LMFAsia event set to go the last mile for ecommerce

It will be the first event of its kind focusing on such issues and opportunities within Asia, with about 1,500 trade attendees, delegates and exhibitors from the Asian region expected at the first edition.
Electronic commerce is growing at an unprecedented rate in Asia. According to eMarketer, Asia-Pacific will overtake North America as the world’s largest e-commerce market this year, with B2C (business-to-consumer) sales forecast to grow from US$383.9 million (Bt12.43 billion) last year to $855.7 million by 2016.
China, Indonesia and India will be the top three drivers of e-commerce growth in Asia-Pacific, with Southeast Asia poised to register strong growth, as well.
The advent of e-commerce growth in Asia has yielded substantial economic returns, but also resulted in increased complexities in last-mile fulfilment delivery in the supply-chain industry.
Brand owners and retailers are struggling with technological and infrastructural constraints, as well as higher fulfilment costs within Asia.
Logistics players alike are grappling with the increased demands on their supply-chain networks and systems to meet their clients’ last-mile fulfilment needs in Asia, say the event organisers.
SingEx Exhibitions, a wholly owned entity of Singapore-based SingEx Holdings, has launched LMFAsia to address this specific gap in the market, providing a platform for all players within the fulfilment ecosystem to address the opportunities and challenges.
It will bring together fulfilment centres, logistics companies, postal agencies, parcel courier companies and technology solution providers to meet with e-commerce companies and retailers to discuss and find solutions to the last-mile challenges, forge new partnerships and uncover business opportunities in Asia.
Aloysius Arlando, CEO of SingEx Holdings, said: “Current events in the market place are addressing broader issues in the general logistics sector, thereby limiting the sources and platforms that e-commerce companies and retailers can go to for last-mile fulfilment issues.
“SingEx is well-attuned to the impetus and needs of the Asian markets, and we saw this gap as an excellent opportunity to create an event that will provide a dedicated platform for the fulfilment ecosystem.”
Supporting the event as a strategic partner is EDB Singapore. Lee Eng Keat, EDB’s director of logistics and natural resources, said: “Keeping in mind the growth of e-commerce and the complexity of Asia’s fragmented trade and regulatory landscape, we are building up Singapore’s capabilities in e-commerce, ranging from consumer insights to last-mile fulfilment.
“LMFAsia will bring together thought leaders to exchange ideas on the issues and possible solutions for last-mile fulfilment in Asia. The event will also allow brand owners to get a better understanding of how Singapore can help them connect to key markets and enhance their competitive edge in the burgeoning Asian market, especially Southeast Asia.”
Key industry players have lauded LMFAsia as being timely and relevant. The event, with its uncompromising focus on the challenges and opportunities of last-mile fulfilment, brings together four key sectors – e-commerce, retail, logistics and parcel – under one singular platform to maximise the business opportunities within e-commerce in Asia.
“All business partners we are talking to have e-commerce as a top priority on their agenda. And they are all situated in different stages of development with a variety of challenges and hurdles. With our global supply-chain network and e-commerce know-how, we support our clients to address and master these challenges, hence being equipped for growth in this fast moving market,” said Mitat Aydindag, head of arvato SCM/eCommerce Asia, arvato Bertelsmann, which will be exhibiting in the event.
“We are excited to be part of LMFAsia to network with other participants and gain insights on their individual challenges and solutions,” he added.
Daniel Chen, business development director of D’Trans, also looks forward to the opportunity to network with key representatives from the fulfilment ecosystem across Asia, and to leverage this event to develop robust e-commerce solutions that will enable the Singapore-based company to fulfil its delivery promise to customers.
“D’Trans strives to deliver growth for all our clients through provision of a dedicated logistics services by offering reliable economical and safe transportation of our customers’ documents or products to their desired destination right where they want. We look forward to engaging with our clients and harnessing the logistics network which we will establish through LMFAsia’s platform,” he said.
LMFAsia will comprise a two-day conference and an exhibition floor that will showcase the latest innovative solutions, products and services for last-mile fulfilment and the e-commerce ecosystem.
Business-matching and networking sessions will also be a key feature of the event, providing the platform for new business partnerships and opportunities.
LMFAsia will be held on March 19 and 20 at MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO.