Considerable investment in systems, staff, facilities and equipment has propelled Al Futtaim Logistics to the ranks of one of the largest logistics service providers in the Gulf.

Strategic location, superior storage standards at warehousing and distribution hubs, advanced IT solutions, a top-level transportation system, value-added offerings, quality control and expertise have helped Al Futtaim Logistics gain the reputation of a trusted and reliable provider of services.

Al Futtaim Logistics, which started as a small warehouse for the company's products about 25 years ago, offers the most comprehensive range of supply chain solutions including warehousing and distribution, international freight forwarding by sea and air and through overland road transportation. The company has an international network of offices and agents for overseas freight and warehousing, and distribution centres in all major UAE cities and ports.

Al Futtaim Logistics uses the SAP R/3 ERP system, one of the most sophisticated IT solutions available worldwide, providing customers with an integrated IT platform that effectively manages supply chains with seamless integration of otherwise separate logistics processes.

The modular system used by Al Futtaim Logistics enables the creation of customised solutions that meet the specific business requirements of the customer. This covers materials management (MM), sales & distribution (SD), human resource management (HR) and financial management and controlling.

"Considerable investment in systems, staff, facilities and equipment forms the backbone of warehousing and distribution service excellence, and the company is very proud of its position in the industry as one of the most advanced warehousing and distribution service providers in the UAE and GCC," a company spokesman said.

In the UAE, Al Futtaim Logistics operates strategically located local warehousing and distribution hubs - Rashidiya and Al Quoz in Dubai, the Port Zayed and Mussafah industrial areas in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain. The Distribution Centre at Jebel Ali Free Zone is the mainstay of Al Futtaim Logistics' warehousing and distribution services, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The warehouse complex is equipped with state-of-the-art materials handling equipment, height adjustable dock levellers and a flexible storage racking system, customised to meet individual requirements. There is also a Lloyds approved cool store with a capacity well in excess of 5,000 pallets for storage of food products, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature- and humidity-sensitive products.

A varied fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles ensures the smooth delivery of products to any place at any given time. For shipments, onboard computer systems are used for vehicle and route management. The range of road transportation services includes container transportation full truckload curtain siders and groupage.

Peter Roest, commercial manager of Al Futtaim Logistics commented: "Better transportation systems, superior storage standards, advanced technology and quality control not only help meet deadlines... they deliver what is promised."

"Al Futtaim Logistics, the leading automotive logistics service provider in the GCC region, offers a comprehensive package to leading automotive manufacturers and related organisations. This includes, vehicle transportation, vehicle storage, pre-delivery inspection, parts and spares inventory management - a real service edge where, investment in specialist equipment, facilities, systems and processes, has resulted in significantly reduced stocks at customers' premises," the company said.

"Service reliability, short turnaround times and value-added services such as pre-delivery inspection give automotive clients a competitive service edge at reduced cost, thus providing them with unrivalled market leverage.

"Al Futtaim Logistics' freight forwarding service brings together various parts of the supply chain to achieve optimal international transportation solutions. To offer a wide variety of global freight solutions, it works with world-class freight forwarders, shipping lines and airlines, utilising state-of-the-art material handling facilities.

"The launch of the new Al Futtaim Logistics website brings to customers cutting-edge IT solutions designed to enhance and complement business processes. As part of a new integrated marketing communications and operational strategy, Al Futtaim Logistics has a new, interactive website www.logisticsuae.com the ultimate assistance to businesses across the UAE," the company added.

Powered by Al Futtaim's own in-house built framework EIAF (Enterprise Internet Application Framework), Al Futtaim Logistics has an IT platform to manage supply chains more effectively by seamlessly integrating various business processes. The website now offers this capability to customers. Roest observed: "Our web-site is just the first step in Al Futtaim Logistics' integrated marketing communications and operational plan. We realised that our existing customers needed complete accessibility to their stock and full visibility of movement of that stock, so we have planned and implemented a system that achieves this".