Last Mile Fulfilment Asia (LMFAsia), an inaugural trade conference and exhibition eponymously named for its focus on the last mile fulfilment aspects for the logistics and eCommerce industries, will take place in Singapore next year. It will be the first event of its kind focussing on last mile fulfilment issues and opportunities within Asia, with about 1,500 trade attendees, delegates and exhibitors from the Asian region expected at the first edition.

eCommerce is growing at an unprecedented rate in Asia. According to eMarketer, Asia Pacific will overtake North America as the world’s largest eCommerce market this year, with B2C eCommerce sales forecasted to grow from US$383.9 million in 2013 to US$855.7 million by 2016. China, Indonesia and India will be the top three drivers of eCommerce growth in this region, with Southeast Asia poised to register strong growth as well.

The advent of eCommerce growth in Asia has yielded substantial economic returns but also resulted in increased complexities in the 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.

SingEx Exhibitions, a wholly-owned entity of Singapore-based SingEx Holdings, has launched LMFAsia to address this specific gap in the market today, 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 eCommerce companies and retailers to discuss and find solutions to the last mile challenges, forge new partnerships and uncover business opportunities in Asia. 

Mr Aloysius Arlando, CEO of SingEx Holdings, says, “Current events in the marketplace are addressing broader issues in the general logistics sector, thereby limiting the sources and platforms that eCommerce 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 this event as a Strategic Partner is EDB Singapore. Says Mr Lee Eng Keat, EDB’s Director of Logistics and Natural Resources, “Keeping in mind the growth of eCommerce 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 South East Asia.”  

Some key industry players have lauded LMFAsia as being timely and relevant. LMFAsia, with its uncompromising focus on the challenges and opportunities of last mile fulfilment, is indeed unprecedented, bringing together four key sectors – eCommerce, Retail, Logistics and Parcel – under one singular platform to maximise the business opportunities within eCommerce in Asia.

“All business partners we are talking to have eCommerce as a top priority on their agenda. And they are all situated in different stages of development with variety of challenges and hurdles. With our global supply chain network and eCommerce know-how, we support our clients to address and master these challenges, hence being equipped for growth in this fast moving market. We are excited to be part of LMFAsia to network with other participants and gain insights on their individual challenges and solutions,” says Mr Mitat Aydindag, Head of arvato SCM/eCommerce Asia, arvato Bertelsmann, which will be exhibiting in the event.

Daniel Chen, Business Development Director of D’Trans Pte Ltd, 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 eCommerce solutions that will enable D’Trans to fulfil its delivery promise to its 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 engage with our clients and harness the logistics network which we will establish through LMFAsia's platform,” says Mr Chen.

LMFAsia will comprise a two-day conference, positioned as the centrepiece of the event for all industry players to come together for exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing, and an exhibition floor which will showcase the latest innovative solutions, products and services for the fulfilment and eCommerce 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 19 and 20 March 2015 at MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO.

For more information, please visit www.lmfasia.com.