On November 1, 2016, an employee at the newly opened SingPost Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub in Singapore picks up orders from the shelves in a warehouse. Getty Images | ROSLAN RAHMAN | AFP People are going to the internet to shop in order to avoid the crowds caused by the pandemic, but getting the items into the hands of the consumer can be difficult. Companies who sell online must invest in infrastructure to support their businesses in order to grab future prospects, according to James Root, senior partner and chairman of Bain Futures, a global think tank of consultancy firm Bain & Company. “E-commerce platforms require two types of infrastructure: first, excellent digital payment systems. The second requirement is a strong supply chain “According to CNBC, he stated. “And that’s for both managing cross-border products into a market like Singapore, as well as having quick customs clearance and simple paper processing.” In the end, convenience reigns supreme… It’s the freedom to shop whenever and whenever I choose. It’s also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Senior partner and chairman of Bain Futures, Vaughan Ryan Root added that “proper in-market competencies” are also required. “For example, parcel delivery locations near large blocks of housing, and very good last-mile transportation to get items into the hands of customers at the speeds that we’re educating our consumers to anticipate now,” he explained. At the height of the Covid-19 issue last year, Singapore enforced a “circuit breaker” or partial lockdown, exposing the delivery and logistical challenges that e-commerce companies face. “Ultimately, convenience reigns supreme,” said Vaughan Ryan, general director of NielsenIQ’s e-commerce Asia Pacific. “It’s the freedom to shop whenever and wherever I choose. It’s also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, consumers, particularly in Singapore, who are so technologically savvy, are able to purchase more frequently.” “No one is moving fast enough,” he remarked. “The consumer has been ahead of what manufacturers and retailers can accomplish, and they are catching up quickly.” “The logistical management of it all still has a lot of room for improvement. Even with the circuit breaker’s urgent movement controller orders, there were no time slots accessible to order online. That has greatly improved once again… but there is still much work to be done in this area “Ryan made a point. Ninja Van, established in Singapore, is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing last-mile logistics companies. “We connect the virtual and physical worlds,” said Lai Chang Wen, CEO and co-founder of Ninja Van, a courier service in Southeast Asia. “You order something online, and we make sure it gets delivered to your doorstep, into a locker, or to a neighboring convenience store.” In order to keep up with the changing times, Ninja Van has resorted to social media to assist consumers track their packages and improve the delivery process, according to him. “Today, we believe it is more vital for us to be able to communicate with you via your preferred chat messenger. Whether it’s Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Telegram, you choose, and we’ll send you real-time updates on your driver’s location.” The delivery vans of Ninja Van. Ninja Van is a ninja van that is “We believe that’s a new type of tracking that fits into how we use our phones and connect these days,” he said. “It’s not unduly intrusive, and no one is necessarily phoning you.” Ninja Van is currently collaborating with e-commerce vendors in the city-state to address some of the supply issues. “What we see as an opportunity coming up in the next several years is: We deal with a lot of these e-commerce sellers, and they import a lot of their goods from overseas — we’re helping them deliver (directly) to their customers,” Lai explained. “Is it possible that we may also assist them with their supply chains? That’s something we’re working on a lot right now: how can we connect all of these e-commerce sellers’ supply chains? “Added he. Continue reading