UPS Smart Challenge tackles key challenges facing the healthcare logistics sector
The global logistics solutions provider, UPS recently launched the second round of the Smart Logistics Challenge in partnership with DP World and AstroLabs at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The challenge aims to introduce reliable, scalable and secure solutions to tackle the key pressing challenges facing the healthcare logistics sector and meet the rising market demand, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic repercussions in place.
UPS Healthcare, a market leader in COVID-19 vaccine delivery and healthcare logistics stated that the challenge allows deep collaboration with the participating start-ups to “continue to drive the healthcare industry forward.”
Seven start-ups showcased their innovative solutions to real-world challenges facing the healthcare logistics industry, including, transparency, reliability, predictability, compliance, and temperature control.
The developer of the NextGen end-to-end supply chain eco-system, Tec4med was announced as the winner and will be fast-tracked to a proof-of-concept (POC) discussion with UPS and DP World.
NextGen is a supply chain ecosystem offering integrated smart temperature-controlled shipment monitoring, cloud data storage and AI solutions to serve the pharmaceutical industry.
“Winning the Healthcare Smart Logistics Challenge in Dubai means a lot to Tec4med, it supports our strong belief in integrated systems, and commitment to serve the pharma logistics market. We aim to enable a green and sustainable circular economy combined with end-to-end supply chain visibility and predictive analytics,” Tec4med CEO, Nico Hoeler said.
“I was really impressed by the start-ups’ caliber and the quality of their ideas,” Mike Bhaskaran said, adding that “contestants were clearly keyed into the sector, and very aware of what needed to be improved. It also shows just how important such events can be in discovering talent and allowing innovation to pollinate across an industry.”
On his part, Roland Daher described the challenge as a “validation milestone for the participating startups,” stressing the importance of AstroLabs’ collaboration with UPS to recognize and support emerging start-ups and their innovative solutions to develop the healthcare logistics sector.
