In the heart of the Arabian desert, Saudi Arabia is crafting a logistics revolution. As the crossroads of tradition meets modernization, 3PL in the Kingdom shines brightly. Welcome to the dynamic world of KSA’s 3PL sector, where innovation meets opportunity.
In this week’s InFocus webinar series, we had the opportunity to gain key insights on 3PL and e-commerce in the Saudi Arabia region from Salah Taha. Mr. Salah Taha is an Executive Director at Starlinks, managing 3PL, E-commerce, and cold chain logistics. His extensive expertise also encompasses freight and transportation, covering ground, air, and sea.
Starlinks offers omnichannel fulfillment and transportation services to its clients in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE. It has operated in this region for over 65 years. As its crucial tech partner, Locus supports its logistics services with functionalities like end-to-end visibility and analytical insights.
Missed the live session? Watch the full webinar here!
Key Takeaways from this Webinar
1. Increased adoption of automation technologies:
Rising customer expectations and increased competition have intensified pressure on e-commerce companies’ margins. This has prompted them to adopt automation and establish system-driven operations.
2. Speed to integrate:
Offline Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) aim to accelerate the integration of their businesses into e-commerce platforms. They desire a shorter time to value, whether it’s integrating with multiple carriers, aggregators, or new platforms.
3. Getting closer to customers:
The heightened demand from last-mile delivery has driven local retailers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to invest in micro-fulfillment or regional fulfillment centers.
4. Scalability matters:
Scalability is crucial in e-commerce, especially during peak seasons like Ramadan and Raya. Preparing a month in advance ensures consistent service. Without automation, managing these peak periods becomes costly and tough, yet automation ensures efficient order handling without affecting profits.
5. The process drives technology:
In the build vs. buy debate for last-mile delivery solutions, Mr. Salah believes processes should dictate technology decisions, not vice versa. If available technology aligns with a business’s needs and processes, they’ll purchase it. Otherwise, they’ll develop in-house solutions.
6. Vendors must become partners
Vendors should partner with enterprises in executing internal change management processes. Vendors should continuously validate adoption and assist internal support teams in using functionalities effectively. They should also periodically assess adoption post-implementation, making adjustments based on specific KPIs.
To gain detailed insights, watch the webinar here!
Summing Up!
Mr. Salah encourages 3PL organizations to clearly identify their process challenges and requirements. Based on that, they should decide whether to build or buy technology. Afterward, the focus should be on effective technology adoption, maximizing its utility, and achieving a quick ROI.
Locus’s customer experience and dispatch management platform has been assisting businesses in the 3PL domain to enhance their ROI. Its branded tracking page and timely alerts empower businesses to update end customers about delivery statuses. Its analytical insights enable businesses to monitor the delivery performance of carriers, drivers, vehicles, and internal order progress. This comprehensive visibility makes Locus a compelling investment for 3PL businesses.
With its dynamic tech product and customer success teams, Locus aids its clients in reducing time to value in the market. Its simple four-step integration process removes complexities when integrating Locus with existing tech solutions. Its user-friendly interface, combined with robust data security, makes it the top choice for 3PL businesses.
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