Setting the stage for progress

Achraf Ellili, CEO of Flow Progressive Logistics, delivered the morning’s keynote address, providing insights into the innovations and collaborations driving the logistics industry in Saudi Arabia.

Ellili’s address served as a perfect precursor to the fireside chat between Sami Al-Bassam, Executive Director of Cargo and Logistics Partnerships at King Salman International Airport Development Company, and Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak, Managing Director of Operations at FedEx. Together, they delved into the strategies that are positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics hub.

Strategic initiatives and technological advancements

The day’s first panel explored the strategic initiatives driving Saudi Arabia’s supply chain transformation. Panellists, including Dan Wood of ASMO and Gary Blythe of Starlinks, discussed the role of smart technologies, public-private partnerships, and the economic factors shaping the future of supply chains in the Kingdom.

The second keynote of the day, delivered by Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director for Savoye Middle East, shifted the focus toward technology in logistics, emphasising the critical role of advanced systems for driving efficiencies.

This was followed by a fireside chat with Dr Abdullah Alabdulkarim, CEO of Saudi Logistics Academy, which delved into how sustainability can be seamlessly integrated into the technological advancements shaping the sector, and how the workforce can be developed to drive these key trends.

Machinery, automation, and the future of e-commerce

A standout session of the day was the panel on the future of machinery and automation, featuring Alexei Fillipov of Yango Robotics, Rami Younes of Swisslog Middle East, and Fadi Amoudi of IQ. Discussions centred around robotics technologies and the impact of automation on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and building resilience in supply chains.

Nissrine Elqobai, CEO and Co-Founder of ENY Consulting, led the following presentation on transforming logistics through e-commerce innovations, highlighting how logistics companies must adapt to the changing consumer demand.

The afternoon session explored the complexities of e-commerce logistics, with Varun Visruthan of Addverb, Andy Kelly of Schoeller Allibert, and Anas Hammoudeh of Savoye leading the discussion. The panel addressed the rapid rise of e-commerce, the challenges of last-mile delivery, and the role of AI and automation in optimising supply chain efficiency.

Resilience and innovation in industry supply chains

Our final keynote of the day was an interesting look at supply chain management in Saudi’s tourism industry, led by Michael Stockdale, Executive Director of Supply Chain and Logistics at Red Sea Global. Stockdale highlighted the emerging trends and future prospects in the tourism industry.

In our final fire chat, Mithun Perinchery, Head of Sales Middle East for Dematic, and Vamsi Krishna, Head of Supply Chain for Aster DM Healthcare, explored how automation can drive competitive advantage and efficiency.

The day’s final panel focused on building resilience in industry supply chains. Experts Nick Lojevec of Combilift, Isabel Fernandez of Efficio, and Ghazanfar Yar Khan of LogiPoint shared insights on the challenges and strategies for strengthening logistics operations in the Kingdom. Innovation, particularly in material handling solutions and warehouse automation, was identified as a key driver for operational resilience.

A vision of the future

As the day drew to a close, it was clear that Logistics Leaders Saudi 2024 provided a comprehensive look at the trends, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s logistics sector. The conversations highlighted how the Kingdom is positioning itself as a leader in logistics, embracing both technology and sustainability to drive long-term success in alignment with Vision 2030.