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Oil-producing nations struggling with economic woes as society shifts towards electric movement

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Oil-producing nations located in the Middle East and North Africa are struggling with their economies, most of which are not diversified enough to offset the losses caused by falls in the price of crude.

A quick check shows that the current price of a barrel of crude oil – which is about 160 litres – is just above $40, which is significantly lower than certainly Arab countries need it to be.

According to the Economist, Algeria needs the price to be about $157 a barrel, while Oman wants to get to at least $87. [Read more…] about Oil-producing nations struggling with economic woes as society shifts towards electric movement

Electric vehicles drop in price, but ‘most remain unprofitable’, says Lux Research

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Electric vehicles have fallen in price, but “most remain unprofitable”, according to Lux Research.

The automotive industry is under pressure to reduce emissions, both from government regulations and from consumers who are growing more conscious about the environmental impact of their vehicles.

Electrified powertrains are a promising avenue to reduce or eliminate vehicle emissions for automakers. [Read more…] about Electric vehicles drop in price, but ‘most remain unprofitable’, says Lux Research

XPO Logistics expands last mile service in Spain to meet increase in online orders of large products

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XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of transportation and logistics solutions has expanded its last mile service for bulky and heavy goods in Spain, as consumers turn to e-commerce.

The company makes an estimated 4,500 daily deliveries to all parts of Spain through its national last mile network, with the highest demand in the regions of Madrid, Barcelona, Andalucía and Levante.

XPO launched its last mile service in Spain in 2018, providing consistent, nationwide home deliveries through 60 distribution sites linked by cutting-edge technology. [Read more…] about XPO Logistics expands last mile service in Spain to meet increase in online orders of large products

Cashier-less shopping ‘not in demand’ for US small businesses

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Small businesses should keep their cashiers, according to the 2019 Cox Business Consumer Pulse on Small Businesses in the US.

The Amazon Go cashier-less shopping model is only of growing interest among respondents ages 18-29 – up eight percentage points from last year. Seventy-seven percent of surveyed consumers prefer to interact with other people at the checkout.

The preference for person-to-person interaction likely has to do with the level of service small businesses deliver. Fifty-three percent of surveyed consumers said small businesses provide better customer service than larger businesses.

[Read more…] about Cashier-less shopping ‘not in demand’ for US small businesses

Samsung moves into the vertical farming market

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Agricultural innovations are essential for feeding our ever-growing global population.

Especially these days, as industrialisation and global warming continue to negatively affect soil fertility and reduce the amount of arable land.

According to the United Nations, the world’s population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.

[Read more…] about Samsung moves into the vertical farming market

Food manufacturers are turning to robots to meet customers’ needs, says ING report

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The importance of technology for food manufacturers continues to grow, according to a new ING report, Food tech: technology in the food industry.

The research report revealed the use of robots in the European food industry is becoming more commonplace, with a 50 per cent increase in the sale of robots to the food industry over the last five years.

The research also uncovered the growing demands from retailers and consumers is having an impact on the uptake of technologies like robotics in the industry. [Read more…] about Food manufacturers are turning to robots to meet customers’ needs, says ING report