In the fast-evolving world of logistics, SAVOYE stands as a beacon of innovation, revolutionising supply chain operations in the Middle East, through its advanced solutions and strategic expansion plan.
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In this interview, the Managing Director of SAVOYE Middle East, Alain Kaddoum, shares insights into the company’s game-changing solutions, ambitious ventures, and vision to revolutionise the logistics automation landscape.
To set the pace for our interview, Kaddoum highlights that SAVOYE’s strategic decision to launch an office in the UAE and develop a local team in KSA was primarily driven by the countries’ favourable geographic location and robust logistics networks, offering the company a prime opportunity to expand and diversify its portfolio in the region.
“Throughout our journey in the region, we actively promoted the significance of adopting cutting-edge software solutions and technology to optimise logistics operations,” Kaddoum reveals, highlighting the company’s key role in driving the industry’s technological transformation, particularly in the Middle East.
Innovative solutions
Elaborating on SAVOYE’s extensive suite of innovative warehouse automation and robotics solutions, Kaddoum notes that the company also offers an array of software and services, including an Order Management System (OMS), a Transport Management System (TMS), a Warehouse Execution System (WES), a Warehouse Control System (WCS), B2B integration platforms, and its flagship Warehouse Management System (WMS), ODATiO, to a growing clientele across the Middle East and beyond.
“Our solutions are deployed in over 40 countries, offering customised solutions that effectively address the specific requirements of our clients—including goods-to-person and goods-to-robot preparation, mobile robot solutions, plug-and-play conveyors, packing machines, automated pallet storage, picking tools, and robotic lockers,” he adds.
According to Kaddoum, the company is heavily investing in the development of local capabilities from project execution to maintenance and customer support; a strategic approach aimed at bringing the company closer to its customers and gaining a deeper understanding of their unique challenges.
“With SAVOYE’s factories located in Europe, we are well-positioned to efficiently serve the local market with shorter lead times. These solutions can be customised to optimise supply chain processes, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems,” he explains.
A growing foothold
Tapping into the company’s latest ventures in the region, Kaddoum reveals that SAVOYE has expanded operations to Saudi Arabia, in line with the country’s growing focus on automation and innovation to enhance its infrastructure and logistics capabilities.
“This expansion coincides with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create industries that leverage cutting-edge technologies for the kingdom’s advancement. Our tailored solutions address the increasing demand for advanced automation and data-driven systems in Saudi Arabia’s logistics sector,” he says, stressing the company’s commitment to transforming and optimising logistics operations within the kingdom’s rapidly evolving market.
Amid the swift progress in Saudi Arabia, SAVOYE has taken significant steps to reinforce its position and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The company secured a major contract to automate a specialised fulfilment centre for supplements and vitamins, on behalf of one of the world’s leading companies in this domain.
“This landmark project will mark the first-of-its-kind automated fulfilment centre in the Middle East region, positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for advanced logistics solutions,” Kaddoum reveals.
Furthermore, one ground-breaking deal involved providing its state-of-the-art WMS and OMS, ODATiO, to one of the major telecom providers in the region.
This technology enables the telecom provider to optimise warehouse operations, streamline order fulfilment, and efficiently cater to its customers’ growing demands.
SAVOYE also signed an agreement with NewEast, a leading Spare Parts distributor based in Dubai, marking the inaugural deployment of its Autonomous Case-Handling Robotic solution (ACR by SAVOYE) in the Middle East. “This technology will revolutionise the way spare parts are handled and distributed, further streamlining the region’s logistics landscape,” he says.
Addressing challenges
Businesses encounter numerous challenges when integrating technology and automation solutions into their logistics operations.
These range from embracing organisational changes and adapting day-to-day operations to the new systems to navigating the complexity of integrating new technologies with existing systems, which can be time-consuming and potentially disrupt ongoing operations.
Additionally, new technologies often require significant upfront investments, stirring concerns over their projected return on investment.
Workforce adaptation to new systems also poses a challenge, necessitating comprehensive training efforts for a smooth transition.
Last but not least, new technologies could be susceptible to security and privacy risks, making safeguarding sensitive logistics data of paramount importance.
To tackle these challenges, SAVOYE adopts a holistic approach to support its business partners and ensure seamless integration. By understanding each partner’s unique requirements, SAVOYE designs end-to-end logistics solutions that operate harmoniously to meet their needs.
“We consider the ramp-up phase as crucial to project success and provide customers with training and support during this transformation phase. With a learning platform and dedicated training team, we ensure that customers are well-equipped to use and operate the new systems effectively,” Kaddoum explains, adding that the company’s dedicated call centre operates 24/7 to address customer queries worldwide.
Furthermore, SAVOYE’s software is designed with high flexibility, allowing customers to configure and adapt processes based on their evolving operations using the business rule engine module.
Additionally, the company’s modular and agile automated solutions can be extended and updated without disrupting operations, offering further adaptability.
Planned expansion
Building upon its well-established foothold in the Middle East to propel its future expansion in key growth markets within the region, SAVOYE has set its sight on the burgeoning Saudi market while maintaining a strong focus on the UAE market, by bolstering its robust capabilities and nurturing its loyal customer base.
“By pursuing these dual objectives, we aim to maintain our growth and reinforce our status as a prominent player in the Middle Eastern market,” Kaddoum emphasises.
As we draw our conversation to a close, Kaddoum reaffirms SAVOYE’s commitment to shaping the future of logistics through continuous innovation and research, spearheading the industry’s technological progress.
“By staying at the forefront of developing cutting-edge supply chain solutions, we are driving logistics excellence not only in the Middle East region but also on a global scale. We have actively engaged in joint research and development projects and collaborated with local private and public sectors to foster innovation,” he concludes.
