various fields of spatial-temporal big data. This contract marks the beginning of our commercial services in the field of highway transportation,” said Xuesong Song, chairman and CEO of Luokung Technology.

Luokung Technology  is the operating affiliate of BotAiot. The latter is a leading spatial-temporal intelligent big data services company and provider of interactive location-based services and high-definition maps in China.

Song added: “Combining Luokung's blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies, we anticipate strengthening our relationships and expanding our scope of blockchain services with more enterprise and institutional partners that recognise Luokung's competitiveness in highway transportation."

The BotAiot electronic blockchain data and certificate storage platform integrates cloud computing, artificial intelligence, multimedia live broadcast, Internet of Things, electronic fence, blockchain and other technologies to realise remote online data collection of road and vehicle-related metering equipment.

Combined with artificial intelligence technologies, BotAiot's service system can automatically identify, label and test collected data, then store the data, testing reports and certificates on the blockchain, and issue an electronic certificate for the device. The system can improve the calibration test efficiency of transportation infrastructure and equipment by shortening the test cycle, thereby enhancing traffic safety and efficiency, and significantly reducing labour costs.

The system will be applied to multiple scenarios involving calibration tests of metering equipment, including vehicle axle type identification equipment at national highway entrances and exits, vehicle size identification equipment, on-board equipment on long-distance buses, tourist buses, trucks, and hazardous materials transport vehicles, as well as highway bridges and tunnels condition inspection equipment.

"Blockchain and other distributed ledger technology services are fundamentally changing the service models of various industries, helping enterprises reconstruct and manage identity, data, brand, provenance, professional certification, copyright and other assets while improving the security of data management and the immutability of transaction authentication and records,” said Xueyu Lu, CEO of BotAiot.

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More EV fast chargers are expected to be installed in other SM malls in the coming months.

“Part of our commitment is building a greener environment for everyone. We will always strive to ramp up our efforts to give back to our communities through our innovative projects in driving sustainability in our 79 malls nationwide,” SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan said.

The in-mall charging stations are located in SM AURA B1 Parking, SM Mall of Asia 3rd Level North Parking Building, and SM North Edsa 3rd Level North Parking Tower, have two Wallbox Pulsar Plus 7.4KW AC chargers per mall. These chargers support e-Vehicle brands such as Audi, BMW, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, among others.

The launch of the EV charging stations is part of SM Supermalls’ ongoing partnership with the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry in assisting the government accelerate its renewable energy and sustainability initiatives.

“We will continue our staunch support of the government’s new EV law and the National Renewable Energy Program to promote a more eco-friendly society for all Filipinos. Our goal is to increase our share of renewable energy sources by 50% by the end of 2022,” Tan said.

As of 2020, there are 12,965 registered EVs in the Philippines. SM Supermalls is one of the first mall chains to establish in-mall e-Vehicle charging sites in the country.

In 2018, SM North Edsa inaugurated its first EV charging station to service electric public transport routes and most recently these EV chargers have been updated.

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With the unprecedented amount of transportation and mapping data that it has gathered over the last 20 years, TMAP will be able to help its partners design optimal air taxi routes, infrastructure networks and overall mobility service that cater to the preference of local customers.

“TMAP’s deep knowledge and understanding of mobility needs across Korea, along with millions of daily users across Korea, makes them a great partner and platform through which to bring our aerial ridesharing service to customers,” said Justin Lang, head of partnerships and corporate strategy at Joby. “South Korea is a remarkable opportunity for our aircraft to improve lives and save people time, and working with SKT and TMAP puts us in the best position to deliver a revolutionary service that is clean, quiet, and affordable.”

Joby Aviation develops all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service.

With a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometres), a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h), and a low noise profile that will allow it to access urban areas, Joby's piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is designed to make convenient, emissions-free air travel an everyday reality.

In February, Joby and SKT  announced an agreement to work closely on introducing emissions-free aerial ridesharing to Korean cities and communities in support of the “K-UAM” (Korean Urban Air Mobility) Roadmap laid out by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.

Lee Jong Ho, CEO of TMAP Mobility, said: “By cooperating with Joby, TMAP will become a platform operator that can offer a seamless transportation service between the ground and the sky.”

TMAP  jointly owns on-demand ride-hailing app UT along with Uber, a partner to Joby since 2019, which will enable multi-modal journeys that seamlessly integrate both ground and air travel.

Together with SK Telecom, TMAP and Joby will work together to integrate emissions-free aerial ridesharing into TMAP’s transportation services.

While Joby’s aerial ridesharing service will be operated directly by the company, its strategy is to partner with local companies committed to delivering exceptional customer service and operational excellence to launch its service in select international markets.

The post TMAP joins Joby and SKT to bring air taxis to South Korea appeared first on FutureIoT.

The pilot services are currently confined within a designated area of 60sqkm in Yizhuang in south-eastern Beijing, home to approximately 300,000 residents. For now, the services are free to the public who can book for a ride using each company’s mobile app called Apollo Go and PonyPilot+ respectively. The services are available during daylight hours.

The permits, issued by the head office of the Beijing High-Level Automated Demonstration Area (BJHAD), requires both companies to keep an operator in the front passenger seat to take over in case of emergencies.

“The permit represents a benchmark regulation for the global autonomous vehicle industry, given the complexity and high density of urban traffic in the Chinese capital,” Baidu said in a statement. The company added it would start off with 10 vehicles under the driverless robotaxi program and with plans to add 30 more at a later stage.

The introduction of the new driverless robotaxis mark Beijing’s steady progression from manned autonomous driving to unmanned autonomous driving. Last November, after a period of testing, Baidu and Pony.ai received a commercial permit to run fee-charging robotaxi services that have safety operators in the driver’s seat.

Tiancheng Lou, co-founder and CTO of Pony.ai said comprehensive tests were done to ensure safety before the launch of the driverless robotaxi service.

“We ensured the technical quality of our system by successfully handling a wide range of extreme and complex scenarios. We did this by conducting multiple technical validations and iterations of driverless scenarios, and by improving system redundancy design, remote assistance platform development and fleet operation management,” he said.

Its permit to operate driverless robotaxis in Beijing comes on the heels of Pony.ai’s new license for a fee-charging, manned autonomous robotaxi service in Guangzhou, which begins this month. The company will ply 100 autonomous vehicles in the entire 800sqkm stretch of the street of Nansha.

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Passengers can hail rides and pay for the service through the PonyPilot+ App. Operating from 8:30 am  to 10:30pm, fares will be based on the standard taxi pricing in Guangzhou. Initially, Pony will have a safety driver at the wheel of its robotaxis, but the company expects to remove the driver over the short to intermediate time frame.

“Being China's first autonomous vehicle company to receive a taxi license is a testament to our technological strength and ability to operate robotaxi services. We will expand the scale of our services, provide quality travel experiences to the public in Guangzhou, create an industry benchmark for robotaxi services and continue to lead the commercialisation of robotaxis and robotrucks,” said James Peng, co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai.

The taxi license, issued by the Guangzhou  government, marks the formal implementation of autonomous driving (AD) mobility services  similar to traditional taxis and ride-hailing services.

While WeRide,  one of Pony’s rivals  in China, has been running a partnered service with Guangzhou’s government-backed taxi group Baiyun since 2019,  this is said to be the first time China has rolled out a taxi license dedicated to an autonomous ride-hail fleet, without the need to partner up with a traditional taxi operator.

Commercialising robotaxi services

Guangzhou is the second Tier-1 city in China to grant a taxi license to the robotaxi startup, nearly five months after it receives its first taxi license in Beijing last November.

To qualify for the license, Pony had to pass stringent safety and other multifaceted vehicle qualification tests set forth by national inspection institutions, such as having at least 24 months of AD testing in China and/or other countries, at least 1 million kilometres of testing mileage, at least 200,000 kilometres of AD testing within Guangzhou’s designated test area, and no involvement in any active liability traffic accidents.

“The inclusion of autonomous vehicles in the unified and standardized management of taxis proves that both government policy and the public are increasingly accepting robotaxis as a form of everyday transportation, recognising the ride experience and technical stability of our robotaxi,” said Tiancheng Lou, co-founder and CTO of Pony.ai.

The company plans to expand its commercial robotaxi footprint to the other two Tier-1 cities in China next year and to more cities by the start of Pony’s mass commercialisation planned for 2024/2025. Pony.ai currently has autonomous vehicle testing and operations in all four of China’s Tier-1 cities and in California.

Since launching its mobile app in  December 2018, Pony  has continuously improved and upgraded all aspects of the consumer experience of robotaxi services.

As of mid-April 2022, Pony’s robotaxi service has completed more than 700,000 orders, with nearly 80% repeat users and 99% of the passengers giving positive comments after completing their trips - and a service satisfaction rating reaching 4.9 on a 5-point scale.

The post Pony.ai to operate robotaxis in Guangzhou appeared first on FutureIoT.

Equipped with free 5G Wi-Fi internet connection, the new electric buses also have onboard a Battery Management System (“BMS”) and the Water Cooling System, which help monitor the efficiency and condition of the battery and control its temperature, effectively extending the battery life cycle and improving performance.

The new model is 4% lighter than its predecessor, with the passenger capacity increased by 16% to 81 people. It only takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to get fully charged, which is 2 hours faster than before, with 200 kilometres of driving range.

“Hong Kong has the world’s toughest operating environment for buses, which the new electric double-deckers will meet the demanding requirements. We will continue to work with bus manufacturers worldwide to introduce more clean energy buses suitable to the city, promoting green transport and contributing to carbon neutrality in the city,” said Gary Leung, assistant director for strategic planning at KMB.

Over 50 electric double-deckers purchased

KMB also purchased 52 double-deck electric buses from China’s BYD and the United Kingdom’s Alexander Dennis Limited (“ADL”), which are planned to be delivered by next year.

The two models are 12 metres long with an estimated passenger capacity of 120 people. It will take only 2.5 hours to fully charge for the buses, providing some 300km driving range.

These new electric double-deckers that are going to serve Hong Kong citizens will also be equipped with the BMS and Water Cooling System. The BYD double-deckers will be using its newly designed, Blade Battery which helps significantly increase the battery’s efficiency.

The ultra-thin solar panels are also installed on the bus roof of these newly purchased electric double-deckers to supply electricity for onboard facilities, further utilising renewable energy on a zero-emission electric bus.

The new double-deckers will have enlarged legroom and a widened gangway, with two wheelchair parking spaces. Seat belts are also equipped on each seat, and safety features include the GreenRoad system, Electronic Stability Programme and Driving Monitoring System. These features allow passengers to enjoy a green, comfortable and safe bus journey.

With various new development areas soon to be established, such as the former quarry at Anderson Road, Kwun Tong, KMB is also interested in operating the new routes in the vicinity with the latest model of double-deck electric buses.

“We believe that it can provide a greener and more pleasant environment for the residents through zero-emission technology other than catering for their travel needs,” Leung said.

By next year, the bus operator will count over 80 electric buses in its fleet, comprising of the new batches of electric fleet and its current 30 electric single-deckers.

A roadmap towards new energy buses

KMB has already laid down a clear timeline for upgrading its whole fleet to new energy buses by 2050, with plans to purchase  500 more electric buses in 2025.

To support its green fleet, the company is actively installing charging facilities in existing depots.

“We are also planning to build two multi-storey bus depots in Tuen Mun and Tai Po for the new energy buses, with completion expected in four to five years, with 850 parking spaces provided,” said Leung.

The post KMB deployed 16 new electric buses on HK streets appeared first on FutureIoT.

"We are  committed to the Singapore Green Plan 2030 by introducing more electric vehicles to our fleet," the company said in a press statement.

As of March 2022, GetGo has introduced the Hyundai IONIQ Electric, Hyundai Kona Electric and the MG ZS Electric to its car fleet.

As Singapore pushes towards transforming into a greener, more sustainable city in seven years’ time, the company said its car rental solutions are timely.

With more experienced car rental services available in the market and car rental becoming easier and more convenient, residents in Singapore may be ready to forgo the comforts of owning a car.

"We see carsharing and hourly car rental services becoming an alternative option for Singaporeans that's more economical and sustainable,” the company said. “Solutions like these move the city a step in the right direction, in line with its efforts to reduce overall carbon emissions. Fewer cars on the road also means lesser demand for areas designated for parking. This frees up land for conversion to more green spaces for recreational use.”

A year of accelerated growth

Singapore's car ownership costs are one of the highest in the world and makes residents think twice about forking out the money for one. But for those not ready to give up the convenience of driving and do not wish to put up with rising fuel costs and increasing COE prices – they can consider GetGo's enhanced car sharing service.

Established in February 2021, GetGo’s hourly car rental service makes renting a car hassle-free, affordable and enjoyable – attracting more than 20,000 users in a span of two months.

It stands out from the other car-sharing services in Singapore with Its unique Pay-As-You-Go policy, requiring n deposits and no membership fees are. Also, users can enjoy the flexibility and accessibility of car renting. This makes it easy for first-time users and those who use the service on a frequent basis.

GetGo now has a network of over 1,000 locations across the city, implement policies that safeguard drivers, and offer a total of 18 different car models.

New app features enhance overall user experience

Marking its first year anniversary, GetGo has upgraded its mobile app to include a promo code wallet, which lets users  to receive, redeem and review promo codes with ease.

With the new  app feature, users are able to view all the available promo codes that can be applied for an upcoming car rental booking, view the validity period and full T&Cs of a promo code, and save these promo codes for future redemption.

Additionally, with the wallet, they are now able to apply a code to their booking in just one click, as opposed to manually keying it in during the rental process.

With new easy-to-use features, GetGo's app is now more shareable and accessible. Customers can look forward to a seamless experience with the app online and with renting out a car.

The post GetGo car-sharing service to add more EVs to its fleet appeared first on FutureIoT.

The aircraft flew its inaugural flight between Taoyuan and Hong Kong with passengers enjoying the high-speed Wi-Fi to seamlessly browse the internet, stream video and audio, and play games among other things.

“The fact that this is our second new airline customer announcement with SITA in recent months is testament to our successful partnership, despite the challenges that Covid-19 has presented to the aviation industry over the past two years,” said Niels Steenstrup, Inmarsat Aviation’s senior vice president of inflight connectivity business.

China Airlines has ordered a total of 25 Airbus A321neos as part of a narrow-body fleet replacement programme that aims to transform its onboard experience, support its regional network expansion and meet long-term growth in passenger volumes.

All of the aircraft will be equipped with Inmarsat’s GX Aviation and SITA’s Internet ONAIR, alongside other new cabin features such as fully-flat seats in Premium Business Class, the latest inflight entertainment system, and 4K high-solution displays.

Inmarsat‘s latest Passenger Confidence Tracker, the largest global survey of its kind since the pandemic began, found that 41% of the 10,000+ respondents believe having Wi-Fi on flights is even more important now than before Covid-19, allowing them to stay connected with friends and family, and supporting a touch-free environment.

According to Katrina Korzenowski, Asia Pacific vice president at SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, providing a digital and touchless onboard experience will be the key to increasing passenger confidence as air travel recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our Internet ONAIR technology, coupled with Inmarsat’s GX Aviation connectivity, offers China Airlines the perfect blueprint for a world-class inflight broadband offering onboard its Airbus A321neo aircraft and we’re proud to be working together to achieve this. It also means that SITA is now providing a full suite of services, from cockpit to cabin, to China Airlines.”

GX Aviation is powered by Global Xpress (GX) broadband network, which provides infight connectivity on par with mobile Wi-Fi on the ground.

The GX network currently consists of five Ka-band satellites and will be further enhanced with the addition of seven more satellites as part of Inmarsat's fully-funded technology roadmap. This includes two Inmarsat-6s, both of which are scheduled to enter service next year.

They will be followed by three additional satellites in geostationary orbit - adding speed, capacity and resilience - and two in highly elliptical orbit, enabling the world’s only commercial mobile broadband service for aircraft flying in higher elevations and across the Arctic.

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Gartner observed that in the past three years, nearly 20% of organisations have already observed cyberattacks on IoT devices in their network.

While 64% of respondents to the Kaspersky study, Pushing the limits: How to address specific cybersecurity demands and protect IoT, use IoT solutions, as much as 43% do not protect them completely.

This means that for some of their IoT projects – which may be anything from an EV charging station to connected medical equipment – businesses don’t use any protection tools. Kaspersky posits that may be due to the great diversity of IoT devices and systems, which are not always compatible with security solutions.

Barriers to protecting IoT

The study noted that 64% of businesses fear that cybersecurity products can affect the performance of IoT while 40% fear it can be too hard to find a suitable solution. Other common issues businesses face when implementing cybersecurity tools are high costs (40%), being unable to justify the investment to the board (36%) and lack of staff or specific IoT security expertise (35%).

Barriers to implementing IoT

The study also noted that 57% of surveyed organisations see cybersecurity risks as the main barrier to implementing IoT. This can occur when companies struggle to address cyber risks at the design stage and then must carefully weigh up all pros and cons before implementation.

Stephen Mellor, chief technology officer at Industry IoT Consortium, insists that cybersecurity must be front and centre for IoT. He posits that managing risk is a major concern as life, limb and the environment are at stake.

He warns that an IT error can be embarrassing and expensive; an IoT error can be fatal. But cybersecurity is only one part of making a system trustworthy.

“We also need physical security, privacy, resilience, reliability and safety. And these need to be reconciled: what can make a building secure, (locked doors for example), could make it unsafe if you cannot get out quickly,” he continued.

While IT projects such as messaging/communication, analytics, CRM, etc., have around 80% of common requirements, IoT deployments are very fragmented, loosely coupled, domain-specific and integration-heavy in nature.

Eric Kao, director for WISE-Edge+ at Advantech comments that in the case of IoT implementation, companies must deal with all kinds of legacy systems, physical constraints, domain protocols, multiple vendor solutions. They must also maintain a reasonable balance in availability, scalability and security.

“In pursuit of higher availability and scalability, certain cloud infrastructure has to be leveraged, the system has to be open to some extent, then security becomes an enormous challenge,” he added.

The bright side

Challenges aside, there remains optimistic about the potential benefits of the technology and the possibilities of protecting IoT solutions as they are integrated into operations and IT.

Andrey Suvorov, CEO at Adrotech in Russia, says IoT is widely used in smart cities (62%), retail (62%) and industry (60%). These include projects such as energy and water management, smart lighting, alarm systems, video surveillance and many more.

“Experts around the world are working on the task of effective protection for such projects but efforts should be made at every level – from equipment manufacturers and software developers to service providers and companies that implement and use these solutions,” he added.

Next steps for securing IoT

To help organizations fill the gaps in their IoT security, Kaspersky suggests the following approaches:

• Assess the status of a device’s security before implementing it. Preferences should be given to devices with cybersecurity certificates and products from manufacturers who pay more attention to information security.
• Use a strict access policy, network segmentation and a zero-trust model. This will help minimize the spread of an attack and protect the most sensitive parts of the infrastructure.
• Adopt a vulnerability management program to regularly receive the most relevant data about vulnerabilities in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), equipment and firmware, and patch them or use any protection workarounds.
• Check the “IoT Security Maturity Model” – an approach that helps companies evaluate all steps and levels they need to pass to achieve a sufficient level of IoT protection.
• Use a dedicated IoT gateway that ensures the inbuilt security and reliability of data transferring from edge to business applications.

The post 43% of businesses don’t protect their full IoT suite appeared first on FutureIoT.

Moving forward, the two companies will strengthen cooperation for product development optimised for bio-cold chains and global expansion, such as technology cooperation to develop bio-medicine monitoring IoT devices and to ensure a stable supply of IoT modules by combining industry-leading security and IoT technology.

“In 2022, we plan to develop and supply competitive products in cooperation with various overseas partner companies to enter the global market while stably supplying new products to the domestic bio/medicine cold chain market,” said Moon Jin-soo, CEO of M2cloud.

M2Cloud delivers scalable logistics and monitoring solutions for use by hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers in their supply chains. It owns the first IoT Security System in South Korea – certified by Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) – that satisfies all standards of IoT security testing such as stability, integrity, security and unauthorized manipulation defence.

Last year, the company established an integrated logistics system for COVID-19 with real-time visibility into the entire supply chain, ensuring integrity, proof of compliance to ensure product quality, IoT technology optimized for temperature sensitivity, and cloud technology for ESG practices.

M2 Cloud has also established and operated a cold chain system throughout the process of receiving, storing, and delivering COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca (refrigeration), Janssen (freezing), and Pfizer (ultra-low temperature), which are all biological agents.

New IoT-based LTE monitoring system

M2Cloud and Thales revealed their strategic partnership two weeks ago as they unveiled the first product of their collaboration – an IoT-based LTE monitoring system optimised for biopharmaceutical monitoring.

Unlike Bluetooth devices for near-field communication, the newly developed IoT cold chain system which is equipped with a low-power LTE communication chip, does not require additional gateway adoption or complex setups such as internet connectivity.

It can remotely check temperature and location information in real time by just turning the power on, making it suitable for real-time monitoring of refrigerators, refrigerated warehouses, etc., as well as tracking the delivery boxes being transported in real time.

In particular, because it ensures real-time visibility and data integrity, and can check temperature history without data loss in the event of a power outage or network failure, it  enhances the safety of pharmaceutical products with technologies optimised for biopharmaceutical management, such as vaccines that confirm the validity of products with a temperature history.

“For a quarter of a century, customers across all industries have trusted Thales’ industry-leading IoT solutions to seamlessly connect and secure IoT devices and to help them transform real-time data into efficient decision making. We are proud to work with M2cloud to help keep their cold chain monitoring and management solutions connected, and to contribute solutions that support the healthcare industry in Korea,” said Sandy Gillio, country director and chief executive,  Thales Korea.

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Shared mobility presents promising solutions to meet India's increasing demand for transportation services. With people relying on different modes of transportation since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, new business models of shared mobility solutions are gaining momentum. Due to this, the gross merchandise value (GMV) of Indian shared mobility is likely to reach US$42.85 billion by 2027 from US$11.05 billion in 2021, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.3%.

"The pandemic disrupted the traditional business model of the shared mobility market in India. Multiple factors, including familiarity with shared services, strong digital infrastructure, and a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, will drive India's push to meet the booming demand for transportation services," said Chanchal Jetha, senior research analyst, Mobility Practice, Frost & Sullivan. "Of the various shared mobility modes, we expect corporate mobility and ride-hailing to drive growth in India. Companies like Yulu, Ola, etc., are considering new use cases, such as partnerships with eCommerce and food delivery services. The move will reduce dependency on traditional revenue-generation models and expedite the shared mobility market growth."

Jetha added: "Factors such as the end of travel bans, the inclusion of electric vehicles in fleets, and increasing partnerships with OEMs will boost the sector. Increasing traffic congestion and carbon emissions with the growing population size and density also creates the need for sustainable, accessible, safe, and reliable shared mobility fleets."

Growing urbanisation, electric vehicle (EV) integration, and rising disposable income signal growth opportunities in the Indian shared mobility market, presenting lucrative market prospects. Key players should:

• Prepare for service flexibility, including integrations with new business avenues.
• Focus on including EVs in their fleets to manage overall operating costs and boost electric mobility.
• Integrate with public transit modes to reduce traffic congestion and enhance the rider experience.

The post Indian shared mobility market to reach US$43B by 2027 appeared first on FutureIoT.

The new facility at the port is touted to be the world’s first fully-automated cold chain port warehouse, providing low-temperature warehousing and other services in an area of over 30,000 square meters.

As the gateway to Beijing, Tianjin port is one of the busiest hub for China’s massive import and export businesses and it is the first stop in China’s cold chain logistics network.

“Geek+ will continue to work together with Engero to implement its innovative technology to extend this new industry benchmark to further cold chain logistics providers,” said Geek+ in a press statement.  “Our highly flexible autonomous mobile robots and advanced algorithm strategies are the twin engines driving the improvement and modernization of cold chain warehouse.”

Engero specialises in smart logistics and integrated solutions that help companies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve management through automation and smart technologies. Engero conducts business throughout China.

Manual operations is not suited to cold chain logistics

According to Geek+, the extreme conditions in cold chain logistics is not well-suited for manual operations. Geek+’s AMR (autonomous mobile robots), on the other hand, can stably operate at low temperatures 24 hours a day, seven days a week, reducing the need for people to endure extreme, unpleasant working conditions.

“A further benefit of robotic automation of cold chain logistics is a reduction in risks to workers’ health and goods safety. Upon arrival in the port, goods requiring cold chain storage are carried by Geek+’s MP1000R moving robots to the depot area for customs inspection and disinfection, before entering the storage area for further processing and distribution,” the company said.

Within the warehouse, Geek+ robots interact and collaborate with different intelligent devices to handle the whole logistics process. Indeed, the robots autonomously handle all aspects of warehouse operations from pallet scheduling to packing. Furthermore, Geek+ MP1000Rs distribute goods automatically to the conveyor line for inspection.

AI algorithms optimise the robots’ routes with intelligent queuing strategies to avoid traffic jams in narrow passages and drive efficient cluster scheduling, according to Geek+.

“360° laser obstacle avoidance and omni-directional sensing allows the MP1000Rs to navigate in narrow aisles, maximising storage space density and further ensuring worker safety. The robot’s self-rotating jack allows for great flexibility with minimal space occupied when moving pallets, meaning that warehouses can be upgraded with a minimum of fuss,” the company said.

Artificial intelligence is seamlessly integrated into the warehouse control system and oversees the operations of the whole fleet.

The warehouse operates under the "cloud warehouse" management mode and all process data can be traced. This enables centralised inventory management, online billing, and real-time information flows, which greatly improve efficiency and makes it easy to track the whole process.

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Set to open in April, the new 9-metre-high facility in South China will have a higher storage density with a daily throughput expected to reach 128,000 units. It will be using HAI Robotics' ACR (autonomous case-handling robotics) system to help handle growing fulfilment workload.

"We see HAI ROBOTICS as an important long-term partner, as we have shared ambition in smart warehousing," Chen Jiancong, general manager of logistics of Anta Group.

HAI Robotics’ ACR system  was first deployed in Anta's warehouse in southwestern China's Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in April 2021, with 25 customised HAIPICK robots doing case picking and retrieving from shelves to continuously feed goods-to-person picking stations.

The storage density of the 5.7-meter-high warehouse increased significantly to offer up to 27,600 locations, handling up to 80,000 units in outbound orders per day. The warehouse, which was previously stretched tight to handle its tens of thousands of SKUs at low picking accuracy, is now feeding the needs from 1,200 brick-and-mortal stores with a weekly outbound volume of 60,000 pieces.

The tremendous efficiency improvement prompted Anta into a second warehouse automation project with HAI ROBOTICS only three months later, with a larger robot fleet deployed at its 3,500-square-meter warehouse in Jinjiang.

With the redesign of 11-layer shelves inside the 5.7-meter-high warehouse, the project provides around 20,000 storage locations. The warehouse reached a daily outbound capacity of 200,000 pieces with the use of HAIPORT-powered Workstation, an automatic loading and unloading machine.

"Together we will keep innovating to address more challenging scenarios for the footwear and apparel warehousing sector and bring more added value to our customers," said Richie Chen, founder and CEO, HAI Robotics.

Named a global AI unicorn by Hurun Research Institute last year, the company – which specialises in robotics- and AI-based warehouse solutions – currently has a number of ongoing projects with top footwear and apparel brands.

Founded in 2016 with headquarters in Shenzhen, China, HAI ROBOTICS has set up six subsidiaries in Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore, the United States, United Kingdom and the Netherlands, serving customers from more than 30 countries and regions.

With more than 1,300 team members, the company has acquired over 600 global patents for core intellectual properties involving positioning, robot control, and warehouse management.

The post Anta and HAI Robotics embark on third robotics project appeared first on FutureIoT.

Entitled the Future of Work in Logistics, the report pointed out the multiple forces of change – from shifting demographics, technology advancement, to the Covid-19 pandemic –  that are coming together to change long-established status quo at a pace and scale never seen before in the logistics industry.

“The convergence of these forces will transform the way each of us works, to varying degrees – some jobs will require the use of new tools, some jobs will no longer be needed, and many new jobs will be created,” the report said. “While this may seem like a far future topic for some, at the time of writing, severe supply chain labour shortages are so severe it’s making front page headlines around the world.”

The report incorporated perspectives from over 7,000 logistics professionals around the world. From truck drivers and warehouse workers to supply chain planners and data scientists, the industry is already grappling with a growing labour shortage and a war for talent.

Technology advancement

The DHL report noted that the most recognised force sustaining the current pressures for change in logistics and reshaping the Future of Work is the advancement of technology.

Continual improvements in the realms of digitalisation, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) are already having a significant impact on jobs, workplaces, and entire sectors around the world, further permeating all parts of the supply chain every year.

To date, the report cited sources saying that 29% of all current workplace tasks are done by machines. This is expected to grow to 52% by 2025.

“Logistics can now adopt once infeasible or cost-prohibitive technology, thanks to important technological breakthroughs in recent years involving sensors, batteries, wireless communication, data storage, computing power, and material sourcing,” the report said. “It is only with these modern advancements that augmenting and automating technologies have become unlocked and accessible to supply chains, opening the door to further developments.”

Here are some interesting facts – based on various third-party research – about several important technologies that will drive the digital transformation of logistics:

• From 100 km (60 mi) in 2017 to 1,099 km (683 mi) in 2021 – range of electric light commercial trucks
• 10 hours over 1,530 km (951 mi) – delivery time saved with a semi-autonomous truck
• 10,000 different items with 99% accuracy – picking and packing performance by robot arms
• US$1.5 billion – amount spent on robotic process automation (RPA) software in 2020
• 815 km (506 mi) – range of new all-electric airplanes
• 1,000 devices per meter – connectivity provided by 5G
• 80% price decrease, 2x read accuracy, 4x range – RFID tags over last decade

With the increasing diffusion of augmenting and automating technology into supply chains, the DHL report said workers on facility floors and in the office are seeing their tasks transform and new roles emerge.

However, despite the acceleration of breakthroughs, DHL does  not foresee for the logistics industry an instant and dramatic “flip of the switch” from human labour to automation.

“Instead, we see a gradual period of change over 30 years in which more roles will collaborate with technology in the workplace instead of competing with it,” the report said. “Furthermore, we anticipate an uneven application of technologies around the world, with some regions and teams along supply chains experiencing slower or smaller changes than others.”

Changing demographics

Meanwhile, the big highlight of the report is the shifting demographics within the industry and the need to attract the technology-savvy Millennials and Generation Z to make a career in logistics.

For the logistics industry, the report states the demographic shift builds pressure at both ends of the demographic curve.

As more Baby Boomers retire, Generations Xers – those born between 1965 and 1980 – are expected to take on the leadership roles in the logistic industry. This generation has seen the steady progression of technology advancement in their lifetime from analogue to digital through the advent of the internet and the beginnings of e-commerce.

Today it is estimated that over 50% of all leadership roles are held by Gen Xers, and this generation will become the most senior and experienced supply chain employees in the coming decade.

“Organisations are concerned about a brain drain of institutional knowledge as older employees with decades-long experience and know-how begin leaving en masse for retirement. On the other end, they are eager to backfill vacant positions and attract new talent.”

Indeed, Millennials born between 1981 and 1996 are expected to fill the bulk of new openings. As the first generation to grow up with the internet and the worldwide proliferation of digital technology, they will help drive the digital transformation of the global supply chains. This age group is expected to make up 40% of the working-age population by 2030.

Growing influence of the younger generations

Besides the Millennials, the report pointed out that the future of logistics lies in attracting Generation Z – born between 2012 and 2025 – to work in the industry. Although this generation is still years ahead from joining the work force, they are often considered true digital natives and are already the largest generation alive at 26% of the world’s population.

As Millennials and Generation Z now make up the majority of the global workforce and wield a significant amount of power as consumers and employees. Together they are amplifying pressure on the logistics industry to meet new expectations around sustainability, diversity & inclusion, employee well-being, and tech-forward environments.

“This continued transformation of people in the workforce is accelerating a shift of values in the workplace. Workers are making new decisions about the conditions under which they will provide their labour and skills, the types of organisation for which they are willing to work, and the rewards they expect in return for their time and effort.

“While everyone has their unique set of preferences and goals, they are also often heavily influenced by the period in which they came of age – that is to say, different generations generally have markedly different attitudes and values about the concept of work,” the report said.

The report offers an interesting glimpse of how these two generations view these four areas based on various third-party studies:

• 50% of Millennials would consider quitting their current job to work for an organization they consider to be more environmentally friendly.
• 34% of Millennials and 38% of Generation Z believe systemic racism is widespread in their workplace.
• 50% of Millennial and 75% of Generation Z workers have left a job for mental health reasons.
• 1 in 6 young workers have already quit a job “because their employer did not provide the proper technology for them to do their job.”
• 80% of Generation Z members surveyed around the world want to work with cutting-edge technology.

“To succeed, organisations need to deploy strategies that will attract, retain, develop, and motivate workers in the digital era,” the report said.

The report also cites the big impact that the current COVID-19 has on the global supply chains, greatly accelerating the digital transformation of logistics.

“Many roles – from customs agents to customer service representatives – suddenly faced strict occupancy limits or could no longer come into the office altogether. Organisations are having to quickly source and deploy the equipment, skills, and collaboration tools to enable remote work, as well as allow for new work schedules. Visibility tools, automation, contactless and flexible delivery technologies, and IoT sensors to track shipments are just some examples of technology acceleration as a result of Covid-19.”

The report added: “While things are still fluid in our ‘new normal’ it is clear that some things will never go back to the way they were, and a new way of life and work has emerged. This new Future of Work is here to stay.

The post DHL study: More automation in the cards for logistics industry appeared first on FutureIoT.

78% of respondents said their interest in sustainability initiatives has increased since the start of the pandemic, while 84% said the pandemic has boosted their awareness of new technologies and applications that have improved their quality of life.

"The coming decades hold great promise for Hong Kong's continued development as a smart and sustainable city. The city's status as a logistics hub and global financial centre enables innovation in the areas of logistics and digital supply chain, fintech, Regtech and sustainable finance, while its dense urban landscape offers opportunities for the development of proptech solutions. Hong Kong is in a strong position to develop use cases that can be applied to other markets in the rest of the GBA and ASEAN,” said Andrew Weir, regional senior partner, Hong Kong and Global Head of Real Estate, KPMG, said.

KPMG polled a total of 4,096 people from Hong Kong, the nine Mainland China cities with the Greater Bay Area, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Shanghai.

The survey is part of Hong Kong's Connected Future – KPMG China's fourth annual study on Hong Kong's smart and sustainable development produced in partnership with Autotoll, CGI, CLP, Cyberport, DLA Piper, JLL, Lenovo, MTR, Siemens, Sino Group, Smart City Consortium and theDesk. The report includes insights from the public sector, business and NGO leaders on the challenges and opportunities for Hong Kong's ongoing smart transformation.

HK property and transport sectors: key in reducing city’s carbon footprint

The study identified the property and transport sectors as key areas for Hong Kong to reduce its carbon footprint.

Hong Kong residents see room for improvement in these areas, with only 25% of the city’s respondents saying current efforts to create carbon neutral buildings are sufficient, while 19% believe enough is being done to promote carbon neutral vehicles.

To meet the city's targets of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, existing buildings will need to be retrofitted to reduce their carbon emissions and make them more energy efficient.

Furthermore,  pollution, waste reduction, waste management and reducing single use plastic are seen as the most pressing sustainability challenges facing Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong currently has a big focus on redevelopment, including planning, building approvals, land premium/zoning, revisiting plot ratio and incentives to create greener buildings that are fit for purpose. With incentives now in place, we need a concerted effort to bring redevelopment projects to life,” said Alan Yau, head of real estate, Hong Kong, KPMG China.

Meanwhile, with a wide range of new digitalisation initiatives outlined in the Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint 2.0 released by the government in 2020, the study also pointed out  to the need for a comprehensive, coordinated approach to smart city development that addresses the needs of residents. Access to affordable housing was a top concern with 53% of respondents citing it as a priority, while access to affordable quality healthcare was considered a key issue by 40% of respondents, followed by addressing poverty and inequality at 38%.

Additionally, 55%  of respondents in Hong Kong said data security and privacy as among the top three factors to consider when cities implement new initiatives. These findings highlight the need for a unified cybersecurity regime in Hong Kong, backed by a legal framework, to protect both individuals' data and critical government infrastructure from cyberattacks.

There is also a need for the city to develop a set of industry-wide security standards for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and projects.

Digital services now a fixture in consumers’ lives

The study also showed a significant increase in the take up of both government and private sector digital services among residents amid the rollout of anti-pandemic controls and related measures among the seven Asian markets surveyed:

• 65% of respondents said they are more likely to access public services and information online
• 70% reported increasing use of digital payments and e-wallets
• 64%  mentioned an increase in getting updates on city services and information on their mobile devices

A majority of respondents indicated that the increasing trend towards the use of these digital services is likely to be permanent. More than three-quarters (78%) of respondents agreed that anti-pandemic efforts in their cities have played a role to help their cities become smarter and more sustainable.

Underemployment, healthcare, economic resilience and environmental quality were listed as key challenges facing their city by residents in Hong Kong, mainland China GBA cities, Singapore and Shanghai.

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E-bikes are establishing themselves as the de-facto form of personal mobility in Europe due to the increased ease of usage, regulatory support, and overall perception as a sustainable form of transport. With a current penetration of approximately 15% of the total bicycle population in Europe and growing at a CAGR of  about 18%, the market for the e-bicycle holds significant growth potential.

SEMG is a market-leading provider of e-mobility solutions within the DACH region, operating the largest pure-play e-bike retail chain M-way in Switzerland with close to USD 100M in revenue.  The company has a prestigious Swiss mobility brands portfolio, including Cilo, Simpel, Allegro, and Zenith – Bikes.  By combining its extensive physical network and e-commerce platform with two online platforms and 31 physical stores, SEMG is able to deliver a seamless and world-class customer experience.

“TVS Motor has always been committed to sustainability and has been investing in electric vehicles for over 10 years.  The increasing global focus on the environment and personal well-being is rapidly accelerating demand for newer mobility solutions, and TVS Motor is investing to drive this change,” said Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor.

The acquisition has been made in an all-cash deal through TVS Motor’s Singapore Subsidiary, TVS Motor (Singapore).

Rainer Fröhlich, founder and managing partner, CONSTELLATION CAPITAL, noted that by partnering with TVS Motor, they have found an ideal and dynamic partner for SEMG to strengthen its market leadership.

“The strategy of having a global leader like TVS as a majority shareholder not only offers untapped potential in quality assurance and procurement in the global supply chain but also lays the foundation for future expansion of the group beyond national borders,” said Fröhlich.

CONSTELLATION CAPITAL AG, one of Switzerland’s leading investment firms, is an adviser to SEMG. SEMG was incepted as a part of the CONSTELLATION V fund in 2018.

Meanwhile, Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director, TVS Motor Company, said the SEMG acquisition advances their commitment towards e-personal mobility products.

“SEMG has strong omnichannel distribution and aspirational brands, including Cilo, Simpel, and Zenith - Bikes.  I’m excited to enhance the product range further and scale the company in the DACH region and beyond,” Venu said.

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The company plans to put this technology into practical use by March 2024 and to have it installed in NEC's cooperative AMRs in the island nation.

Tackling the challenge of automation

In recent years, the labour shortage have pushed large warehouses in the country to use robots for transporting materials within their facilities. However, these AMRs are then configured to travel with reduced speed to ensure safety, which makes transport efficiency a challenge.

Warehouse operators have to build passageways and areas dedicated for AMRs to speed up their movement. Thus, introducing these mobile robots in existing facilities has been difficult.  

With its new  “risk-sensitive stochastic control technology”,  NEC hopes to efficiently control AMRs without compromising safety demands.

“This has been accomplished by using models that can express uncertain factors that vary from one site to another, such as sensor measurement errors and differences between simulation results and actual robot movements. Moreover, this new technology has adopted methods that have been used in actuarial finance,” said NEC in a press statement.

As a result, robots can autonomously determine when to travel at high speed, and over the shortest distances, such as when traveling in low risk locations without workers, objects on the floor or other obstacles. Similarly, robots will travel at a low speed when using routes that are determined to be high risk locations.

“When comparing transport work between a robot applying this technology and a conventional robot, it was confirmed that the work time was halved, and the transfer efficiency could be doubled while ensuring safety. In addition, safety and efficiency can be achieved without dedicated robot areas, making it easy to install in existing warehouses,” NEC said

Meanwhile, NEC hopes to develop other technologies through on-site demonstration experiments, aiming for their early installation in AMRs for a wide range of industries.

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“More and more organisations are embracing a digital-first strategy to scale their operations, enhance the experiences of their customers, and unlock the value of technologies like 5G, IoT, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML),” said Charles Meyers, president and CEO, Equinix. “Korea and the broader Asia-Pacific market are both enablers and beneficiaries as organisations prioritise digital transformation. To address demand for cloud and digital infrastructure, we have continued to invest in the region through the expansion of International Business Exchange (IBX) capacity and locations, as well as the expansion of our hyperscale program, xScale, in Australia, and now Korea.”

The new joint venture will bring the global xScale data centre portfolio to more than US$8 billion across 36 facilities, and an expected greater than 720 MW of power capacity when completed and fully constructed.

xScale data centers offer access to Equinix's comprehensive suite of interconnection and digital services. These services will tie into the hyperscale companies' existing access points at Equinix, thereby increasing the speed of connectivity to their existing and future enterprise customers.

Equinix entered the Korean market in 2019 with its first IBX, SL1. At the facility, customers can connect their corporate IT infrastructure to global hyperscale providers, including Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Service, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud, via Equinix Fabric, for a high-performance solution and enhanced user experience.

With this xScale expansion, these hyperscale providers can continue to grow at Equinix, in close proximity to an ecosystem of more than 10,000 customers on its growing platform of more than 235 data centers around the world.

The two facilities under the new joint venture, to be named SL2x and SL3x, are expected to provide more than 45 megawatts (MW) of power capacity to serve the unique core workload deployment needs of hyperscale companies, including the world’s largest cloud service providers.

With more hyperscale providers expanding in Korea to support businesses’ digital infrastructure needs, the cloud computing market in the country is expected to flourish. According to IDC Korea, the cloud IT infrastructure market in the country is expected to reach an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% over the next five years, reaching approximately US$1.86 billion (2.2189 trillion won) in sales by 2025. The Global Interconnection Index (GXI Vol. 5), an annual market study recently published by Equinix, also estimates that Seoul will have the most interconnection bandwidth from hyperscale providers within Asia-Pacific by 2024.

To date, seven xScale data centres have opened globally, with more currently under development. The establishment of xScale data centers in Korea will allow hyperscale providers to add core deployments to their existing access point footprints at Equinix, enabling their growth on a single platform that can immediately span 65 global metros and offer direct interconnection to their customers and strategic business partners.

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The two companies will bring together Envision Digital's strengths in digitalisation and AIoT, with Mott MacDonald's infrastructure transformation expertise, to help cities, industrial clusters, transport operators and other customers achieve their net zero goals faster and more effectively.

"To overcome the challenges of decarbonising the global economy, digitally enabling infrastructure is essential to make assets smarter, greener and more efficient. Our common vision and technology capabilities will accelerate city infrastructures needed for the new net zero grid,” said Michael Ding, global executive director of Envision.

Mike Haigh, executive chair of Mott MacDonald, believes their latest partnership is a perfect fit as it enables the company  to collaborate in new areas to create innovative solutions to achieve net zero.

“Envision Digital's capabilities in AIoT and digitalisation aligns with our vision of the role digital twins can play in rising to the challenge set by the statements made at COP26."

Envision Digital and Mott MacDonald are already working together to assist Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council to facilitate the electrical infrastructure to support Nissan and Envision AESC's multi million pound investment in electric vehicle production and a new Gigafactory in Sunderland, UK at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP). 

IAMP is a hub for sustainable high value manufacturing and the project involves creation of one of the largest industrial microgrids in the UK, including proposals for on-site renewables and storage, facilitating the provision of 100% renewable electricity.

As countries, cities and companies declare their net zero target aligned with the Paris Agreement, net zero carbon and infrastructure transformation has become a quintessential part of governments and enterprises' Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) strategy. The strategic partnership between Envision Digital and Mott MacDonald will provide comprehensive sustainability offerings to help drive organisations' net zero infrastructure transformation worldwide.

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The deployment of the robot is also part of FedEx Express’ latest push in digitising its operations and building a smart logistics network.

Called the DoraSorter, the robot is being deployed at the 5,200sqm FedEx South China E-Commerce Shipment Sorting Center in Guangzhou. DoraSorter is already part of the daily sorting operations and is capable of handling small inbound and outbound packages from e-commerce customers in South China.

Kawal Preet, president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express, said: “With e-commerce taking centre stage in the future of retail in our region, the speed with which a parcel can be picked up and delivered to customers’ doorsteps has become a dominant factor in driving the adoption of sorting robots.”

He added that bringing DoraSorter to China as a pilot program is a natural choice as the country is the world’s biggest e-commerce market with an expected valuation of US$3.3 trillion by 2025.

“As we look to build a data-driven, smart logistics network to help our customers thrive in the digital economy, this alliance with Dorabot is part of becoming the network for what’s next. AI-powered technology will continue to change how we support customers in the region and enhance supply chains for the future,” said Preet.

DoraSorter’s core function of sorting parcels based on destination matches the sorting centre’s operation process. Key features of DoraSorter include:

• At approximately 40sqm , the robot can carry up to 10 kilograms of packages, covering up to 100 destinations simultaneously.
• The robot has a special drawer-shaped gripper that can connect with the conveyor belt seamlessly.
• Equipped with a barcode reader that scans package to obtain destination information, the robot uses its gripper to receive a package inward from the conveyor belt and moves it outward to the corresponding destination slot.

 "The use of DoraSorter helps FedEx sort a higher volume of cross-border e-commerce shipments,” said Xiaobai Deng, founder and CEO of Dorabot. “It is the starting point of a global collaboration between Dorabot and FedEx. We hope that we can work together to bring AI and robotics applications to more businesses and consumers."

Indeed, FedEx investment in warehouse automation echoes broader industry trends. Triggered by the global pandemic, logistics players are optimising operational efficiencies, from warehouse management to last-mile delivery, to cater to the soaring demand for e-commerce products, seasonal peaks, and consumers’ heightened expectations for fast delivery.

According to McKinsey & Company, the global warehouse automation market is projected to reach US$51 billion by 2030. By 2025, more than four million commercial robots will be installed at more than 50,000 warehouses.

“Innovation is at our core and is a major factor behind FedEx strategy in China,” said Robert Chu, vice president, Operations, FedEx China. “To meet customers' changing needs, we have been exploring and investing in new technologies to enhance every key aspect of transportation. The rapid rise in e-commerce has led to higher customer demand for timeliness and flexibility in logistics services, creating new challenges and opportunities for the entire logistics industry. Our collaboration with Dorabot is our latest effort to improve operational efficiencies and build an agile logistics infrastructure through robotics technology that will support the growth of China's e-commerce industry."

FedEx continues to leverage advanced technologies to streamline its operations and help customers of all sizes in China and beyond seize opportunities in the global market.

Last October, FedEx teamed up with Neolix to test an autonomous delivery vehicle in China. The company is also testing FedEx SameDay Bot , Roxo  in AMEA to explore the future of contactless, last-mile delivery.

In addition, FedEx also launched a sensor-based logistics device – SenseAwareID, designed to enhance tracking precision, reliability and timely delivery of critical shipments such as life-saving pharmaceuticals and emergency medical supplies.

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The replacement of the old parking meters was completed a year after the project was launched.

The sensors in the new HKeMeters detect whether a parking space is occupied, and provide real-time information to assist motorists in available spaces. The sensors use millimetre wave radar technology to detect whether roadside parking spaces are occupied.

The real-time information will be disseminated to motorists through HKeMeter, the mobile / web version of HKeMobility and the website of DATA.GOV.HK. The sensors are only capable to detect the occupancy of parking spaces, and will not collect any personal information, vehicle types or vehicle registration numbers.

In total, the Transportation Department expects to install about 12,000 smart parking meters.

Multiple payment methods

The new HKeMeters accept multiple payment options, including Octopus and contactless credit cards such as Visa payWave, MasterCard Contactless and UnionPay QuickPass, Faster Payment System ("FPS"), AlipayHK, WeChat Pay and Union QR.

All motorists have to do is tap their card onto the designated card reader, or they can open the mobile application of the relevant payment means (including FPS, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay and Union QR) and scan the QR code displayed on the parking meters with their mobile phones, to pay the parking fees.

Also, the new parking meters support  on-site and remote payment of parking fees through a new mobile application, HKeMeter. The mobile app is available on both IoS and Android mobile devices.

When paying for the first time with HKeMeter, a motorist will be requested to enter the information of the payment means. If the selected payment method is a Visa or MasterCard credit card, the system will store the relevant information and the motorist can use the same payment means to pay the parking fees later without entering the relevant information again.

On the other hand, if a motorist chooses to pay by mobile payment means (such as AlipayHK, WeChat Pay or Octopus), HKeMeter will automatically open the mobile application of the relevant payment means in the motorist's mobile phone for making the payment through the relevant mobile application.

If a motorist uses HKeMeter to pay the parking fee on site directly, the system will automatically link his mobile phone up with the parking meter to facilitate remote payment later, which is more convenient.

All motorists have to do is tap their card onto the designated card reader, or they can open the mobile application of the relevant payment means (including FPS, AlipayHK, WeChat Pay and Union QR) and scan the QR code displayed on the parking meters with their mobile phones, to pay the parking fees.

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"Both Kinéis and UnaBiz are focused on creating value for the ecosystem", said Henri Bong, co-founder and co-CEO of UnaBiz. "We are excited to work with our new partner in the new space industry as nanosatellites IoT solutions will complement our existing terrestrial offers, including LPWAN and cellular solutions, providing our partners with a truly global connectivity solution."

Satellite connectivity complements terrestrial networks – both cellular and non-cellular. And today, the new space industry is growing at a steady space, with recent studies predicting that the number of satellite IoT subscribing will increase at CAGR annual growth rate of 35.8% to reach 15.7 million units in 2025.

Kinéis forges links between New Space and IoT and connects hundreds of customers with satellite IoT – tapping its expertise in localisation and data collection, to provide low-cost, low-power, direct to satellite IoT connectivity.

Established in 2019, the satellite operator and global connectivity provider inherited 40 years of expertise in the Argos system, founded by CNES (French space agency) and historically operated by CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites).

It has seven operational satellites, with two more announced this year, Kinéis will launch a 25-nanosatellite constellation in 2023 from New Zealand, quadrupling its current network to achieve near real-time connectivity.

"We are very pleased to begin this new partnership with UnaBiz in Asia, after being granted access to the U.S. market,” said Alexandre Tisserant, Kinéis’ CEO. “Together, we can strengthen our market position by offering a complete and reliable IoT solution with global coverage which combines the best of each technology."

To kick off the partnership, both companies will begin the development and commercialisation of a seamless global IoT solution that collects data from Kinéis satellite network and integrates them on UnaBiz’s data platform designed for massive scale asset management.

The solution is initially targeted  for global logistics and transportation industry where consistent and seamless connectivity is essential. Further down the line, it will be aimed at other verticals such as useful for applications in asset tracking, maritime, utilities, agriculture, and construction.

The post UnaBiz teams up with Kinéis to deliver satellite IoT connectivity appeared first on FutureIoT.

According to latest analysis by Frost & Sullivan, the growth of IoT adoption in the country is backed by strong connectivity and coverage, rising internet penetration, a surge in smart applications adoption, new business models, and government initiatives such as smart city projects.

"IoT solution deployment for manufacturing industries, including automotive, energy and utilities, smart cities (government), retail, and other industries such as logistics, will drive investments for enterprise IoT products and services," said Apalak Ghosh, associate director, Information & Communications Technologies, Frost & Sullivan. "Enterprises are becoming more technology-focused and increasing investments in cellular IoT to generate value from their digital transformation."

Ghosh added: "Use cases such as industrial automation, building automation, security, and surveillance account for the majority of the market revenue. Telcos may benefit from a share of this revenue, depending on their strategic partnerships with hardware providers and their roles in the IoT value chain."

India offers multiple opportunities for IoT providers, and the country's IoT ecosystem is expected to continue growing to offer entire new streams of revenue. Market participants should focus on:

• Private long-term evolution (P-LTE) for enhanced security: Indian telcos should focus on marketing the benefits of P-LTE to create awareness and approach enterprises with vertical-specific P-LTE solutions.
• Real-time operational intelligence for heightened risk and compliance management: IoT providers must develop hardware and applications that are interoperable and pre-integrated to offer brand-agnostic IoT solutions.
• Visual matrix solutions for improved CX: IoT providers should establish partnerships with visual surveillance system original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to jointly offer in-store, live consumer analytics along with core security solutions.
• IoT as a Service for Smart Diagnostics Laboratories: Starting with open source-based IoT solutions can reduce costs substantially and encourage the adoption of smart laboratories as a service.

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The third-party logistics company has once again tapped Geek+ to supply the AMRs, following the successful first deployment at CJ Logistics’ Dongtan distribution centre.

This latest project involves  the rollout of 128 AMRs operating 24/7 and covering 8300sqm of allocated space within CJ Logistics' 10,000sqm warehouse. By integrating Geek+’s solutions into their WMS system, CJ Logistics have raised their operational efficiency by 33%.

“We are excited to use smart robots to improve our supply chain operations and increase our competitiveness. We're pleased to extend our partnership with Geek+ to our Gunpo warehouse after seeing the efficiency and accuracy improvements that Geek+'s technology has delivered in our Dongtan distribution centre,” said Kim Khunghoon, managing director, CJ Logistics.

Meanwhile, Geek+ has set up headquarters in Seoul to support its customers in the country. The new office is manned by a full team of  commercial, project, and service engineers. Besides South Korea, Geek+ has offices in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, and Japan.

Lit Fung, managing director for APAC, UK, and Americas at Geek+ said: "We are delighted that CJ Logistics have placed their faith in us to extend our already successful cooperation. We can't wait to see our robots give them flexibility, adaptability, and precision in dealing with the vigorous market growth. We believe there is a huge demand for AMR robots in South Korea, which is why we have set up a full team there to support the logistics upgrades facilitated by robotics & AI in the retail, e-commerce, and apparel sectors."

Geek+ will continue to work with CJ Logistics on a variety of projects to provide Korean businesses with the technology to improve their efficiency and reduce the costs of warehouse management in this ever-changing environment.

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“The lack of affordable wireless coverage is holding back the growth of the IoT from contributing an additional  US$2 trillion to US$3 trillion in value to global GDP over the next decade,” said Alastair Williamson, CEO of Wyld Networks. “Combining two advanced frontier technologies of LoRaWAN and Low Earth Orbiting satellites we can enable 100% global, affordable and low power connectivity to support IoT deployments in multiple markets and segments.”

Don Miller, board member at TrakAssure, is optimistic about the launch of the world’s first LoRaWAN direct-to-satellite with terrestrial dual-mode network compatibility.

“The combined effort will usher in a fresh, cost effective and carrier grade solution opening up new applications in logistics and global asset tracking markets by not only leveraging cost-efficient terrestrial based LoRaWAN solutions, but now expanding capability with ubiquitous global connectivity via satellite which even existing cellular solutions cannot support, especially for emerging markets,” said Miller.

Called the Multimodal IoT Infrastructure Consortium (MMIIC), it will initially focus on formalising and completing all technical tests, pilots, and the commercial delivery of its first-to-market supply chain solutions.

This will be followed by the prioritisation and delivery of additional solutions designed to extend the adoption of LoRaWAN connectivity into markets that can benefit from the combination of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and terrestrial network connectivity.

Key activities being executed in support of the collaboration include:

• Currently being tested, ELO nanosatellites (Eutelsat LEO for Objects) will provide LoRaWAN coverage
• Allowing sensor-enabled devices to transmit data, irrespective of their location
• Addressing gaps in terrestrial network coverage across rural areas, shipping and transportation routes, and other hard to reach areas.

The companies are planning a commercial services launch in the second half of 2022 with pilots beginning in February 2022. The consortium is open to any enterprise, application provider or systems integrator interested in participating in a pilot or learning more about this unique service.

Under the hood: collaboration details

Through platform integrations, innovative sensor and hardware design, collaborative service delivery, and compelling pricing, the four companies are targeting the global supply chain, including container logistics and related asset tracking, as the first and anchor applications. End-to-end managed network services delivered through this collaboration will provide a new level of visibility into supply chain operations. For example:

• Containers arriving at ports are tracked via Senet’s terrestrial network
• Goods transported on cargo trucks are tracked throughout metro areas via Senet’s Network and Extended Coverage services enabled by network partners like Helium
• Rural transportation routes will be connected via the terrestrial network if detected and to the satellite network when no terrestrial network is detected, and an uplink is needed
• Distribution and retail centers will be supported by terrestrial network coverage

TrakAssure and Wyld Networks are collaborating on the design and production of a new sensor-enabled end device to be used for supply chain and asset tracking solutions.

Wyld is designing and producing the hardware module along with unique firmware. Using standard LoRaWAN compliant chips and components will allow for low cost and time to market advantages. Through its partnership with Senet, TrakAssure will be offering terrestrial and satellite LoRaWAN network connectivity for single trip, semi and permanent infrastructure-based supply chain visibility.

In addition to location tracking and presence detection, TrakAssure supports LoRaWAN devices used for temperature monitoring, geofence location alerts, proof of delivery and other supply chain visibility requirements.

Benefits of hybrid LoRaWAN connectivity

According to Luc Perard, senior vice president of IoT Business at Eutelsat, existing LPWA networks, including LoRaWAN, are ideal to connect assets that don’t send much data and need to operate on a low power budget.

However, he pointed out that they rely on terrestrial infrastructure, such as LoRaWAN gateways, which will never cover more than extended urban areas, i.e., less than 15% of the Earth’s surface.

“With its satellite connectivity offering ELO, Eutelsat will enable network operators like Senet to propose transformational, global, hybrid (terrestrial + satellite) LoRaWAN connectivity, over lands and seas, at the same low-price points.

“Because ELO is fully compatible with the LoRaWAN standard, IoT solution providers and device manufacturers like TrakAssure and Wyld can easily, rapidly and inexpensively adapt their existing LoRaWAN products to make them ELO-compatible and benefit from up to 100% Earth coverage,” said Perard.

Meanwhile, Senet will provide terrestrial LoRaWAN network connectivity and offer Eutelsat satellite coverage through its Extended Coverage services. Through unique network and device management capabilities, end IoT devices will connect to Senet terrestrial networks by default and automatically switch to satellite when coverage gaps are recognised.

In partnership with TrakAssure and Wyld Networks, Senet will also complete application integration and device testing with its network server to ensure the delivery of carrier-grade network service and robust device management for TrakAssure’s supply chain visibility solutions.

“IoT will drive economic growth for decades to come, but a comprehensive and cost-effective strategy is needed in order to deliver robust network coverage across a geography as massive as the United States,” said Bruce Chatterley, CEO of Senet.

Chatterley added: “Senet’s terrestrial Network, extended coverage through partners like Helium, innovative LPWAN Virtual Network program, and now satellite creates the first and only true national and global LoRaWAN IoT network, covering any geographic area required. This capacity is especially important to logistics applications and is another example of Senet innovating based on unique market and customer requirements.”

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Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis of the global autonomous vehicles (AVs) regulatory landscape finds that increasing automated safety requirements necessitate a robust regulatory framework for AVs.

Initiatives by advanced nations such as Germany, which regulated consumer use of Level 3 (L3) low-speed autonomous lane-keeping systems (ALKS), and Japan, which regulated consumer deployment of L3 vehicles and regulatory bodies such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have developed regulatory guidelines for assessment, testing, and deployment of AVs.

Additionally, global deployment regulations for passenger vehicles are at L3 autonomy, while several countries have commenced testing up to level 5 autonomy.

“Germany, France, Austria, and Sweden are setting benchmarks in AV development and driving early adoption of regulations in Europe,” said Deexeta Mohan Kumar, Mobility Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

The UNECE and governing bodies are working on the regulatory framework to support the strong AV ecosystem in the region. Singapore, China, and Japan are at the forefront of large-scale testing and deployment of L3 to L5 AVs in Asia-Pacific (APAC).

She acknowledged that other markets like India and Malaysia lack government support and have an insufficient physical and digital infrastructure.

Kumar added: “Technology developers work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tiered suppliers to develop and integrate autonomous driving features in vehicle platforms. Collective efforts by technology participants and OEMs to deploy convenience features such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) in vehicles are likely to help the AV industry meet regulatory compliance in Europe by 2024.”

The global harmonization of AV regulations will be instrumental in ramping up L3 to L5 deployment, presenting lucrative growth opportunities for AV market participants in areas such as:

• Harmonized guidelines for vertical market expansion: Global adoption of L3 and above AVs depends on a unified regulatory framework, standardization of ADAS deployment, and autonomous driving features such as driver monitoring, piloted driving, and autonomous parking.
• Regulating L2+ and L3 piloted driving: Regulatory bodies should set L2+ as a standard level and define market deployment guidelines.
• L4 robotaxis and shuttles for consumer deployment by 2024: Technology participants and OEMs can work together to develop and test advanced systems on public roads to deploy L4 robotaxis and shuttles.

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The proof of concept (POC) project is part of Rhenus ongoing strategy to deepen  IT-driven digitalisation by tapping into smart logistics to build a sustainable and robust supply chain.

The company tapped Geek+ as technology partner providing advanced robotics and AI technologies.

The Rhenus Hong Kong warehouse will use Geek+ Goods-to-person solutions. Robots will be used as part of the system to automatically bring goods to the operators, achieving 99.99%  accuracy. The solution also helps maximise warehouse storage as aisle space is minimised.

"Our goal is to provide the best and most innovative logistics service to achieve faster and more flexible movement of goods, to cater to the rapid growth in e-commerce. By working closely with Geek+, we not only realise warehouse digitalisation, but also improve operational efficiency and accuracy, translating to greater cost-savings for customers in the long run,” said Cliff Xu, CEO of Rhenus Air & Ocean Greater China.

With the Geek+ solution, Rhenus Hong Kong can handle large volumes of orders, flexibly meet rapidly changing SKUs, and improve order-fulfilment performance. The Hong Kong site will be the first smart Rhenus warehouse in the Asia-Pacific.

One of the features of the AI-driven system are Geek+'s proprietary algorithms. They optimise order combinations and adjust the inventory layouts in real time, maximising efficiency. In the Rhenus Hong Kong warehouse, over 2,000 SKUs of cosmetic products are constantly arranged according to popularity and expiry date.

"We believe that the smart warehouse upgrade is the only answer to the rapid growth of e-commerce business and growing customer expectations. We will continue to support Rhenus with tailored solutions that best fit their multi-customer business,” said Lit Fung, VP, managing director APAC, UK and Americas at Geek+.

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For two weeks now, three autonomous cars have been traversing through Sangam-dong from DMC Station to apartment complexes and office areas. Passengers can call the vehicles by calling through a smartphone app. By the end of December, three more vehicles including one autonomous bus that runs through DMC Station, World Cup Station, and World Cup Park will be added and expanded to a total of six vehicles.

The “robo-taxis” carry passengers through a pair of routes over roughly 2.3 square miles.

Seoul city mayor Oh Se-hoon was the first passenger to board the “robo-taxi” when the driverless service was rolled out at the end of November, travelling from S-Plex Center to Gugak FM Building in Sangam-dong.

“At the beginning I felt a bit awkward and a little bit nervous but soon the car pulled over and started and changed lanes and made a left turn and a right turn very smoothly as I experienced this, I believed it would be a good start to the commercial service,” said Oh See-Hoon, Seoul mayor told Al Jazeera.

"Autonomous driving is not a technology of the future anymore," Oh added. "It is already here with us. Today, public self-driving vehicles have started to serve our citizens."

Starting in January, a fare will be charged -- pricing has not been established yet, but officials have said it will cost no more than US$1 for the bus and US$2.50 for a car ride.

The vehicles are operated by two private companies, 42dot and SWM, under a license from the city government.

The SMG targets to roll out over 50 self-driving vehicles by 2026 in Sangam-dong alone.

The data and experience from the robo-taxis’ pilot month in Sangam-dong would be invaluable as Seoul looks to become one of the world's top cities for autonomous driving.

Seoul is not the first city to commercialise driverless service -- ongoing projects elsewhere include Google's Waymo One ride-hailing service in the Phoenix suburbs and Baidu's robo-taxi service in Beijing.

In 2022, the South Korean capital plans to start expanding services to other parts of the city, bringing fully automated robot taxis to Gangnam early in the year and running self-driving buses in the downtown area by April.

All through 2026, the SMG will invest an estimated 148.7 billion KRW by 2026 to build autonomous driving infrastructure on all roads

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Both companies will explore cooperative ventures to drive innovation in smart warehouse, including joint development of warehousing products and building specialised automated warehouse properties.

“Our customers are always looking for ways to create efficiencies in their supply chains to meet growing consumer expectations for cost effectiveness and rapid delivery,” said Kristoffer Harvey, chief executive officer, Greater China at Goodman Group. “Well-located smart warehouses are the answer. By partnering with Geek+, we are giving our customers and China’s consumers access to the latest warehouse robotics and technology.”

According to Harvey, China continues to be a world leader in e-commerce and online retail already makes up over 27% of total retail sales. This is expected to increase by 63% to 2025.

Goodman Group is an integrated property group with operations throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Brazil. Goodman Group is the largest industrial property group listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and one of the largest listed specialist investment managers of industrial property and business space globally.

As part of their partnership, Goodman will be able to provide its warehousing customers with the flexible and scalable Geek+ Robot-as-a-Service package. Geek+ products and solutions include Goods-to-Person systems, vertical storage systems, robotic sorting, and autonomous forklifts, known for their precision, reliability, and cost savings logistics for retail, e-commerce, manufacturing customers.

Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore. To date, it has deployed more than 20,000 robots worldwide.

“With our extensive logistics management experience from over 300 automation projects worldwide, Geek+ can provide comprehensive automation solutions that take full advantage of Goodman’s well located and high-quality properties,” said Lit Fung, vice president and managing director APAC, UK and Americas at Geek+.

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The next-generation hydrogen drone is equipped with H3 Dynamics' AEROSTAK hydrogen fuel cell system. It is developed by Drone Works with integration support by Nexty Electronics.

By using lightweight hydrogen as the energy source of the drone, it is possible to fly for a much longer time than with lithium batteries. In addition, In increasingly large applications, hydrogen offers a stronger environmental solution to support decarbonisation, especially as hydrogen can be produced from renewable energy or municipal waste.

Leveraging on hydrogen energy further contributes to solving social issues in line with the government's goal of "realising carbon neutrality by 2050". The partner companies believe that the success of this demonstration in Japan opens the way towards wider adoption of hydrogen in air mobility applications.

The new generation hydrogen drone is equipped with a small composite container for high-pressure hydrogen developed by JFE Container. The special drone-compatible hydrogen fuel cell system is manufactured by H3 Dynamics, who has begun working with Toyota Group member, Toyota Tsusho Nexty Electronics for technical integration in Japan.

Setting up its offices in Tokyo, H3 Dynamics is a global company with locations in Singapore, Paris, Toulouse and Austin that works on decarbonisation of flight from small drones to large aircraft. The company has recently closed a US$26M series B financing, led by Mirai Creation Fund, managed by SPARX Group and representing the interests of Toyota Corporation and Sumitomo Banking Corporation (SMBC). The specialist fund specialises in investments relating to intelligent technologies, robotics, and hydrogen technologies.

H3 Dynamics was recently chosen by one of the world's largest airport operators Groupe ADP in Paris to form part of the Paris air mobility ecosystem and plans to fly a first hydrogen cargo aircraft in the Paris region in the early part of 2021.

Nexty Electronics will continue to strengthen its collaboration with H3 Dynamics in the Japan market. H3 Dynamics has developed world-leading aerial mobility fuel cell systems for the past 15 years, has launched its first hydrogen powered drones, with several air cargo platforms including fixed-wing, VTOL and hydrogen refueling accessories to support zero emission air mobility around the world.

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The Autonomous Vehicle ("AV") System Advisory Services Contract for AATS is expected to be the first commercial autonomous transportation system in Hong Kong and also the first TÜV Rheinland Greater China autonomous vehicle system advisory project.

A series of projects at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) are being implemented progressively as part of the "Airport City" development, a blueprint which entails an investment of over HK$40 billion in the 10 years to 2030 to enhance the airport's capacity and functionality while at the same time transforming it into a new landmark and propelling the economic development of Hong Kong and the region.

The AA plans to introduce an autonomous transportation system on the Airportcity Link (ACL) to connect the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) Island and SKYCITY, and extend the system to Tung Chung town centre.

TÜV Rheinland's international team of experts on connected and automated driving will deliver the consultancy services in AVs, Vehicle-to-everything (V2X), cybersecurity, functional safety and vehicle type and engineering approval.

 “AVs are commonly driven utilizing digital technology without any human intervention, and driverless assistance systems use advanced technology to recognize and interact with their environment. More than merely recognizing their environment, AVs also need to interact and communicate with other vehicles, infrastructure facilities and passengers,” said TÜV Rheinland in a press statement.

TÜV Rheinland has over a century of experience in automotive testing and continues take part in the development of new industry technologies.

For the smart transport sector, the company services include automotive functional safety, information security, whole vehicle and component product testing and certification, certification and testing of onboard wireless communications, safety assessments for domestic/foreign autonomous vehicles, safety assessments for autonomous driving courses, and independent verification and validation for smart transportation services.

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Saudi Arabia unveiled plans for the world’s largest floating city this week, as it enters the new phase of the US$500-billion Neom city-state project that covers 10,000 square miles of country's Tabuk province, near its borders with Jordan and Egypt. Neom – a combination of the Greek word neos, or “new”, and mustaqbal, Arabic for “future” – is a flagship project of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Located at the southwest corner of Neom, Oxagon is envisioned to be an industrial district where the city-state’s integrated port and logistics hub will be located. It lies in close proximity to the Suez Canal where approximately 13% of global trade passes through.

“Oxagon will be the catalyst for economic growth and diversity in Neom and the Kingdom. I am pleased to see that business and development have started on the ground and we look forward to the city's rapid expansion,” Prince Salman said.

He added that Oxagon will redefine the world's approach to industrial development in the future, which will have the protection of the environment at its core. It will represent a radical new model for future manufacturing centres.

Nadhmi As-Nasr, CEO of Neom agrees that Oxagon will signal a fundamental shift of how the world views manufacturing centres.

“What encourages us is to see the enthusiasm of a number of our partners who have shown eagerness to start their projects in Oxagon These pioneers of change will establish factories, developed with the latest technologies in artificial intelligence, to achieve a significant leap for this era into the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Al Nasr.

World’s first fully automated port and integrated logistic hub

Oxagon is being touted as the world first fully automated port and integrated logistics hub that will make use of robots and AI.

The adoption of advanced technologies  of  IoT, human-machine fusion, artificial and predictive intelligence and robotics will be coupled to a network of fully automated distribution centres and autonomous last-mile delivery assets to drive Neom’s ambitions of creating a seamless integrated, intelligent and efficient supply chain.

Furthermore, the port, logistics and rail delivery facility will be unified, providing world-class productivity levels with net-zero carbon emissions, setting global benchmarks in the adoption of technology and environmental sustainability.

The agile and integrated physical and digital supply chain and logistics system will allow for real-time planning, resulting in secure on-time delivery, efficiency and cost-effectiveness for industry partners.

Speaking to Arabian Business, Al-Nasr gave a definitive timeline for Oxagon’s construction: “We expect the onshore development at Oxagon to be completed by 2030. The beginning of the offshore development will be very much underway by that point as well.

“The containerisation of our port is likely to begin in 2022 when we will also be building our advanced integrated port logistics facilities. We aim to have our logistics solutions facilities in place by 2025 as we continue to progress and deploy new technologies such as state-of-the-art high-speed rail and aerial taxis.”

The city’s first residents are expected to move in at the end of 2023,

A net-zero city powered by 100% renewable energy

Oxagon’s octagonal shape is designed to minimise impact to the environment while providing optimal land use. It will be a net-zero city with all industries within its fold to be powered  by renewable energy.

The city has identified seven key sectors for industrial development: sustainable energy; autonomous mobility; water innovation; sustainable food production; health and well-being; modern construction; technology and digital manufacturing,

Oxagon aims to be a showcase of how manufacturing can co-exist with nature and respect the environment, especially the delicate ecosystem of coastal areas.

“We will demonstrate how industry and logistics, powered by 100% clean energy, can redefine manufacturing processes with advanced technology, innovation and the clean use of land and sea areas. What we are doing here in Oxagon is a testament that exceptional liveability and industrial advancement are not mutually exclusive,” Al-Nasr told Arabian Business.

Oxagon expects to welcome its first manufacturing tenants at the beginning of 2022.

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The biggest centre, the 5,000sqm Kawasaki facility, can support future implementation of robotics, cold room storage and high-spec IT systems, and processing in excess of 600,000 orders per annum. Each of the five centres have been selected for their strategic location based network centricity analysis and are designed to be the regional distribution centre to supply medical service parts on demand speed to market to GE Japan's customer swiftly.

The new  centres manage the warehousing of service parts for GE Healthcare's transformational medical technologies and service to meet demand for increase access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world.

The Tokyo Central Distribution Centers (CDC) in Kawasaki provide 24x7 services encompassing distribution & regulatory compliance, call centre operations, international import, reverse returns management, demand fulfilment support global services medical professional to deliver greatest healthcare to patients.

"It was imperative for us optimise our logistics operations as we faced quality and cost challenges in service parts logistics management. DHL's robust performance management, proactive continuous improvement culture, optimised supply chain cost, and service logistics network covering all necessary areas match GE Healthcare's priorities for business growth. We saw a strong business fit between both companies. We believe that DHL, with its global expertise and localised know-how, is an ideal partner for us in providing efficient services,” said Akiko Nakategawa, director of global service parts operations, GE Healthcare Japan.

DHL has already been providing logistic services to GE Healthcare in 13 sites across 10 countries, according to Alfred Goh, president and representative director, CEO Japan and Korea.

“We are honoured to be able to demonstrate our capabilities and deliver value in Japan by utilising world-class warehouse standards, network scalability, visibility, flexibility, innovation, continuous improvement based on our unique operation management system as well as best practices from other parts of the world."

With regulatory and trade compliance requirements for the transportation and storage of medicines becoming more rigorous, DHL provides high-quality fully compliant logistics and supply chain services. With over 80,000 experts and 9,000 Life Sciences and Healthcare certified specialists in over 220 countries, DHL Life Sciences and Healthcare business offers dedicated network maintains complete control of the entire journey. It delivers seamless end-to-end transport of temperature sensitive products across countries and modes; real-time temperature monitoring; and in-depth knowledge in coldchain and clinical trials business and a worldwide network of over 4,000 dedicated and trained experts

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Hence, the flexibility to offer multiple mobility options through a single provider is crucial. In addition,  the need to improve commuting efficiency and effective orchestration of fleets will require the deployment of high-impact technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platforms, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities, blockchain, 5G, and edge computing.

Technology is driving the evolution of the mobility ecosystem and services, enabling on-demand services and integrated solutions. Digital urban mobility management solutions will be key to cities becoming more proactive, smart and liveable.

"Every stakeholder in the value chain of technology providers, automakers, mobility service providers, and cities aim to ensure effective mobility management of passengers and goods. They are increasingly resorting to partnerships/acquisitions to build capabilities and be prepared for the future of mobility," noted Albert Geraldine Priya, program manager - mobility, at Frost & Sullivan. "Public-private partnerships are expected to boost the uptake of smart city initiatives. Open data policies and policy support will catalyse this trend, especially for MaaS and marketplace solutions."

Priya added: "There is likely to be a shift from hardware to software platforms, such as moving from fixed road sensors to floating sensors in cars or cell phones. Differentiated, scalable, and usage-based fee models will require coordinated demand management. The focus on user orientation and convenience will promote free-flow traffic systems, end-user services, and converging technologies."

Urban mobility services providers can expand in a highly dynamic marketplace by making the most of the opportunities offered in the following areas:

• Extensive Collaborations to Develop Capabilities for Future Urban Mobility Management: Collaborations among traditional and new mobility technology providers can result in new business models and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) on a larger scale.
• Advanced Technology and Intelligent Solutions Vital for Smart Mobility of the Future: Solution providers from the information and communications technology (ICT) and automotive sectors should focus on deeper collaborations with various stakeholders, including city governments, to develop a scalable and robust smart city urban mobility management platform that can converge, process, and supply intelligence for seamless operations.
• Urban Mobility Management Systems are Crucial for Future Mobility Operating Systems: With urban mobility management systems central to the design of cities in the future, cities should transition to smart mobility operating systems that can provide a view of the entire city on a single screen.

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“We are helping cities pave their way to a more connected, resilient and sustainable future,” said Chew Men Leong, president of urban solutions at ST Engineering. “Securing these landmark projects provides further validation of the unique strengths, quality and reliability of our smart city solutions. We are delighted to help our customers address their challenges to improve quality of life for their communities.”

The company’s latest smart mobility business is part of a consortium with Hyundai Rotem to be awarded a US$445-million contract by the Kaohsiung City Mass Rapid Transit Bureau to provide turnkey rail services comprising smart metro solutions, trains and a power supply system for the Kaohsiung MRT Red Line Extension, over a seven-year period. The 13km extension line, which is a key rail infrastructure programme in Kaohsiung City, consists of six elevated stations with an option for two additional stations.

Working with its partners, ST Engineering will be responsible for providing the communications and SCADA systems, automatic fare collection system, platform screen doors, and signalling system. This project adds to the group’s smart mobility track record of over 200 smart metro projects in more than 50 global cities.

On the other hand, the company’s latest IoT project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is considered as one of the world’s largest single deployments of a city-wide public smart street light control system. ST Engineering will be serving as a technology partner to the Smart Luz consortium for the city’s public lighting PPP project.

The Smart Luz consortium was awarded the Rio de Janeiro Public Lighting PPP concession to operate, maintain, expand and modernise the city’s public lighting infrastructure for a period of 20 years.

Under this project, ST Engineering  will deploy its Telematics Wireless T-Light Galaxy Smart Street Lighting solution with AGIL IoT platform to connect more than 300,000 LED street lights across the city. The IoT platform also has the capability to manage more than 25,000 devices and sensors to enable Wi-Fi hotspots, waste management and traffic junction sensing for future smart city applications.

Work will start in fourth quarter of 2021 for a period of two years, with a 10-year operation and maintenance (O&M) portion that comes with an option to extend for another eight years. This project builds on the group’s strong record of growth for wireless nodes and IoT solutions worldwide.

According to Yan Herreras Yambanis, principal of High-Trend Brazil and vice president of finance at Smart Luz, the Rio de Janeiro Public Lighting project  will be the largest integrated Smart City deployment in Latin America.

“It will have a transformational impact as well as long-lasting and continuous benefits for the sustainable development of the city of Rio de Janeiro and its population. Smart Luz is excited to be working with ST Engineering as technology partner for its proven technology, reliability and depth of knowledge in the realm of Smart Cities. We see ST Engineering with its local set-up in Brazil as a strategic partner, given the long-term nature and potential of Smart Lighting PPPs in Brazil and the region,” he said.

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“While we seek to expand our maritime industry, we have not forgotten our commitment to sustainable development,” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam. “We have already announced the target for Hong Kong to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. As part of our decarbonisation effort, we encourage industry players to adopt more sustainable shipping initiatives. As you all know, Hong Kong was the first city in Asia to mandate a fuel switching requirement for ocean-going vessels.”

In her speech at the 11th edition of the Asian Logistics, Maritime & Aviation Conference (ALMAC) held in Hong Kong last week, Lam also reiterated the need to use innovative technologies, even as the city continues to enhance maritime services – including  ship finance, marine insurance, maritime legal and arbitration services, ship agency and management and shipbroking – through the provision of economic incentives such as tax concessions and manpower training.

With over 150 years of maritime heritage and robust international connectivity, Hong Kong has one of the top 10 container ports in the world, as well as a transhipment hub in the region. There are some 280 weekly container vessel sailings, connecting to over 600 destinations worldwide.

At the same ALMAC event, Frank Chan, Hong Kong’s secretary for transport and housing, echoed the importance adapting innovative technologies to sustain the city’s leading position as a global logistics, maritime and aviation hub.

 "The future of modern logistics is going to be smart and technology-driven. Automation, AI, big data and digitalisation are instrumental," said Chan, adding that to  help achieve this strategic goal, the Hong Kong government has up a HK$300 million funding scheme to encourage logistics service providers in applying technological solutions to enhance productivity.

COVID-19 and hitting the reset button

Panellists at the “New trade order and evolving intermodal networks in the Asia-Pacific” conference session noted that  current pandemic has amplified seismic shifts in the supply chain where it is becoming more regional than global, a trend particularly noticeable in the Asia Pacific.

Kelvin Leung, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, said that a lot of issues, such as port congestion and traffic congestion, were happening even before the pandemic. Even before COVID-19, many industries and companies had been rethinking how to position their supply chain, sourcing models, manufacturing models, and so forth, focusing on enhancing the transparency of their supply chain and the resilience of the supply chain model.

“Digitalisation is going to change the way we operate going forward, and ESG is becoming more important because our industry creates a lot of emissions, and we have to address that,” said Leung.

Raymond Fung, director of trades at Orient Overseas Container Line, said businesses have needed to increase dialogue with each and every customer and have also had to cater for certain SMEs they previously wouldn’t have dealt with over the past couple of years. As service providers, he said shipping lines must live with what the customer wants and adjust accordingly.

“For example, we have been using big-bulk vessels, as long as they are seaworthy, to run short-distance trips for certain customers,” he said. With the growth of e-commerce and the use of artificial intelligence by some carriers and customers, he hoped it would be easier to forecast demand, with shipping lines able to come up with different sizes of vessels and different routings to better cater for customers’ requirements.

According to Joseph Phi, group CEO Li & Fung, supply chain has seized to be “invisible” to shippers, but now stands front and centre.

“We have surging demand, rising transportation costs, manufacturing delays, port congestion, labour shortages, trade disputes, trade policies, inflation, and so on, so the whole supply chain is facing the perfect storm,” he said at the conference’s

“The more progressive companies are doing things to create value in their supply chains. The overarching theme they have adopted is they have hit the reset button, concluding that the pandemic is a perfect occasion to reset their strategies and refresh the way they execute their strategies, so they are trying their very best to make their supply chains more resilient and agile,” Phi added.

The future of smart air cargo

Meanwhile, the same supply chain disruptions are plaguing air cargo segment of the logistics industry amid the pandemic, even while air cargo volume has been significantly up and expected to comprise  nearly a third of the airline operating revenues.

To get transparency across their operations, industry players have been deploying technologies to find their way across their supply chain years before the pandemic hit.

According to Victor Mok, chairman and CEO - Asset Service Platform at GLP China, Chinese logistics providers have implemented digital solutions five to 10 years ago to enhance the digital transparency and safety of cargo movements.

Cross-border e-commerce has greatly accelerated progress in this area, he said.

“Digitalisation is a big word, but it doesn't mean just moving things like processes from paper to online platforms. That is only the first small step,” Mok added. “The key is how you optimise the processes, using technology and data to improve the processes and therefore efficiency and transparency, to make better decisions than in the past.”

Mark Slade, managing director of DHL Global Forwarding Hong Kong & Macau noted that up to 60% of supply chain disruptions come not from direct suppliers, but further upstream from second- and third-tier suppliers.

“We at DHL use an analytical tool to allow companies to get deeper into the supply chain and identify risks with suppliers that are actually two or three layers removed from their operations,” said Slade.

The annual ALMAC is jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. It is a is a flagship event of Hong Kong Maritime Week. This year’s conference had more than 11,200 viewers from some 60 countries and regions. They included participants from Hong Kong, Mainland China, newcomers from Mexico, Nigeria, Romania and more, highlighting how the event offered networking opportunities spanning the globe.

A newly added physical and virtual exhibition showcased different logistics technologies, including 5G technology for warehouse management, smart logistics solutions, international payment solutions and the latest smart port developments, connecting participants with the best business solutions

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Fitted into the company's N3 e-scooters, the new brain includes a range of newly developed technologies such as the High Accuracy Location Technology (HALT), the Rapid Geofence Detection (RGD), and an array of multi-function sensors and a new proprietary vehicle operating system.

Used together, these features will facilitate what is touted to be the world’s first Dangerous Riding Detection (DRD) system for e-scooters, which allows Neuron Mobility to  warn of  unsafe behaviours in real time while also profiling users and incentivising safe riding.

“Our trial is the first of its kind - we’ll have 1,500 e-scooters in cities across the world being tested in real-world situations to improve rider behaviour and safety. With the introduction of ultra-precise location, rapid response to geofencing, plus an array of new sensors we’ll be able to correct rider behaviour while also putting the cities more in control of their e-scooter programmes,” said Zachary Wang, CEO of Neuron Mobility.

The e-scooter brain will initially be beta tested on 1,500 e-scooters in Ottawa in Canada, Brisbane and Darwin in Australia, and Slough in the United Kingdom. The trials will take place over a six-month period and will assess how riders behave in all kinds of real-life situations and how good riding can be encouraged. The findings will be evaluated, the technology refined, and selected features will be rolled out across Neuron’s fleet internationally over the next six to 12 months.

Wang pointed out that there has been plenty of industry talk from micromobility operators about how to apply new technology to better control e-scooters in cities.

“But until now it’s mostly been aspirational or theoretical,” he said.

Under the hood: HALT and RGD

Neuron Mobility claims that HALT is the next step in e-scooter precision location tracking. Using a sophisticated fixed base station within a city, which connects wirelessly to a receiver in the e-scooter, it corrects GPS inaccuracies, allowing every vehicle’s location to be tracked in real-time down to a range of within 10cm. This is at least 50 times more accurate than the e-scooter industry’s average GPS location system which plots a vehicle’s location to 5 - 10 metres or more within cities

Meanwhile, the company’s Rapid Geofence Detection (RGD) feature works with HALT to give unparalleled control of how e-scooters are managed in cities. With RGD, when an e-scooter crosses a geofence, such as a no-ride or go-slow zone, the vehicle can respond in 0.3 seconds, rather than the 6-12 seconds it currently takes most rental e-scooter models to react. This is achieved by storing geofence data -- and rules of how an e-scooter should behave when it crosses a geofence -- in the e-scooter’s brain on the e-scooter rather than in the cloud, which significantly cuts down on processing time.

Combining the high precision location capabilities of HALT with the ability to react almost immediately to geofences using RGD, provides Neuron with the ‘holy grail’ that many e-scooters operators, and City transport managers, have been searching for. Using these two technologies Neuron will now be able to detect and control sidewalk riding, provide high accuracy geofencing, and also designate precise smart parking locations.

Multiple sensors used to monitory safety

The e-scooter brain also includes an array of sophisticated multi-function sensors, which combined with the company’s proprietary vehicle operating system, allow Neuron’s e-scooters to operate a Dangerous Riding Detection (DRD) system.

It will monitor, in real-time, a range of bad riding habits such as sidewalk riding; aggressive swerving; skidding; tandem riding; and, ‘kerb jumping’. Using the data, Neuron will be able to deliver immediate alerts or follow up later with targeted rider education modules. The system will be able to profile different types of riders, giving them an individual safety rating, which provides the opportunity to incentivise good riding behaviour as well as tackle problem riding.

Wong said:  “The launch of our Dangerous Riding Detection technology allows us to profile our riders, and we can take a carrot and stick approach to improving behaviour. In some cases, alerting a rider to a dangerous behaviour at the exact moment it happens, then immediately educating them on how to rectify the situation, could help to change bad habits and improve safety. Long-term we can give all riders an individual safety rating. It will allow us to incentivise good behaviour, target certain riders for refresher training, and also ban rogue riders and repeat offenders for riding dangerously.”

Meanwhile, Neuron’s next-generation N3 e-scooters have been purpose-built to a commercial grade, specifically for renting and rider safety. They have visibly larger, 11.5” wheels and wider footplates than other e-scooters, and deliver the highest levels of safety, stability and rider experience, to give users an extra level of confidence.

The e-scooters feature the world’s first app-controlled Helmet Lock, which secures a safety helmet to the e-scooter, electronically releasing it to use at the start of the booking. Riders benefit from multi-language voice guidance to educate them on how to travel safely; a Follow My Ride feature allows riders to share their trip with friends and family in real time for added safety; and an emergency button can tell if someone has had a fall, then help them call the emergency services. A topple detection feature alerts Neuron’s operations team if an e-scooter has been left on its side so it can be repositioned. Geofencing technology control where e-scooters are ridden and parked, and how fast they can travel in certain areas.

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Called Digital Health Passport for Travel, the solution enables travellers to locate COVID-19 testing providers, schedule tests and make sure that test results meet their destination's criteria. It also facilitates swifter approvals by allowing travellers to digitally store, manage, validate and share test results, vaccine certifications, self-attestations, travel authorisation forms and other travel documents.

The  solution is built using Hyperledger Fabric blockchain technology and is presented a white-label offering can work in tandem with the existing apps of travel suppliers, saving them the time, cost and effort required to engage with new partners for every change. The plug-and-play solution is designed to easily integrates with airlines’ mobile application while securing their passengers’ privacy. It is platform-agnostic, cloud-scalable and compliant with GDPR/CCPA and other regulations.

Furthermore, it adapts in real-time to changes in entry restrictions and COVID requirements. It can also be readily integrated with boarding gates readers, check-in kiosks, border management systems, e-gates and standalone identity desktops. It can also be easily plugged into Evernym's verifiable credentials platform, Sherpa's visa and travel rules API, International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Timatic passenger verification database, and Smartvel's AI-powered travel solutions.

"Amid a wide range of rapidly evolving travel health standards because of the pandemic with no single authority to harmonize them, travellers worldwide are dealing with a high degree of confusion and ambiguity," said Venu Lambu, executive director and president for global markets at Mindtree. "The digital health passport for travel is a comprehensive and long-term solution that addresses multiple aspects of travel-readiness and drives seamless, contactless and paperless travel health workflows. This makes it easier for travellers as well as authorities to make informed decisions, speed up processes and minimize health risks."

In addition to airlines, hotels, cruise lines, airports, government agencies and car rental firms, the solution can also be used by companies to monitor and manage workplace safety when offices reopen.

"Mindtree's Digital Health Passport for Travel has enormous potential to boost travel safety as well as traveller confidence in the new normal," said Daniela Barbosa, executive director at Hyperledger Foundation, and general manager, Blockchain, Healthcare and Identity for the Linux Foundation. "We are pleased that Mindtree has chosen Hyperledger Fabric's modular, plug-and-play and versatile design for the solution to deliver speed, efficiency and performance at scale.”

She added: “As an industry-wide open-source initiative, Hyperledger Fabric also enables the solution to harness the latest innovation in blockchain technology. It is great to see Hyperledger technology being put to work to provide travellers with easy movements and uninterrupted flows, and help airlines, airports and authorities better meet regulatory safety requirements."

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COMET is GET Worldwide’s flagship electric public transport vehicle designed for emerging markets. The California-based  company began deploying its first fleet of COMET electric buses in the Philippine cities of Manila and Davao, Philippines last December.

“Our goal is to turn electric vehicles from expensive products for the few to life-changing solutions for the many," said GET president Freddie Tinga. "Our COMET electric mini-bus uses Formula E engineering from Spain and combines that with Silicon Valley analytics on our mobile app. The result is a more efficient, cost-effective, zero-emission transport system and a better and healthier experience for passengers and pedestrians alike."

Positioned as an ideal mobility solution, the COMET electric mini-buses are fully electric and fast charging; GPS tracking and fleet management; equipped with Wi-Fi; and designed with app-based contactless ticketing.

The 30-seater air-conditioned vehicles are compact in design to easily navigate through narrow road networks of Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where GET Worldwide is planning to expand.

With its partnership with China-based EV Dynamics, GET Worldwide ends its long search for a reliable electric vehicle manufacturer.

“The Philippines alone could have a demand of at least 100,000 units of this type of vehicle. We have to replace over 300,000 old gasoline mini-buses (Jeepneys)."

According to John Ma, COO of Ev Dynamics, the COMET is the outcome of three years of hard development of their R&D team.

“The task was to create a vehicle with a very low cost and top technology. The COMET has a complete powertrain developed by our company and most important the VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) or the brain that operates the complete bus,” Ma said.

Miguel Valldecabres Polop, CEO of Ev Dynamics, said the company’s production plant in Chongqing has been operating at full steam to meet the increasing volume of overseas orders.

“Though our production schedule and fulfilment of orders have been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, our output has been picking up steadily thanks to the reliable supply chains in the PRC. We are confident that we can complete the sales orders from the Philippines and other orders for e-platforms and e-buses elsewhere overseas."

He added that their  long-term supply agreement with GET Worldwide is another strategic step in EvDynamics’ global expansion starting with Southeast Asia.

“This agreement solidifies our partnership with GET Worldwide in deploying the ideal transport solution to dense urban centres globally. It is a win-win solution for all. We benefit from the revenues generated from these new markets, as we do our part to make these cities more sustainable and more liveable for their citizens.”

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Businesses plan to spend 10% of their IT budgets on IoT projects over the next three years, a three percent increase over the average 7% previously allocated between 2017 and 2020. Planned investments in IoT are notably higher than those earmarked for other Industry 4.0 technologies, including cloud computing (9.0%), next generation security (7.5%), big data analytics (7.3%), robotics (5.3%), machine learning (4.8%) and virtual reality (4.3%).

There are, however, noticeable variations in the planned levels of IoT investments between different industry sectors. Oil and gas firms intend to invest the most in IoT over the next three years (an average of $3.2 million), followed by electrical utilities companies (US$3.1 million), transport and logistics businesses (£3 million), mining operators ($2.7 million) and, finally, agricultural businesses ($2 million).

“Our latest research reveals IoT is now the primary Industry 4.0 technology in which companies are investing over the next three years. The emergence of IoT as an investment priority for businesses, and the increasing level of cost-savings they expect IoT to deliver in the years ahead, demonstrates how well-established a technology IoT has become across multiple industries,” said Mike Carter, president on Inmarsat Enterprise.  

The research  entitled “Industrial IoT in the Time of Covid-19” is based on interviews with 450 global respondents across the agriculture, electrical utilities, mining, oil & gas and transport & logistics sectors in early 2021, a year after the start of the pandemic. The respondents are responsible for delivering IoT initiatives at their respective organisations, whose businesses have at least 250 employees and spanned across the Americas, Asia Pacific and EMEA.

The report focuses on measuring the IoT maturity of global industry during the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of digitalised production and supply chains. It analyses a number of key themes such as adoption, connectivity, data, skills, security and investment.

According to Carter,  Covid-19 has emphasised the importance of Industry 4.0 technologies like IoT for business continuity.

“With the world’s production and supply chains becoming increasingly interconnected and digitalised, those companies producing digital twins of their supply chains and sharing data, are the ones reaping the benefits,” he said.

Mainstream IoT adoption brings operational cost-savings

Meanwhile, the new research also reveals that the mainstream adoption of IoT is already making a significant difference in terms of operational cost-savings to many organisations.

Respondents report that IoT projects currently save their organisations an average of 9%  of their yearly costs. In the future, they expect to achieve an average of 15% cost-savings in 12 months’ time, rising to 22% in three years and 30% in five years’ time.

 “However, there are still noticeable differences between sectors and several significant areas for all organisations on which to improve to draw optimum benefits from the technology, namely: securing reliable connectivity, improving data management and addressing their IoT skills gaps and security concerns,” Carter said.

Inmarsat is positioning its ELERA narrowband network as ideally suited to the rapidly evolving world of IoT and the billions of devices that are being connected every year.

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Tanapong Ittisakulchai, chief enterprise business officer at AIS welcomed  the opportunity to work with a global partner  such as TCS to create next generation high-speed IoT solutions that help advance and enhance core industries such as manufacturing.

“Together we are creating important new digital services that can help our customers improve operations, capacity and competitiveness. Furthermore, we are pleased to be offering IoT services that will help advance Thai core industry with a focus on manufacturing, contributing to the national economic rebound and growth,” he said.

TCS’ IoT Smart Manufacturing Solutions leverage next-gen technologies such as digital twins, to enhance operational resilience, improve customer experience, and drive innovation across the manufacturing value chain. Offerings include:

• Smart Manufacturing: Solutions for industrial plants to connect production lines with 5G network within the factory and IoT devices such as condition-based maintenance, predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, remote diagnostics, digital twin, and more.
• TCS Clever Energy: An enterprise-level energy and emissions management system, powered by IoT, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud, that helps commercial and industrial organizations drive energy and cost efficiency, decrease carbon emissions, and become more sustainable.
• TCS Gen 4-Work-AR: An IoT based connected worker mixed reality solution to provide real-time contextual information for better decision support, to empower employees to work remotely with cutting edge technology such as AR/VR to supervise work, train employees, give advice about work or even solve on job site problems promptly.
• TCS Logistics Optimizer:  A unique AI & ML-based IoT solution built to synchronize the operations in the Supply Chain management process and enhances visibility across the value-chain. It is a proven solution that helps reduce logistics costs and drives e­fficiency across the network through resource optimisation & increased On-Time delivery

“Forward-thinking manufacturers are deploying IoT strategically to enable new business models, enhance customer experience, make their value chains more responsive, and drive growth,” said Vijaya Pandya, country head, TCS Thailand. “We are pleased to partner with AIS to further accelerate our go-to-market capabilities for our exciting range of IoT-based business solutions that will enhance Thailand’s industrial sector.”

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HAI Robotics believes it has an edge over overseas counterparts in many aspects, including project cost, technology and customisation capability, because of its experience catering to the various demands in the dynamic Chinese market.

The Chinese startup launched the world’s first autonomous case-handling robotics (ACR) system—HAIPICK  in 2015. The HAIPICK robots can pick and place totes or cartons on storage shelves up to 5 to 7 metres high and are able to carry up to 8 loads to continuously feed goods-to-person picking stations.

The HAIPICK robot has stood out from similar mobile robots with the ability to carry cartons as well as individual totes and to bring multiple cases to pickers or conveyors in one movement. It can help realise warehouse automation in just a week, increase storage density by 80-130%, and improve staffs' work efficiency by 3-4 times.
HAI Robotics recently entered the Australian market with its deployment  at Booktopia, the country’s biggest  online book retailer. The Chinese company’s autonomous robots to handle packing and dispatch orders at  Booktopia’s 14,000sqm distribution centre at Lidcombe, New South Wales, boosting its efficiency by 800%.

Surging market in warehouse automation

The global supply chain and warehousing logistics market in the past years has seen a surge of automation transformation. According to LogisticsIQ market report, the warehouse automation market is expected to worth US$30 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 14% since 2019.

HAI Robotic expressed committed to technological innovation to get ahead of competitors in the warehouse automation market.

Guo Shanshan, a partner of Sequoia Capital China, said that HAI ROBOTICS has made itself an exemplar in the logistics sector with its ACR system.

The HAIPICK system first waded its way first through shoes and apparel projects in the wave of warehousing automation. To date, the company has been running over 200 projects around the globe with more than 2,000 ACR robots deployed, accounting for 90% share in the ACR robot market. It has paired up with dozens of global logistics and supply chain leaders, including LG CNS, MHS, MUJIN, BPS, Savoye, to name only a few.

“The case-handling robot is riding on the market trend that shifts towards smaller workflows, such as from pallet-picking to totes-picking. We’re very pleased to see the company’s fast growth with good innovation,” Guo  said.

HAI Robotics has a yearly turnout of 10,000 robots at its 18,000 sqm factory in Dongguan, China. IT has five subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the U.S. and the Netherlands, serving customers from more than 30 countries and regions. The company has acquired more than 400 global patents for core intellectual properties involving positioning, robot control and warehouse management. 

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Currently, users can explore the following Emirates’ VR experiences via:

• Emirates Oculus VR app on the Oculus Store: offering users accurate, life size and interactive cabin interior experiences onboard Emirates’ flagship A380 aircraft and Boeing 777-300ER Gamechanger aircraft. For instance, users can “pick up” items from the Onboard Lounge, “turn on” the Shower in the Shower Spa, or close the private suite doors behind them. They can even explore the cockpit.
• Emirates.com on PCs, mobile devices or the Emirates app for iOS and Android: An immersive 3D, web VR and 360 degree view of Emirates’ Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft cabin interiors (all 20 different configurations across the airline’s fleet). Customers can explore their seats before checking in online with the 3D seat map. The tool allows customers to navigate from one seat to another, and even allows would-be customers to book their preferred seats from within the 3D environment. Users can also enjoy hands-free cabin navigation and seat selection by using any VR headset like Google Cardboard. This award-winning technology is compatible with all devices without the need for external applications or plugins.

“This initiative expands our global reach and ability to engage with our audiences across digital platforms. It is also particularly relevant right now, as many people have not travelled for a while due to the pandemic, and are seeking inspiration and researching and rediscovering their flight options,” said Boutros Boutros, divisional senior vice president for corporate communications, marketing and brand at Emirates.

The airline’s customers can navigate through Economy, Business and First Class cabins, explore their seats, as well as the iconic Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa on the Emirates A380 using navigational hotspots. Emirates is working on an updated version featuring its Premium Economy cabin and latest A380 aircraft interiors.

In future developments, Emirates plans to offer customers the ability to explore destinations, select a cabin, and book and pay for their Emirates flight from within the Emirates Oculus VR app.

“We aim to provide innovative and outstanding customer experiences whether onboard, on the ground, or in the digital space,” said Boutrous, pointing out that Emirates is the first airline to introduce advanced web VR technology on its digital platforms in 2018.

“We offer our customers an immersive opportunity to learn about the fantastic Emirates experience that awaited them before they stepped on board. We’ve continued to invest and develop that experience, and  we are delighted to be the first airline to launch a fully-fledged Oculus VR app.”

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This is especially critical given the consistent growth in shipment volume witnessed across Asia Pacific. In 2020, DHL Express recorded a 17.3%year-on-year increase in shipment volume during the peak months of November and December.

The DHLBot will replace manual sortation of small parcels and enable hubs and gateways to handle greater volumes, particularly during peak season. With 99% accuracy, the DHLBot reduces the probability of mis-sorting and thereby, removes the need for secondary sorting.

"Sorting parcels might seem like a straightforward process, but it actually takes a lot of time, effort and precision to ensure that they get to their addressees without a hitch. These innovations, however minor they seem, will really boost our employees' and operations' productivity and efficiency," said Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

He added: "The DHLBots are a demonstration of our innovative spirit as we continuously seek solutions to automate repetitive tasks and correspondingly, position us at the forefront of next-generation express logistics."

The logistics provider picked Dorabot, an AI-powered robotic solution provider, to implement the DHLBot after a successful pilot that saw a significant boost in parcel sortation productivity and service quality.

State-of-the-art 3D and barcode cameras scan the airway bill on each package for its targeted destination as it travels through the conveyor belt. The AI-powered DHLBot, positioned at the end of the conveyor belt, then receives the package's information and its destination and intelligently sorts it into respective delivery bins that sit on racks surrounding the robot, each representing an individual courier route. This entire process reduces the dependency on employees to manually read waybills and sort parcels, allowing them to have more time for route planning.

"Maintaining high customer satisfaction levels is an important measure of success to us. This smart sortation robot enables us to manage the increasing growth of shipment and parcel volume driven by the rise of cross-border e-commerce. It also translates to a safer work environment for our employees, as it lifts their efficiency during peak season when labour demand is high," said Sean Wall, executive vice president for network operations & aviation, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

DHLBot is only one of the many solutions the logistics services provider installed across Asia Pacific as part of its digitisation initiatives. This includes the Advanced Quality Control Centre that utilizes big data and predictive analytics to monitor shipment movements and flag issues in real time.

In line with Deutsche Post DHL Group's Strategy 2025 goal of delivering excellence in a digital world, the implementation of the robotics arm solution is one of many digital transformation projects that the Group is investing in to improve customer and employee experience, as well as enhance operational excellence. Till 2025, the Group would spend around EUR 2 billion on initiatives to derive greater efficiency through automation and robotics as well as advanced data analytics

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In a meeting held yesterday, the board agreed to improve the investment promotion policy for electric vehicle manufacturing – a new measure extended to the to the production of battery electric vehicles (BEV) platforms, that consist of an energy storage system, charging module, and front and rear axle module.

“In general, a platform represents at least 70% of the total cost of a BEV. The sharing platform concept is a new trend for the automotive industry. In particular, this type of production will provide more flexibility, shorter time for product development, and economies of scale.  Given the relatively small local and regional markets of BEVs, manufacturing that brings more unit cost reduction will help BEVs compete better and will lead to faster market expansion,” said BOI secretary general Duangjai Asawachintachit.

The BOI also approved the promotion of electric bicycles (E-bikes),  which have experienced rapid market growth over the past few years. The tax incentives offered include a minimum of 3 years of corporate income tax exemption. These additions will make the BOI promotion scheme for electric vehicles comprehensive.

Reducing greenhouse gas reduction

In yesterday’s meeting, the board approved  a series of measures to encourage investments that will reduce impact on the environment, support sustainable development, and participate to the development of the BCG model (Bio, Circular and Green economy).

The BCG model, as defined by the Thai Government, encompasses industries that allow inclusive, sustainable growth while reducing waste, pollution and dependence on finite resources. Thailand is a major agricultural producer, tourism destination and medical hub and its BCG sector comprises many of the country’s important industries: agriculture and food; bioenergy, biomaterials and biochemicals; medical and wellness; and tourism and the creative economy.

These measures include:

1) Grassroot economy support scheme that will support local organisations involved in the development of sustainable agricultural activities such as low-methane rice farming. This new addition is expected to encourage competent companies towards sustainable agriculture. The deadline for applications under the grassroots economy support scheme will be extended to end 2022.

2) 3-year tax holidays will be offered to investments in machinery upgrades aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This will be an addition to the existing productivity enhancement scheme. This new measure is expected to contribute to the country's commitments on greenhouse gas reduction.

3) Adjustments to the conditions and benefits applying to some business categories to encourage eco-friendly technologies:

• Investments in cold storage facilities and cold storage transport operations using natural refrigerants, that reduce impact on the environment, will be granted 3-year corporate income tax exemptions.
• Petrochemical production facilities implementing Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies will be granted 8-year corporate income tax exemptions.

4) Introduction of a new promotion category for natural gas separation plants which if they are implementing CCUS technologies will be granted 8-year corporate income tax exemptions.

In the first nine months of 2020, local and international companies applied to invest as much as US$1.7 billion in Thailand in more than 300 projects in the sectors listed as “BCG”, according to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).

This lifted the total value of BCG applications since the start of 2018 to US$6.7 billion, reinforcing Thailand’s position as a Bio-Circular-Green hotspot, the BOI said.

To date, these BCG sectors have a combined economic value of US$113 billion, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. By 2025, the government aims to increase that value by 30%to US$147 billion, making BCG industries equivalent to 25% of the national gross domestic product.

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Provided by the Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation (TIAT), the service eliminates the need to show passports and boarding passes at baggage check, security screening and boarding gates. The self-service kiosks captures facial images  to authenticate the  identity of passengers registering for the Face Express service.

Initially, the self-service kiosks and Face Express are only available to passengers of Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

TIAT has chosen German-based Materna to integrates its IPS One ID software into the kiosks. The biometric software uses facial recognition technology to capture a passenger’s image and matched it with his picture from the scanned government-issued ID.

Personal information collected from passengers are used solely for the purpose of providing and operating Face Express and is not given to anyone other than the participating airline. TIAT is responsible for recording and storing the data, and erasing it within 24 hours

By allowing passengers to identify themselves at the self-service touch points, physical contact with airport staff, minimising the risk of COVID-19 infection.

“Contactless technology has become an important way to maintain strict security standards during the pandemic,” said Yuya Yamazaki, technical project manager at TIAT. "We greatly appreciate that Materna completed the deployment of its IPS into the kiosks before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games, which is one of our goals of this project."

Last year,  Materna  also installed its IPS  in 104 self-bag drop kiosks in Terminals 2 and 3 of the Tokyo Haneda Airport. These kiosks have now been upgraded to handle the facial biometric authentication needed for the Face Express Service.

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ELERA’s  foundation is Inmarsat’s world class L-band network and incorporates new innovations ranging from higher speeds to smaller, low cost terminals and Inmarsat-6 (I-6) satellites. To enhance the ELERA network, two new I-6 satellites will be launched at the end of the year.

The L-band capacity on each I-6 satellite will be substantially greater than Inmarsat’s 4th generation spacecraft and, among other enhancements, they will deliver 50% more capacity per beam; meaning that much more data can be carried over the same geographical area, in addition to unlimited beam routing flexibility.

“ELERA is perfectly suited to the needs of the connected IoT world,” said Rajeev Suri, CEO, Inmarsat. “Global reach, extraordinary resilience, faster speeds, smaller and lower cost terminals are all part of ensuring that we remain ahead of others in meeting the needs of our customers.

The new innovations that the company is investing in to bring to market in the near future include spectrum management technology to deliver L-band speeds up to 1.7Mbps, the smallest footprint, low cost L-band terminal and two new L-band satellites, which are the largest and most sophisticated commercial communication satellites ever created.

The new spectrum management capabilities (known as Carrier Aggregation) being incorporated into the ELERA network will deliver the fastest speeds globally available to L-band customers, far outstripping the capabilities of any other worldwide L-band network.

Live customer trials in commercial aviation are scheduled to start during the course of 2022 and this technology will be rolled out across a range of sector specific applications for Inmarsat’s mobility, government and IoT customers over the coming few years.

Essential catalyst for new IoT cases

The unique capabilities of ELERA, combined with Inmarsat’s superior spectrum and the ideally suited orbital position of its satellite networks, will make it the essential catalyst for new IoT use cases, across everything from autonomous transport and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to industrial and agricultural IoT applications.

“ELERA is a further sign of a company with true momentum and one that is delivering new innovations and strong performance,” continued Suri. “I expect that Inmarsat will grow strongly in 2021 compared to the previous year, and that growth will span most of our business units. Our progress was evident in the first half, where we saw strong growth in revenue and EBITDA and robust cash flow. We have sharpened our strategy to focus on driving growth, accelerate decision making, launch new innovations, and are creating a more commercially focused, customer-centric culture.”

ELERA will also see the creation of the smallest footprint, low cost terminal for L-band users, delivering the ideal framework for satcom IoT at scale, with supporting cloud-based management, for vertical sectors such as infrastructure, rail, logistics, mining, agriculture, government, maritime and aviation.

ELERA will also deliver a major extension to Inmarsat’s portfolio of voice-enabled devices, bringing new capabilities and innovations to hundreds of thousands of customers. This initiative represents our commitment to voice service innovation and underlines the company’s long-term commitment to the handheld voice services over satellite market.

“ELERA is the exciting vision of how Inmarsat is planning to transform the capabilities offered to IoT and mobility customers for years to come and confirms our long-term commitment to L-band services. We will be sharing further detail on these innovations with our partner community in the coming months and continue our programme of announcements as we achieve major milestones.” said Suri

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The new TMS will help truckers get rid of their manual processes by streamlining every aspect of their business on a single centralised platform:  submitting bids, managing orders, scheduling routes, assigning drivers, tracking deliveries, and invoicing clients.

“"We are targeting to onboard 10,000 trucking companies onto Transporta over the next three years. Currently, we are entering potential partnerships to around 1,900 truckers via the Indonesia Truck Association (Aptrindo). We are also leveraging partnerships with Internet of Things startup Lacak.io to further optimise our services and help SME truckers with a centralised cloud solution," said Emma Hartono, COO of Transporta.

Transporta is a brainchild of local IoT startup Lacak.io board advisor Willy Anwar and cloud solutions expert Emma Hartono.

Meeting challenges of the e-commerce boom

Truckers in Indonesia need to scale up operations  to meet the requirements of a booming e-commerce sector, which grew 54% year-on-year, reaching US$32 billion in 2020. Last year's growth was hastened by rapid digitalisation of services brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing norms.
"Growing e-commerce sectors are driving up the demand for e-commerce logistics. However, technologies to run logistics companies are falling behind. Indonesia's truckers face limited to no visibility on their operations - be it orders, performance, utilities or finance. They also deal with poor internal communications and scattered data sources,” Hartono said

She also pointed out that vast majority of Indonesia's SME truckers are using basic ERP systems whilst communicating with clients, drivers, and suppliers on separate messaging apps.

“Not only is this onerous and time-consuming, but the massive inefficiencies often result in idle trucks, half-empty hauls, and worst of all, late deliveries and unhappy customers,” said Hartono

Transporta’s TMS helps solve these challenges by giving trucking a bird's eye-view of their operations through a centralised cloud platform. With all the communication and business tools located on a single streamlined TMS platform, truckers can maximise the speed of their daily operations and utilise resources such as routes, truck space, petrol usage, and driver cohorts efficiently, driving both profitability and delivery performance.

"Transport management systems have proved to be able to reduce logistics costs with a majority of freight savings coming from better routing and negotiations. In Indonesia, where logistics costs are among the highest in ASEAN at 30% of GDP, savings are expected to be even larger," Emma pointed out.

Making smart logistics affordable

However, small truckers – those with 20 trucks or less – who account for over 75% of the country’s estimated 100,000 trucking companies cannot afford to implement the expensive, hardware-heavy TMS available in the market. They are required to pay an upfront license for the solution, plus additional cost for setup, maintenance, hardware, and staff training.

Various reports estimate cost savings between 5% and 15% from implementing a TMS, but even a 15% gain may not be enough to convince an SME trucker to digitise.

According to Hartono, Transporta's affordable TMS immediately changes the game with its quick and easy self-onboarding process, no-cost staff support, asset-light web-based solution, and seamless integration with existing apps like WhatsApp.

It also provides free online training and enablement to new users and trucking companies' staff, so everyone can easily use the technology.

"Essentially, small truckers in developing nations like Indonesia are competing with both eyes closed. Now, with Transporta at their side, Indonesia's SME truckers can take on the big guns -- at practically zero cost," said Hartono.

"As we grow with Indonesia's booming logistics sector, Transporta will continuously enrich our TMS offerings. Upcoming features in our product pipeline include driver ratings, a mobile app, a shipper platform, as well as seamless integration with other logistics systems," said Hartono.

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“Our goal was to enable agile and responsive cross-functional supply chain processes that empower people with data-driven decision-making capabilities based on the foundation of an end-to-end integrated technology platform,” said Fritz Zeh, vice president for global manufacturing at Dole Food & Beverages Group.

Dole Food & Beverages Group, a division of The Dole Sunshine Company, is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of high-quality packaged fresh fruit and fruit-based products.

Following the drastic supply chain disruption in the wake of  COVID-19, the company was looking for end-to-end visibility and forecasting, a sales and operations planning (S&OP) and a sales and operations execution (S&OE) process, and control tower capabilities.

The digital transformation project will allow Dole Food & Beverages Group to build an agile supply chain with a focus on three core components: people, process and systems. The company went through a comprehensive evaluation process and selected a long-term technology partner for the project.

Blue Yonder, which has been working with the company for over 20 years, has been tapped to provide its Luminate Control Tower and Luminate Planning to meet their newer requirements

“Blue Yonder’s Luminate Planning and Luminate Control Tower will provide us with the right solutions to make faster business decisions that improve our operations, resulting in lower costs and enhanced planner time,” said Zeh.

Luminate platform delivers intelligent automation and extensibility, uniformity of data, and unified, engaging experiences powering collaboration and decision making. The platform will power the visibility and planning capabilities for Dole Food & Beverages Group.

The Microsoft Azure- and cloud-based Luminate Control Tower will provide the company the ability to automate manual processes, access real-time data to manage and right-size inventory levels, and gain visibility into its supply chain. With Luminate Planning, the company can produce more accurate forecasts calculated from hundreds of variables that drive demand and in-turn achieve a single, unbiased demand forecast. The automated calculation and generation of this holistic forecast enables the company to unlock greater planner efficiency.

By implementing the Blue Yonder solutions powered by Luminate Platform, the company plans to:

• Align future supply chain structure with a global and local control towers that work seamlessly together to gain end-to-end accountability across the supply chain.
• Enhance customer satisfaction and cost savings through lower inventory levels and inventory optimisation.
• Increase flexibility and agility in the planning process.
• Enable data-driven decision-making capabilities through an end-to-end integrated platform.
• Improve S&OP, scenario planning and financials, including P&L and cash flow.
• Improve visualization across the supply chain.

“We are excited that Dole Food & Beverages Group has put their trust in our cloud-based solutions to help power their digital supply chain transformation. They will be able to take their forecasting and business planning abilities to the next level, while gaining visibility through the control tower,” said Vishal Dhawan, group vice president, Growth Markets, Blue Yonder.

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The SP500X ScanPrinter is touted as the first-of-its-kind, wearable scan-and-print device that integrates 2D imaging, inkjet printing and wireless communication in one device. It's designed to create a revolution in high-volume logistic operations that use manual scanning and labelling to sort packages.

With Wi-Fi and BT, as well as an integrated printer developed in partnership with HP, the SP500X is truly mobile. Companies can quickly scan and print directly on packages anywhere in their facility where staff can keep both hands free. The device has the versability to print on plain paper, kraft paper, packing tape, coated labels, polypropylene, polyester or polyethylene plastic.

"There's no other device like it in the world,” said Jerker Hellstrom, Handheld founder and chairman of the board. “You put on the device, grab a package and scan it. The scanner sends the data to your back-end system, which sends back information for printing. And nearly immediately, you print an address, a code or other information directly on the package. Your hands are free. You can move anywhere you need to work. You're not anchored to a printer."

The new wearable is an improvement to Handheld’s first  scan-and-print mobile solution developed in 2015, which fitted a computer, a scanner and printer into one rugged mobile device.

“We broke new grounds and pushed boundaries working with one of the world’s largest logistics companies to revolutionise package handling,” Hellstrom said. “We always design our products based on customer needs. We really love the challenge of combining user needs with the latest technology.”

Now, with the new rugged wearable, Handheld is set take efficiency in commercial package handling into the next level.

Established in 1997, Handheld has found its niche on rugged devices – which unlike consumer devices – are designed to withstand conditions. For one, the company’s devices can operate in temperatures between -40 and 60 Celsius.  Furthermore, all its rugged computers are at least IP65-rated, which means they are completely dustproof and can withstand jets of water.

IP stands for Ingress Protection. An IP rating describes levels of protection for electrical equipment against solids and liquids. The rating is displayed using two numbers. The first digit describes a level of protection against dust, and has seven different levels from zero to six. The second digit describes a level of protection against liquids (water), and has nine different levels from zero to eight.

Handheld’s rugged devices are currently being deployed as part of mobility solutions in industries such as  as geomatics, logistics, forestry, public transportation, utilities, construction, maintenance, mining, military and security.

Based in Sweden, the company has subsidiaries in Australia, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the US.

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The multi-function utility pole – equipped with cameras and sensors – are  designed to detect cars and people in the vicinity.

Although the number of traffic accidents in Toyota City has been going down, it has the highest number of traffic deaths in 2019 and 2020 within Aichi Prefecture, when Nagoya City is not taken into account.

“We want to strive for the elimination of traffic casualties and contribute to the creation of a safe and comfortable mobility society,” said the company in a press statement, which explained its participation in the smart pole project.

The ITS Smart Pole installed at  the complicated traffic junction detects, in real time, approaching  pedestrians and vehicles. It uses LED signboards to visually draw the attention of those who are approaching the junction  without the right-of-way.

This is the first installation  of the ITS (Intelligent Transport System) Smart Pole using LED signboards in Japan.

The project is a collaboration among Toyota City, Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Transportation Research Institute, and Toyota Mobility Foundation. It is a part of wider Operation Zero Accident, a public-private collaboration project being promoted for the purpose of reducing fatal traffic accidents.

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Called “KOOLBotic”, the robot forms part of the company’s ongoing efforts to increase automation in its operations to enhance productivity. The robots are designed for Kerry Logistics’ F&B operations to boost sorting efficiency of chilled items in a low-temperature environment.

KOOLBotic  is able to work 20-hour shifts and raises sorting productivity by 20%. Essentially collaborative in nature, KOOLBotic also supports warehouse staff as it can endure freezing conditions which would be detrimental to humans for a prolonged period. In doing so safeguards the health and safety of staff members.

“We are firm believers of leveraging the benefits of technological advances to bolster our productivity as well as to improve the working conditions of our people. KOOLBotic is added to our chilled-food product sorting process to support staff and increase ease of operation,” said Samuel Lau, deputy managing director  for integrated logistics of Kerry Logistics Network.

Kerry Logistics Network  has been committed to providing its customers with the latest technologies to support the digitalisation of the supply chain with end-to-end visibility. Its R&D department has been constantly reviewing and implementing the latest technology developments, including blockchain, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Automation is becoming an integral part of Kerry Logistics Network’s operation, especially amid the pandemic when human contact is minimised in the sorting process. In view of the rapid growth of e-commerce in recent years, the logistics firm will continue to explore the possibility of expanding the use of robotics for other sectors.

“We see this type of selective automation and collaborative robots as the future of our industry, as it combines the best of both worlds - the flexibility of humans and the endurance of machines. We anticipate installing more cobots in our logistics centres to take our operations to the next level,” Lau said

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The 17-year-old company, which has an annual turnover of AU$165 million, has chosen HAIPICK robots from  Shenzhen-based HAI Robotics. The solution differs from a standard autonomous mobile robot solution in that the robots use a telescopic fork that stretches 4m high. This gives the robots the ability to carry cartons as well as individual totes and to bring multiple cases to pickers or conveyors in one movement. This allows Booktopia to gain more speed in completing multiple customer orders at one pick station – greatly improving fulfilment and dispatch rates.

"By deploying this innovative robot solution, we have doubled our capacity and significantly improved our picking and put away rates. This gives us the confidence we need to continue to serve our customers," said Tony Nash, CEO at Booktopia

He added that while although the company's key decider for implementing this technology was efficiency gains, they are now finding improvements across their entire operation.

First Australian deployment

With integration and implementation services conducted by BPS Global, Booktopia is the first deployment of HAIPICK robots in the continent.

"COVID-19 placed immense pressure on e-commerce retailers and we saw volumes reach record heights across the entire retail landscape. We're thrilled to work with Booktopia on the first ever deployment of this innovative automation solution in Australia,” said Malcolm Druce, managing partner at BPS Global said. “This investment ensures they are well-placed to meet rising demands and continue to service the nation with its favourite books.”

The deployment is a significant win for HAI Robotics, which recently entered the Australia market, as part of an expansion plan outside of China. The warehouse robotics startup is leaning on its technology – touted to be the world's first carton picking and double deep autonomous case-handling system – to give it a competitive edge in overseas markets.

In Australia, HAI Robotics hopes that its robots will help companies like Booktopia to deal with the rising rental cost of warehouses is becoming a major issue across the country, as the HAIPICK solution  now makes it faster and easier for them to increase capacity and storage.

"Through our partnership with BPS Global, the end customer gets access to both local advice, implementation, service, and support as well as the latest in robot-based automation technology," said Michael Rolfing, director of sales – Australia, HAI Robotics.

Advanced robotics and AI algorithms

Hai Robotics uses advanced robotics and AI algorithms to deliver intelligent and customisable warehouse solutions.

As the world’s first autonomous case handling robotic (ACR) system, its HAIPICK ACR system enables intelligent picking, storage and handling in the warehouse. The system intelligently identifies the desired totes and cartons, and bringing them to the workstation autonomously. At the same time, the ACR robots can reach up to 6.5m high, taking advantage of the available vertical space most warehouses don’t use when using automation solutions.

According to company spokesperson, the robots can be deployed within seven days and can seamlessly integrate with WMS, EMS, and other systems.  Once they are up and running, companies can achieve 3X-4X productivity and 80% to 130% storage density.

Established in 2016, HAI Robotics this year has set up offices in in Tokyo, Japan, and Fremont, United States, while partnering locally to provide full-service and deliver automation faster and easier. In March this year, it secured series B+ funding valued at US$15M.

To date, the company has implemented  over 200 ongoing projects worldwide, covering industries such as e-commerce, 3PL, apparel, manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceutical, energy, automotive, and others.

Meanwhile, its HAIPICK ACR series have obtained the CE Mark, meeting European quality and safety standards.

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Expected to be delivered in 2024, the aircraft is ideal for feeder routes and requires less investment in station infrastructure. The Alice can be charged while loading and unloading operations occur, ensuring quick turnaround times that maintain DHL Express' tight schedules.

"We firmly believe in a future with zero-emission logistics," says John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. "Therefore, our investments always follow the objective of improving our carbon footprint. On our way to clean logistics operations, the electrification of every transport mode plays a crucial role and will significantly contribute to our overall sustainability goal of zero emissions.”

Alice can be flown by a single pilot and will carry 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lbs). It will require 30 minutes or less to charge per flight hour and have a maximum range of up to 815 kilometres (440 nautical miles). Alice will operate in all environments currently serviced by piston and turbine aircraft. Alice's advanced electric motors have fewer moving parts to increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs. Its operating software constantly monitors flight performance to ensure optimal efficiency.

Sustainability roadmap on track

The decarbonisation of its operations is one of the main pillars of DPDHL Group's new Sustainability roadmap announced in Q1 2021. The Group is investing a total of 7 billion euros (Opex and Capex) by 2030 in measures to reduce its CO2 emissions.

The funds will go in particular towards electrification of last-mile delivery fleet, sustainable aviation fuels and climate-neutral buildings. On the way to the zero emissions target by 2050, which has already been in place for four years, the company is committing to new, ambitious interim targets. For example, as part of the renowned Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), Deutsche Post DHL Group is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Founded in 1969, DHL Express has been known as a pioneer in the aviation industry for decades.

"From day one, we set an audacious goal to transform the aviation industry and create a new era with electric aircraft," said Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohay. "Partnering with companies like DHL who are the leaders in sustainable e-cargo transportation is a testament that the electric era is upon us. This announcement is a significant milestone on our quest to transform the future of flight across the globe."

Ideal partnership

In choosing Eviation to provide its new fleet of electric planes, DHL Express has found a “perfect partner” in ushering sustainable aviation.

"My compliments to Eviation on the innovative development of the fully electric Alice aircraft," says Travis Cobb, EVP Global Network Operations and Aviation for DHL Express. "With Alice's range and capacity, this is a fantastic sustainable solution for our global network. Our aspiration is to make a substantial contribution in reducing our carbon footprint, and these advancements in fleet and technology will go a long way in achieving further carbon reductions. For us and our customers, this is a very important step in our decarbonisation journey and a step forward for the aviation industry as a whole."

Eviation has created a new era in aviation with the all-electric Alice aircraft. Alice has been specifically designed so that it can be configured for e-cargo or passengers. Eviation's Alice all-electric aircraft is on track for its first flight later this year.

"The next time you order an on-demand package, check if it was delivered with a zero-emission aircraft like DHL will be doing," said Eviation executive chairman Roei Ganzarski. "With on-demand shopping and deliveries on a constant rise, Alice is enabling DHL to establish a clean, quiet and low-cost operation that will open up greater opportunities for more communities."

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The new hub is an extension of the DHL Applied Analytics team based in Singapore, that has been working in close partnerships with customers in conceptualising and implementing advanced data analytics solutions to maximise supply chain efficiencies.

The hub in Medini will deepen DHL's collaboration with the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) including the hosting of faculty members from UTM, providing internships and mentoring budding data scientists who will get to work on solving complex supply chain problems for customers. The hub will equally spearhead networking sessions and conduct workshops where companies and industry experts come together to share best practices and brainstorm innovative ideas.

According to Prerit Mishra, head of applied analytics at DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation - Asia Pacific, there is a growing demand for best-in-class supply chain analytics solutions as companies in Malaysia and the region accelerate their digital transformation.

“Companies are eager to use digital solutions to enhance supply chain management and optimise their data. The AAH will also allow us to work more closely with businesses in Malaysia by pairing our extensive global supply chain expertise with advanced data science to unlock new value,” he said.

With its strategic collaboration with UTM, DHL can tap on a steady stream of high-quality talent while helping the university gain real-world industry experience that helps to shape its college curriculum.

"The partnership with DHL allows our faculty to test solutions and see the practical applications of data science outside the academic environment. Since we began our collaboration in 2019, we have extracted valuable insights to develop the curriculum for our Masters in Data Science program," said Professor Ts. Dr. Ruzairi Bin Abdul Rahim, dean of Faculty of Engineering at UTM.

Over two years, UTM's students and faculty members have been working on analytics projects alongside data scientists, engineers and logistics experts at DHL. With current COVID-19 regulations preventing the full use of the facilities at the new hub, the collaboration continues online.

Missing puzzle piece

According to IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Ir Khairil Anwar Ahmad, the establishment AHH Hub in Medini is a missing piece in the puzzle in further developing the business ecosystem in Iskandar Puteri.

IIB or Iskandar Investment Bhd is the company behind Iskandar Development Region.

“We are delighted to establish a platform to provide our local talents with exposure and training in data analysis which is crucial for digital ecosystem building in Medini,” Khairil said, pointing out that the IIB-DHL collaboration seeks to contribute to IIB's vision to build an inclusive and sustainable future metropolis.

Besides UTM, the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) is also one of the collaborators in setting up the new AAH Hub,  that is hoped to help turn  Medini into a key digital and innovation centre.

The AAH Hub is the third DHL facility in Medini after the Global Centre of Excellence (for Innovation) established 2018 and the DHL Global Forwarding that also opened this year.

The AAH Hub will also act as a platform to provide training and exposure in data analysis among members of the local community, which is crucial for digital ecosystem building within the 2,230-acre Medini township, the Johor Digital Hub.

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This includes building out and scaling Wiliot’s software-as-a-service platform, as well as creating new sensors and capabilities. The company also plans to integrate with a larger set of partners and invest in silicon production capacity to ensure supply during the worldwide shortage.

The company revealed its plans after receiving US$200 million in a Series C funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.

"Wiliot has created a vision of the future of AI-enabled IoT, and we are delighted that SoftBank is supporting us in making this future a reality," said Tal Tamir, Wiliot's CEO. "IoT is a vision created around Things and our mission at Wiliot is to use cutting edge hardware, AI based sensing and an innovative business model to implement a safer and more transparent world, a world in which all the things around us help consumers use them better and suppliers avoid waste."

Softbank joins existing investors that include 83North, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), Avery Dennison, Grove Ventures, M Ventures, the corporate VC of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Maersk Growth, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures LLC, Samsung Venture Investment Corp., Vintage Investment Partners, and Verizon Ventures. As part of the investment, Amit Lubovsky, Investor for SoftBank Investment Advisers, will join Wiliot's Board of Directors.

With Softbank’s Vision Fund 2 backing, Wiliot will accelerate its mission to create a new era of IoT where intelligence and connectivity are brought to trillions of products that move through global supply chains – from crates, packaging, and pallets to clothes, medicine, and perishable goods.

Adding sensing capability to the global supply chain

Wiliot has created a platform that is built on Wiliot IoT Pixels and the Wiliot Cloud. Wiliot IoT Pixels are tiny low-cost, self-powered tags that attach to any product or packaging to sense a range of physical and environment data that is then fed into the Wiliot Cloud, where machine learning algorithms translate data into actionable insights for businesses across a range of industries. The Wiliot Cloud also ensures data remains secure, private, and authentic.

Wiliot’s IoT Pixel tags are postage-stamp-size computers that continuously collect data about the world around them. They’re Bluetooth-enabled, encrypted, and designed to be manufactured into clothing, food packaging, and more. And because they harvest radio frequency energy from their surroundings, they don’t require a battery.

The self-charging nature of Wiliot’s tags make them a potentially more attractive as they don’t need a dedicated power source, receiver module, or home base, meaning they can draw energy as long as radio waves are within range.

Bringing visibility to the global supply chain

For decades, there has remained a massive gap as trillions of products travel billions of miles without any data being available as to their status, whereabouts, or situation. Lacking this information, global supply chains have been profoundly, and vulnerably, in the dark. Recognising this, many leaders in consumer-packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, furniture, and apparel have been working with Wiliot to add their sensing capabilities, intelligence and connectivity.

Effectively, products that were off-line during their manufacturing, shipping and consumption journeys are now online, a reality that is changing the way products are made, distributed, sold, used, reused, and recycled.

Wiliot-enabled products and packaging can sense temperature, fill level, motion, location changes, humidity, and proximity. Wiliot IoT Pixels can be integrated into vaccine vials, food packaging, and more, bringing real-time transparency to the supply chain, and the ability for brands for the first time to understand inventory levels throughout their retail channels. They can even understand how their products are used in customers' homes through a highly secure, privacy-protected platform.

This omniscient view of the supply chain built on people's usage allows a new paradigm called Demand Chain, which promises to slash the required capital that's non-productively tied up in inventories. Products will be able to self-reorder based on usage, accelerating the adoption of the "subscription economy" as brands transform their business models.

Specifically for Taiwan, manufacturers have been searching for technologies that can help improve supply chain management for years. Coupled with the recent announcement made by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in April 2021 that Taiwan is actively working towards carbon neutrality by 2050, enterprises are in eager search of IoT solutions to enable the transformation. Meanwhile, the need to keep stock for vaccination needs also encourages surging demand from the medical sector. Upgrades on post-COVID supply chain management has become a crucial topic within Taiwan.

All this will provide consumers with increased convenience, fresher, safer food, less waste, lower medical costs and a lower environmental impact.

"By inventing the first hyper-scalable, self-powered computer that uses AI to sense the world, Wiliot is positioned to bring together the digital and physical," said Yanni Pipilis managing partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers. "We have always believed that with IoT and AI, people will live better and healthier lives – where any food or medicine has the ability to understand if it's safe to use and communicate seamlessly with people. We are pleased to play a part in helping Wiliot dramatically scale the ever-expanding application of IoT globally."

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In a new survey released yesterday by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and Volkswagen Group of America,  results showed that 70% of older adults are willing to take SDRH services today and in the future – feeling confident that new technologies could enhance their safety as well as achieve tasks outside the home.

"Technology will play a key role in addressing challenges faced by older adults who are no longer able to drive," said NCOA Senior Director Kathleen Cameron. "The five most important aspects of SDRH services for older adults are safety, quality of service, convenience, traffic, and overall comfort of riding in the vehicle."

The survey polled 2,500 people over age 55 with the average age of respondents being 60, 64% of them male. Most respondents were white (75%), while 15% were Black/African American, 4.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 30% Hispanic/Latino. Most respondents were from metro areas (88%), and 8% resided in suburban areas and 4% rural areas.

The survey noted that older adults often outlive their decision to stop driving by about 10 years for women and 7 years for men. The decision to stop driving is usually due to declining vision, physical, and cognitive abilities or the use of medications that impair driving.

Non-driving older adults need alternative transportation to go to doctor's appointments, shop, and engage in activities that keep them socially connected, like attending religious services, visiting friends and family, and enjoying entertainment. Caregivers most often provide this transportation. In some parts of the country, public transportation, taxis, and ride hailing services like Uber may be options for older adults. However, in many rural areas, these alternatives are not available.

Technology can play an important role in addressing these challenges. Today, many in-car technologies support the driver by performing parts of the driving task, and soon, cars will become so advanced they will be able to support the driving task entirely from start to end. Self-driving ride-hailing services, such as self-driving taxis, Ubers or Lyfts, or public transit shuttles also could be a solution for older adults.

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Rajiv Bawa, chief business officer at dtac, pointed out that 5G Private Networks can unlock the potential of Thailand’s businesses embracing digital transformation.

“This is especially true in the post-Covid-19 economy in which the deployment of IoT applications, automation, and edge computing are critical for businesses’ recovery and resilience. The key benefit of a private network is that it can be custom-built for specific use cases for each corporation. In particular, we see fantastic potential in vertical industries such as manufacturing, automotive assembly, shipping, logistics, public health, and agriculture.”

He added 5G Private Networks also support advanced requirements for digital transformation and automated manufacturing requiring ultra-high data transfer speeds or near-zero latencies – citing IoT, robots and manufacturing automation as the most significant use cases that require machine-critical performance and security.

“Not only can 5G Private Networks lift the corporate infrastructure by enabling high performance, but they are also shielded from public network threats of attacks from hackers who may otherwise use a public network to breach into corporate data or IoT devices,” Bawa said.

Collaboration with AWS

The mobile operator is working with AWS on this POC deployment at the latter’s corporate headquarters at dtac House, where a new real-time, AI-based video analytics solution – co-developed with AWS – is now running on the 5G private network.

The AI-based video analytics solution is designed to demonstrate how private networks can enable smart solutions for the new normal with an automated system designed to ensure social distancing, The solution features a smart camera that can analyse distances among individuals in real-time to detect breaches of social distancing rules. It covers COVID-19 use cases such as PPE( personal protective equipment) compliance, intrusion detection, people occupancy and physical distancing.

The solution uses 5G dtac’s 5G Private Network and AWS Snowball Edge, a device with on-board storage and compute power for select AWS capabilities. AWS Snowball Edge can do local processing and edge-computing workloads in addition to transferring data between local environments and AWS.

“We are excited to be working with dtac to launch a brand new service that takes advantage of 5G and edge cloud computing to deliver industry specific low latency use cases,” said Fabio Cerone, managing director of the telco business unit for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at AWS.

He added: “By providing edge cloud infrastructure that moves data processing close to where data is, we will allow customers to take advantage of use cases based on AI and ML running inference at the edge. We look forward to deepen our collaboration with dtac and continue to drive innovation and enhance customer experience.”

Two types of 5G Private Networks

5G Private Networks can power mission-critical systems that require ultra-high reliability, ultra-low latency, 99.999 percent availability, and very high security. When integrated with edge-computing capabilities, private networks can provide customers with a scalable, customisable platform to take advantage of developments in new generation technologies.

Dtac has two types of 5G Private Networks. The first one is a standalone private network, with network hardware that  includes edge computing operating on 26 GHz 5G and is not connected to a public network. Optimal data transfer performance is assured due to an exclusive corporate network with low latency, superior security, and isolated data traffic.

The second type is a hybrid private network. 5G and 4G connectivity are combined with base stations installed within the corporation and a public radio access network (RAN). Data processing is isolated within the corporate edge computing but can be stored in hyperscale data centres with superior security.

Apart from its collaboration with AWS, dtac is also working closely with other strategic partners, such as Telenor. In Europe, Telenor has been deploying private networks for various use cases including security, healthcare, retailing, and robots. dtac is benefiting from Telenor’s expertise. dtac currently holds a 5G license with a 26 GHz spectrum which supports 5G Private Network services for all corporate customer requirements.

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Envisioned as a last-mile logistics solution for urban and suburban areas, Roxo was developed in collaboration with DEKA Development & Research Corporation, the R&D company that also produced the Segway.

The robot uses DEKA’s established iBOT electric wheelchair base, capable of negotiating rough terrain, traversing steps, and steep inclines. Its sensors maintain 360-degree awareness of its surroundings and uses artificial intelligence, or AI, to choose the safest path or course of action. With a tall profile it is easy for pedestrians and road users to see. It also uses signals, lights and a signalling screen that clearly communicate its directional intent.

Roxo is designed to travel on sidewalks and along roadsides, safely delivering smaller shipments to customers’ homes and businesses. Its features include pedestrian-safe technology, multiple cameras and LiDAR allowing the zero-emission, battery-powered bot to be aware of its surroundings.

Equipped  with machine-learning algorithms to detect and avoid obstacles, plot a safe path, Roxo is enabled to follow road and safety rules. Proprietary technology makes it highly capable, allowing it to navigate unpaved surfaces, curbs, and to even climb deep flights of steps for an extraordinary door-to-door delivery experience.

The idea is simple. A customer orders a small item from a local merchant and – Roxo can deliver it right to a customer’s door within a 3-5 mile radius. Naturally, this takes some work: after all, no 2 sidewalks or driveways are exactly the same.

Japan: a fertile ground for robotics testing

Since Roxo was unveiled in 2019, FedEx Express has been conducting tests with major retailers in several US cities such as Memphis, Tennessee; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Plano and Frisco, Texas.

Roxo’s first international appearance  was in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in October 2019 for an experimental project with local businesses, including Dubai Airports

Roxo is currently undergoing testing in the U.S. to generate data to ‘train’ the self-driving software and validate safe performance, in compliance with all applicable safety regulations and guidelines. There is significant opportunity in Japan to identify local, case-specific applications to make the best use of the technology to benefit FedEx customers.

Meanwhile, FedEx Express picked Japan for Roxo’s first road test in Asia because it provides a fertile environment for testing and adoption of robotics with its positive regulatory framework and world-class infrastructure.

“As we sit at the intersection of physical and digital networks, Roxo brings a glimpse of the future of logistics, where customers can enjoy same day, contactless delivery services at their doorsteps,” said Kawal Preet, president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express. “The FedEx SameDay Bot is truly an innovation opening new possibilities for on-demand, same day, hyper-localised delivery.”

With businesses of all kinds embarking on digital transformation, Preet said they look forward to collaborating with future-ready companies to advance delivery services in Japan and elsewhere in Asia Pacific.

“Let’s not forget the rest of Asia: a hugely diverse region of testing climates and extreme weather events; densely populated cities; unique public transport and varied terrains. No small challenge for an urban delivery bot,” Preet said.

She added: “Asia has long been a dynamic breeding ground for SMEs and driver of the entrepreneurial business culture that makes global trade what is it is today. Asia Pacific also remains a world leader in the development of smart, sustainable cities.

“One thing’s for sure: when we look at what’s next for Roxo in Asia-Pacific, it feels like innovation has landed in the right place.

ROXO: VITAL STATISTICS AT A GLANCE

Dimensions: 61.80” Height x 39” Length x  29” Width (H157 cm x L99 cm x W73 cm)

Weight: 450 lbs. approx. (200 kg)

Capacity: 100 lbs  approx. (45 kg)

Sensors: A sophisticated set of sensors and technology gives 360-degree awareness

Built-in: Turn signals, lights, camera, microphone and signalling screen clearly communicate intent to nearby pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles

Zero-emissions: Battery powered

Stabilisation technology: iBot wheelchair base used to keep cargo level

Safety: Constantly monitored and capable of being controlled remotely

   Watch surroundings through built-in cameras

   Remote teleoperators can intervene and take over control

   Remote teleoperator can communicate through built-in microphone

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Deadline for  submission of proposals is on August 10, 2021.

“By bringing together problem statements and solutions for the maritime sector, SPC has become a key pillar of our efforts to develop a strong Marinetech (maritime technology) sector in Singapore,” said Chee Hong Tat, senior minister of state of the Ministry of Transport.

He pointed out that innovation in the area of Marinetech will be key for the shipping industry’s future growth.

“Maritime Singapore has remained resilient during the pandemic, we should ride on this momentum to build even stronger capabilities and position ourselves to grow further and be ready for the future. Singapore is well-placed to develop this sector as we have strengths in both maritime and technology,” Chee added.

The annual competition is organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, under Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @BLOCK71 (PIER71).

The SPC is a key initiative by PIER71 to bridge opportunities in the maritime sector with innovative solutions that can be reimagined to accelerate digital transformation within the industry.

New VC partners

This year, PIER71 has added three new organisations – IMC Ventures, Motion Ventures and MOL PLUS – to its network of venture capital partners, who have individually managed investment fund of S$30 million, and also will be able to offer maritime and entrepreneurial expertise.

Shortlisted start-ups will gain access to PIER71 Accelerate, a six-week market validation and customer discovery programme; PIER71’s global network of partners; mentoring; workshops and masterclasses; the opportunity to win top three cash prizes of S$10,000, S$5,000 and S$3,000 respectively; as well as continued entrepreneurial and technical support beyond SPC. Finalists are also eligible to apply for MPA’s MINT-STARTUP grant of up to S$50,000 to pilot their projects.

“PIER71 continues to attract start-ups and other key stakeholders that make the maritime innovation ecosystem as vibrant as it is today. As part of our larger effort in developing deep-tech and industry-relevant programmes, NUS sees this collaboration with MPA as an important driver in bridging innovation solutions with the wider industry needs,” said Professor Freddy Boey, NUS deputy president for innovation and enterprise.

He added: “In the coming months the PIER71 programme will be further enhanced with activities in the areas of technology commercialisation, internationalisation and talent development.”

To date,  SPC has supported close to 60 start-ups through PIER71 Accelerate. Seven start-ups from last year’s SPC have been awarded with MPA’s start-up grant for prototype development and test-bedding, bringing the total grant funding disbursed to past PIER71 start-ups to about S$2 million.

Over the next 12 months, these start-ups will collaborate with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners on pilot projects that focus on the use of autonomous robotics, vision analytics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, among others.

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The onset of the COVI9-19 last year and the disruptions it brought to the global supply chain underscored the need for the logistics industry to accelerate their digital transformation projects in the quest for increased automation.

Long before the pandemic hit, DHL Express introduced solutions to streamline vital processes, automate time-consuming repetitive tasks, and helped teams become more productive. These include autonomous guided vehicles to enhance our operations, chatbots to complement customer service operations, and shipment sensors with track-and-trace capabilities.

“We were cognizant that digital transformation was an imperative to maintain and elevate our service levels as a logistics provider. The pandemic accelerated our plans to allow our work force to collaborate and work virtually from any location. We also fast-tracked our adoption and rollout of technologies, such as live chat and digital assistants, which were crucial in helping us cope with an unprecedented demand surge worldwide," said Jimmy Yeoh, chief information officer, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

DHL Express has 3,200 facilities across more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, delivering close to 500 million shipments a year based on 2020 figures.

Taking the lead in technology innovations

According to DHL Express Asia Pacific CEO Ken Lee, embarking on digital transformation projects has driven greater efficiencies and higher productivity across their organisation.

At DHL Express,  solutions such as the AI-based Advanced Quality Control Center (AQCC) system installed in each facility is designed to monitor shipment movements and flag issues in real time. It ensures parcels in transit move smoothly at every stage of their journey.

The system triggers alerts when shipments in transit are stalled. The platform’s data analytics engine then kicks up to quickly identify to location of these “exceptions” and their projected routes  are mapped. The company’s team of analysts then  hunker down to implement corrective actions to ensure these shipments can still arrive at their destinations on time.

Furthermore, the AQCC system uses AI and machine learning to identify root causes and recommend actions for continuous improvement.

Besides the AQCC system, here is a peek of the various digital transformation projects that DHL Express have done in recent years:

• Automatic flyer sorting with DHLBot: Sorts flyers to route level with 99% accuracy. It improves sorting efficiency while minimising human interaction (for safety during Covid-19).
• Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs): Intelligently senses the environment and ferries shipments, cargo pallets, and containers safely and efficiently. It helps to scale throughput capacity as and when needed.
• Autonomous mobile robots: Serve as autonomous "couriers" that provide on-demand deliveries. They are equipped with sensors and AI-powered avoidance system to navigate to their respective destination.
• Chatbots for 24/7 customer service: Allows customers to receive bite-sized shipping information and track shipments on-the-go. It is designed to instantly address commonly asked questions.
• On-Demand Delivery (ODD) online portal: Offers customers the flexibility to schedule contactless deliveries for shipments at their own convenience. Customers can choose from six alternative delivery options if they are unable to receive the shipment on the estimated delivery date.
• QR code labellers for parcel returns: Allows customers to manage parcel returns digitally by getting a QR code online. This reduces physical contact for ad-hoc customers by replacing physical airway bills.
• Route optimisation for faster deliveries: Enables couriers to plan their routes more effectively, thus improving productivity and fuel efficiency. It shortens delivery time to customers.

"By constantly listening to our customers' needs, we have implemented technological innovations that are relevant and sensible for our customers, employees and operations," Lee said.

Indeed, the Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL Group) is investing over EUR2 billion on digital transformation projects from 2021 to 2025 to improve the experience of customers and employees, while also increasing operational excellence. This is in line with the group’s Strategy 2025 goal of delivering excellence in a digital world.

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The introduction of the new family of products comes a little more than two weeks after the company launched its first IoT modem solution that is equipped with 5G connectivity and optimised for Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications. The Qualcomm 315 5G IoT Modem-RF System is a modem-to-antenna solution designed to support the IoT ecosystem in building upgradeable LTE and 5G devices for IoT verticals.

The newly released chipsets span across entire market segments from entry level to premium tier, and purpose-built to support emerging IoT devices and solutions designed for industrial and commercial applications.

“We have two variants of products. One classified  under the QCS family, which is an application processor with WiFi connectivity; and the other is classified under the QCM, which is an application processor with an integrated cellular connectivity,” said Nagaraju Naik, senior director for product development at Qualcomm.

He added: “With the understanding of the IoT portfolio across industrial and enterprise applications, there is a need for extended hardware availability as well as extended software support. So, we have defined that as a programme. All the new chipsets are extended life chipsets with a minimum hardware availability of at least eight years; and we have an extended software support programme that is very well established, which offers security bug fixes on a quarterly basis.”

The new Qualcomm IoT chipsets are:

• Qualcomm QCS8250 | Target applications: connected healthcare, digital signage, retail, and video collaboration

This premium-tier offering is optimised to deliver maximum performance to enable compute intensive AI at the edge with support for Qualcomm® Wi-Fi 6 solutions and 5G connectivity. It offers a new Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for ultra-intuitive AI in addition to machine learning for compute-intensive IoT applications to enable smart cameras, video collaboration, AI hubs, connected healthcare and smart retail. Purpose-built for industrial and commercial applications, this platform delivers ultimate performance experience with flexible options enabled by Qualcomm’s 3rd party ecosystem to accelerate deployment and commercialisation at scale.

• Qualcomm QCS6490/QCM6490 | Target applications: connected healthcare, logistics management, retail, transportation, and warehousing

With the Kryo 585 CPU architecture this solution delivers powerful performance and is purpose-built for industrial and commercial IoT applications such as transportation, warehousing, connected healthcare, logistics management and across retail point of sale (POS) kiosks. Equip to support 5G mmWave/Sub-6 GHz and Wi-Fi 6E, this solution helps enable the latest generation of ruggedised handhelds and tablets, industrial scanners, and human machine interface systems. Through powerful connections, reduced latency, along with dynamic triple ISPs and advanced Edge-AI and compute based on 6th generation Qualcomm AI Engine, this solution delivers astonishing performance at reduced power compared to previous generation solutions.

• Qualcomm QCS4290/QCM4290 | Target applications: cameras, industrial handhelds, and security panels

These chipsets offer maximum mid-tier benefits. With the Kryo260 CPU architecture for increased speeds and robust on-device performance, in addition to the 3rd generation Qualcomm AI Engine, this platform delivers powerful performance, dynamic camera capabilities and broad connectivity options (LTE Cat13, Wi-Fi 6-Ready),ideal for industrial and commercial IoT applications such as industrial handhelds in logistics and warehousing, security panels and cameras. For increased intuitive on-device intelligence, devices based on this new solution will help enable productive and efficient work environments.

• Qualcomm QCS2290/QCM2290 | Target applications: camera applications, industrial handhelds, retail and tracking

These are robust entry-level offerings, enabling reliable performance and power-conservation with LTE connectivity, upgraded features and memory support for low power consumption. Equipped with the Cortex A53 CPU architecture, the entry-level platform is a cost-effective solution, delivering greater performance, higher graphics capabilities, better quality images, and improved power performance. This platform is well-suited for, retail point-of-sale (POS),industrial handheld, tracking and camera applications. Also, QCS2290/QCM2290 baseband chip is pin-to-pin compatible with QCS4290/QCM4290 which helps customers use hardware and software across various IoT devices to reduce cost and time to market.

The Qualcomm QCS8250, Qualcomm QCS4290/ QCM4290, and Qualcomm QCS2290/ QCM2290 solutions are available now. The Qualcomm QCS6490/ QCM6490 solution are expected to be available in second half of 2021.

Enabling the IoT ecosystem

With its latest family of IoT chipsets, Qualcomm hopes to enable its more than 13,000 IoT customers accelerate their development of connected products.

“We uniquely positioned to lead the IoT ecosystem forward with our systems-level approach. Along with the recently announced Qualcomm315 5G IoT modem, these new IoT solutions further exemplify our commitment to driving global digital transformation and providing a portfolio of solutions to transform industrial and enterprise IoT applications to achieve cutting-edge performance and seamless connectivity,” said Jeff Lorbeck, senior vice president and general manager of connected smart systems at Qualcomm .

He added: “We believe in the power of technology to enrich lives through purposeful innovation with solutions to support the ecosystem in reimagining how the world connects, works and communicates. These new IoT solutions are a step towards achieving that goal.”

A number of the company’s customers and partners have expressed optimism about the new IoT chipsets.

“The announcement of Qualcomm Technologies’ newest IoT solutions is an exciting step forward in the global proliferation of next-generation IoT devices. Coupled with Fibocom’s end-to-end IoT modules and wireless communications solutions, these new solutions will enable powerful, intelligent, and revolutionary IoT solutions across a variety of industries and vertical applications,” said Lingpeng Ying,chief executive officer, Wireless Inc.

"As a leading IoT solution distributor in Taiwan, we have strong application insights and support customers from concept to design to manufacturing. The Qualcomm QCS8250 is a leading AI computing platform, and we are pleased to be collaborating with Taiwan customers to enable the high-performance, low-power computing IoT platform in 1H2022, including a SMARC module from biases and video conference solution from Aver," said Eric Cheng, president, Hongtech Electronics.

“Qualcomm Technologies’ newest IoT solutions are a strong step forward for the retail market and IoT ecosystem to enable the global proliferation of next-generation devices. We are proud to work with Qualcomm Technologies to continue to enable the growth of this market and ecosystem.” said Tom Luo, executive vice president, PAX Computer Technology (Shenzhen).

“Based on our long strategic relationship, we congratulate Qualcomm Technologies on the launch of these cutting-edge solutions,” said Julie Johnson, vice president of product management, Zebra Technologies. “This innovation gives us more flexibility than ever before to build the right technology solutions for our customers based on their specific needs.”

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Launched in April by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the MDE supports the development of drone applications in the maritime context, through the provision of a sandbox for the test-bedding of technologies and operations.

This sandbox is part of the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map to invest in new port capabilities through harnessing emerging technologies, to build a thriving maritime innovation ecosystem and strengthen Singapore’s position as an international maritime centre.

“Technology has played a pivotal role in helping the maritime sector remain resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. The launch of the MDE marks an important milestone in advancing Singapore’s journey towards the use of emerging technologies in the maritime sector. As we embark on this exciting future, we look forward to supporting our industry partners and growing more start-ups to build a thriving maritime innovation ecosystem,” said Chee Hong Tat, senior minister of state for foreign affairs and transport, during the MDE launch.

During the MDE launch , a 3D-printed part was loaded into a drone carriage and was delivered from the new facility to a vessel at the nearby anchorage.

Drone technologies have the potential to transform traditional maritime operation, with innovative applications of drone technologies bringing benefits such as increased productivity, reduced need for manpower and lower costs.

When the MDE opened  seven weeks ago, 11 industry players showcased their cutting-edge drone technologies, engineering systems, additive manufacturing, and communication services, that can provide innovative drone solutions for the maritime sector. These companies were Airbus, Avetics Global, F-drones, Garuda Robotics, M1, Nova Systems Asia, Skyports, ST Engineering, thyssenkrupp, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, and Volocopter.

To date, nine companies have conducted trials at the drone estate. These included shore-to-ship use-cases by companies such as Wilhelmsen and Airbus, Foodpanda and ST Engineering, and F-drones.

CWT Aerospace conducted trials using drones for surveillance while Avetics Global trialled beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drones for surveillance and remote ship inspection.

In other innovative applications, Airbus and M1 with the support of Infocomm Media Development Authority, are conducting 5G network and technology trials to enable safe and robust maritime drone operations, while Nova Systems Asia tested the use of an unmanned aircraft traffic management system to enable large-scale drone operations. Companies interested to conduct trials at the MDE can contact MPA.

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The Aruba User Experience Insight (UXI) AI software agent embedded in Zebra mobile computers analyses real-time voice and data traffic and proactively flags issues that could affect application, Wi-Fi connectivity, roaming, and voice performance.

The embedded solution will be available in October of 2021. Target markets include healthcare, hospitality, logistics, and retail applications.

However, companies using Zebra devices can get hold of the solution now through early access trials.

The early warning provided by Aruba UXI informs remedial actions so that business-critical applications and end user experiences are not impacted. The result is higher up-time, increased productivity, and more expeditious problem remediation.

Aruba’s AI-based UXI agents’ network and application testing capabilities work in concert with Zebra’s Worry-Free Wi-Fi Edge Insights to expose a device-level view and pre-analysed insights of the network. Results are displayed on Aruba’s intuitive UXI dashboard.

Edge-to-cloud early warning system

Zebra developed WorryFree Wi-Fi Edge Insights to deliver device communications and management services. It will provide businesses with an edge-to-cloud early warning system that can directly enhance productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

The solution enables IT teams to automate the collection, analysis, and remediation of performance issues in real-time using data observed from the very devices that are being impacted, as simulated or historical data simply cannot provide the same level of accuracy as live data.

For example, connectivity and voice performance might vary considerably while standing at floor level, moving on a forklift, or while picking at the top of a storage rack. The combination of Aruba’s UXI agents and Zebra Worry-Free Wi-Fi Edge Insights will expose these differences, enabling IT staff – locally or remotely – to precisely target solutions. The real-time nature of data collection means that even transient events that might otherwise go unnoticed are captured and analysed.

“COOs are laser focused on improving operational efficiency, reducing downtime, and making the best use of skilled labour,” said Michael Tennefoss, vice president of IoT and strategic partnerships at Aruba. “Many of the most vexing problems are transient in nature and extremely challenging to troubleshoot. Capturing real-time information right at the point of impact gives the most insightful view of what’s happening, and best informs how to fix it. And that’s exactly what the combination of Zebra’s new Worry-Free Wi-Fi Edge Insights and Aruba’s UXI accomplishes.”

Mining business insights from big data

The vast amount of data generated by Zebra mobile computers and other IoT machines can be meaningfully collected, analysed, and acted upon by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI).

Aruba pioneered the application of AI to automated network and application performance monitoring. Aruba UXI, a component of Aruba’s AIOps suite, is AI-powered and its Incident Detection feature baselines application performance over time and automatically identifies and alerts when it detects service-impacting changes in behaviour.

The cloud-based service allows IT to proactively resolve issues before they impact operations, and minimise alert fatigue, often without ever stepping foot on the site being monitored. AIOps runs as a service within Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform), the industry’s first cloud-native platform designed to automate, unify, and secure the edge.

“As enterprises make the leap to digitally transform, the amount of business-impacting data that has to be analysed for meaningful insights is growing exponentially,” said Brian Ray, vice president of engineering at HarborTech Mobility, an Aruba Platinum partner and Zebra PartnerConnect Premier Solutions partner.

He added: “Data science has to be leveraged, but it is only as good as the sources from which it draws. Mobile device-generated data is the gold standard for performance and troubleshooting information because it’s coming directly from the source, from the very device that’s impacted by network, service, and application issues.”

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Conducted with the support from Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and a meat importer, the trials were done in February and March this year on the routes between a meat processing plant on the Mainland and the Man Kam To Control Point.

ASTRI will optimise the platform, and share the trial results with the relevant departments on the Mainland and in Hong Kong, anticipating further discussions on the development of the platform.

"Our goal is to deploy blockchain and IoT technologies to ensure that the entire process of transporting and storing chilled and frozen food is efficient and hygienic, and to facilitate food traceability. If a food safety incident occurs, we will be able to trace where the problem food comes from and where it goes,” said  project coordinator Ricky Leung. Leung is also senior manager of cybersecurity, cryptography and trusted technologies at ASTRI.

Technology-assisted food safety measure

The next generation cold food import safety management platform stores all import documents and container temperature data on the blockchain. Those who have been granted access rights, including farms, processing plants, importers and exporters, and approval units, will share the same documents and data to ensure consistency.

Trucks will use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to record their driving routes and use an advanced electronic lock and thermometer to monitor the status of the container door and the temperature inside, uploading it to the system platform and storing on the blockchain in real time.

Established in 2000 with the mission to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness through applied research, ASTRI's core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five technology divisions: AI and big data analytics; communications; cybersecurity, cryptography and trusted technologies; integrated circuits and systems; and IoT and sensors. They are applied across five core areas, including smart city, financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, digital health, and application specific integrated circuits.

To date, ASTRI has transferred over 750 technologies to the industries and been granted more than 900 patents in the Mainland, the US, and other countries.

“We have always been committed to using advanced scientific research to assist the government and the industrial and commercial sector in addressing problems and optimising operations, thereby improving the quality of life for our citizens,” said Dr Lucas Hui, ASTRI's acting co-CEO and chief technology officer, said.

He added: “With the next generation cold food import safety management platform, we can assist importers and relevant government departments in more efficiently processing food import applications."

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By deploying connected sensors, companies can use IoT analytics to deliver temperature-sensitive COVID vaccines, analyse crop data to deliver higher-quality food, improve energy forecasting to reduce utility bills, and protect people and property from dangerous flooding.

For some time now, SAS has been working with key partners including Microsoft Azure and Stress Engineering to apply customisable analytics to cold chain logistics integrity challenges.

“We use data and analytics in the cloud to help protect the efficacy of temperature-sensitive medications while simultaneously addressing security and regulatory mandates,” said Jason Mann, vice president of IoT at SAS. “It helps companies maximise efficiency, align demand, and minimise waste and fraud.

According to a 2019 study by IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, failures in temperature-controlled logistics – like those required for storing and transporting the COVID vaccine – result in US$35 billion in annual biopharma losses. IQVIA anticipates cold chain logistics will account for nearly a quarter of pharmaceutical companies’ R&D budgets in 2021 and beyond.

IoT analytics in crop and livestock farming

SAS has been collaborating with partners such as like Ernst & Young, Semtech , DunavNET and a host of universities and colleges to apply IoT analytics in precision agriculture.

“It helps field crop and livestock farming organisations enhance quality and maximise yield, so the world’s food supply is safe and abundant.” Mann said.

Again, through connected sensors, crop and livestock farmers to monitor the situation in the fields in real-time.

According to an IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Agriculture 2021 Predictions, 75% of livestock farmers will use wearables by 2026 to provide real-time information about animal health and activity levels. This will improve profits and operational efficiency. The experts also expect 35% of farmers will use drones to monitor and manage field crops and animals to reduce labour costs and manage more acreage.

By using data streaming from sensors integrated with the LoRaWAN standard on livestock or smart drones surveying field crops, SAS analytics  help farmers protect crops, increase yields and meet customer demand.

One company that hugely benefitted in using IoT analytics is  the 5,600 -acre 13. Jul – Plantaze, which owns Europe’s largest single complex vineyard. The company produces more than 20 million kilograms of grapes and approximately 15 million bottles of wine annually.

13. Jul - Plantaze uses SAS analytics deployed by partners DunavNET and the University of Donja Gorica to monitor the presence of grape moths, which can cause significant problems.

“The SAS analytics built into the DunavNET agroNET solution have helped us move our operation into the digital future,” said Dr. Vesna Maraš, director of the development sector at Plantaze. “Monitoring plant health and pests is key, but so is modernising our entire viticulture and

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Through its latest collaboration with global mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat, Honeywell’s new SAT-IDP portable satellite terminal can track, monitor and control high-value assets in virtually any environment anywhere in the world, using the Inmarsat network.

Once an asset has been equipped with a SAT-IDP terminal and deployed in the field, the terminal can be programmed to send and receive customised data from internal and external sensors including temperature, humidity, vibration and shock.

“With high-value assets moving throughout the world, our portable next-generation satellite terminal gives shippers, fleet companies and their customers valuable data to help make sure their goods will make it to their destination safely,” said Kenneth Deville, general manager of Honeywell’s Global Tracking business. “The terminal’s new features provide greater insights into the quality of shipped goods, location of critical assets and the status and control of remote industrial systems.”

The SAT-IDP also introduces several new features including multiple input/output ports for third-party digital support, and Bluetooth connectivity to enable wireless terminal management for local scripting and configuration in addition to wireless sensors and messaging applications. The SAT-IDP features a compact design allowing inconspicuous deployments with several options for tailored installation.

The terminal operates globally on the highly reliable L-band satellite network from Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, using the IsatData Pro (IDP) service. IDP is often used where no other communications networks exist, but also complements other networks such as 4G as a reliable fallback for mission-critical data.

“Inmarsat is pleased to support Honeywell and its customers with an evolution path for existing applications and an opportunity to further innovate in the digital transformation of remote industries,” said Mike Carter, president of Enterprise at Inmarsat. “Inmarsat and Honeywell partner on various initiatives and share a common mission to improve safety, sustainability and efficiency for our customers.”

Inmarsat owns and operates the world’s most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks. Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its customers across the globe.

For existing Honeywell customers using previous SAT-series terminals, the rugged, high reliability SAT-IDP offers a drop-in upgrade path from legacy satellite IoT services to IDP, which will extend application lifecycle and customer investments by ten years or more.

Honeywell and Inmarsat have worked together for nearly two decades to deliver solutions for several industries, including personal tracking, global GPS and aerospace.

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“This will help to detect problems earlier, reduce delays caused by road closures for manual inspections and repairs, and help to find problems more quickly and accurately in the case of bridge strikes or other unexpected events,” said Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan.

The state government has partnered with technology vendor Xerox  on a joint venture  named Eloque to commercialise the new technology that will remotely monitor the structural health of bridges.

“The technology has already been deployed on 7 bridges in Victoria and will be progressively deployed on priority bridges, particularly those that regularly deal with heavy loads and are at the most risk of deterioration. This is solving a major pain point for customers and allowing them to better manage their assets,” said VicTrack chief executive Campbell Rose AM, who has taken the role of CEO of Eloque to support the company through its early establishment.

The Eloque solution is an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, that accurately measures and estimates structural strain, thermal response, bending, loads, vibration on bridges. Advanced analytics are then used to evaluate the sensors’ data and deliver insights directly to the bridge owners and operators in real time, to monitor whether a bridge is being over or underutilised, has structural problems or damage that needs repair.

Aging public infrastructure challenge

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, in the United States alone, 42% of all bridges are at least 50 years old, and nearly 231,000 bridges need repair and preservation work. This problem extends across the globe. An estimated 70% of Australia’s bridges are more than 50 years old, around 11,000 of Germany's 25,000 rail bridges are over 100 years old, and 7% of bridges in France are already at risk of collapse.

“Aging and deteriorating public infrastructure is a global problem. We are pioneering technology that maintains the safety of bridges, extends their useful life and positively impacts planning,” said Xerox vice chairman and CEO John Visentin. “Our partnership with the Victorian Government not only allows us to solve this problem for Victoria, but also rapidly expand to customers around the world facing these challenges.”

The technology was developed at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and trailed through a partnership between Xerox and VicTrack, the Victorian Government state-owned enterprise that owns all railway and tram lines in the state. PARC’s solution uses sensors and advanced analytics to monitor structural health in bridges to optimize asset life.

“While our initial focus will be rail and road bridges, Eloque’s technology is versatile and we plan to adapt it for use on other critical structures in the future,” said Ersin Uzun, general manager of IoT for Xerox and Board Member of Eloque. “We are already looking to expand the technology to tunnels, ports, multi-story parking garages and other critical infrastructure assets.”

Xerox is the majority owner of Eloque, and this is part of its strategy for broad entry into the IoT market with new industrial offerings. Last year, Xerox also announced that PARC is working with the United States’ Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the development of a technology that can enable large scale monitoring of seas under the Ocean of Things program.

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The deal between the Toyota and Lyft will also expand the footprint of Woven Planet beyond its Tokyo headquarters, with offices and engineering teams in Palo Alto, CA and London, UK.

Woven Planet is the expansion of the Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development (TRI-AD), which started operating in January this year and is tasked  to spearhead the automaker’s technology development in autonomous vehicles.

"This acquisition advances our mission to develop the safest mobility in the world at scale. The Woven Planet team, alongside the team of researchers at TRI, have already established a centre of excellence for software development and technology in the Toyota Group. Bringing Level 5's world-class engineers and experts into the fold―as well as additional technology resources―will allow us to have even greater speed and impact,” said James Kuffner, CEO, Woven Planet.

According to Toyota, the resulting combined "dream team" of approximately 1,200 will represent one of the most diverse, well-resourced and talented groups in mobility services.

Logan Green, CEO of Lyft said that the deal with Toyota takes the car-hailing company into the next phase of its journey.

"Lyft has spent nine years building a transportation network that is uniquely capable of scaling autonomous vehicles. This deal brings together the vision, talent, resources and commitment to advance clean, autonomous mobility on a global scale,” Green said.

Lyft will receive approximately US$550 million in cash, with US$200 million paid upfront subject to certain closing adjustments and US$350 million of payments over a five-year period.

Accelerating go-to-market journey

Besides the  Level 5 acquisition, Woven Planet and Lyft have signed commercial agreements for utilisation of the Lyft system and fleet data to accelerate the safety and commercialisation of the automated-driving technology that Woven Planet will develop.

According to George Kellerman, head of investments and acquisitions at Woven Planet, the acquisition of Level 5 combines the innovative culture of Silicon Valley with Japanese craftsmanship to create the mobility solutions of the future.

“This acquisition significantly accelerates our ability to bring technology solutions forward with an influx of exceptional engineers and leading-edge technology. It also provides a solid foundation for international expansion and future hiring efforts in the world's strongest talent markets,” Kellerman said.

“We aim to become the centre of interconnected mobility systems, weaving together a variety of technologies and partnerships extending far beyond the automotive industry. This acquisition marks the first in a coordinated strategy to consolidate leading technologies and talent to help realise this vision,” he added.

Luc Vincent, executive vice president for autonomous technology at Lyft, said the deal will enable the Level 5 team to be better positioned to bring autonomous vehicles to market.

"As part of Woven Planet, we will be able to leverage exceptional automotive engineering expertise as well as the considerable resources of an iconic business, while continuing to move with the energy and speed of a start-up. It is exhilarating to be part of this new venture, expanding our mission and building the foundational technology that will support mobility and the smart cities of tomorrow,” Vincent said.

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With an eye on this rapidly growing market, Sierra Wireless today launched Acculink Cargo, a new managed IoT solution that companies can quickly deploy to track the location and condition of high-value and sensitive assets.

Delivered as a service for a single monthly fee, the company said the new solution is designed to deliver a single solution companies can use to monitor the near real-time status of assets anywhere in the world, as they move through their supply chains.

Acculink Cargo enables electronics manufacturers, cold-chain carriers, general freight carriers, food and produce shippers and third-party logistics firms to gain the supply-chain visibility they require to avoid shipping delays, minimise dwell time, prevent theft and remediate environmental conditions that can lead to asset damage.

In addition to tracking the location of these assets, it can also alert customers if an asset is exposed to light, changes in temperature, humidity, shock, or other conditions that might spoil or otherwise damage it.

“When it comes to high-value and sensitive assets, companies no longer want to just track their location as they travel through their supply chains. Today, they expect to be able to monitor the condition of these assets in near real-time as well,” said Rupal Nanavati, vice president and general manager for IoT applications at Sierra Wireless. “Acculink Cargo addresses these needs, with an easy-to-deploy, fully integrated managed solution from the global leader in IoT”.

Sierra Wireless listed Acculink Cargo key features. Among them are:

• Quick Deployment: The manged IoT solution fully integrates edge devices, global network connectivity and a cloud-based application, supporting quick deployment in as little as 30 days, with minimal startup costs.
• Highly Accurate Tracking: Use of LTE cellular wireless networks in combination with GPS data enables customers to pinpoint the location of their assets.
• Flexibility/Ease of Use: The cloud-based application features a simple, intuitive user interface with customizable dashboards and configurable alerts.
• Configurable Location and Status Reporting: Users can set up specific geolocation, light, temperature, humidity, and shock conditions they want to monitor for each shipment. Users can also adjust when data on these conditions is updated, allowing them to extend the battery life of their edge devices.
• Valuable Insights: Users can analyse real-time and historical shipping data to uncover trends and other information that can help them make better business decisions.

By offering the solution as a service, Sierra Wireless is lowering customers’ initial upfront investment, while also allowing them to easily scale the solution up or down as their business needs change. Customers have the option to purchase devices upfront, and only pay for connectivity and the application on a subscription basis. Alternatively, they can sign up for a complete managed IoT service, with a single monthly fee that covers devices, network and application access.

Currently, Acculink Cargo is available to customers throughout North America. Sierra Wireless plans to expand availability of the solution to other regions in the future.

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Sectors which were already largely digital were able to quickly adapt to evolving demands and market conditions. An example is e-commerce, where disruption was mostly positive as more consumers and businesses went online. Contrariwise, more physical sectors like manufacturing and the supply chain were left more exposed, as many related enterprises only accelerated their digital transformation in full force during the crisis.

We have now reached a critical point for digitalization – for businesses of myriad types and sectors. Yet, for physical industries, the need to transform is even more acute; they must invest more heavily and strategically in Industry 4.0 to help them survive and withstand future shocks.

With more widespread 5G rollouts on the horizon, the time has come for industries to assess and implement next-gen connectivity that acts in concert with a broad ecosystem of key technologies, collectively termed as 5G+. This will lead to the next Big Inversion of industrial digitalization – one that can help restore the parity between digital investment and their broader economic contributions.

What is 5G+?

Despite the pandemic, the 5G revolution dampened only slightly. In Asia, governments have been doubling down on 5G, to the point that regional deployments are even ahead of other established markets like Europe. Hence, 5G will soon be more pervasive, but physical industries seeking to realize their full potential must catch up and accelerate adoption, in addition to going beyond just having foundational 5G networks.

Figure 1: Digitalization adoption in physical industries

This is what it takes to be truly 5G+ ready, companies will not just have any 5G network infrastructure, but one which enables the confluence of enterprise ICT (information and communications technology) and industrial OT (operations technologies). This means the advancement of both digital and physical systems, which would then work in tandem with each other to the organization’s benefit.

However, there are many elements that fall under industrial digital and physical systems and it can be a daunting task to figure out which 5G+ technology solution to prioritize.

As such, Nokia Bell Labs identified a suite of technology enablers that can power the 5G+ transformation of industries: pervasive 5G networks, edge infrastructure and cloud platforms, augmented intelligence and machine learning systems, private networks, advanced sensor and robotics, end-to-end (E2E) security, and network-as-a-service business models.

Alongside the enablers, 5G+ also includes enterprise applications, services, and platforms impacted by the aforementioned technologies. These comprise enterprise computing platforms, general and vertical-specific applications (including application development and business intelligence solutions), as well as professional and managed services and projects impacted by 5G+ technologies.

These constituent solutions will help enterprises of various sectors optimize their use of 5G+ when building the infrastructure foundation to digitalize their operations. The fusion and interplay of 5G and associated technologies holds broad application and a massive promise towards realizing a purposeful future.

How 5G+ enables strategic resilience via SPE gains

Physical industries – both those leading the way in digitalization and those still catching up – are now expected to make more significant ICT investments in the years ahead. But to ensure that they can reap the most benefits at faster speeds and scale, they must optimize their 5G+ technology usage to digitally augment themselves along the lines of SPE (safety, productivity and efficiency) improvements.

But what do 5G+ SPE improvements entail? Let us use augmented intelligence and machine learning (AugI/ML) as a 5G+ enabler and apply it to these areas, namely within a manufacturing environment.

Firstly, safety improvement can be defined as measuring the reduction in safety-related incidents. For instance, factories using augmented intelligence and machine learning (AugI/ML) can couple it with intelligent video sensing to detect an accident before it happens, thereby improving worker and equipment safety.

Meanwhile, productivity improvement – the prime determinant of overall SPE gains – means the increase in the volume of goods or services produced from the same asset base. With AugI/ML systems, factories can better forecast specific market demands which could then allow for anticipatory operations, while also shortening response times and allow for the maximization of the organization’s operational capacity.

Additionally, AugI/ML can help optimize product and/or systems design to facilitate mass customization and streamline operational processes.

Lastly, efficiency improvement deals with the ability to reduce the number of resources consumed for the same output level. For example, innovative sensory technologies powered by AugI/ML can detect machine failures in factories before they occur.

This helps keep unexpected disruptions to a minimum, as video analytics can forewarn a possible quality issue to prevent resource wastage, while enabling real-time control of factory operations to ensure minimal inventories.

Altogether, achieving SPE benefits can help industries do more with less at greater speed and scale. This is because 5G+ enablers can provide enhanced operational flexibility.

They can also be further enhanced by network-as-a-service business models (namely those that are programmable and aimed specifically for 5G technologies) and better network redundancy, in addition to improved business intelligence that is powered by digital acceleration tools.

Our factory in Oulu, Finland provides multiple use cases as to how 5G+ enablers (such as E2E 5G networks and cloud automation) are enhancing applications, services, and platforms.

We have also introduced 5G+ in a real-world setting, such as in Japan, by deploying an industrial-grade private wireless network in a manufacturing design center to innovate the production process.

Figure 2: 5G+ driven SPE gains in physical industries

5G+ is defining the new normal for industries

During the wake of the pandemic, ICT spending across Asia, especially for more traditional technologies, dipped. However, there has also been an inverse reaction to technologies that could help enterprises better navigate the ongoing crisis’ challenges. This was expected once sectors and businesses adapted to the crisis, leading to the current rebound in IT spending. This – as well as the increasing number of 5G deployments in the region – means we have already arrived at the key inflection point for mass 5G+ adoption.

Figure 3: Journey to a new normal

We expect wider scale 5G+ deployment once the regional economy stabilizes in line with the new normal, and the pervasive availability of such technologies will then steady ICT investments. This is how the Big Inversion for Asia’s industries will happen and by then, it will be chiefly led by physical industries – by those both leading and lagging behind their industry’s wider digital transformation.

However, there remains much work to be done. As companies emerge from the COVID-19, industries must begin planning their ICT investments along 5G+ lines as soon as this year. By taking a more proactive stance, industries and enterprises can ride the wave of initial adopters and gain a competitive advantage by realizing SPE benefits. These gains will then be compounded once mass adoption of 5G+ continues across Asia – resulting in a broader impact and contribution to the wider economy and GDP.

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The MOU comes at the tail of the October 2020 announcement that the Korean car maker is setting up in the Lion City a new state-of the art Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) to conduct studies on future mobility and explore innovative solutions, services and disruptive technologies to revolutionise commuters' transport experience.

Located at Jurong West, the HMGICS is a seven-storey innovation centre which covers a footprint of 44,000 sqm and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

"Hyundai is delighted to work with Singtel, implementing next-generation communication solutions that will enhance mobility experiences for our customers," said Hong Bum Jung, senior Vice president of HMGICS at Hyundai Motor. "We also hope to explore future innovative solutions and business opportunities with Singtel to help realise Singapore's Smart Nation vision."

Hyundai Motor will combine its expertise in developing innovative automotive and manufacturing solutions with Singtel's capabilities in 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and next-generation info-communications technologies and solutions to develop Industry 4.0 advanced digital solutions to transform the way vehicles are currently manufactured.

Both companies will develop and pilot a 5G-enabled smart factory use case for HMGICS' intelligent manufacturing platform, and potentially scaling it up for deployment across Hyundai's manufacturing plants globally.

They will also work together on an IoT communications solution for the batteries powering Hyundai's electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore. The IoT system enables Hyundai to monitor the telemetry, or automatic data transmission, of the batteries' real-time status and performance. The data-driven insights can enhance the EV's reliability, advancing Singapore's EV ecosystem and Smart Nation vision of connected and sustainable mobility solutions.

"Our collaboration with Hyundai Motor is timely given the Singapore Government's decision to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040 and the recent Budget announcement on new policies to encourage more Singaporeans to switch to driving electric vehicles. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with 5G, IoT and other advanced technologies, we also want to build up Singapore's smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 capabilities and strengthen its innovation ecosystem,” said Andrew Lim, managing director - Government and Large Enterprise, Group Enterprise at Singtel.

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The Shenzhen-based company officially unveiled the SOP version of the automotive-grade LiDAR RS-LiDAR-M1 in January during the annual CES event. The new LiDAR system features a slim design, excellent performance, and reliable point cloud quality.

Since July last year, the RS-LiDAR-M1 has successively received a number of orders for mass-production vehicle models around the world, among which, the first customer was an OEM from North America. In December last year, the RS-LiDAR-M1 samples were shipped to this OEM customer in batches, and became the world's first mass-production-ready automotive-grade MEMS solid-state LiDAR delivered.

Already, Inception Technology, which aims to build a nationwide freight network using autonomous driving truck in China, has recently released its latest Xuanyuan system equipped with RoboSense’s solid-state LiDAR. The two Chinese firms have a partnership to mass produce L3 heavy-duty freight truck equipped with "Xuanyuan" system, which will be launched on the market by the end of 2021.

Established in April 2018, Inceptio focuses on the transformation of line-haul logistics by providing a more secure, efficient, and economical Transportation-As-A-Service (Taas) to logistic customers. This is achieved by delivering automotive grade L3/L4 autonomous driving software/ hardware, developed in collaboration with major automotive manufacturers, fully integrated with mass-produced heavy-duty freight trucks.

RoboSense, on the other hand, provides smart LiDAR sensor systems that integrate LiDAR sensors with AI algorithms and IC chipsets. This transforms conventional 3D LiDAR sensors to full data analysis and comprehension systems.  Founded in 2014, it provides customers with various Smart LiDAR perception system solutions, including the MEMS and Mechanical types LiDAR HWs, fusion HW unit, and the AI-based fusion systems. To date, the company’s LiDAR systems have been widely applied to the future mobility, including autonomous driving passenger cars, RoboTaxi, RoboTruck, RoboBus, automated logistics vehicles and intelligent road by domestic and international autonomous driving technology companies, OEMs, and Tier1 suppliers.

From 2019, RoboSense has reached in-depth cooperation with Inceptio  to provide automotive-grade MEMS solid-state LiDAR RS-LiDAR-M1 for Inceptio’s "Xuanyuan" system, the first full-stack self-developed autonomous trucking system for mass production.

Inceptio develops the ULRS (ultra-long-range sensing), ARC (adaptive robust control) and FEAD (fuel-efficient autonomous driving) algorithms, and the ULRS can make the system perceive an ultra-long distance of up to 1,000 meters with a margin of error standing below 5%.

In June 2019, Inceptio has worked with Dongfeng Trucks and SINOTRUK respectively to developed L3 autonomous heavy-duty trucks. By the end of 2021, the mass-produced L3 heavy-duty trucks equipped with Inceptio’s "Xuanyuan" system with RoboSense LiDAR inside will be delivered to clients.

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The IP/MPLS-based network will provide K Line with a FAN environment that delivers high-speed, secure, encrypted wireless communications between ship and shore.

According to K Line, satellite communication normally used between ship and shore is estimated to be 10 years behind land communication; and this is one of the causes of delay for ships digitalisation.

And its management plan released last August, the 102-year-old shipping firm  puts ships digitalisation as one of its priorities in its commitment to expand and accelerate safety, environment and quality initiatives.

The Nokia solution installed onboard the company’s new environmentally friendly car carrier is positioned as an DX infrastructure for ship to introduce new advanced digital technologies near future. Through this and other efforts, K Line continue our safe and environment-friendly operation on all its fleets.

“We plan to accelerate the development and utilisation of advanced digital technologies that enable safer, world-class shipping services,” Hiroshi Uchida, head of AI Digitalisation Strategy Group at K Line said. “With the Nokia 4G/LTE network, we will be able to communicate more effectively during berthing, using the same sophisticated technology as available on land. This creates the capability to deliver improved operational performance, skills transfer and safety management.”

The solution comprises the Nokia 7705 SAR-Hm LTE router for on-board installation, as well as the Nokia 7705 SAR-8 for use onshore. This router pairing supports video and data transfer from the ship’s onboard CCTV and IT systems over LTE connections when in port. This FAN solution will enable K Line to closely monitor loading and unloading in real time, and to significantly reduce time needed for large file exchange during port calls.

All data is protected by Nokia’s Network Group Encryption (NGE). This encrypted communication technology protects MPLS services with minimal overhead and ensures a high level of security and quality of service without any degradation of LTE link performance.

The domestic communication lines will be provided by KDDI Corporation and the system integration will be provided by KCCS Mobile Engineering.

Donny Janssens, head of Customer Team, Nokia Enterprise Japan, said: “Through deployment of the field area network, we’re helping ‘K’ LINE not only to enhance operational efficiency and industrial safety but also to advance its digital transformation. This is the first Nokia 4G/LTE FAN deployment in Japan, bringing it to a new market following its successful deployment in mining sites, electric grids and ports worldwide.”

Nokia has deployed mission-critical networks to over 1,500 leading customers in the transport, energy, large enterprise, manufacturing, web-scale, and public sector segments around the globe. It has pioneered the private wireless space with many verticals and now has over 260 large enterprise customers deploying it around the world, of which over 40 incorporate 5G.

Pushing boundaries of DX on maritime fleet

The newly-built Century Highway Green, which was delivered to K Line last week,  is a next-generation environmentally friendly vessel. It is the company’s  first LNG-fuelled car carrier designed for a low environmental impact – an important milestone for achieving the targets set by K LINE Environmental Vision 2050.

The new vessel is expected to reduce:

• emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas (GHG) by 25% to 30%
• emissions of sulfuroxides (SOx), which cause air pollution, by almost 100%
• emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 80% to 90% with the use of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) in addition to the use of LNG fuel, compared to conventional vessels using heavy fuel oil.

The vessel is also fitted with advanced digital technologies that is hoped to be installed to the rest of K Line’s fleet in the future. Besides Nokia’s FAN solution onboard to enhance ship-to-shore communications, the vessel has:

• expansion of on-board Wi-Fi: In addition to living quarters, efficiency of vessel operations has been improved by installing Wi-Fi on the cargo deck and in the engine room and LNG fuel-related equipment compartment.
• introduction of wireless communication equipment supporting explosion-proof areas: Explosion-proof LCX wireless communications equipment has been introduced in explosionproof areas to ensure communications.

Furthermore, Century Highway Green is the world’s first newly-built vessel to obtain Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) notation certifying that the ship is adapted for remote surveys.

In February 2021, ClassNK published guidelines for appropriate operation of remote surveys using ICT. The “Guidelines for Remote Surveys” summarises the judgment standards for ensuring reliability equivalent to conventional, witness surveys with transparency in the application of remote surveys. The guidelines also include class notation requirements for the vessel with reliable telecommunications equipment and is adapted for remote surveys.

A remote survey uses digital technology on vessel to remotely perform the inspection surveys of facilities within a vessel that has previously been performed by a class inspector on site. Use of the remote surveys will enable  K LINE to perform inspections without being constrained by location, and also enables surveys to be conducted while lowering the risk of infection of the crew during the COVID-19 pandemic because it is not necessary to visit the vessel.

It is expected that safe operation will be enhanced through the appropriate and timely implementation of surveys.

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The department  will have an encrypted QR code imprinted on newly -issued and renewed driving licenses to facilitate extraction of offenders' data for issuance of tickets.

The e-Ticketing Pilot Scheme was introduced on March 16 last year – with the collaboration of the Transport Department – to  eliminate the previous  handwritten process. The scheme was first rolled out in the police districts of Wan Chai, Tseung Kwan O and Sham Shui Po, and was first applied to fixed penalty tickets against illegal parking. The scheme was subsequently implemented in different police districts by phases, with initially only traffic wardens will use e-Ticketing.

Traffic wardens use a mobile app  installed in official smart phones to capture the data of offending vehicles, and print fixed penalty tickets with portable printers. An encrypted QR code is imprinted on vehicle licences to facilitate extraction of vehicle data. To issue a ticket, traffic wardens  scan the QR code or just input the registration number manually to extract the particulars of the offending vehicle. The app will then automatically import information such as date, time and the issuing officer's details whilst GPS location will also be generated automatically. The issuing officer can also take photos to capture details of the offence for evidential purpose before printing an e-ticket at scene.

By  digitising the existing manual processes with the use of  the e-Ticketing App, the city’s police reduces human error, eliminates the difference in handwriting interpretations, improves overall accuracy and streamlines the workflow in backend processing.

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This was the key insight to the latest research from Frost & Sullivan, pointing out that the pandemic challenges have catalysed technology trends across the globe and accelerated organisations' digital transformations sooner than initially predicted.

“More than 50% of businesses have already invested in IoT and digital visualisation. The former offers potential for enhanced CX for organisations in insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing with its monitoring capabilities, and the latter can be valuable for agent desktops to improve employee performance,” said Alpa Shah, Global VP of CX Research at Frost & Sullivan.

She added: “"The retail/wholesale, travel/hospitality, energy, and education industries will invest in AI to facilitate innovation and are most interested in using the technology to boost CX. On the other hand, banking and finance companies, along with government and transportation, are focusing on cost efficiencies."

Other key findings of Frost & Sullivan’s latest research, include:

• Big data analytics takes the lead on investments in transformative technologies, followed by IoT and data visualisation. More than 75% of organisations will be investing in these solutions by 2022.
• Post-pandemic plans for technology investments are focused on moving applications to the cloud (31%), followed by video conferencing (25%). Over the next two years, 80% of CX solutions are expected to be in the cloud.
• The key digital transformation objectives in 2021 are adapting to the new work modes (35%), accelerating digital customer engagement self-serve (31%), and enhancing e-commerce capabilities (30%).
• For 44% of companies, customer satisfaction is the prevalent method for measuring digital transformation success, which aligns with top business goals and investment priorities.
• Cybersecurity continues to be the top concern for 51% of companies; this is only exacerbated by the number of remote workers caused by the pandemic. COVID-19 has augmented the move to the cloud and the use of digital commerce and digital marketing. While CX is a top corporate goal, CX investments are not ranked high.

The research report stated that delivering a holistic customer journey is top of mind among end-user businesses. Finance, healthcare, and travel and hospitality organizations are focused on managing the entire customer journey; high-tech and transportation companies want to leverage CX information across all departments.

"Companies recognise the importance of CX and even measure their digital transformation success on customer satisfaction but tend to invest in solutions that only solve short-term problems," Shah said.

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Sit made the remark last Friday after a round of visits of various smart city projects being implemented across the territory.

He toured the wards, out-patient clinic of pharmacy at the CUHK Medical Centre to understand its smart healthcare, services and management, which include paperless electronic medical record system, a linen management system, and an automated drug dispensing and unit dose packaging system.

As it transforms into a smart hospital, the CUHK Medical Centre has also fitted hospital beds with infotainment panels to enable tele-visits and tele-consultation.

The hospital beds are also equipped with infotainment panels that can facilitate tele-visits and tele-consultations.

“I am pleased that Internet of Things (IoT), mobile information and communications technology and real-time data have enhanced the efficiency of hospital operations and patient-oriented services,” Sit said.

At MetroPlaza in Kwai Fong, the ITB secretary inspected the  smart washroom solution developed by local startup Blutech IoT. The system integrates artificial intelligence and IoT technologies and deploys various smart sensors, smart washroom signage and big data analysis to give precise information to visitors about a washroom's occupancy and waiting time.

At his last stop at the Kwai Chung Customhouse, Sit received a briefing on Smart Customs. With the support of the ITB’s TechConnect (block vote), the city’s Customs and Excise Department started a study on the development of a Cargo Big Data System together with the Logistics & Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre.

By using big data analytics and artificial intelligence to strengthen the risk management capability on cargo clearance, it is hoped that smuggling activities could be further combatted and overall effectiveness in law enforcement and trade facilitation would be enhanced.

“The government will continue to work with various sectors and make full use of the city’s research and development results in building a smarter Hong Kong,” Sit said.

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More than a faster version of mobile connectivity on 4G, 5G's speed, reliability, reduced energy usage and massive connectivity will be transformative for businesses and wider society, enabling ubiquitous access to super-fast broadband.

This is one of the key take-aways in the latest analysis by PwC on the economic impact of new and existing uses of 5G in utilities, health and social care, consumer, media and financial services. The analysis predicts that productivity and efficiency gains enabled by 5G’s application will drive business and service change worth US$1.3 trillion to global GDP by 2030.

Entitled “Powering Your Tomorrow”, the analysis covers eight markets, including Australia, China, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, the US and the UK.

Based on the study, the US (US$484bn), China (US$220bn) and Japan (US$76bn) will experience the largest uplift as a result of 5G technology applications, due to the size of their economies and strong modern industrial production sectors.

At a regional level Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) is expected to benefit the most from manufacturing applications of 5G, due to the size of the manufacturing sectors. It demonstrates the potential for regional competitive advantage through approaches to the adoption and regulation of the technology.

"These numbers quantify impact, but perhaps more important, our study reflects the value of 5G - new levels of connectivity and collaboration mean companies will be able to see, do and achieve more. It will open up new opportunities for growth and change as organisations rethink and reconfigure the way they operate in the post-pandemic world,” said Wilson Chow, Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Industry Leader, PwC China.

He added: "With the pandemic accelerating digitalisation across all sectors, 5G will act as a further catalyst. It will emerge in this decade as a fundamental piece of our societal infrastructure and as a platform for driving the competitiveness of national economies, new business models, skills and industries."

Indeed,  economic gains are projected across all economies assessed in the study, as 5G offers the potential to rethink business models, skills, products and services, with the gains accelerating beginning in 2025 as 5G-enabled applications become more widespread

Expect transformation of health and social care

According to the PwC study, more than 50% the global economic impact – estimated at US$530bn – will be driven by the transformation of health and social care experience for patients, providers and medical staff within the next 10 years.

While the acceleration of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a glimpse of the future of healthcare, remote care is just one area in which 5G can enable both better health outcomes and cost savings.

5G's applications include remote monitoring and consultations, real time in-hospital data sharing, improved doctor-patient communications and automation in hospitals to reduce healthcare costs.

Regional and sector impact 

The study  also shows that at a sector level, impacts of 5G deployment vary for individual economies.

The US and Australia are projected to gain the most from financial services applications: India from smart utilities; China and Germany in manufacturing.  Other industries analysed in the study show the significant potential of new and existing applications over the next decade, driving changes in skills, jobs, consumer products and regulation:

• SMART utilities management applications will support environmental targets to reduce carbon and waste through enabling combined smart meters and grids to deliver energy savings, and improving waste and water management through tracking of waste and water leakage (US$330bn).
• Consumer and media applications include: over the top (OTT) gaming, real time advertising and customer services (US$254bn)
• Manufacturing and heavy industry applications include: monitoring and reducing defects, increased autonomous vehicle use (US$134bn)
• Financial services applications including reducing fraud and improving customer experiences (US$86bn)

Chow pointed out that 5G is more than mobile connectivity as it puts a new lens on advancing productivity and rethinking entire business models for the future.

“Given the scale of potential and its impacts, every organisation will need a plan for 5G's implementation within five years across technology and business strategies to maximise opportunities and prepare for how they integrate their technology and business strategies, and engage with customers, supply chain and regulators,” he said.

Policy and trust

Meanwhile, the study highlights that the reach of 5G's technology potential will require businesses and government to consider new approaches to regulatory and consumer engagement - focusing on how the technology is used.

Chow said as with any technology, policy engagement, transparency and public trust are critical factors.

“Whether it's considering the use of self-driving vehicles or telemedicine, how data is managed, infrastructure deployed, or how different sectors collaborate, business and government need to shit from focusing on regulating a technology, to promoting transparency in 5G's application, building and sustaining public trust in its use and potential."

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Launched in February last year, CATCH is a global call to technology firms for dynamic, intelligent and data-driven solutions that would help the Malaysian capital to transition into a smart city.

The six finalists and their competing solutions are:

• GeoSpock (UK) - Analytics database technology enabling smart city data fusion to power advanced multimodal transport optimisation
• Hayden AI Technologies (US) - Artificial intelligence powered data platform that helps innovative cities to improve traffic safety and efficiency
• KERB (MY/AU) - P2P/B2B parking management platform to increase parking supply around transport hubs, track real-time data and optimize commuters' journeys
• Liftango (AU) - Defeating traffic congestion at the source: Demand-responsive first mile commuter transport in Bandar Sunway
• Numina (US) - Privacy-first computer vision solution to measure multimodal traffic flows and identify opportunities to improve pedestrian safety
• RUNWITHIT Synthetics (CA) - Synthetic KL, a live, geospatial, interconnected synthetic modelling environment for designing targeted, impactful mobility solutions

Strong response despite pandemic

Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the CATCH received over 90 entries from 20+ countries. Entries that went on to the semi-finals obtained an understanding of Kuala Lumpur's mobility issues for their Proof of Concept (PoC) development over a 6-week period. An esteemed panel of 8 judges from various fields of expertise such as government, sustainable mobility, venture capital, technology, and industry virtually assessed the 16 semi-finalists.

After careful consideration and based on the feedback from the judges, TMF identified six teams as Finalists rather than five teams as originally planned. The following six teams are deemed to be best suited to CATCH's problem statement and the five assessment criteria of creativity, feasibility, sustainability, desirability and technicality. The semi-finals was completed last December.

"CATCH was designed to grasp ground breaking innovations, and we were impressed by the ideas of 16 strong semi-finalists who showcased new data driven mobility and city planning focused solutions,” said Pras Ganesh, director of programs at TMF.

He added:  “Though it was very difficult to narrow down the selection, as Toyota Mobility Foundation, we are very excited about the six Finalists and what they can deliver in the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage to improve the quality of life of the residents of Kuala Lumpur."

Grant to develop PoCs

The six finalists will be further developing their MVPs, and at this stage each will receive a grant of US$125,000 of financial support to drive testing and implementation of intelligent data-driven, connected solutions, aimed at a more efficient, innovative, secure and sustainable city of Kuala Lumpur.

“"These entries show how amazing such innovations can be produced, and even thrive, when data is readily made available,” said Ir. Dr.Karl Ng, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Yu Chuan Hock, director of urban transportation of KL City Hall (DBKL)  echoed the same sentiment.

"Kuala Lumpur City Hall is looking forward to a practical and workable solution to be implemented to ease congestion and disperse traffic more effectively,” he said.

TMF will continue to work together with strategic partners including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the MDEC  and its data partners -- Prasarana, MapIT, and Grab -- to support the finalists until the selection of a final winner in April-May 2021. This support includes the financial grant by TMF and incubation and mentorship provided by experts and judges supporting the CATCH program.

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Developed in response to traffic congestions typically found in cities, UAM refers to urban transportation systems that move people by air.  UAM is achieved through the use of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts.

In an MOU announced today, SKT – under the partnership – will test and build communication network models for UAM. The company plans to create an ideal communications environment for UAM, where stable and reliable connectivity between aircrafts and ground infrastructure is essential.

SKT will also develop a UAM service platform to provide all related services - e.g. booking, transit, etc. - in an integrated manner to provide seamless mobility to customers, allowing them to efficiently travel to a destination by using diverse modes of transportation including UAM, bus, train and personal mobility vehicles.

The Korea Airports Corporation will build and operate UAM infrastructure including vertiports, and manage UAM Traffic, while Hanwha Systems develop UAM aircrafts as well as solutions for UAM traffic control and navigation. The Korea Transport Institute will conduct studies to forecast  the demand and receptivity for UAM.

As members of “UAM Team Korea”, an industry-academia-research council and policy community launched by the Korean Government, the four parties will  hasten the realisation of the government’s UAM roadmap (locally known as the K-UAM Roadmap) through collaborative research and development in all related areas including UAM infrastructure, aircrafts, air traffic, demand and receptivity.

“Through close partnership with the Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and the Korea Transport Institute, we will accelerate the commercialization of urban air mobility in Korea and gain industry leadership by introducing a new and innovative mobility infrastructure,” said Ryu Young-sang, president of MNO at SKT.

Going forward, the four members of the UAM Team Korea expect their efforts to contribute to reducing social costs caused by traffic congestion in large cities including the metropolitan area and help GHG-free, environmentally-friendly transportation take root in Korea.

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The smart parking meters are part of the department’s smart mobility initiatives.

The smart parking meters are fitted with sensors that use  millimetre wave radar to detect whether roadside parking spaces are occupied. The sensors are only capable of detecting the occupancy of parking spaces, and will not collect any personal information, details of vehicle types or vehicle registration numbers.

Real-time information from the smart parking meters will be disseminated through  three channels: the new mobile app called "HKeMeter"; the mobile and web versions of "HKeMobility";  and, the Public Sector Information Portal (data.gov.hk) to assist motorists in finding vacant parking spaces. Providing real-time information to assist motorists in finding vacant parking spaces, these new parking meters reduce the time required locating parking spaces as well as the amount of circulating traffic.

Features of the new parking meters include:

• Support for multiple payment systems, including the smart card Octopus and contactless credit cards such as Visa payWave, MasterCard Contactless and UnionPay QuickPass; as well as the Faster Payment System; AlipayHK; WeChat Pay; and Union QR
• Support on-site and remote payment of parking fees through, HKeMeter. The mobile app supports iOS and Android mobile devices, and is available free for download

To date,  44 new parking meters at three locations in Central, Tuen Mun and Clear Water Bay last month as part of the final on-site tests. These meters will be put in service tomorrow.

At present, there are about 18,000 metered parking spaces in Hong Kong with about 9,800 parking meters installed. The Transport Department said these parking meters will be replaced in phases and are expected to be replaced with the smart meter by the first half of 2022. In total, the Transportation Department expects to install about 12,000 smart parking meters.

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The 13,000sqkm EEC stretches south and east of Bangkok and covers three provinces with a total population of three million. It aims to be the gateway to Southeast Asia (SEA) and a global digital innovation hub.

Already, the special economic zone is home to the world's 11th largest auto exporting industry, leading global suppliers of hard disc drives and home appliances, a major petrochemical industry and the international tourist resort of Pattaya.

Under the Thailand 4.0 plan, automakers and their supply chains are transitioning to electric vehicle production, the electronics sector is upscaling and petrochemical manufacturers are increasingly adopting less polluting renewable biotechnologies as Thailand embraces the so-called bio-circular-green economy.

Now they are being joined in the EEC by companies specialising in artificial intelligence, robotics, medical devices and biosciences including technologies such as genomics sequencing.

To support the economic activities emerging the EEC, housing will increasingly be available in environmentally and connectivity-friendly smart cities located around scenic Pattaya.

U-Tapao: a smart city “aerotropolis”

In a wide-ranging interview released in the media yesterday to mark its upcoming third anniversary in May, EEC confirmed the THB100 billion (US$3.3 billion) investment to be spent this year on the next phase of construction of the 220km high-speed train connecting Bangkok’s two airports in Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang with EEC’s own airport at U-Tapao.

“5G connectivity combined with the high-speed train would help transform U-Tapao and its surrounding area into Thailand's equivalent of Japan's Narita or South Korea's Incheon – a smart city "aerotropolis" twinned with the nation's capital one hour away at the other end of the train line,” said EEC secretary general Kanit Sangsubhan.

Dr. Sangsubhan revealed that 50% of the EEC will be covered by 5G by next month,  adding that EEC will become the first part of  first part of SEA to offer 5G connectivity.

"The signal is already there, and we are now working with companies and local residents to help offer them the best solution for their individual needs,” he said.

An eye beyond the ASEAN market

Dr. Sangsubhan  pointed out the EEC vision extends far beyond the immediate region. It aims to become a logistics hub and gateway linking the world's two most populous countries, China and India, and the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) trading bloc of which Thailand is the second largest economy.

Between them, China, India and the 10 ASEAN states account for some 3.5 billion consumers or almost half the world's population, with the EEC geographically at the crossroads to connect them. The ASEAN countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have a combined population of some 650 million.

“The  EEC already had a close relationship with China's Greater Bay area which includes Hong Kong, the booming technology hub of Shenzhen and other major cities in the economic powerhouse of Guangdong province,” Dr. Sangsubhan said.

He described the EEC's role as a "dry port" for goods and commodities passing through the region.

He estimates that – with the help of a planned "land bridge" to connect the Kingdom's Gulf of Thailand and Indian Ocean, containers shipped through the EEC to India would be able to reach their destination four or five days quicker than using the existing route via Singapore and the heavily congested Malacca Strait. In turn, Thailand's connection with China provides an onward overland link to Europe.

Building infrastructure is key

The total cost of developing the EEC is THB1.7 trillion (about US$60 billion), 80% of which will be funded by the private sector and 20% by the government. About one-third of that will be spent in the next four or five years on completing the high-speed train, the airport and expansion of two sea ports at Laem Chabang and Map Ta Phut.

Following EEC’s public-private partnership model, the high-speed rail is half funded by the government and half by a consortium led by Thailand's CP Group and backed by international investors.

“CP group mobilised a team," Dr Sangsubhan said.  "Construction is from China, technology from Italy and funding from both Japan and China. That is the power of the private sector. What we have achieved is to mobilise the government, the private sector and the local people. This has never happened before, and it is what excites me so."

Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Chambers of Commerce in Thailand said it is about location.

“EEC is definitely the right place to be,” he said.  "In the past, the attraction for investors was cheap land and labour. But our future is creativity and innovation and Thailand's advantage is the EEC. There is a big opportunity now and a lot of investment is moving in."

Kang lauded the success of the high-tech corridor to a visionary long-term focus by the Thai government on quality hard and soft infrastructure.

Long before it was rebranded as the EEC, the region was known as the Eastern Seaboard. When the company Kang heads, TIC Group, first opened a factory there in the 1980s, the land was occupied by "cobras and cows" and the road from Bangkok only had two lanes.

"It took you four hours to drive there and overtaking was as dangerous as being on a race track," Kang recalled. "Then, the highway became four lanes, then six lanes and now in parts it is eight-lane. Thailand realised that without good infrastructure you can't get foreign direct investment. You didn't just need a port, you needed an efficient port. You also needed ease of doing business and the government provided that with a one-stop shop for the necessary permits."

The post Thailand’s EEC on track with digital innovation hub goal appeared first on FutureIoT.

Earlier this month, Singtel has announced that it is tapping on 28 Ghz mmWave – in addition to 3.5Ghz and 2100Mhz frequencies – to boost its rollout of ultra-fast 5G speeds in Singapore.

Delivering massive bandwidth, higher capacity and lower latency, mmWave is an ideal frequency for mobile coverage in manufacturing and industrial plants, maritime ports and airports, as well as dense environments such as concert venues and live sporting events.

For a start, Singtel has switched on mmWave in several locations, including Orchard Road, the Padang area and Marina Bay Sands Expo.

The 5G contract award to Ericsson takes the partnership between the two companies to new levels, as Singapore accelerates its journey towards Industry4.0 to keeps its top position in the global competitiveness ranking.

“We are committed to building a secure, resilient, world class 5G network that will serve as the backbone of Singapore’s digital economy,” said Mark Chong, group chief technology officer at Singtel, said. “We are pleased to be working with Ericsson to deliver innovative applications and transformative customer experience for our consumers and enterprise customers.”

Ericsson’s radio and core solutions will ensure that residents, enterprises, industry and government authorities in Singapore  are among the first in the world to benefit from the highest performance that 5G can offer.

5G-enabled application use cases could include cloud gaming, immersive virtual reality/augmented reality, robot-human collaboration in real-time, autonomous transport, remote healthcare, precision smart manufacturing and smart nation connectivity.

“As a long-standing partner, we are determined to work alongside Singtel to ensure its subscribers and business customers enjoy the best experiences and opportunities that 5G has to offer,” said Martin Wiktorin, head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei and Philippines.

Meeting demand for advanced mobile connectivity

Singtel has been extending its lead in the rollout of 5G since it was officially granted with a 5G licence by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)  in June 2020.

According to Chong, Singtel is progressing in 5G deployment by boosting its capabilities to meet increasing demand for advanced mobile connectivity in the consumer and enterprise sectors.

“mmWave 5G’s super-fast speeds and low latency will bring about a striking change in the way we communicate and work. On the consumer front, we are tapping the power of 5G to transform applications such as cloud gaming and augmented reality. We are also working with enterprise customers in key industries to develop 5G solutions in areas such as autonomous guided vehicles, mixed reality and location-based services.”

Singtel’s 5G network harnesses mmWave through a combination of the latest cellular technologies including Massive MIMO (Multiple input multiple output), carrier aggregation and beam-forming solutions.

Singtel customers with 5G plans can expect to enjoy mobile speeds of up to 3 Gbps speeds when mmWave-enabled handsets arrive in Singapore next year.

To let everyone in Singapore have a taste of true 5G speeds, Singtel will be launching Singtel 5G Experience Zones progressively across the island. These Experience Zones will feature exclusive content that consumers can stream for free over a WiFi connection powered by mmWave 5G.

First mmWave 5G use case

Meanwhile, Singtel has recently deployed the fastest 5G speeds of 3.2Gbps at its pop-up store, UNBOXED. As Singtel’s first 5G use case, UNBOXED is an example of how mmWave 5G can enable innovative business solutions and enhance consumer experiences by offering reliable high-bandwidth connectivity that supports real-time machine communications, artificial intelligence and smart analytics, as well as deliver flexibility and efficiency for store deployment without having to lay fibre cables.

With 5G’s ultra-fast speeds and minimal latency, it is expected that mobile networks, together with emerging technologies such as data analytics, artificial intelligence and edge computing, will spur Industry 4.0 applications such as precision robotics and advanced video analytics.

On the enterprise front, beyond engaging ecosystem partners such as device makers, app developers and vertical solution providers, Singtel is also gearing up to offer dedicated mmWave network solutions to its enterprise customers in the coming months.

The post Singtel picks Ericsson to drive high-end 5G connectivity in SG appeared first on FutureIoT.

GMDSS, also known as Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems, is an automated ship to shore system using satellites and digital selective calling technology, which replaced the previous ship to ship safety system, which relied on a manual Morse code system.

An internationally recognised distress and radio communication safety system, GMDSS is mandated for ships by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), 1974, as amended in 1988, and carries the force of an international treaty.

GMDSS provides life-saving assistance to seafarers in distress and has required equipment on board more than 60,000 ships today, with many ships carrying multiple terminals.

A historic milestone

Iridium started GMDSS operation last Friday after a seven-year journey to becoming a GMDSS provider, and a year after receiving a Letter of Compliance from IMSO in December 2019 that the company is authorised to begin the service when ready.

Built on the company's upgraded US$3 billion satellite network,  Iridium’s GMDSS service uses the company’s L-band satellite spectrum. This spectrum serves as a weather-resilient complement to other satellite broadband capabilities on ships, aircraft and vehicles and is also a requirement for GMDSS terminals on SOLAS-class vessels.

With over 1.4 million subscribers around the world, including communications systems on tens of thousands of ships and aircraft today, Iridium said its GMDSS service launch epitomises its commitment to creating a safer environment for the approximately 85% of the world that lacks any or reliable cell phone coverage.

"This is a historic moment in both the satellite and maritime industries," said Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium.  "It is not every day that you get to announce the launch of a service that will most certainly save lives and is bringing innovation to this important maritime service."

Iridium's service functions much like an international SOS button. However, unlike other options, the company claims it includes as standard real-time emergency voice calling service, distress alert (SOS button) and maritime safety information with Iridium's global coverage.

The company’s upgraded satellite network – completed last year – is made up of a constellation of 66 cross-linked satellites in Low-Earth Orbit, which provides reliable coverage, even in adverse weather, around the entire globe, including over the Arctic and Antarctic waters.

Once a vessel holds down the red 'distress' button, indicating that it needs assistance, a signal is immediately routed through the Iridium satellite network and delivered in moments to a designated Rescue Coordination Center (RCC).  Unique to the Iridium system, this is then followed automatically by a distress phone call, allowing the vessel to immediately speak with the RCC. The RCC then can quickly understand the nature of the emergency, while also alerting nearby vessels and local search and rescue authorities to provide the required immediate assistance.

Passing evaluations with flying colours

Captain Moin Ahmed, Director General of IMSO, regulator of the GMDSS system, provided some additional context regarding the qualification process for Iridium.

“Overall, our formal evaluation of Iridium took more than four years, and at each step Iridium successfully demonstrated that its Safety Voice, Distress Alert and Iridium SafetyCast maritime environment broadcasts not only met all IMO requirements, but in many cases, exceeded them. I am proud to be a part of this event and this historic moment,” he said.

Captain Brian Soberg Petersen, master mariner and senior marine specialist for MAERSK also shared his experience as part of the testing process.

“At Maersk, we have been very satisfied with the capabilities of the Iridium system and are presently analysing our future communications plans, where we believe Iridium GMDSS could serve an additional function as a backup data connection as well, in lieu of our existing system,” he said.

Speaking from the Rescue Coordination Center perspective, Dave Wilson said the new system is the type of technological advancement that will enhance GMDSS.

“Our team at the Rescue Coordination Center of New Zealand, and the crew of the New Zealand research vessel that has been assisting with the testing, have been very impressed with the Iridium GMDSS system,” said Wilson, who is a watch leader and senior search and rescue officer for RCC New Zealand

A new pinnacle for GMDSS

Iridium said the technological capabilities of the GMDSS have now reached a new pinnacle with voice, data, and maritime safety information (MSI) all available through one affordable terminal.

The first terminal available is the Lars Thrane LT-3100S, which combines the three key GMDSS services – distress alert, distress voice and MSI. It can be used for both primary and emergency ship communications.  The combination of all three services in one cost-effective terminal is a first for the industry and one that makes the GMDSS even more accessible to smaller vessels that may not otherwise be able to afford the equipment.

"When we started this process, there was no process. No company had ever tried to do what we have now achieved.  In partnership with the IMO, U.S. Coast Guard and IMSO, a system to allow for Iridium to provide GMDSS service had to be invented,” Desch recalled.

"Developing and qualifying a GMDSS system was extremely challenging, so we didn't want to just do the minimum or what has been done before.  We wanted to make our system more accessible, affordable and feature-rich," he added.

The post Iridium launches satellite safety system for ships at sea appeared first on FutureIoT.

While Asia is eager to springboard its economy into recovery, the threat of a second wave of infections is always there, as can be seen from what’s happening in other continents such as Europe and North America.

Open today, closed tomorrow?

Asia is keen to reopen the economy through initiatives such as green lanes and travel bubbles within the region. However, the success of these initiatives hangs by a thread, as new spikes in COVID-19 cases can put a stop to them and trigger the closing of borders once again.

We’ve seen how the planned travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong had been delayed a day before its launch, due to a spike in the latter’s COVID-19 infections. Even plans for travel between Australia and New Zealand had to be ditched due to new outbreaks in Victoria.

On the other end, businesses are equally ready to start production and trading. However, the risk of resurgence still looms heavy as a potential outbreak in factories or offices can prove catastrophic.

Even factories manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are not spared – case in point being the incident with Malaysia's rubber glove manufacturer, Top Glove. This is notably concerning, given that PPE factories will need employees to operate onsite regardless of the viral situation.

The act of managing priorities to prevent a resurgence while stimulating the economy proves to be a monumental task. What can governments and businesses do to stay the course to recovery?

Treading the fine line between recovery and resurgence

While government and business leaders look towards maintaining the balancing act of safety and reopening the economy, key investments in the right infrastructure and technologies will be central to a post-pandemic recovery. Even when COVID-19 is long gone, we can be sure that our cities, workplaces, homes, social spaces and shops will never be the same again.

Leaders should consider shoring up on infrastructural technologies, such as video technology and their IoT ecosystem. IoT-enabled sensors and devices, used in conjunction with a camera network and a Video Management System (VMS), can provide decision-makers with smart video capabilities. There are four sectors where these smart video capabilities can provide governments and businesses in Asia an edge, as they look towards the safe reopening of the economy.

Logistics and supply chain

We’ve seen how supply chains have become the crucial lifeblood of a world under lockdown, especially when it comes to commodities such as food. The pandemic has also triggered an eCommerce boom, with Southeast Asia’s internet economy projected to surpass US$ 300 billion by 2025 due to growing consumer demand.

The logistics sector can tap into video technologies to ensure their supply chains remain resilient. Tapping on video analytics and the IoT network, logistics leaders can streamline operations, ensure on-time deliveries, track shipments, reduce missing shipments and theft. Given the dominance of the just-in-time supply chain, predicting and mitigating possible delays can make or break a bottom-line, at a time where economic downturns are threatening even the most solvent businesses.

Transportation

While lockdown measures have started to ease, governments in Asia must still ensure that citizens do not breach non-essential travel restrictions outside of their local or approved regions. Video technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) capabilities help ensure errant travellers are quickly identified on the roads.

Video analytics can help transport companies to monitor footfall and traffic in roads and other areas such as rail stations, to ensure social distancing can happen and reduce potential overcrowding in popular destinations. In busy road areas, video can monitor for high-traffic and open or close lanes in response. It can also open lanes solely for emergency vehicles - and even integrate with a hospital’s (or other location) access control system to reduce emergency response times.

Retail

As more retailers re-open their physical stores, adherence to social distancing is critical to reducing the likelihood of viral transmissions and future closing of locations. Likewise, retailers must consider ways to remain responsive and agile to an ever-changing situation.

There is an array of different smart video capabilities that can help businesses resume operations while adhering to safe social distancing requirements. These include heat mapping and occupancy statistics, crowd counting for public spaces or even distancing detection.

Safe cities

Globally, governments and public authorities faced a significant challenge in controlling and monitoring the spread of COVID-19. The concept of ‘safe cities’ now encompasses not just public law, order and safety, but also health measures and infection control.

Video analytics can be deployed in tight-knit cities to ensure people adhere to social distancing rules. Additionally, integrating them with crowd and traffic control solutions can help identify gathering or overcrowding, redirecting people to safer spaces or routes whilst reminding them of social distancing rules. In the long term, video analytics can also help with reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Preparing for a resilient economy, today

While governments and businesses in Asia continue to look for means to reboot the economy safely, strategic investments in infrastructural technologies such as video will continue to have long-reaching advantages, especially in a post-COVID-19 scenario.

It ensures that cities and businesses have a smart and flexible infrastructure that can adapt to changing demands and challenges posed in the new normal, helping the economy to stay open. These strategies are not only relevant today but will ensure Asia’s economy remains futureproof in the face of challenges to come.

The post Can video help Asia stay open for business? appeared first on FutureIoT.

The deployments show that Wi-Fi 6, with wider channels up to 160 MHz, and capacity up to 9.6 Gbps (compared to 3.5 Gbps in Wi-Fi 5), can enable nearly three times faster gigabit data rates. They also now proves that Wi-Fi 6 delivers better reliability, lower latency, more deterministic behaviour, and better network efficiency, especially in environments with many connected devices.

Furthermore, Wi-Fi 6 will help with congestion problems, increase densification of the network – helping to connect more devices, and enable new use cases.

“These successful deployments prove the strength of Wi-Fi 6 technology to achieve better throughput, lower latency, enhanced reliability, improved network efficiency and better user experience,” said Tiago Rodrigues, CEO, WBA. “Ultimately, they prove the readiness of Wi-Fi 6 for carrier deployments, and the WBA continues to develop and expand new trials that support Wi-Fi 6 and 6E expansion into new areas in different geographies around the world.”

WBA is the global industry body dedicated to improving Wi-Fi services and standards. Established in 2003, it seeks to drive seamless, interoperable service experiences via Wi-Fi within the global wireless ecosystem.

Besides its advocacy role – as well as setting industry guidelines and conducting trials and certification, WBA works on key programs including  NextGen Wi-Fi, 5G, IoT, Testing & Interoperability and Roaming, with member-led Work Groups dedicated to resolving standards and technical issues to promote end-to-end services and accelerate business opportunities.

The alliance enables collaboration between service providers, technology companies and organisations, with its membership include major industry players such as BSNL, Orange, Facebook, Google, HPE Aruba, Huawei, Nokia, Qualcomm, Shaw, Swisscom, Softbank, Rogers, Telstra, Telus and T-Mobile US.

The WBA Board includes AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Broadcom, BT, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Deutsche Telekom AG, GlobalReach Technology, Google, Intel, KT Corporation, Reliance Jio and SK Telecom.

Trials focused on key verticals

For many WBA Members, Wi-Fi 6 is now moving rapidly to commercial deployment. In a recent WBA survey, it was found that more than 65% will have deployed Wi-Fi 6 by the end of 2021.

“Wi-Fi 6 is one of the fastest-adopted technologies across numerous device categories and has amassed more than 500 million chipsets shipped. Its success across a wide range of environments is why it has become an essential feature in new smartphones and access points,” said Gabriel Desjardins, director of product marketing at Broadcom.

For the Wi-Fi 6 deployments, WBA members had set up the trial environments and executed the test cases in end-to-end real-life networks. These trials spanned key vertical markets, such as:

• Industrial manufacturing: Mettis Aerospace worked with Broadcom, Cisco, iBwave and Intel to deploy Wi-Fi 6 in a dense industrial environment with heavy metal, high temperatures and moving machinery, where previous generations of Wi-Fi did not perform well. The Wi-Fi 6 trial demonstrated much improved reliability, coverage, throughput and lower latency for supporting mission critical applications.
• High-density malls: SK Telecom deployed Wi-Fi 6 to improve connectivity for consumers, increase quality of experience (QoE) for densely populated areas and provide high throughput for immersive media services. Wi-Fi 6 reduced latency by 80%, reduced throughput fluctuation, and improved service reliability to customers anywhere, anytime, throughout the mall.
• Single-family and multi-dwelling units: CableLabs, Intel and Kyrio deployed Wi-Fi 6 in a mixed-use residential area to increase the user experience in a Wi-Fi loaded network. In this trial, Wi-Fi 6 delivered a significant increase in throughput, enabling the delivery of multiple 4K video with higher quality.
• Education in rural areas: C-DOT and Intel deployed Wi-Fi 6 in a rural school trial in India to enhance new learning technologies, and improve signal coverage and streaming performance. Wi-Fi 6 improved throughput by more than 50% throughout the network.
• Transportation hubs like John Wayne Airport: In the U.S, Boingo, Cisco and Samsung worked together to launch Wi-Fi 6 at John Wayne Airport (SNA) to power a next generation connectivity experience and support airport operations. Following the SNA deployment, Boingo has moved its Wi-Fi 6 technologies from trials to commercial operations and most recently, Boingo has announced an airport-wide commercial deployment of Wi-Fi 6 at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), delivering incredibly fast speeds and low latency to passengers.

Ready for commercial deployments

Indeed,  the recently-concluded establishes Wi-Fi 6 readiness for carrier Wi-Fi deployments around the world, as the trials show the key capabilities of the technology in live networks.  This lays the foundation for deployment of Wi-Fi 6 in enterprises, homes, schools, transportation hubs, travellers and the Internet of Things (IoT).

“Wi-Fi 6 is a strategic pillar of Boingo’s technology roadmap to elevate wireless performance and equip airports and other large venues with connectivity solutions for the 5G world. Wi-Fi 6 meets key 5G requirements to power a broad range of connected use cases in dense environments with greater capacity, speed and scalability,” said Dr. Derek Peterson, chief technology officer at Boingo Wireless.

“We are pleased to be among the first to put Wi-Fi 6 in action and move the technology from lab to real-world launch,” he added.

Eric McLaughlin, vice president of the Client Computing Group and general manager of the Wireless Solutions Group at Intel noted that the WBA trials demonstrate how Wi-Fi 6 addresses connectivity challenges in real-world deployments

“We are committed to driving adoption of Wi-Fi 6 across industries, localities and public spaces. And we look forward to ongoing collaboration with the industry to enable the best connectivity solutions for today and in the future.”

Matthew MacPherson, chief technology officer of wireless at Cisco said that manufacturing and other industrial organisations should be so excited by the results of the Wi-Fi 6 trials.

"Mettis is a great example of a ‘challenging’ Wi-Fi environment. Using Cisco wireless technology, Mettis was able to reliably use Wi-Fi for truly game-changing applications,” he said.

He pointed out that this is a testament to the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 for industrial use cases, as well as the innovation of the WBA, Cisco and partners.

“The lessons we learned as part of this trial will help so many other companies as they look to digitise,” he added.

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The city recently unveiled plans to pilot a common data infrastructure designed to encourage a more robust supply chain for international trade flows. Companies from both private and public sectors will join the trials that aims to improve data efficiencies in financial processes and container flow.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Alliance for Action (AFA) on Supply Chain Digitalisation, one of the seven industry groups formed in June to seize opportunities amid the global health crisis. The other alliances look after key areas such as robotics, e-commerce, education, construction and real estate, and environmental sustainability.

“A common data infrastructure is part of our drive to put in place digital utilities as baseline infrastructure for the digital economy. Similar to their physical counterparts, digital utilities provide common standards and functionalities to enable data to flow and transactions to be made. Companies and platforms will also be able to build additional services and offerings on top of these open digital utilities. This brings about more value and enhances capability for all industry participants,” Lew Chuen Hong, chief executive, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), said in a media statement

The AFA on Supply Chain Digitalisation, jointly led by PSA International and Trafigura, engaged with more than 50 supply chain players in the last three month to identify pain points, opportunities and solutions across the entire ecosystem.

It emerged that a reconfiguration of trade flows  has occurred in the wake of COVID-19, exposing vulnerabilities and opportunities for Singapore. Specifically, significant inefficiencies have been identified in physical event, documentation and financial information flows across the value chain. These inefficiencies caused considerable cost and asset underutilisation that all enterprises.

As a result of its consultations, the alliance concluded a common data infrastructure was necessary to resolve pain points in the ecosystem. It added that the common data platform will facilitate data sharing and will enable all businesses l to “plug and play” into the infrastructure easily.

“For Singapore to remain relevant in the growing digital economy, it is laying a common foundational layer with digital utilities that enable businesses to move into the digital domain, build a stronger and more robust supply chain ecosystem for international trade flows, thereby advancing our position as a global supply chain and trading hub,” the AFA said.

According to the alliance, the common data infrastructure will augment existing data sharing systems and platforms by connecting the supply chain end-to-end, creating visibility and transparency, linking importers/exporters, shipping companies and financial institutions. It will provide all companies with access to exchange data in an efficient, trusted and secured way.

Besides  providing timely accessibility to all players across the value chain, the platform will be scalable and will be able to interoperate with local and global data platforms.

Two pilot applications unveiled

The IMDA and other government agencies will work with the AFA on a pilot to develop this common data infrastructure.

Kicking off the initiative, the AFA revealed two pilot applications will be developed to enhance trade finance and container flow.

Financial institutions (FIs) currently have limited visibility over the physical movement of goods in the supply chain, which reduces their ability to address demand from shippers. The common data infrastructure will allow them to provide and access data directly from trusted parties, in order to reconcile trade details with the physical movement of goods. For sellers, digitally tracking the physical movement of their goods throughout the supply chain will improve visibility and traceability across the trade process, allowing them to make better decisions.

On the other hand, logistics players face frequent congestion at container flow nodes, such as depots and warehouses, due to limited end-to-end visibility of container flows. This results in long waiting times and therefore sub-optimal asset utilisation and additional cost.

Through the common data infrastructure, major shipping lines, depot operators, warehouse operators and hauliers can share (with consent) key operational and event data such as container bookings, time slot bookings, job management and other data to enhance end-to-end logistics operations visibility. This will improve planning and asset utilisation, efficiency and productivity, reinforcing Singapore's place as a logistics hub.

Furthermore, the common data infrastructure will reduce dependency on physical documents, improve data flow and builds greater trust across the trading and financial communities.

“During this pilot we are working alongside Singapore banks to access data directly from reliable sources and parties to reconcile trade details with ease and potentially to detect and mitigate trade related fraud,” said Tan Chin Hwee, CEO-Asia Pacific, Trafigura Group.

He added that building a “digital twin” of the physical movement of goods will improve visibility across the trade process, and help stakeholders reduce dependency on physical documents in the long term.

According to Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO, PSA International, Singapore’s ability to rally together multiple stakeholders to bring a common vision of supply chain end-to-end visibility to fruition will set the city apart as a trusted global trade and logistics hub.

“The development of a common data infrastructure is our opportunity to enable large and small businesses to optimise their supply chain flows through Singapore, promote long-term sustainability as a key nodal hub in the global supply chain, and at the same time, support Singapore businesses in expanding their export markets,” he said.

Other companies that are participating in the initiative include DBS, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific and Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore).

“Establishing a common set of digital standards and guidelines around data sharing across trade platforms will be key to achieving enhanced interoperability, secured data flows, and a seamless e-invoicing experience for trade participants,” said  Patrick Lee, CEO, Standard Chartered (Singapore).

Tan Su Shan, group head of institutional banking, DBS, noted that close collaboration among all partners in the trade ecosystem is needed to pave the way to digitalisation of the supply chain. To achieve this, he underscored the need for all industry players “to accept digital data as a trusted medium of exchange and communication”.

“This makes it even more critical today for financial institutions and trading partners to work together in the development of a common data infrastructure to enhance efficiencies and remain competitive in the new normal.”

The post SG common data infrastructure to close gaps in supply chain ecosystem appeared first on FutureIoT.

Specifically, latest figures show that Europe and North America are accounting for over 90% of Taiwanese e-bikes exports, while the top three importing countries were the Netherlands, the US, and Germany.

E-bikes is one of the popular modes of green transportation, and like any physical items  are now being imbued with smart capabilities, being fitted with sensors that collect data that monitor users’ fitness and behavioural patterns.

Based on figures released by Taiwan’s Customs Administration, the international e-bike market being driven by Europe, as demand for e-bikes among seniors in the EU market increases. With gradually maturing technology and decreasing unit prices, the continent – with its emphasis on environmental protection – has  become one of the major e-bike markets globally.

The average unit price of e-bikes exported to the EU from Taiwan has also risen significantly by nearly 37%, thus creating an increase in the overall export value of e-bikes. Taiwan's export structure, apart from Europe, is also led by exports of e-bikes to North America and in 2019 reached 144 thousand units in volume, ranking first in terms of growth of export value among all regions.

Quality over quantity

Taiwanese bicycle industry stresses quality over quantity as well as pursuing high-tech and high-value-added products, it has also greatly affected the development of the global bicycle technology.
For several years now, Taiwan's two major bicycle brands - Giant and Merida - have actively developed e-bike products to satisfy the global demand.

For one, Giant Group has invested EUR15 million to set up a new plant in Hungary to get closer to the rapid rising of e-bike market in Europe by shortening the supply chain.

Giant bicycles are currently sold in over 50 countries worldwide with over 10,000 distributors around the world and has been developing power-assisted bicycles since 1999. And was also the first brand to bring power-assisted bicycles into the European market.

Meanwhile, Merida. has also been targeting e-bikes segment, particularly with the launch of its e160 electric mountain bicycle released three years ago. With its new carbon fibre frame, which is lighter and more rigid, as well as a heat-conducting device to prevent the battery overheating, it caused a stir in the biking community for touting that climbing uphill would no longer be a burden.

The post Europe gives Taiwan’s e-bike market a growth spurt appeared first on FutureIoT.

He noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of hardship and disruption, it also presents opportunities to identify gaps that require new solutions.
“As the world’s largest transhipment port, Singapore is a good location for solution-providers to test bed new ideas. Solutions that work well in a busy hub port like Singapore could be adapted for other ports globally,” he said.

He further stressed: “We need to support first-movers – individuals and companies who are willing to take risks and pioneer innovative solutions. And help those who fail initially to try again, when they come up with new proposals.”

SPC 2020 was the 4^th edition of the annual technology challenge organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The  SPC a key initiative by the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71) to bridge opportunities in the maritime sector with innovative solutions that can be reimagined to accelerate digital transformation within the industry.

Preparing for a post-COVID world

This year, COVID-19 has been a major disruption to the world, whose impact on global supply chains will likely extend beyond the pandemic. Throughout the crisis, Singapore has kept its port open to allow the flow of essential goods to continue.

“We are now preparing ourselves for changes in global supply chains in a post-COVID world, and how the Port of Singapore can retain our connectivity and remain relevant in such an environment,”  Chee said.

This year’s SPC specifically sought to bring forth innovative solutions aimed at helping Singapore’s maritime industry cope  with the new dynamics in the recovery post-COVID.

The SPC  2020 received 187 applications from start-ups around the world and was conducted online for the first time. Many of these applications seek to automate processes and reduce reliance on manpower through solutions such as robots for hull cleaning, and virtual walkthrough of vessels for ship inspections, which is particularly beneficial in light of COVID-19. From the pool of highly qualified proposals received, 16 were selected, putting their teams into PIER71 Accelerate, a six-week market validation and customer discovery programme.

Focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, Internet of Things and robotics, all 16 finalists will be eligible to apply to MPA for a grant of up to S$50,000 to embark on pilot projects with maritime companies.

The grand final last Tuesday saw eight shortlisted start-ups pitching their proposal to a panel of judges.

The first, second and third place winners were BeeX, FUELSAVE and Vulcan AI. Judged on their proposed solution, business model, market opportunity, impact to the maritime industry and overall team capability, they each walked away with cash prizes of S$10,000 S$5,000 and S$3,000 respectively.

Grace Chia, CEO of BeeX , which bagged the top prize said:  “PIER71 has been an extremely comprehensive acceleration programme, helping us refine our value propositions to maritime corporates. We are thankful for the mentorship, networking opportunities and guidance. The win is a great encouragement to our team, and we look forward to working with the ecosystem to improve underwater inspections.”

New ways to unlock value from businesses

Meanwhile, Chee pointed out that what gives Singapore the competitive edge is not capital but new ways to unlock value from our businesses.

“We must ensure that innovation thrives and flourish in Maritime Singapore. This calls for a collaborative approach. Government agencies such as MPA, academia, industry, and solution-providers must come together to translate innovative ideas into real-world solutions,” he said. “Through SPC, we support technology start-ups to co-create solutions with the industry, which can be exported world-wide.”

Professor Freddy Boey, NUS deputy president for innovation and enterprise echoed the same sentiment “Our vision for this partnership with MPA is to raise the competitive edge of start-ups by injecting deep tech developed in Singapore, starting with those from NUS, to strengthen their offering to the industry, and to broaden their reach beyond Singapore.”

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The demonstration facility will contribute to the creation of safe, secure, and people-friendly cities through infrastructure-coordinated mobility services and the use of data obtained from sensors installed within a city's infrastructure.

“The NEC Mobility Test Center combines advanced technologies such as NEC's private 5G, video analytics, and AI/IoT with the technologies and know-how of partner organisations to promote technological development and system verification of next-generation mobility services, with the aim of creating new value and solving social issues,” said Yuji Onoda, general manager of Cross-Industry Unit, Cross-Industry Business Development Division at NEC Corporation in a statement released over the weekend.

Infrastructure coordination is a system in which vehicles and roadway infrastructure exchange information quickly and accurately through wireless communications in order to prevent accidents, alleviate traffic congestion, provide support for automated driving, and more.

In the next 12 months, the centre is set to conduct as series of tests that combines private 5G with inter-vehicle and roadside-to-vehicle communications. These are

• V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle): Inter-vehicle communication technology
• V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure): Communication between vehicles and infrastructure (roadside-to-vehicle)
• C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything): Communication technology that includes communications between vehicles, roads and pedestrians

The centre is designed with a straight course spanning the length of approximately 100 metres, and is fitted with permanent equipment such as traffic lights, 5G base stations, C-V2X roadside units and AI-edge processors to name a few. It also equipped pedestrian and roadside cameras. There are also  vehicles such as buses and passenger cars, as well as important pedestrian equipment, including electric wheelchairs.

The tests that will be conducted at the facility is in line new guidelines given by the Japanese government – the basic specifications of which have been drafted this year – as part of the country’s new  IT strategy. This strategy – outlined in the "Declaration to be the World's most Advanced Digital Nation and the Basic Plan for Promotion of Public-Private Data Utilization” – include the guidelines for new road traffic infrastructure linked with 5G communications standards and traffic lights.

How tests at the centre work

Private 5G is used to acquire and analyse overhead images of intersections with cameras installed on roadside objects. This function notifies vehicles equipped with 5G stations of pedestrian crossings, collision prediction information, and speeding vehicle information. Dangerous vehicles and people in locations that are often blind spots will also be digitised to provide safe and secure driving assistance and conduct experiments that lead to automatic driving.

Among the experiments lined up at the centre include:

• Traffic Management Experiment - Recognise and analyse passing vehicles and pedestrians from camera images. Along with real-time detection of traffic volume, the source of traffic jam information, the license plate numbers of passing vehicles are also identified at the same time. NEC will also conduct experiments for assisting with traffic management and urban development, such as identifying the number of inflowing vehicles from outside a region and recognising changes in the volume of vehicles and pedestrians in an area depending on the time of day.
• Road Infrastructure Management Experiment - Acquire and analyse images of road surface conditions with roadside cameras that identify fallen objects, such as trees, and other incidents in real-time. The system will provide valuable alerts to vehicles equipped with 5G stations that an incident has occurred in their vicinity. In the future, NEC will conduct experiments to make use of this technology for road maintenance and understanding of conditions following accidents and disasters.

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Aware of the challenge, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Carrier Global Corporation have entered a multi-year agreement to co-develop Carrier’s new Lynx digital platform, which aims to transform how food, medicines, vaccines and other perishables goods are moved and monitored globally.

The Lynx platform will combine AWS’s IoT, analytics, and machine learning services with Carrier’s refrigeration and monitoring solutions, extending Carrier’s current digital offerings for managing the temperature-controlled transport and storage of perishables.

Customers using the Lynx platform will benefit from end-to-end tracking, real-time alerts, automated processes, and predictive analytics to help them deliver temperature-controlled cargo more efficiently, in turn decreasing the cost of cold chain operations by optimising resource utilisation and reducing cargo loss and spoilage.

“Carrier and AWS are tackling the complexity and fragmentation of the cold chain to give supply chain customers the transparency, flexibility, and insights they require to reduce risk and deliver food, medicine, and vaccines when and where they’re needed,” said Sarah Cooper, general manager, IoT Solutions at AWS. “This project, which combines Carrier’s cold chain expertise with AWS’s digital experience and unparalleled portfolio of services, highlights how entire industries stand to benefit from digital transformation through increased efficiency, reduced costs, and greater dependability.”

Leveraging AWS IoT services to collect, integrate, organise, and analyse data from Carrier’s large installed base of refrigeration equipment and monitoring solutions, along with sources such as traffic and weather reports, the Lynx platform will provide a comprehensive view of cargo location, temperature conditions, and external events that could impact cold chain operations. This information will feed into a data lake built on Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) where Carrier can use AWS machine learning services to identify potential issues that could impact cargo, as well as run sophisticated analytics to develop recommendations for improving outcomes.

For example, by analysing historic and real-time performance data from Carrier’s cloud-connected equipment, the Lynx platform could suggest proactive maintenance to maximize a specific piece of equipment’s availability. Looking ahead, Carrier and AWS plan to introduce a capability for the Lynx platform to provide recommendations related to cargo routing and improved fleet utilisation, adding greater resilience into the cold chain that will help Carrier’s customers to manage costs, schedules, and resources.

The suite of tools will provide Carrier customers worldwide with enhanced visibility, increased connectivity, and actionable intelligence across their cold chain operations to improve outcomes for temperature-sensitive cargo, including food, medicine, and vaccines.

“We are committed to delivering a healthier, safer, and more sustainable cold chain. Through this collaboration with AWS, we are developing a uniquely powerful ecosystem to give our customers greater flexibility, visibility, and intelligence across the cold chain,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Refrigeration. “The Lynx platform will help our customers make faster, data-driven decisions to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of their supply chains. This digital solution will enhance connectivity across the cold chain, decreasing delays for cargo that is critical to global health and well-being, while reducing cargo damage, loss, and unanticipated costs.”

The latest collaboration between two companies builds on Carrier’s selection of AWS as its preferred cloud services provider in February 2020.

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The survey said almost seven in 10 (69%) decision-makers say the industry is prepared to manage food traceability and transparency, but only 35% of consumers agree. Furthermore, only 13% of consumers felt the industry was extremely prepared today to manage food traceability and be transparent about how food travels through the supply chain, whereas 27% of decision-makers reported feeling this way.  Unfortunately, this is not just a short-term challenge as approximately half (51%) of surveyed food and beverage decision-makers said meeting consumer expectations will remain a challenge in five years.

“The F&B industry in Southeast Asia is already taking measures to ensure more transparency in the supply chain. However, our study found that a lot more work still needs to be done in order to increase consumer confidence and improve food traceability in this region,” said Fang-How, Lim, regional director for Southeast Asia, Zebra Technologies. “Due to the digital world we live in today, businesses have more information available to them. Businesses should leverage this and provide consumers access to the same information, which in turn can increase consumers’ faith in their food sources.”

Technology can close gaps in F&B supply chain

One bright spot identified in the research is the role that technology can play in closing these gaps in both the short- and long-term.  An overwhelming majority (90%) of decision-makers acknowledged that investments in traceability-focused solutions will provide them with a competitive advantage by enabling them to meet the expectations of consumers.

When asked about the top benefits that technology-based track and trace solutions would provide, nearly six in 10 decision-makers cited risk reductions with proper handling, transportation and storage and tracking product perishability. 41% of industry decision-makers reported RFID tags improve food traceability within the supply chain more than any other technology, yet only 31% currently use them within their own organisations.

Mobile computers and tablets, mobile barcode label printers, scanners and specialty labels and tags will also be key enablers in winning consumer trust and delivering more transparent information to consumers.

Approximately 90% of surveyed industry decision-makers expect to use rugged handheld mobile computers with scanners, barcode scanners and mobile barcode label printers within the next five years to digitally manage and track food products and related information.

Food contamination is consumers’ biggest concern

The survey entitled “Food Safety Supply Chain Vision Study” included approximately 4,957 consumers and 462 food and beverage industry decision-makers in the manufacturing, transportation & logistics, retail and wholesale distribution markets in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe who were interviewed in January 2020 by Azure Knowledge Corporation.

The study highlights the views of consumers as well as food and beverage industry decision-makers worldwide from distribution and warehouses to grocery stores and restaurants around safety, traceability and transparency.

Some key findings for Asia Pacific are:

• Nearly three-quarters (73%) of consumers listed illness and deaths caused by contamination as their biggest concern for risks posed by the food supply chain.
• 93% of surveyed food and beverage decision-makers believe their companies have an ethical responsibility to ensure the safe handling and management of food.
• 89% of industry decision-makers believe investments in traceability-focused solutions would provide their companies with a competitive advantage.

Meanwhile, Aik Jin, Tan, vertical solutions lead at Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific, said the company has a portfolio of solutions that “transform the food supply chain from farm to fork”.

“Businesses can choose from basic track and trace solutions by pairing up of the likes of the ZQ511 and ZQ521 mobile printers with the CS60 Series companion scanner for barcode printing and scanning. Otherwise, they can opt for RFID solutions by pairing up the likes of the ZQ511 and ZQ521 RFID mobile printers that produce RFID-enabled labels with handheld RFID readers and RFID-enabled scanners. By doing so, businesses will be empowered with real-time visibility that takes their track and trace efforts to a whole new level,” they said.

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Their partnership will continue to focus on research and development projects with practical application benefits for the Dachser network. These include digital technologies such as data science and artificial intelligence (AI), real-time locating systems (RTLS), 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and adaptive warehouse systems.

"The first step in our joint research work in the Dachser Enterprise Lab is to gain a detailed understanding of new technologies and their potential for logistics. Then we build on that to develop prototypes and concepts that add tangible value for Dachser and our customers, turning them into innovations," said Stefan Hohm, corporate director for corporate solutions, research & development at Dachser, who will head the new IT & Development executive unit as of January 1, 2021.

"So far, the work we've done together has proven that we can transform research results from the Dachser Enterprise Lab into new processes and services throughout the entire logistics network," he added.

In the DACHSER Enterprise Lab, Dachser logistics experts and scientists from Fraunhofer IML work in mixed lab teams on various research and development assignments. The partnership between the logistics service provider and the research institute was launched in October 2017 and will now run until October 2023.

“Our research results up to now and our new research contracts show just how important applied research is for logistics and supply chain management," says Prof. Michael ten Hompel, managing director of Fraunhofer IML. "We're particularly proud that the lab teams have continued to work effectively despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, technical aids such as video conferences and collaboration tools have been a great help. But above all, it's the extraordinary commitment and motivation of everyone working at the Dachser Enterprise Lab that is key to successful research in challenging times.”

Fraunhofer IML is a logistics-focused research firm, composed of 315 scientists as well as 250 doctoral candidates and students and supported by colleagues in workshops, laboratories and service departments. Teams assembled according to project and customer requirements create cross-industry and customer-specific solutions, among other things in the field of materials handling, business process modelling, transportation systems and resource logistics. AI, smart finance and IoT are also among the current research focal points.

German-based Dachser is an integrated logistics company that incorporates transport, warehousing, and value-added services to provide comprehensive supply chain solutions. In Asia, Dachser employs more than 1,696 people in 48 locations in 12 Business Areas. Its Asia Pacific Regional Head Office is located in Hong Kong. The company uses its own in-house developed IT-systems.

The post Fraunhofer IML and Dachser extend smart logistics partnership appeared first on FutureIoT.

Nokia’s IoT Device Management Platform (DMP) will enable Optus to provide its customers with simple access to Narrow Band-IoT device data, from low power devices, and remote device management at scale. This can be done regardless of device type.

The two companies will work together to help create smart cities and support enterprise customers across industries, including mining, utilities and transportation.

“Our strategic alliance with Nokia will standardise and streamline IoT devices under one platform and unlock powerful productivity capabilities to fuel Australia’s digital transformation and its smart cities and smart spaces of the future,” said Deon Liebenberg, vice president of product innovation, Optus Business.

“By collaborating with global technology leaders like Nokia, we’re able to offer Optus customers more value and choice on how they manage their devices and networks. The combined power of Optus’ premium IoT network with Nokia’s state-of-the-art IoT platform, will deliver customers the flexibility to consume this innovative, carrier-agnostic solution as software as a service, platform as a service, or connectivity as a service,” he added.

Australia's IoT market is estimated to grow to USD 25 billion by 2024, up from USD 7.9 billion in 2018, indicating the potential opportunity for Optus and Nokia.  Anticipated industry applications include cost effective waste management, supply chain optimisation, logistics management and scene analytics for improved safety and security.

The alliance builds on Nokia’s longstanding relationship with Optus. Nokia is working collaboratively with the operator to manage and maintain its network infrastructure. The two companies launched Australia’s first 5G commercial services in early 2019, making Optus the first operator globally to deploy Nokia’s FastMile 5G indoor gateway in a live network. Nokia and Optus also successfully launched a 5G Fixed Wireless Access service using the 5G New Radio standard.

“By working with Optus, Nokia can bring to bear its pan-industry experience across these asset-intensive industries. We will enable Optus to expand its offering in these markets, helping its customers to leverage the efficiency and productivity potential of IoT. We believe this agreement with Optus will help more companies build greater resilience into their operations,” said Anna Wills, head of Oceania at Nokia.

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“Autonomous technology will lead a revolutionary change to the city’s transportation systems,” said Huang Wei-Cher, Mayor of Tainan. “The smart transportation initiative will help us improve overall road safety, operational efficiency, and rural area transportation services.”

The service will cover two business districts. One service will run on weekends only, on a 2.5km route between Nanke Railway Station and National Museum of Prehistory, while the other will be on weekdays in the 6.4km route along Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, where a smart vehicle testing site is located.

The ART project is part of Taiwan’s two-year smart transportation development plan. It is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the National Development Council. Tainan has been tapped as the country's first municipality to offer commercial autonomous bus services.

“Through continuous safety validation of self-driving technology, ART will be a cost-effective alternative to traditional mass rapid transit (MRT) systems for cities like Tainan,” said Kung Ming-Hsin, minister of the National Development Council. “From a public infrastructure perspective, this new approach can not only reduce deployment costs by half but also serve twice as many citizens. The pioneering innovation of ART will provide a safer, more efficient, and more accessible transportation network and become the pride of Taiwan.”

During the trial period, the bus will not carry passengers but will have someone in the driver's seat in case of any problems. The Tainan city government aims to begin passenger services on trial basis in the fourth quarter of the year and outsource the operation to the private sector in 2021, creating the first commercial driverless bus service in the country.

A look under the hood

The electric autonomous bus is equipped with six cameras and four lidars -- a remote sensing system that measures distances by illuminating a target using laser lights -- to monitor traffic conditions. It also includes high-definition maps and 5G-enabled connected car technologies.

The solution is put together by Silicon Valley-based LILEE Systems in collaboration with local partners such as Green Transit Company, Taiwan Optical Platform, HYA Company, H.P.B. Optoelectronics, Iscom Online International Information, STARTRII CO and FRED. LILEE Systems is technology systems integrator specialising in advanced wireless communications and autonomous driving solutions.

LILEE Systems used its expertise in rail systems to design and develop the autonomous self-driving bus, which is made from a repurposed diesel-run vehicle. Its ART concept is a fixed-route, fixed-speed system, similar to metro or light rail systems. Because its routes and stops are pre-defined and reserved, ART shares the same benefits as rail systems to provide scheduled and predictable services regardless of traffic conditions.

Topped with vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications and smart signals, ART further guarantees travel efficiency. The Tainan self-driving buses on virtual tracks are centrally managed and controlled from a cloud-based operations control centre(OCC) as added layers of safety.

“Thanks to the support from the governments and our partners, we are glad to bring a conceptual technology to a Level-4 autonomous bus solution,” said Jia-Ru Li, CEO of LILEE Systems. “We believe ART will become the new mode of public transportation in the coming years, solving urban transportation challenges such as driver shortages and increasing operational costs.”

Proof of concept test

In 2018, the Taiwanese government started to test the ART concept through proof-of-service trials. Thousands of people experienced a 9-meter autonomous bus on a fixed bus route in Taichung, the second largest city in Taiwan, with a speed of up to 30 km/h.

However, they had to jump passed the hurdle that met an earlier business case for autonomous cars – the technology has yet to demonstrate driverless cars’ ability to respond to a real-world traffic challenge. Technology giants and automotive industry continue to promise solutions, and the availability target is moving further and further into the future. At the beginning, unmanned personal cars on the road would likely do more harm than good to the already worsening urban traffic.

LILEE Systems’  ART concept comes from the railway industry and is based upon rail-safety principles. Autonomous buses run on a virtual track, monitored by a centralised operational control centre in real time with a fail-safe system. That means, each action taken by the autonomous bus has to be confirmed to be safe locally and remotely before it can be performed. This added layer of safety that has been practiced by the railroads for many years and LILEE Systems ported it into autonomous driving to meet the highest safety standards.

Although it is similar to a metro system, ART’s virtual tracks are based on dedicated bus lanes, meaning it does not require costly and time-consuming infrastructure development as for a rail system. Essentially, ART shares the same benefits of a metro system yet with significantly lower capital costs and faster speed to market.

Another hurdle  that needed to be met is the high cost of building an autonomous vehicle from scratch. When required sensors and autonomous driving systems are added to a new $30,000 car, LILEE Systems estimated the final price can easily reach $130,000.  Purchasing an autonomous car might not be realistic until required technology cost can be lower.

In the end, city governments and the public still struggle to justify the real benefits of driverless cars, resulting in the delay of adoption.

Two years ago, the POC trial in Taiwan  demonstrated the feasibility of modifying regular diesel buses for ART. Without having to purchase new vehicles, it eases the financial stress of city governments and bus operators and increase their willingness to join efforts to participate in ART projects.

An $100,000 technology investment in deploying autonomous systems for a $300,000+ commercial vehicle that has the potential to serve 30+ riders each trip is way more practical than the same investment for a $30,000 compact personal car.

Senior executives from LILEE Systems believe that close government-industry collaborations are key to the success of ART. Opening new roads for testing and providing clear regulations are especially critical for continuous validations of the business model.

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The racing series, created by performance electric flying car manufacturer Alauda, will receive technical and commercial support from Acronis. The significance of this partnership will be reflected in the placement of the Acronis brand in a prominent position on Airspeeder’s MK4 racing craft.

“We are creating an aerial motorsport driven by innovation. Backing from Acronis, a business with an extraordinary culture of technological success in Formula One and Formula E represents significant affirmation of our vision to accelerate the next great mobility revolution through sporting competition,” said Matt Pearson, Founder, Alauda and Airspeeder

The first Airspeeder GPs planned for 2021. It is founded on the belief that technical development of the flying car mobility revolution will be accelerated in the heat of competition.  It will benefit the wider eVTOL (electrical vertical take-off and landing) sector, an industry backed by giants including Uber, Daimler, Toyota, Hyundai and Airbus.

Widely dubbed as ‘flying electric taxis’ and considered the next great mobility revolution, eVTOL promises to liberate cities and cut journey times with a sustainable flying transport solution. The sector is predicted by Morgan Stanley to be worth US$1.5 trillion dollars by 2040.

Ensuring data security during the Airspeeder race

With the newly inked partnership, Acronis’ cyber protection solutions will ensure the data security for the revolutionary LiDAR and Machine Vision technology that will deliver close but safe racing through the creation of virtual force-fields around each racing craft, named ‘Speeders’. Part of this technology will be delivered by Teknov8, a global provider of cyber security solution that will support Acronis’ partnership with Airspeeder as an Official #CyberFit Delivery Partner.

“Acronis’ place at the leading edge of innovation in data management perfectly aligns with Alauda and Airspeeder’s vision to accelerate a mobility revolution through close sporting competition,” said Jan-Jaap Jager, board advisor and senior vice president at Acronis.

He added: “Our proven, integrated approach to providing easy, efficient, reliable and secure cyber protection for all data, applications and systems, will help Airspeeder to enhance their performance on the air track and in the back office. We look forward to delivering on the promise of a true next generation technical and sporting proposition.”

Acronis’ secure data analysis solutions currently enhance the performance of some of the most celebrated sporting entities in the world including major names in F1 and English Premier League football. Acronis’ strategic and commercial support represents further affirmation of Airspeeder and Alauda’s vision to accelerate the next great mobility revolution through sporting competition. This significant partnership follows the confirmation of major institutional investment in the sport and follows existing support from logistics giant DHL and global money management firm Equals.

Acronis and Teknov8’s commercial, technical and strategic support will therefore hasten the arrival of the eVTOL (electrical vertical take-off and landing) vehicle that promises to provide a long-term clean air solution to city congestion through a zero-emissions aerial transport solution.

Airspeeder is described by global commentators as the ‘Formula One of the skies’, Acronis’ track record in motorsport makes them the perfect technical and strategic partner. The firm’s technical team will manage the streams of live data that will underpin a sport that promises to be the most exciting global sporting and broadcast entity on the planet.

Building a new sports

Alauda expects that elite pilots culled from the world of aviation, motorsports and eSports will participate in Airspeeder, navigating through navigate electrically governed courses above some of the most visually arresting locations in the world.

Electric racing multicopters created by Alauda will fly at speeds of up to 130km/h. Airspeeder GP seasons will be contested by teams who will purchase the original craft and equipment from Alauda, but will be given freedom to set race strategy and recruit pilots from a pool of elite pilot academy graduates. This will create a technologically even playing field, encouraging greater control for teams to dictate strategy. This approach has been compared to the highly successful Formula E racing series.

Success for teams competing in the Airspeeder series is defined by the skill of individual pilots and the teams’ ability to maximise performance from a truly revolutionary technical platform. Key to this will be the collection and interpretation of data. This will be underpinned by Acronis and its world-leading solutions which will ensure the secure and seamless management of data. Key indicators from battery peak performance to pilot biometrics will be available to teams as they plot strategy to gain competitive advantage.

Acronis’ track record in motorsport makes the company  the ideal technical and strategic partner to an event described as “Formula One of the skies”. The firm’s technical team will manage the streams of live data that will underpin a sport that promises to be the most exciting global sporting and broadcast entity on the planet.

Acronis’ data solutions currently ensure the security of the terabytes of data derived from running Formula One cars during testing and racing scenarios. This data is essential to sports like F1 and Airspeeder that require telemetry data to analyse performance and set strategy.

Airspeeder’s team and pilots will benefit from real-time data including analysis of battery and key systems performance. From this information, engineers will be able to define strategy in real time to find competitive advantage in a sport where every team starts with the same technical platform. This will make for the close and equitable racing motorsports fans crave.

Data-driven sporting event

Airspeeder’s will globally stream races and interact with the sport’s fan community across multiple devices and channels. Central to this is equipping Airspeeder with the inherent flexibility to adapt to rapidly shifting requirements of audiences in the way they interact with brands. Acronis’ capability to securely manage global fan and partner data empowers Airspeeder to deliver a next generation multimedia experience.

As a progressive, technologically led sport, Airspeeder is driven by the application of big data. Acronis and Teknov8 will ensure an Airspeeder race or flight will never be compromised and that the terabytes of data shared between Speeders and the technical teams supporting them will remain entirely secure.

Airspeeder will be experienced through global multi-channel streaming. Spectators at live events will be limited to VIPs exclusively invited to experience and amplify the action from luxury pavilions. As they compete, Speeders will utilise cutting-edge LiDAR and Machine Vision technology to ensure close but safe racing, with defined and digitally governed no-fly areas surrounding spectators and officials.

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One ID uses facial recognition technology, essentially correlating passengers’ facial data with their boarding pass and passport which traditionally have to be presented at various stages of the check-in and boarding process.  By taking passengers’ facial data, they will no longer be asked for these two documents as presently required across the end-to-end passenger experience.

The initiative will relieve departing passengers from repetitive processes to board a flight and Narita Airport anticipates benefits in less queuing. Moreover, the advanced facial recognition system, it is expected to improve the passenger authentication accuracy and enable improvements in aviation and airport infrastructure security. One ID will also improve staff productivity by reducing time spent on manual ID checks.

The system requires a facial photo of a passenger to be registered when they initially check-in at an airport service desk or self-service kiosk at Narita Airport. From there, the passenger is able to move more rapidly through the airport, including screening, baggage storage and the boarding gate without having to show a boarding pass or passport. Biometric scanners at each phase of the travel process are able to confirm the individual’s identity, helping to improve traffic flow through the airport and the overall travel experience.

NEC Corporation has been tapped to help Narita Airport in the One ID project, which extends biometric technology to provide a solution tailored to the growing need for “fast travel” in the airline industry.

Analysing the types of data collected by solutions such as One ID requires extensive computing power backed by a flexible, scalable infrastructure that can support usage spikes at peak travel times. As such, NEC has chosen Red Hat OpenShift as the foundation for the project. Red Hat OpenShift will provide the massive scale and flexibility required to handle peak passenger volume at Narita.

“Next-generation technologies must be built on a platform that can deliver stable, production-ready innovation. With Red Hat OpenShift, NEC has the enterprise-grade backbone for One ID which can scale as needed to support high traveller traffic and provide tools, services and flexibility to fuel advances in the traveller experience,” said Ashesh Badani, senior vice president, Cloud Platforms, Red Hat.

The industry’s most comprehensive enterprise Kubernetes platform, Red Hat OpenShift, provides NEC with cloud-native architecture as well as operational agility, future-ready developer services and integration with extended hardware and software systems.

“By combining NEC's biometric scanning technology with Red Hat’s OpenShift, we have built an agile and highly scalable platform for the future utilising open, robust and flexible container services. As a result, travellers will be able to proceed quickly at the airport. In the future, we will promote the deployment of this solution at airports in Japan, internationally and throughout a wide variety of industries,” said Toshifumi Yoshizaki, senior vice president, NEC Corporation.

One ID is expected to go live at Narita International Airport's 1st and 2nd passenger terminals in the near future. Following the introduction of One ID at Narita Airport, NEC aims to continue rolling out advanced solutions in cooperation with domestic and international airports throughout the world.

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Major logistics providers are grappling with the short-term effects of country-wide lockdowns, as shuttered borders continue to restrict movement of goods and services. DHL reportedly suffered an impact of US$79 million to their February earnings.

Shipments of cargo from China have seen a four-to-six-week delay; likewise, in India, over 500,000 cargo trucks were reported to have been stranded on highways.

“Throughout the supply chain, COVID-19 presented specific challenges from contactless delivery, the shutdown of truck stops, and the closure of back offices, which caused disruptions between suppliers, distribution hubs, and retailers/consumers,” explained Kangrui Ling, research analyst at ABI Research.

Fleet managers have a crucial need to enhance visibility and improve connections between operations, drivers, and customers. Real-time location monitoring and dynamic routing have been key in allowing network operation centres to optimize routes on the fly and improve customer satisfaction by reducing late deliveries and bettering goods tracking.

Location-based solutions, including real-time traffic data, estimated time of arrival notifications, and vehicle visibility, are playing an important role in tackling these challenges, according to ABI Research.

For instance, major e-commerce and delivery companies—such as Meituan Dianping, Alibaba, Grab, and Gojek—have implemented distancing measures and contactless delivery to ensure the safety of their drivers and customers.

Autonomous deliveries have advanced due to the pandemic. JD.com began using drones to deliver goods to remote locations in China earlier this year, making them the first e-commerce firm to do so. The Chinese giant also deployed land-based autonomous delivery robots to aid in last-mile deliveries of medical products and groceries.

“In the long term, we do see supply chains and fleets becoming more automated and robust through the use of technologies such as ADAS, fleet telematics, artificial intelligence, and big data,” concluded Jun Wei Ee, research analyst at ABI Research.

“In addition, the focus will shift toward autonomous delivery form factors, as the pandemic continues to alter consumer behaviours. Within all these developments, location technology will be key.”

ABI Research forecasts that commercial telematics system revenue in Asia-Pacific will nearly double from US$7.3 billion in 2020 to US$14.1 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 13.9%.

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Established in 2018 by Goyohan Taxi Service, what sets Coactus apart is that its vehicles are driven by deaf drivers – an essential part of its social venture supporting people with hearing loss.

Goyohan Mobility launched

Both companies upped their game as they announced yesterday an extended collaboration to introduce a new service developed for deaf drivers. Named Goyohan Mobility, the app-based ride-hailing service powered by SK Telecom’s advanced technologies, will launch in Korea on August 1, 2020.

To enhance the safety and convenience of deaf drivers, SK Telecom equipped the vehicles with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) specially developed for deaf drivers, and provided the drivers with T Care Smart Watch, a smart device also tailored to their needs.

 The ADAS provides forward collision, lane departure and pedestrian collision warnings not only on a display screen but also through vibration on T Care Smart Watch worn around the driver’s wrist. In emergency situations, drivers can simply press the SOS button on the smart watch to make immediate contact with the police and transmit the driver’s real-time location.

“We are excited to launch Goyohan Mobility through our ongoing collaboration with SK Telecom,” said Song Min-pyo, CEO of Coactus. “Through the use of technology, we will not only provide quality jobs to people with hearing impairments, but at the same time make sure that Goyohan Mobility becomes well-received by the public for its high-quality services”

Goyohan Mobility is expected to create a stable work environment as the drivers will be hired directly by Coactus and receive monthly salaries. Coactus will start by operating a total of 10 vehicles driven by 15 deaf drivers, and plans to increase these numbers to 100 vehicles and 200 drivers by 2021.

“Our partnership with Coactus highlights our commitment to create social value and business value simultaneously,” said Yeo Ji-young, vice president and head of Open Collaboration Group of SK Telecom. “We will continue to seek innovative ways to address social issues, including employment of people with disabilities, by fully utilizing our ICT to strengthen social safety net for the underprivileged.”

Using technologies to elevate Coactus service

For the last two years, Coactus has been working with SK Telecom to equip the vehicles with technologies aimed at helping the drivers and their customers communicate better with each other. Specifically, the taxis have been fitted with tablets installed with an app that enables smooth communications between deaf taxi drivers and their passengers.

Besides connecting Coactus to SK Telecom’s T-Map taxi-hailing app, the mobile carrier also developed and applied a feature that provides flashing _alerts to notify drivers of incoming calls as well as a messaging feature that enables communication between drivers and customers before starting a journey.

It also began operating a program to recruit and nurture deaf taxi drivers by providing education and training to help them obtain a taxi license to get a new job opportunity. So far, the program has produced a total of 62 taxi drivers.

Moreover, SK Telecom is running a special support centre to address the challenges and difficulties deaf drivers experience on the job through video calls in sign language.

Their efforts led to international recognition and awards. In February 2020, the two companies won the ‘Best Use of Mobile for Accessibility & Inclusion’ category of the GSMA Global Mobile Awards 2020 (GLOMO Awards).

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