Business News

Mon May 11

Sydney Airport investigates electric buses

Written by Simon Lloyd

Sydney 11 May 2015. Sydney Airport has announced it is investigating the addition of electric buses to the airport’s parking and ground transport operations.

The airport has invited Expressions of Interest from manufacturers in Australia and overseas to take part in an open tender for the supply of electric buses, to be used on the shuttle route between the T2/T3 precinct and the Blu Emu Car Park.

The electric bus tender is part of the airport’s commitment to sustainability and follows the publication last month of Sydney Airport’s first Sustainability Report.

“We are always looking to improve the efficiency of our ground transport operations and to do so in a sustainable way,” Sydney Airport General Manager Parking & Ground Transport, Craig Norton, said.

“Finding sustainable transport solutions is a priority for the airport, and advances in electric vehicle technology in recent years mean we can now look seriously at the feasibility of introducing electric buses.”

Sydney Airport is advertising its electric bus tender in a number of publications in Australia, the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia, with interested parties required to register Expressions of Interest by 12 June.

“We’re looking for a manufacturer who can deliver first-rate electric vehicles to replace the six diesel buses that currently transport passengers and staff between the Blu Emu Car Park and the domestic terminals,” Mr Norton said.

In 2014, more than 1.6 million passengers and airport workers were transported on the Blu Emu Car Park’s buses.

“This is a busy shuttle route, and optimum operational efficiency and passenger comfort will be two of the key criteria we’ll look for from any manufacturer,” Mr Norton said.

Electric shuttle buses operate in Manchester and Nottingham in the UK and at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, while electric bus trials have taken place in cities as diverse as Los Angeles, Bangalore and Kuala Lumpur.

Manufacturers should register Expressions of Interest at:

www.sydneyairport.com.au/corporate/business/services/electricbustender.aspx

Wed Apr 8

Logistics, the key to sustainable e-commerce

Written by Diana Abeleven

Online retail will account for anything between 15% and 27% of all retail sales within the next four years. The impact this will have on Australia’s logistic and supply chain is enormous, with only the logistically-savvy surviving.

Ron Koehler, CEO AU/NZ, Schenker Australia, will discuss the impacts of online retail and the logistical thinking and technology behind it in his keynote at the inaugural CeMAT AUSTRALIA conference, which is the sister-show of the world leading CeMAT held in Germany every two years. In Koehler’s session The Supply Chain behind e-Commerce, he will talk openly about the barriers faced by e-commerce and m-commerce (mobile commerce) organisations and the solutions and features they can incorporate into their supply chain to mitigate them.

“Gone are the days when logistics companies could treat the supply chain as they always have; solely focussing on moving product from point A to point B.

“With the ever-increasing rate of online sales and the various ways in which companies now deliver goods to consumers – either via bricks and mortar, B2B distribution or direct to homes, the ongoing evolution of e- and m-commerce can only succeed if the supply chain and logistics behind it, evolve as well,” said Mr Koehler.

Shipping and handling concerns are one of the largest sources of dissatisfaction with, and abandonment of, online transactions for consumers. Rakuten SL Order Fulfillment, on the contrary have a considerable track record that has helped its clients consistently score well on customer satisfaction. Of the 9.5 million Australian online shoppers, if a company’s logistics can’t fulfil a customer’s expectations, then they will fail.

“Time of delivery, mode and cost of delivery, security and integrity are all factors consumers take into account when dealing with an online business. Knowing these factors have its benefits, for they identify the key components necessary for a healthy supply chain.

“For instance, the incorporation of automation could have the biggest impact on delivery times. I believe this reflects the future of Australia’s materials handling landscape, primarily due to the high cost of labour. The implementation of conveyors or goods-to-man systems, picking systems like Auto Store and systems that automate the slotting of items so they are in the most economic location within each warehouse, cuts down delivery times considerably,” said Mr Koehler.

Following its winning formula worldwide, CeMAT AUSTRALIA will provide visitors with hands on experiences across its three days. With a fantastic line-up of conference speakers and sessions, as well as access to technologies that will provide the transport and logistics industry with greater connectivity and information to reduce travel times and smarter picking, CeMAT has everything Australian corporations need to assist in the establishment of smart, efficient and integrated supply chains.

Ron Koehler, CEO AU/NZ, Country Management, Schenker Australia – The Supply Chain behind e-Commerce is on 12:00-12:30pm Tuesday 5th May 2015 at Sydney Olympic Park.

Click here for tickets: http://www.cemat.com.au/register-expo-conference/

Entry into the exhibition is free.