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Tag: awards

Tech firm ranked as one of UK’s best employers

Posted on by David Priestman

A fast-growing logistics technology business is celebrating after being named as one of the UK’s Best Tech Employers by the leading workplace accreditation body. Wise, which has created a revolutionary workforce management platform used by over 250 UK delivery companies, has been named on the prestigious list of the UK’s Best Tech Employers by Great Place To Work.

Wise was placed alongside some of the UK’s most well-known and innovative technology firms following a lengthy process. Following an anonymous staff satisfaction survey and rigorous external testing, the technology firm scored an overall 91% for staff satisfaction, with its highest scoring areas covering atmosphere, diversity and inclusion and teamwork.

Based in Solihull, Wise’s free platform is used by last-mile delivery firms to save time, stress and money when managing a self-employed workforce and its app has already been used by over 50,000 delivery drivers.

Hannah Jarrad, Head of People and Culture at Wise, said: “Throughout the last couple of years we’ve been on an incredible journey, bringing together some of the Midlands’ best technology talent and growing our culture along the way. We’re over the moon to have been listed as one of the UK’s Best Tech Workplaces and this certification is testament to the hard work and attitude of each and every one of the Wise team.”

Briton joins pallet pioneers in Hall of Fame

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Briton Neil Humphrey (pictured) has been awarded the accolade of TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year 2022, while the pioneers of the pallet’s triumph in logistics have been inducted to the Logistics Hall of Fame.

Posthumously, George Raymond Sr. (1890-1967), founder of the American intralogistics solutions provider The Raymond Corporation and inventor of the double-faced wooden pallet, patented in 1939, will be inducted to the Logistics Hall of Fame. His pallet is considered the world’s first professional wooden pallet. Also inducted is Oliver Richter (1920-2014), an Australian who, as trade manager of Brambles in the 1960s, discovered the potential of a closed rental pool for load carriers and successfully established today’s Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP) system as a closed rental pool internationally.

The UIC (Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer) was responsible for introducing the Euro pallet in 1961. Within the framework of a working group, the International Union of Railways promoted the standardization of pallets and obliged all signatories of an agreement to comply with the standards to manufacture as well as to repair the Euro pallet.

In the mid-1970s, the Gütegemeinschaft Paletten, today’s National Committee of EPAL, partially took over the distribution and quality assurance of the Euro pallet. The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL), which was formed from this in 1991, has successfully developed the pool idea and ensured the quality of the Euro pallet. Both associations receive a place in the Hall of Fame on behalf of their networks behind.

“The invention of the pallet, and even more so the establishment of functioning pallet pools, is one of the greatest milestones in logistics, as significant as the container invented by Malcolm McLean. Without standardized pallet systems, high-performance logistics in the 21st century would be inconceivable,” says Anita Würmser, executive Jury Chairwoman of the Logistics Hall of Fame, explaining the decision of the jury.

After the introduction of pallets, the loading times of trucks and freight cars were reduced by up to 90%. The conveyor technology and shuttle systems in highly automated warehouses are all adapted to the 800 x 1200 x 144mm dimensions of the Euro pallet. Another advantage of the load carriers made of 11 planks, nine wooden blocks and 78 nails is that they can be repaired with low material costs and are fully recyclable at the end of their life cycle.

The pioneers of the pallet will be officially inducted to the Logistics Hall of Fame at a gala reception with German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Volker Wissing, on 29th November in the Wintergarten of the KaDeWe department store in Berlin.

Humphrey is Logistics Leader of the Year

The TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year Award will also be presented during the reception. This year, the trophy goes to Neil Humphrey, President, HAVI Supply Chain. The British manager is a committed leader of sustainable supply chain practices and digitalisation, an active networker and a tireless driver of digitalisation initiatives and pilot projects with new technologies.

The 58-year-old manager gained decades of experience in business management and supply chain with a strong focus on sustainability at Unilever and joined HAVI in 2017, where he has led the Supply

Chain Business Unit since 2018. Under his leadership, the company joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) in 2019 – at the time as one of the first 10 supply chain service providers worldwide. HAVI committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2030 per tonne delivered. With the programme successfully underway and new global metrics established by the climate science community, HAVI is currently evaluating an increase in that goal.

Under Humphrey’s leadership, HAVI is also partnering with customers and suppliers to drive climate change action. For example, HAVI is helping leading foodservice brands to work toward ambitious emissions targets. It has also established a partnership with a commercial vehicle manufacturer to convert 70% of its European delivery fleet from diesel to alternative fuels; a target which was delivered upon in 2021.

In addition to supporting projects involving alternative fuels, green distribution centres or e-trucks, Humphrey and his team also have begun a hybrid truck pilot in Stockholm to roll out a carbon neutral hybrid truck solution across Europe. The trucks use their batteries to drive in the city, but use reprocessed frying oil as fuel outside the city. The used cooking oil is collected during deliveries to customer restaurants, reprocessed at a specialist facility, and eventually goes into the tanks of HAVI trucks – a perfect cycle.

The TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year Award recognises pacesetters and future leaders in logistics. It honours entrepreneurs and managers from the transport and logistics sector who have been particularly successful in promoting their companies or who have set a trend-setting impulse. The focus is on topicality and the benefits for the company as well as innovative strength, sustainability and entrepreneurial change. The award is presented by the Logistics Hall of Fame and donated by TRATON SE.

The decisive factor for acceptance as a member of the Logistics Hall of Fame, on the other hand, is that an achievement is not only beneficial to an individual company but has significantly and permanently advanced logistics beyond the boundaries of one’s own organisation or has become an industry standard. So far, 41 logisticians have made it into the international Hall of Fame.

The Logistics Hall of Fame was founded in 2003 and honours leading figures who have made outstanding efforts to promote the further development of logistics and supply chain management. This eternal pantheon is also designed to remind future generations of the achievements of these individuals in the service of logistics. The aim of the Logistics Hall of Fame is to act as a worldwide platform to publicise the performance capability of logistics and its importance for society.

The expert jury includes 70 well-known personalities from business, science, politics and the media in 13 nations. The UK media sector is represented by Logistics Business’ news editor Peter MacLeod.

The Logistics Hall of Fame is a non-profit initiative supported by the world of politics, associations, the logistics industry and logistics science. The patron is Dr. Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport.

 

ZigZag claims two European eCommerce Awards

Posted on by David Priestman

Returns management solution ZigZag Global was presented with two awards at the inaugural European eCommerce Awards 2022. Competition was fierce, with thousands of renowned retailers, carriers, and suppliers from the wider eCommerce ecosystem applying.

Sister event of the industry-respected UK eCommerce Awards – which ZigZag is also attending in November as a shortlisted company – the new European eCommerce Awards “recognises, rewards, and celebrates outstanding online retail websites, platforms, and software”. ZigZag proudly accepted the awards for European eCommerce Software or Extension of the Year and European eCommerce Innovation on stage from host Carrie Frais.

The innovative qualities of ZigZag’s returns solution shone through on the night, with the latest Refund to Gift Card functionality “wowing” the judges. 78% of 18–25-year-olds stated they wanted a refund to gift card option in its Retail Returns Study, paving the way for its development. The solution ensures that even when a customer makes a return the sale is not lost and that cash stays in the business. The initiative improves the customer experience with faster refunds and fosters retention and loyalty.

Speaking on the win, Al Gerrie, ZigZag Global CEO, said: “The accolade is a testament to the innovation at ZigZag and the ground-breaking features we are bringing to the market. From our tech developers to our client success team, everyone has been focused on delivering a best-in-class solution. It is the perfect recognition for the company’s hard work.”

As well as the launch of the Refund to Gift Card feature, the panel of esteemed industry experts were impressed with the other ways the ZigZag platform is also revolutionising the returns experience for retailers across the globe. The B2B Returns platform was acknowledged by the judges for its ability to support the continued growth of omni-channel, allowing retailers to manage stock quickly and easily as it’s transferred between stores. Additionally, ZigZag’s Live Exchanges technology gets replacement goods out quickly to customers that want a change of size, colour, fit, or an entirely new product quickly, once again saving the sale for the retailer.

The ZigZag team accepted the award on stage at Salt in Barcelona in front of an audience of leading global brands including representatives from New Era Cap, F.Hinds, American Eagle, Iceland, Oliver Bonas, L’Oréal Lancôme and Ellesse.

ZigZag’s Commercial Director Jason Taylor said “This award means a lot as it was voted for by our customers who recognise the quality of our returns solution and the ZigZag client success team that supports our retailers. We’ve had a huge year, processing over £1bn in GMV of refunds through the platform across over 130 countries.”

ZigZag Global was one of around 100 shortlisted vendors at the prestigious event and the double win is the company’s second and third trophies of the year, with more nominations still to be concluded before 2023. ZigZag has claimed an award every year since its conception back in 2015 but picking up two awards at the European eCommerce awards in Spain was a special achievement.

 

 

DP World tech expert honoured

Posted on by David Priestman

DP World’s Que Tran, Regional Chief Information Officer and Head of IT for Europe, has been named among the top 30 Leading Business and Technology Executives by the CIO 100 for 2022.

This is the third consecutive year that Que has made the CIO 100’s top 30, which recognises the best and brightest CIOs and technology leaders in the UK, celebrating their digital transformation achievements

Since joining DP World in 2017, Que has been instrumental in helping the business to reimagine the future, introducing step-change terminal handling innovations designed to streamline its global network of ports and terminals, and keep trade flowing.

Que has also played an active role championing the role of automation in DP World’s European operations, driving the future of sustainable, safe and efficient world trade.

The judges also recognised Que’s commitment to developing future talent both inside and outside of the IT industry. Que is a CIO UK mentor, helping to develop the rising stars of the UK IT sector, and he’s also a volunteer with the Young Women’s Trust where he helps young women with writing CVs and job applications.

Rashid Abdulla, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, DP World Europe, said: “Que should be incredibly proud of his achievement – to be named in the top 30 for three consecutive years demonstrates the immense value, insight and innovation he brings to DP World, logistics, and the IT industry. On behalf of all of DP World, I offer my warm congratulations to Que and I thank him for his tireless dedication to introduce positive change to our operations.”

Que Tran, Regional Chief Information Officer and Head of IT, DP World Europe, said: “It truly is an honour to be named among the top 30 Leading Business and Technology Executives in the 2022 CIO 100. The logistics sector is at an exciting point as it tries to operate more efficiently, sustainably and safely than ever before. I’m proud of the work that we’re doing at DP World, using automation and other technologies, enabling people and businesses to trade globally, seamlessly.”

 

UniCarriers wins cold chain award

Posted on by David Priestman

UniCarriers has won the Materials Handling Equipment Provider of the Year Award at the recent TCS&D Awards 2022.

Held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, the TCS&D Awards recognises individuals and companies achievements within the Cold Chain sector, where over 400 industry colleagues were in attendance.

“We are delighted to win the TCS&D MHE Provider of the Year Award,” says UniCarriers UK National Sales Manager, Mark Wakeman. “At UniCarriers we are committed to delivering high-quality, state-of-the-art equipment, whilst providing a range of modifications to optimise truck performance in frozen & chilled stores, meaning our customers can focus on the job, instead of concerns about equipment and staff’.

As the UK’s active and growing forklift provider for frozen and chilled operations, UniCarriers offers a full range of forklift trucks optimised for use in temperature-controlled areas. The state-of-the-art heated cold store cabins, high-capacity batteries, quality steel, and leading ergonomic design, combine for optimum performance. Of course, the truck is not the only TCS&D star – UniCarriers solutions and levels of service not only meets, but also exceeds customer expectations.

Frozen & chilled stores are an essential part of the modern logistics chain, but they are also expensive to run  and challenging to operate. UniCarriers works closely with its customers to find the right equipment to improve the efficiency of their operations and remains alongside them every step of the way. It’s not just business, it’s about building relationships. This TCS&D Award is a fantastic acknowledgement of the work carried out every day by UniCarriers expert sales, and service teams.

“UniCarriers’ focus will always be on providing the best frozen and chilled solution for each and every customer,” says Wakeman. “Whichever contract or short-term hire option our customers choose, they find that what really sets UniCarriers apart is our dedication to providing excellent bespoke equipment, solutions, and service throughout the relationship.”

 

Sparck manager receives SCM award

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Jo Bradley, Sparck Technologies’ UK business development manager, has been selected as an award recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s prestigious 2022 Women in Supply Chain Awards.

The Women in Supply Chain Awards honour female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. This year over 280 submissions were received.

Jo has been a high profile evangelist for the advancement of eco-friendly packaging in the ecommerce sector for the past six years. Her work, raising industry awareness as to the wasteful practice of using oversized boxes for ecommerce deliveries, has helped establish automated right-sized packaging as an accepted and transformative technology for the industry.

Sparck Technologies’ Richard Nijboer, director of sales & services, said: “This award is fitting recognition of Jo’s determination to change the way that ecommerce supply chains approach packaging. Jo believes that she can make a difference, by encouraging the industry to do the right thing for the planet and for the sound business principles of capacity, performance and cost. She passionately believes that right-sized packaging is the sustainable way forward for the ecommerce sector.

“Her determination to deliver change is just one of Jo’s many fine qualities. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and a creative mind that thinks both ‘inside and outside’ the box. Everyone at Sparck is delighted that Jo has received this prestigious award.”

With the capability to tailor-make up to 1,100 packages per hour, for multiple or single item orders, Sparck Technologies’ CVP Everest and CVP Impack packaging systems effortlessly create, fill, fold and label each parcel in one seamless process – reducing package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30% and eliminating the need for void fill.

Through her efforts, Jo has achieved considerable success positioning the machines at some of the UK’s largest retailers – including ASDA, The White Company, Boots and Frasers.

Commenting on the Award, Jo Bradley said: “Receiving a Women in Supply Chain Award has been both a wonderful surprise and a great honour. In many ways this Award is industry recognition of the important roll eco-friendly packaging plays in the supply chain – saving materials, transit space and energy.”

 

Matthews Automation Solutions named as Gartner Hype Cycle vendor

Posted on by David Priestman

Matthews Automation Solutions, a leading provider of innovative material handling systems and software, and proven process optimisation expertise, has been identified as a Sample Vendor in the 2022 Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies. Matthews Automation Solutions was named in the Warehouse Execution Systems and Warehouse Controls Systems categories.

The Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphic representation of an emerging technology’s maturity lifecycle and potential adoption trajectory. Hype Cycles insights help clients see the evolution of these technologies and evaluate application deployment opportunities beneficial to their business goals.

According to the Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, “Warehouse execution systems (WESs) are a hybrid of technology that blends capabilities from traditional warehouse management systems (WMSs) and warehouse controls systems (WCSs). WESs enhance work management in automated warehouses and manage the interplay between automated and manual processes. WESs leverage near-real-time insight into work in the automated warehouse, combined with advanced business logic, to improve the flow, orchestration and prioritisation of work.”

In the Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, Gartner states: “Supply chain technology leaders, especially in e-Commerce, retail and high-volume direct-to-consumer, are under pressure to drive increased throughput at lower costs per order, which is pushing the need for high-velocity automated fulfilment. WESs are a potential good fit for new automated order-picking strategies, and companies will look to WESs to help support increased volume and velocity.”

“As an established warehouse execution system and warehouse controls system provider for over 25 years, Matthews Automation Solutions specialises in providing Information Anywhere and adaptive intelligence through our dynamic suite of warehouse software products. Our breadth of installations of legacy products including Pyramid Director and Compass CORS spans over 500 sites in multiple continents,“ says Gary Cash, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Matthews Automation Solutions.

“With, NEXUS, our next-generation WES, we expect to continue setting the standard in terms of managing flow, optimizing performance and delivering compatibility with virtually any device by leveraging our web-based platform. According to us, being recognized by Gartner highlights our authority in the supply chain execution technology market.”

 

inVia recognised in Women in Supply Chain Award

Posted on by David Priestman

inVia Robotics’ Vice President of Solutions Development, Lauren Ziccardi, and Chief Marketing Officer, Kristen Moore (pictured), have been named winners of the third annual Women in Supply Chain Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Alongside Ziccardi and Moore’s leadership, inVia Robotics has brought to market unique technology that makes logistics warehouses more efficient and more productive in spite of a shortage of labour.

The Women in Supply Chain award honours female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. In the past year, Ziccardi and Moore have helped shape the supply chain industry by shining a light on the breadth of automation options available and how to determine the right solution for each warehouse.

Warehouses utilising inVia Robotics’ AI-powered Automation Solution have been able to digitise and automate their operations in a way that increases both productivity and accuracy. At a time when they’re facing more consumer demands than ever before, they can optimise their warehouse by strategically placing inventory, synchronizing movement of resources, and automating rote fulfilment tasks.

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition alongside such dedicated, talented, and well respected women in the supply chain industry,” says Ziccardi. “I feel empowered by the fact that I am able to make a difference for our customers, and the industry as a whole, as they not only plan for what’s in front of them, but also for what’s to come.”

inVia’s systems are offered on a subscription basis, where customers pay only for the productivity of the system. There are no big capital outlays or burdens of equipment ownership & maintenance, and technology updates are included in the service. So, as new features and performance enhancements are added, customers always have the latest technology advances at work in their warehouses. inVia operates the robotics system with 24/7 monitoring and support and ensures labour – both people and robots – is managed throughout the day to get orders out on time.

“I am both grateful and humbled to have been selected for this award,” says Moore. “It has been an honour to work alongside other supply chain industry leaders the last four years to help navigate a time of tremendous growth and change. I am more invigorated than ever to bring ground-breaking automation technology to the market in a way that supports our customers and helps their businesses thrive.”

“When I launched this award three years ago, I was prepared for an uphill battle. I was envisioning a long road ahead in getting the supply chain industry educated enough as to why it was important to recognise women in the supply chain. But, this award, the winners and those who submitted nominations – both men and women – is a testament that supply chain organisations were already recognising their female leaders; they just needed a better platform,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics.

“This year, we received over 280 submissions. Almost 100 of those submissions came from men. I’m so proud of everyone who participated, both men and women. I’m proud to call these women mentors, role models and industry friends. I’m proud to interview them, support them and help promote their journey. And, I hope to see all of this year’s and past years’ winners at our upcoming Women in Supply Chain Forum.”

Earlier this year, inVia Robotics was also awarded the 2022 Top Supply Chain Projects Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. inVia’s true robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model was awarded for transforming the distribution centre of an entertainment merchandise third-party logistics provider (3PL). By implementing inVia’s comprehensive warehouse execution system (WES) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), the 3PL was able to increase productivity rates by 1,000%.

 

SSI Schaefer awarded as ÖKOPROFIT company

Posted on by David Priestman

Protecting the environment and climate, reducing operating costs, and optimally preparing one’s company for the challenges of the future – this is the basic idea of ÖKOPROFIT, a cooperation project between municipalities, local business and local partners. After a year of intensive testing and consulting by the expert network, the participating companies, including SSI Schaefer / Fritz Schäfer GmbH at the Neunkirchen site, received their awards in June.

The intralogistics expert is consistently pushing ahead with its sustainability strategy. Its focus is on the expansion of sustainable intralogistics for customers as well as its own sustainability. Steffen Bersch (pictured), CEO of the SSI Schaefer Group: “Sustainability, as we understand it, is an interlocking of social commitment, ecology and economic viability. Sustainable management and ecological action ensure the future viability of our company. This holistic approach defines SSI Schaefer’s sustainability strategy.”

The award as an ÖKOPROFIT company now confirms that the company has a practicable and efficient environmental management system at its headquarters in Neunkirchen. The environmental program set up by SSI Schaefer includes measures such as reinvesting in an energy-efficient compressor station, replacing diesel-powered forklifts with electric forklifts and switching the energy supply to green electricity.

The SSI Schaefer Group’s sustainability report will be published shortly, which will provide an overview of the international measures within the sustainability strategy.

Wiliot named a 2022 “Cool Vendor” by Gartner

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Wiliot, the Internet of Things pioneer whose IoT platform is enabling trillions of “things” to gain intelligence and harness the power of the cloud, has been named a “Cool Vendor” by Gartner in their recent report titled, “Cool Vendors in Indoor Location Technologies and Sensors” by Annette Zimmermann, Nick Jones, Bill Ray, and Tim Zimmerman.

This research does not constitute an exhaustive list of vendors in any given technology area, but rather is designed to highlight interesting, new and innovative vendors, products and services.

“It is a unique honour to be named a Gartner ‘Cool Vendor,’” said Tal Tamir, CEO of Wiliot. “We believe this recognition from Gartner represents our innovation, success and progress toward building a massive IoT platform that enables real-time supply chain visibility and asset management.”

Topics covered in the report include: the indoor location service technology stack; an overview of Wiliot and why it’s ‘cool’; key industry challenges; and who should care. The information provided in the report is of value to all supply chain, innovation, and sustainability professionals who are seeking new ways to transform their supply chains and assessment management tactics.

CLICK HERE to download the Gartner report.

 

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