More staff, tech to handle year-end jump in e-shopping orders

E-commerce platforms also running campaigns to attract, retain customers

- Rosalind Ang

The surge in holiday shopping packages every December is something that delivery vendors and e-commerce businesses anticipate.

To cope with increased shopping orders, delivery vendors are upping their staff numbers and using technology to relieve the strain on their manpower, while e-commerce platforms are running campaigns to attract and retain their consumers.

Delivery company FedEx uses a robotic sorting arm powered by artificial intelligence, which helps to handle packages faster and more accurately round the clock.

"We are also ramping up manpower to support the sorting of inbound and outbound shipments, deploying additional couriers to manage increased volumes and extending operational hours where needed," said Mr Eric Tan, managing director of FedEx Singapore.

"In recent months, we have also enhanced our air network to provide seamless, faster, and more reliable service to help businesses thrive during this peak holiday season and beyond," said Mr Tan.

Delivery firm Ninja Van also extended its operating hours by starting its sorting belt in factories earlier in the day to cope with the increase in parcels and packages.

Ms Justina Sim, country head of Ninja Van Singapore, said: "On a typical day, we run our sorting belt from 6pm onwards. But during peak periods, we start our sorting belt from 9am onwards."

Ninja Van's hub in Yio Chu Kang is equipped with customized automated sorting belts with an accuracy of up to 99.9 per cent.