Majid Al Futtaim, the Middle East’s largest mall operator, is using artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to process customer orders quickly as it aims to boost sales.
The company this week rolled out a new automated Micro Fulfillment Centre at its Carrefour store in Ibn Battuta Mall that is expected to slash the time required to process the online orders by half, Majid Al Futtaim said in a statement on Thursday.
The company is planning to start a similar system in other stores in the first half of this year.
Online sales have increased in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic related movement restrictions.
“In partnership with Takeoff, the automated technologies will help us fulfil customers’ orders faster, while minimising human errors, and utilising our colleagues’ skills to better serve our customers,” Hani Weiss, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said.
The new automated facility was inaugurated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications along with other top executives from the company, according to the statement.
“Communities served by Carrefour Ibn Battuta will find it more convenient to order online as a result of the newly implemented technology," the company said.
A dedicated inventory placement machine uses AI to allocate storage space for stock depending on each item’s popularity, drastically improving stock availability for orders, according to the company.
“This guarantees up to 200 accurate orders are sent out every hour to get products to customers in nearby communities on-time and in perfect condition.”
Carrefour has recorded 220 per cent surge in online orders in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Majid Al Futtaim operates over 350 Carrefour stores in 17 countries, serving more than 750,000 customers daily.
The company's full year 2020 earnings fell 19 per cent as movement restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 affected revenue of the group's divisions.
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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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