Trending Now

Navigating the Long-Term Consequences of the Red Sea Crisis for…

New Articles

Global Laboratory Robotics Market to Touch Valuation of US$ 527.56 Million by 2031

vector artificial intelligence robotics market refurbished AI
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Market insight

Global Laboratory Robotics Market to Touch Valuation of US$ 527.56 Million by 2031

Leave a comment

Global laboratory robotics market generated a revenue of USD 289.38 million in 2022 and is projected to attain a value of USD 527.56 million by 2031 at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period 2023–2031.

Laboratory robotics is still in its early stages of development but is growing rapidly, which presents both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, there is still a lot of room for improvement in terms of technology and efficiency. However, this also means that there is significant potential for growth and innovation in this sector. The majority of companies in the laboratory robotics market are small, with only a few large players. However, the industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, as laboratory robots become more widely adopted. The major drivers for this growth are the increasing automation of laboratories and the need for faster and more accurate results. Currently, there are three main types of laboratory robots: automated liquid handlers, autoclave washers, and cell culture systems.

The most of this growth of the global laboratory robotics market was driven by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, which were using robots to speed up drug discovery and development processes. The report also found that the use of robots was becoming more widespread in other industries, such as food and beverage, chemicals, and oil and gas. In addition, the report found that robots were being used more extensively in research laboratories, particularly in academic settings.

Finally, the report found that there was a growing trend of companies outsourcing their laboratory robotics needs to specialized providers. This was especially true for small and medium-sized companies that did not have the internal resources to develop and maintain their own robotic infrastructure.

High Investment Cost and Lack of Standardization to Imped Laboratory Robotics Market Growth to Some Extent

Astute Analytica expects that new types of robots will emerge in the future as technology advances. One of the key challenges facing the industry is the high cost of investment. Laboratory robotics are generally more expensive than traditional manual methods and this can hamper adoption.

Another challenge is the lack of standardization across different platforms which can make it difficult to compare results and replicate experiments. Our study believes that these challenges can be overcome with continued innovation and investment in the sector. The report on laboratory robotics market contains a number of recommendations for both suppliers and users of laboratory robotics. Suppliers should focus on developing new applications and improving usability while users should seek to increase collaboration between different stakeholders to drive adoption.

Key Market Trends to Watch Out

Astute Analytica’s analysis of laboratory robotics market enabled it to identify several key trends shaping the market.

  • First, the industry is benefiting from the continued development of new robotic technologies.
  • Second, laboratory robotics companies are consolidating at a rapid pace.
  • And third, the industry is shifting from North America and Europe to Asia.

The continued development of new robotic technologies is driving growth in the laboratory robotics industry. Newer, more advanced robots are entering the market, and they are becoming more affordable. This is making laboratory robotics more accessible to a wider range of customers, including small- and medium-sized laboratories.

The industry is also benefiting from the consolidation of laboratory robotics companies. A growing number of firms are acquiring other companies in the space, which is helping them to expand their product offerings and gain scale advantages. The consolidation trend is also making the industry more efficient and reducing costs.

Finally, the laboratory robotics market is shifting from North America and Europe to Asia. This reflects the growing economic importance of Asia as a market for Laboratory robotics products and services.

Three Major Shifts are Underway in Global Laboratory Robotics Market

Astute Analytica’s analysis also Identifies three major shifts that are under way in the market:

  • A move from low-end to high-end applications
  • A move from disconnected to integrated systems
  • A move from custom-built to off-the-shelf solutions

These shifts are being driven by advances in technology and changes in customer preferences, and they are changing the competitive landscape of the laboratory robotics market. Interestingly, the number of companies offering automated liquid handlers has remained relatively constant over the past few years, even as other segments have seen new entrants. This is due to the fact that liquid handlers are typically used for high-throughput screening applications, which require a different set of capabilities than other segments.

As a result, the automated liquid handling segment has been relatively insulated from commoditization pressures. In contrast, the other segments of the laboratory robotics market have seen a proliferation of new entrants in recent years. This is in line with the fact that these segments are less capital intensive and have lower barriers to entry than automated liquid handling.

Laboratory Robotics Market Gaining Momentum for Drug Discovery

As drug discovery becomes increasingly reliant on high-throughput techniques, laboratory robotics is playing an increasingly important role. Automated liquid handling robots are now commonplace in many research laboratories, and are used for a variety of tasks such as plate washing, reagent dispensing and nucleic acid extraction. In addition to their routine use in drug discovery, laboratory robotics is also being used to create new drugs. For example, automated DNA synthesis and peptide synthesis are both powerful tools that can be used to create new molecules for testing.

The increasing use of laboratory robotics is having a major impact on the speed and efficiency of drug discovery. With more and more tasks being automated, researchers are able to focus on other aspects of their work, leading to faster progress towards new treatments.

There are several reasons for the increasing use of laboratory robotics market in drug discovery.

  • First, they can automate tedious and time-consuming tasks, such as pipetting and media preparation. This frees up scientists to focus on more complex tasks. Second, they can increase throughput by running multiple experiments simultaneously.
  • Third, they provide greater accuracy and precision than manual methods, which is critical for drug discovery where failure rates are high.
  • Finally, they improve reproducibility by ensuring that experiments are carried out in a consistent manner.

Laboratory robotics market is becoming an increasingly important tool in drug discovery. Their ability to automate repetitive tasks, increase throughput, and improve accuracy and reproducibility makes them invaluable for this application.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

  • AB Controls
  • Aerotech
  • Anton Paar
  • Aurora Biomed
  • Biosera
  • Chemspeed Technologies
  • Cleveland Automation Engineering
  • Hamilton Robotics
  • HighRes Biosolutions
  • Hudson Robotics
  • Labman
  • PerkinElmer Inc.
  • Protedyne (LabCorp)
  • Siemens AG
  • ST Robotics
  • Tecan Group
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Universal Robots
  • Yaskawa Electric
  • Other Prominent Players

About Astute Analytica

Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us.

automation tompkins
Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

Lauren Fiochetta Joins Tompkins Robotics as Senior Marketing Manager

Leave a comment

Tompkins Robotics, a global leader focused on the robotic automation of distribution and fulfillment operations, has named Lauren Fiochetta to the role of Senior Marketing Manager. In this new role, she will develop and implement omnichannel marketing campaigns designed to attract and qualify customers across a wide range of industries, according to Tompkins Robotics President and CEO Mike Futch.

“We are excited to welcome Lauren to the team at Tompkins Robotics at a time when the warehouse and retail automation industry is poised for dramatic growth,” said Futch. “She is a marketing powerhouse with extensive B2B experience and an existing track record of success in the logistics and robotic automation space.”

Prior to joining Tompkins, she held marketing management roles for global manufacturing companies in the logistics, industrial materials and beverage industries, directing data-driven marketing campaigns encompassing advertising, public relations, social media and a variety of other digital marketing channels.

Fiochetta graduated from Westminster College in Utah with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

About Tompkins Robotics

Tompkins Robotics is a global leader focused on the robotic automation of distribution and fulfillment operations. Our primary system, tSort, consists of autonomous mobile robots that sort a wide range of items and parcels to consolidation points for order fulfillment, store replenishment, returns, parcel distribution – virtually any process in the supply chain. tSort is a truly modular, scalable, and portable robotic sortation system that helps build world-class supply chains while providing unmatched flexibility and throughput.  Tompkins Robotics solutions maximize performance, making our clients more agile, adaptable, profitable, and successful in todays dynamic marketplace.  For more information, visit https://tompkinsrobotics.com.

Exploring the Advanced Features of Outlook for Improved Productivity
Archives, Education, Global Trade Daily

Exploring the Advanced Features of Outlook for Improved Productivity

Leave a comment

Outlook is a powerful and feature-rich email client that can help you streamline your workflow and stay organized. With its advanced features, Outlook allows you to manage multiple accounts, sync contacts across devices, schedule meetings and tasks, and keep track of important deadlines and attachments, and much more. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 advanced features offered by Outlook that can help you boost your productivity. 

Calendar: 

The calendar in Outlook enables users to keep track of upcoming meetings or events. You can easily view all appointments scheduled within the next week or month, as well as any pending tasks or reminders that need to be completed. You can also set up recurring events with just a few clicks, making it easy to stay organized. 

Contacts: 

The contacts feature of Outlook allows users to store contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, in one convenient location. It’s also easy to add notes or other information about each contact that you can reference later. You can even sync your contacts across devices, so you’ll always have access to the most up-to-date information. 

Mail Merge: 

Outlook’s mail merge feature is a great way to quickly send out personalized emails to multiple recipients at once. You can set up the basic template for the email in advance and then customize it with individual recipient details when sending out your message. This lets you send out dozens of messages in a fraction of the time it would take to manually compose each one. 

Categories: 

Categories in Outlook make it easy to organize your emails into different groups. You can set up categories for different types of messages (e.g., work, personal, etc.) and assign each email you receive to the appropriate category. This makes it much simpler to quickly sort through all the emails in your inbox. 

Rules and Alerts: 

Outlook’s rules and alerts feature allows users to automatically apply actions whenever an incoming message meets certain criteria. For example, you could create a rule that flags any email from a specific sender as “high priority” or forwards such messages to another address. Alerts are also useful for sending reminders about upcoming events or tasks. 

Search: 

Outlook’s search feature makes it easy to find any email or attachment in your inbox quickly. Whether you’re looking for an old message from a colleague or searching through all the files attached to a particular thread, Outlook’s powerful search engine can help you locate what you need in seconds. 

Signatures: 

In Outlook, users can create professional-looking signatures that are automatically added to each outgoing message. You can customize each signature with different images, fonts, and colors, as well as include contact information and links to your website or social media profile. This way, recipients will always have easy access to your contact details with just one click. 

Archiving: 

The archiving feature in Outlook allows users to store emails and attachments for future reference. This is especially useful if you need to keep track of important documents or messages but don’t want them cluttering up your inbox. You can also use the archive folder as a backup, since it stores a copy of every message you delete from your inbox. 

Quick Steps: 

Outlook’s Quick Steps feature lets users automate many common tasks with just one click. For example, you can create a Quick Step that marks an incoming message as read and then moves it to another folder. This way, you can quickly process emails without having to manually perform each step of the task. 

Sharing: 

Outlook also makes it easy to share emails, calendars, and contacts with other users. This is especially useful for teams who need to work collaboratively on projects or keep each other up-to-date with important developments. With just a few clicks, you can quickly grant others access to the information they need. 

These are just a few of the many features that Outlook offers its users. With these tools, you can stay organized and productive while managing your email communications more effectively. 

Conclusion: 

Outlook is an incredibly powerful tool that can help you manage your email more. With its range of features, you can easily organize and access all the information in your inbox, automate tasks with Quick Steps, and keep track of important messages with rules and alerts. Outlook also makes it easy to share information with colleagues or contacts. Whatever your needs may be, Outlook has the tools to help you stay on top of your email communication. 

 

CTA engine marketing load
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Technology

7 Ways to Improve Page Load Speed

Leave a comment

Have you ever heard the tale of the hare and the tortoise? You know, the one where the slow turtle triumphed in a race over the arrogant, speedy rabbit? Well, it’s a lie. Going slow never got anyone anywhere fast. That’s just common sense and good business.

OK, you got us. You can reap the benefits of taking some things slow, like eating, aging, and walking down precipitous stairs while bringing swords. But when it comes to SEO, there’s nothing worse than going slow.

So get ready because it will be a high-speed ride to higher rankings.

Why Is Having a Fast Website Important?

Would you rather wait more than two days for your parcel, send snail mail instead of a text message, or twiddle your thumbs waiting for a website to load? No one in their right mind would want to do that. Who has time for that? Certainly not your prospective customers.

Faster-loading pages boost your site’s performance, increase Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix scores, and rank better in search results. 

But exactly how much does page speed affect SEO? A slow-loading page speed can lead to:

  • A 7% decrease in conversions.
  • 11% fewer page views.
  • A 16% drop in customer satisfaction.

And with every second, those numbers become more and more appalling:

How Can I View My Page Load Speed?

Several online benchmarking tools measure page load speed. They can also show you how big and resource-intensive your site is and suggest refinements. Best of all, you can use them all for free.

  • Google PageSpeed Insights conducts separate tests for desktop and mobile, differentiating load time into different stages.
  • GTmetrix gives an overview of the size, page load time, and resource allocation, just like YSlow.
  • Pingdom offers a similar service to GTmetrix.
  • WebPageTest is a bit less user-friendly than the others but tends to be more insightful. Of note are its advanced options, which consider how a site performs in different browsers.

When running these tests, select test locations closest to your audience’s physical location, as this will give the most relevant results.

Now that you know your site’s page load speed, let’s see whether you’re clocking a reasonable time.

How Fast Should My Website Load?

Generally, your pages should completely load in three seconds or less.

If your speed is around three to five seconds, you’re not entirely in a bad place, but your pages are performing less favorably than expected by today’s mobile-first standards. Anything over five seconds is considered poor. But no matter how fast your site loads, it could always benefit from a boost.

You should also pay attention to your time to first byte (TTFB). (WebPageTest and PageSpeed Insights show this data.) TTFB is the period browsers wait before they accept the first byte of data from a server. Google suggests a TTFB of 200 milliseconds or faster.

Here’s more insight into page load speed goals:

  • Pingdom found that most pages load in under 3.21 seconds, on average.
  • Google says 53% of users are only willing to wait three seconds for their phones to load before moving on to another website.
  • Akamai found that the average mobile page load speed of 2.4 seconds leads to the best conversion rate.

But how can you improve your page load speed to attain the goal of three seconds or faster?

What’s the Best Way to Boost Page Load Speed?

Several factors can affect page load speed. Some strategies can be done right away and have an immediate effect. Others will take time and testing to see the benefits.

Here are some of the best methods:

  1. Enable gzip compression.
  2. Optimize images.
  3. Turn on browser caching.
  4. Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  5. Lessen HTTP requests.
  6. Reduce server response time.
  7. Consider implementing a CDN.
    Bonus: Make WordPress-specific improvements.

On your mark! Get set! Boost!

1. Enable gzip compression.

Compression decreases the size of your files, allowing faster downloading. It’s one of the simplest and fastest ways for page load speed optimization. Using gzip for compression is almost a norm, though Brotli is an alternative but popular method. When enabled, gzip can bring down the size of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript up to 70%. (Run a gzip test to see whether you have it enabled.)

Most WordPress all-in-one performance plug-ins grant you the option to enable compression automatically. You can manually enable compression by adding some code to your .htaccess file for those who are more hands-on or using a different CMS.

2. Optimize images.

Some of the typical culprits contributing to large page sizes are images. Generally, your pictures should be adequately sized and optimized according to the following:

  • Under 100 kilobytes.
  • Set to the exact size the picture will be shown.
  • Saved as JPG (unless it’s transparent, in which case use PNG).

With image compression comes a notable decrease in quality, so don’t let your desire for faster load times adversely affect the quality of your website’s design. But at the very least, if your website has a 600-pixel width, for example, don’t upload a picture that’s 2,500 pixels wide.

Optimize images before uploading them using Photoshop (paid) or GIMP (free). For added compression, you can also utilize an online optimizer such as TinyJPG. If you want another option and use a CMS like WordPress, Smush and EWWW Image Optimizer are good backup plug-ins. Some plug-ins also grant you the ability to enable a “lazy load” feature that gives priority to above-the-fold content and only loads your pictures when a visitor scrolls down — drastically reducing requests your server receives.

3. Enable browser caching.

When visitors return to your site, their browser redownloads files like scripts, images, and style sheets — unless you’ve enabled browser caching.

With browser caching, static files are saved on the user’s browser. So the next time they access your site, they don’t need to download anything again, so your page loads much faster.

If you’re using WordPress, caching is relatively easy. Plug-ins like WP Rocket and W3 Total Cache guide you through all the needed steps and set it up for you. Just make sure to use only one of these plug-ins at one time. Also, enabling caching manually is a bit more complicated.

4. Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Minification removes redundant or unnecessary code without affecting performance. This includes eliminating code comments, lengthy function names, spacing, and so on — all things that aren’t visible to the user but weigh down your load speed.

WordPress plug-ins like WP Super Minify, WP Rocket, and W3 Total Cache are ideal for novice web developers to achieve minification. You will need to perform manual minification for other CMS and advanced admins. Some tools that can help are:

  • HTML Minifier.
  • YUI Compressor or CSS Minifier.
  • JSCompress or JSMin.

5. Reduce HTTP requests.

This is a big one. Although it can get tricky, don’t let it scare you. Reducing requests is the ultimate goal of page load optimization. You should try to keep the number of HTTP requests below or around 50.

There are a lot of methods to streamline these requests, as well as speed them up.

6. Reduce server response time.

Changing servers is something you should do with seriousness and on the fly. But your hosting server plays a crucial role in load time, so knowing whether you have the best setup goes a long way.

Above all else, consult with your provider to ensure your servers experience sufficient uptimes, give enough bandwidth, and are located close to your target audience. If not, consider switching to a different hosting service.

Some other vital things to consider:

  • PHP version
    If your site is PHP-based, you should use PHP 7 or higher. The easiest method to learn which PHP you’re using and which needs to be upgraded is by calling your hosting provider. But please remember that changes in PHP can affect some WordPress themes and plug-ins. You can quickly reverse your server’s PHP if anything seems faulty.

     

  • HTTP/2
    HTTP/2 is a server-side protocol that can vastly improve site speed and efficiency. Not all sites utilize HTTP/2 when they can. You can use various online tools to check whether your server can support HTTP/2. Then, contact your hosting provider to know what options you have.

     

  • Hosting type
    Most small businesses use cheaper shared hosting servers (like Bluehost, GoDaddy, and HostGator). Larger enterprises that see lots of site traffic typically need more powerful virtual private servers or direct servers to distribute their content. Decide which category you fall under using your budget and performance as metrics.

7. Consider implementing a CDN.

Content delivery networks are perfect for pages that serve many international locations or are looking for a speed boost to their regular hosting service. These third-party paid services not only give you HTTP/2 support, but also vastly reduce request times by hosting your files across an extensive network of global servers.

Some unique CDN options include:

  • Cloudflare.
  • StackPath.
  • CacheFly.
  • Google Cloud CDN.

Only some sites need a CDN (despite what GTmetrix might suggest), so we recommend executing the other strategies on this list first. Consider CDN a feasible option if your load times still need to catch up.

Bonus: WordPress-Specific Improvements

Other factors could contribute to your page load time if you use WordPress. You’ll want to address these issues along with the other methods listed above.

Reduce plug-ins.

Plug-ins are fantastic and can do a lot to enhance the speed of your site. But using the wrong plug-ins can have an adverse effect, and too many plug-ins installed can cause issues, drastically slowing down your site’s performance.

That’s why it is essential to:

  • Routinely update and maintain your plug-ins.
  • Routinely remove any unnecessary or unused plug-ins.
  • See whether there are lighter or faster alternatives.
  • Identify plug-ins with redundant functionality.
  • Remove plug-ins for tasks you can easily do manually.

For example, suppose you have a Google Analytics plug-in installed. In that case, you’d be better off adding the snippet by yourself, through Google Tag Manager, or through the Insert Headers and Footers plug-in (which is much smaller than the former).

To help locate issues, an excellent plug-in assessment tool like Page Performance Profiler can identify which plug-ins are taking a toll on your page load speed. (Don’t forget to remove it when you’re done.)

Clean your database.

Over time, WordPress databases can get bogged down by saved drafts, post revisions, and other stuff your website doesn’t need to function. Occasionally cleaning this clutter can help boost your site’s speed. Some all-in-one performance plug-ins also have this capability (similar to WP Rocket), or you can utilize the WP-Optimize plug-in.

Update CMS and theme.

Ensure you’re always using the latest versions of your theme and WordPress install. (Don’t forget to back up your site before doing so.) If your site is still sluggish after updating and making all the changes above, you might consider trying a new theme entirely. While themes make your site look better, they can bring a lot of baggage that can bog down your site.

Fast Page Load Speed Is More Essential Than Ever

If you happened to miss it, Google is entirely mobile-focused these days. And it’s not about to shift any time soon, so your pages must load as quickly as possible.

We all have short attention spans — and they’re only growing shorter by the second. If your page doesn’t load quickly, plenty of cat videos can and will. So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to start! Implement these page speed and page experience improvements right now because SERPs wait for no one.

Danny Shepherd is co-CEO of Intero Digital, a 350-person digital marketing agency that offers comprehensive, results-driven marketing solutions. Danny has more than 20 years of experience directing paid media strategies, optimizing SEO, and building solutions-oriented content and PR. He leads a team of experts in web design and development, Amazon marketing, social media, video, and graphic design.

Visual Marketing: How your Website's Imagery can Attract your Perfect Buyers
Archives, Education, Global Trade Daily, Technology

Visual Marketing: How your Website’s Imagery can Attract your Perfect Buyers

Leave a comment

Business owners like you are always looking for ways to effectively attract their ideal buyers. In a cluttered and distracting online world, it helps to remember the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. 

You may not be able to hold your perfect buyer’s attention long enough for them to read 1,000 words about your product or service but, with the right website imagery, you don’t have to. The right images can meaningfully boost your conversion rate, so taking the time to choose or create the right imagery is very important when setting up a website for your company.

In this article, we’ll cover exactly how you can strategically use website imagery to attract your perfect buyers and get more conversions.

Evoking the right emotions can encourage people to click ‘buy’

If you can inspire the right emotions in your target audience, they’ll be far more likely to click that checkout button. Emotions can play an important role in shopper behavior, as most of us know from our own experiences of impulsive shopping. Merchandisers in brick-and-mortar shopping environments work hard to evoke emotions that compel people to shop, such as excitement, joy, or aspiration. And, the same techniques can be applied to websites through the effective use of imagery. 

For example, images of people looking joyful using your products can excite your perfect buyer, or images of people looking distraught because of a problem that is addressable with your product can make your perfect buyer feel understood. 

To get an idea of what this looks like in action, take a look at one of IKEA’s holiday homepage images.

As a furniture and home goods retailer, they use this image to tap into the warm, cozy feeling of being home around the holidays. Their own products are incidental in the image, since the focus is on the little girl decorating the gingerbread house. However, the image likely inspires shoppers to make their home cozier in time for the holidays, which they can do with some new IKEA purchases. 

For another example, check out the images that the dance fitness company Zumba uses on its homepage. 

Since their primary product is exercise videos, they use images that tap into the feeling of being energized and enthusiastic, which is exactly what their product is designed to help people do. Those who want to experience a fun, joyful exercise class will be enticed by the emotions conveyed in the image.

Humanizing your business will help you forge stronger connections

People don’t want to feel like they’re spending their money with a faceless corporation. Instead, they want to know they’re supporting real people. Images can help put a human face to your business, reminding your perfect buyer that there are real people on the other end of the transaction. 

Displaying images of your team can offer an excellent way to do this. Whether you include headshots of everyone or action shots of people at work, you’ll help buyers relate to a more humanized version of your business. 

For example, take a look at the About Us page on the website of The Tinker Law Firm PLLC.

If you experience the misfortune of having a medical malpractice experience and are seeking legal representation for your case, you’ll be far more likely to feel connected to a firm that includes images of its team who can assist you. For a law firm, professional headshots are perfect for this, as they show that the people behind the company are experienced, intelligent, and ready to help. This will then ensure prospective clients feel comfortable reaching out. 

For other businesses, a different approach to team images might be better suited. For example, take a look at how Option One Plumbing showcases its team.

If you’re having a plumbing emergency, you probably want to contact a team that looks ready to jump into action to come help you. This image humanizes Option One Plumbing by showing the many people on whom their clients depend to fix plumbing disasters, but it also conveys preparedness, which will further help attract their perfect buyer.

It’s much easier for a shopper to feel a stronger connection with a brand after getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the people who make it a reality, than if the only image they have to connect with is a logo. In turn, they’ll also feel better about buying from you, because most customers want to feel they are contributing to the livelihood of a team rather than just lining corporate coffers. 

Use imagery to show exactly how your products or service work

Shoppers like making informed choices, and imagery can convey a lot of information quickly and effectively. For some products or services, it makes a lot of sense to demonstrate how they work through imagery rather than with descriptions. 

Product photography is the classic example of this: product photos have come a long way, with eCommerce brands cluing into customer preferences for more detailed product shots, resulting in higher conversions.

A level up from static images with respect to the amount of information conveyed, GIFs and graphics can show your product in motion, which can be compelling to buyers.

Finally, lifestyle photos of your products being used can provide buyers with more information about how the product can fit into their day-to-day lives.

The more accurate a customer’s understanding of how your product or service works, the less likely they are to have unpleasant surprises when they get it, and the fewer returns you’ll experience. Additionally, when they receive your product and it matches their expectations, you will establish a great foundation for customer trust and loyalty. 

For some products, such as software, animated GIFs can be particularly enriching. For example, take a look at how ActiveCampaign demonstrates their sales CRM. 

On the service page, a GIF goes through the key actions a customer might carry out when using the CRM software. Someone just landing on this page might not feel inclined to watch a lengthier instructional video, so a quick GIF very quickly conveys exactly how the product works, encouraging prospective buyers to learn more or test it out themselves. 

Mobility aid company Stander provides another example of how images that show how a product is used can push buyers along the path to conversion.

 Since they have a variety of mobility aids, someone new to the product category might feel overwhelmed by the options. But, thanks to images that demonstrate how each product category can help, website visitors can identify the product for their needs at a glance. 

Help website visitors to imagine themselves using your products or services

If customers can visualize themselves using your product or service, they’ll be more compelled to make the purchase. 

One effective way to make this easy is by using images of people who represent your target audience using your products. The key is to use “real” people rather than aspirational, unrelatable models because most people are far more likely to feel connected to the former. 

In your imagery, consider using people of different ages, sexes, and backgrounds. Depending on what your product or service is, it may make sense to use models who look like they have a certain hobby or profession that your perfect buyer has, too. 

A good example of this in action comes from Aura Systems, who make aura cameras and software. 

In this case, the image they’ve chosen to demonstrate their product will help young women interested in photography, auras, and chakra readings to recognize that this product is great for them, and to envision themselves using it.

Another tried and true method that many startups use to boost sales and ensure website visitors can imagine themselves using their products is by using UGI, or user-generated images. Since UGI features real customers and comes off as more authentic than staged images, it tends to be highly relatable. 

Clothing brands especially benefit from this type of imagery, since people want to see what clothes will look like on those with similar body types. For example, ASOS uses the hashtag #AsSeenOnMe to collect UGI that features on their website. 

In addition to UGI, another surprising approach that can work well for helping customers imagine themselves using your products is by providing content that features your  business owner or other members of your team using it. 

For example, take a look at the Cobalt Intelligence blog. 

This type of content and imagery goes beyond just using staff images to humanize your business; by showcasing a relatable member of your team walking them through using your product or service, it encourages visitors to see themselves using it too. And, after all, who understands the intricacies of your products or services more than those who’ve created them? 

Use visuals to show off your company’s personality

Images can also be an effective tool for conveying the unique personality of your business. Showing off your personality makes your company unforgettable and makes it easier for your perfect buyers to feel connected to it. Just as people with vibrant personalities tend to stick in our minds, brands tend to do the same. 

The right personality to convey through your images in order to attract your perfect buyer will depend considerably on what your business does. For example, a kids’ toy company will probably want to convey a happy, colorful personality, while a law firm should be polished, professional, and trustworthy. 

Toys “R” Us lives up to the happy, playful personality expected of a toy company through its use of colorful and child-like doodles. This shows that you don’t necessarily need photographic images to convey your personality; illustrations can also do the trick

imagery

When choosing images to showcase your personality, start by brainstorming what you want to convey. Once you have a few words that are strongly associated with your brand, look for images that relate to those words for you. If you can work on this with a team, you’ll have the best chance of coming up with images that accurately convey the right personality for your brand. 

If you succeed, your perfect buyer will be able to glance at your website and immediately understand your personality. For example, take a look at the fine jewelry website Mejuri.

imagery

The visuals effectively convey an unexpectedly fresh and youthful personality that isn’t typically associated with fine jewelry. It’s something that is sure to appeal to their target audience of young women, and it shows that the brand is simple, elegant, and classically stylish. This is sure to encourage the right people to make a purchase. 

Final words

Attracting your ideal buyers is an ongoing goal for all businesses, and the power of imagery in helping you reach this goal shouldn’t be overlooked. 

From evoking emotions and humanizing your business to showcasing how to use your products and conveying your personality, the right images can do a lot of heavy lifting to ensure your website converts like a charm.

Author bio

Aaron Haynes is an entrepreneur, digital marketing enthusiast, and occasional SEO writer. With more than a decade of experience in business development, Aaron helps businesses and agencies develop and grow a data-driven yet nimble approach to search engine control. You can find more from Aaron on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

Why Construction Companies are Opting for Drone Services
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Technology

Why Construction Companies are Opting for Drone Services

Leave a comment

Drones are no longer just an abstract , futuristic idea; today, drones are in use in a variety of sectors and construction is no exception. In fact, as per recent data from some time ago, the construction industry has an increase in drone use of 239%.

Construction companies opt for drone services to gather real-time information on projects and to understand the activities on site. Aerial insights help in tracking progress and aid in identifying problems early, prior to their becoming expensive or   delays to the timeline of a project.

However, it isn’t the sole method used by construction companies to use drones. In the process of spending just one hour a week mapping a construction site, contractors have access to a wealth of information on nearly all aspects of their projects. Drones for construction can do more than just increase communication and keep projects on schedule. They also improve security, reduce time and money, speed up surveying, and provide precise measurements. These are the impacts of drones on the construction industry.

This isn’t a surprise because drone services can help boost any construction venture to the highest step.

Easier Land Mapping

Additionally, footage from drones helps reduce the number of people needed to trace the terrain. With fewer employees walking on potentially hazardous terrain, the chance of injury and accidents is reduced.

When it comes to land mapping, drones provide high image resolution, video recordings, and also a LiDar (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor.

The LiDar sensor emits the laser beam and records its reflection. It can be very useful for cartography, especially in places where it is hard for human beings to traverse.

Aerial Imaging

Construction sites prefer availing drone services to capture aerial images which are useful for keeping track of the development of construction projects but also as marketing materials. In general, there’s nothing better to showcase your work than taking before and after photographs. Business analysts utilize photos of before and after to showcase the work they do. Designers of interiors also do this, as do construction firms, who are also doing it.

In the case of video footage of construction sites many contractors choose photographs of progress or aerial views from planes or helicopters as they give a clearer view.

Reduced Risks on Site

In the construction industry, the safety of workers is among the main priorities. Yet accidents are a frequent incident, especially falls, which are responsible for 34 percent of all fatalities among workers.

Manual measurements and inspections typically necessitate workers climbing onto unstable platforms and navigating unsafe conditions. Numerous construction firms have begun using drones to accomplish these tasks since drones can significantly decrease the chance of accidents as well as potential costs and hassles.

Drones are able to provide images of areas that are hard to access but easily seen from the air and also provide an overview of the progress made by the project, particularly if you aren’t there.

Drones significantly reduce the length of a project and also reduce the risk of mistakes by creating physical maps that offer full coverage of an area . They can also capture the smallest of details.

Better Inspections

When it comes to building in any form, including high-rises, bridges, cable lines, or even roofs, inspections are required. Many construction firms still opt to conduct their inspections using the traditional method. However, construction workers are often faced with grave injuries or even death when they conduct traditional inspections.

Drones can follow and check construction sites faster and more precisely than human beings. They come with cameras that have a zoom feature to create high-resolution photos. Drone photography gives a fantastic 360-degree view of structures that may affect the development.

So you will be able to identify any repairs that are required or potential safety dangers and address any issues before they become more severe.

In conclusion, drones are the most secure and efficient alternative to having employees physically examine construction sites. The risks to health and safety to workers are greatly reduced by allowing drones to do inspections.

The impact of drones on the construction industry

The use of drones on construction sites will bring significant changes to the construction sector. Drones have already started to alter how the construction industry functions and will last for a long time with lasting impacts.

Drones have greater endurance and agility at work locations. Their capability to gather and analyze data allows drones to work more efficiently. The requirement of manual work is now eliminated. In the near future, drones will assume the role of an increasingly important part in large-scale projects. They’re poised to reduce the time required to build a building by a large margin, which will reduce the cost. Contractors who use drones are able to submit more ambitious proposals and finish the work on time.

Drone technology has advanced to the point that instant connectivity and connectivity at the work site are in high demand. Drones are now being utilized increasingly to maintain continuous contact with workers. Drones equipped with mounted cameras are able to provide video footage that can aid in communications and monitoring. They can help companies monitor their employees and their work and are considered a vital tool for supervisors and investors.

Already, management and communication have seen a dramatic improvement in efficiency thanks to the capability of collecting live data from drones. The speedier process of collecting data is having more impact each day. The capability to control the flow of work 24/7 is a first and will surely significantly impact every aspect of construction.

Conclusion

The influence of drone technology in the building industry revolution is indisputable. The first time it was used as a leisure game or novelty, it turned into a competitive advantage for people who were willing to use drone technology to their advantage.

Drones are able to do more than simply create high definition images. Drones that scan with drones can produce various kinds of valuable information. They can make use of additional equipment like infrared, geo-locating , and thermal sensors to aid with mapping the construction site as well as designing construction plans. The images captured can be transformed into 3D models that have real-world conditions included, which allows us to improve the quality of iteration, better quality and higher value estimates during the pre-construction phase.

Drones are taking on an important role in the construction process and are growing in use and popularity. Innovative site managers are constantly coming up with new ways to use drones in construction sites.

 

semiconductor assembly
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Market insight

Automotive Semiconductor Market Players Hope for a Revival in Passenger Vehicles Segment

Leave a comment

The global automotive semiconductor market is poised to increase at a CAGR of 7 % during the assessment period from 2020-2030. The growth is primarily attributed to a growing demand for usage of automotive semiconductors in camera-based sensors, 3-D mapping technology applications, Matrix LEDs for electric vehicles, camera-based sensors, LiDAR sensors, and others are projected to allow growth in the market.

“Digitally equipped manufacturers are implementing their mobile platforms for evolving car platforms and in-car entertainment. Technology-based manufacturers have collaborated with media-streaming devices and services companies due to core capabilities and their aggressive capital investment. Thus, due to digital connectivity for instance vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the market is projected to fuel up during the assessment period,” states the Future Market Insights analyst.

Key Takeaways

  • North America is anticipated to remain lucrative throughout the assessment period 2020-2030.
  • The micro-components (processors) segment is anticipated to witness an accelerated expansion of 7.0% during the projected period.
  • The passenger vehicle types segment will continue to lead the global market among other segments.
  • The safety application category is likely to rise at a higher pace over the assessment period.
  • The automotive industry will remain a key beneficiary throughout the projected period.

Automotive Semiconductor Market – Drivers

  • The growing production of vehicles across several nations has been complementing the market growth.
  • Increasing preference for best-in-class features and greater performance in motor vehicles boost the market demand.
  • Steady growth in the need for safety attributes in ultra-modern vehicles will propel market growth.

Automotive Semiconductor Market – Restraints

Factors such as continuous optimization of component size, maintaining balance amid quality and cost of the product, and the rising cost of the overall vehicle are continuously creating challenges for the automotive semiconductor market

COVID-19 Impact on Automotive Semiconductor Market

Given the debilitating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the automotive semiconductor market, market players are vying for prospects to stay afloat in the market scenario. The digital & electrical vehicles being the chief source of the automotive semiconductors need, the global market is likely to decrease by 5% towards 2020 end. Despite the entire shutting down of the manufacturing plants throughout the lockdown, the total year-to-year expansion of the market is projected to be 5%-8% through 2021.

Regional Analysis

China is the leading automotive manufacturing country in the world, and this factor alone is projected to boost shipments of automotive semiconductors in the nation over the years to come. Supportive government initiatives to boost semiconductor manufacturing and the rising use of automobile computer chips are prominent factors that will govern automotive semiconductor demand through 2030.

Competitive Landscape

Major companies identified in the global Automotive Semiconductor market include Samsung Semiconductors, Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN), Broadcom Inc. (AVGO), Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM), ASE Technology Holding Co. Ltd. (ASX) and Micron Technology Inc. (MU).

The Cost of Building a Mobile App for your Business in 2023
Archives, Education, Global Trade Daily, Technology

The Cost of Building a Mobile App for your Business in 2023

Leave a comment

The digital landscape is changing rapidly, partly driven by the increased use of mobile devices. Smartphones are now used by half of the world’s population. This represents nearly 4 billion smartphone owners worldwide. These tech-savvy users are looking for quick and alternatives to do everything from banking to shopping on their phones. Mobile apps are a vital way to connect with this potential market. 

Mobile application development is a process that involves several activities, tasks, and processes. It’s more complex than putting some code together and saying you’re done; many different parts are involved in developing an app. And while the exact cost of mobile app development differs from one app development company to another, there are generally standard cost ranges associated with this process. 

What is the average cost of developing an app?

The exact cost of developing an app varies from project to project. However, you can expect the process to cost from $30,000 to $150,000, and when the project is more complex, you might have to pay even more than $300,000.

The vital thing to remember is that the cost of developing a mobile app isn’t just about the money. It is also essential to consider what you get for that money and the likelihood that your return on investment will be positive.

Why is the cost of developing an app so variable?

The cost of developing an app vary due to several different factors:

  1. The type of App you are developing will directly impact the price. Certain types of apps will cost more to build than others.
  2. Applications with complex features requiring more effort may cost more than those much more straightforward in terms of features and requirements.
  3. Developing products focusing on UX (User Experience) is a strong trend in different sectors. Thus, factors such as the choice of functionalities and their ease of use, organization of information, visual identity, and the structure as a whole define the quality of the mobile application and also impact the cost.

Next, you need to consider the company you work with to build your App. Not all businesses are created equal; some will be more expensive than others. It is also necessary to consider the region where your company is based, since the cost of living in some areas, such as São Paulo, is higher than in others.

From one order to another, the price of a mobile application can change completely. Indeed, if you have a very ambitious project requiring the intervention of experts, the estimate will inevitably increase.

For a high-level application, it is necessary to bring together developers, project managers, designers, or even strategists. So many trades and skills that weigh on the price of the application. However, the more money you invest in your product, the more likely you are that it will eventually become profitable.

Remember the post-development costs.

Post-development costs include all expenses from the moment the development phase of the application is completed. For example, there are annual fees for registering the mobile application on the Apple Store and Google Play. The costs are relatively different, depending on the blind chosen. Indeed, it is enough to pay $ 25 in one go at Google, while Apple asks for $ 99 each year.

Moreover, like websites, an application must work on its reference if it wishes to have visibility. Therefore, depending on the store (Google Play or Apple store), optimizing the application to appear in the first place will be necessary. To optimize the ranking criteria and position yourself in the first place, hiring mobile SEO specialists will be essential.

Finally, for an application to be viable, designers must regularly update it. It is also necessary to allocate a budget to the maintenance of the application to avoid users complaining about it, which could seriously harm it.

Now, while you are aware of the several factors that impact the cost of development, let us see if there’s any way to keep the costs under check.  

Reducing mobile app development costs with MVP

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the pilot of a digital project. Its function is to test and evaluate the product’s viability – in this case, a mobile application.

In MVP, a minimum set of functionalities is presented to the user, containing only those essential to reach his objective with the application. From there, users’ opinions are collected to identify where the software can improve and what needs to be developed.

The objective is to accelerate the launch of a solution in the market, save time and money, and of course: identify the real opinions of users on how the launched application can be even better. Therefore, the chances of the product meeting consumers’ expectations are more significant with this initial project.

In this step, it is possible to determine and reduce the necessary production time and the costs involved in the budget.

Steps involved in developing a mobile application

App development is a very detailed process. Many different activities need to happen before an application can be created. Here are some of the key activities involved in app development:

  • Discovery and Planning: The discovery and planning phase involves understanding your project needs. This is where scope and risk management comes into play. Risk management is essential because you want to be sure to create a solution that is both viable and within budget.
  • Ideation and design: Once the requirements have been gathered and the project’s scope determined, the conception process can begin. During this phase, visual mockups are created to outline the application’s design.
  • Development: This is the phase where the application is created.
  • Deployment and testing: This is the phase where the application is launched and made available to the public.
  • Monitoring and maintenance: This is the phase where the App is monitored to ensure its correct functioning and any bugs or problems are immediately corrected.

Estimation only: Tasks involved in developing an app

The best way to get a cost estimate of developing an app is to create a list of all the tasks involved in building it. This will allow you to determine how much it will cost to develop your App and will make it easier to find a company or development team to work with.

You can then break down the tasks you’ve listed and assign an estimated cost to each. Remember, this is just an estimate, so make sure you budget for unexpected expenses.

Take the following steps to check the viability of a mobile app

  • Plan your product

List differentials, competitive advantages, shortcomings, and objectives. Finally, create a value proposition.

  • Identify your user

Create personas, and map their behavior, desires, and usage journey. Identify when and where she will use your software.

  • Define the product

Knowing the user and their pain establishes the minimum and priority features for reasonable use of the product.

  • Develop the application

Choose a team with skills to create and develop guaranteed quality solutions.

Wrapping Up

Our post aims to support startups and enterprises in developing innovative and robust mobile applications at an optimum budget. 

Now that you know what to consider while calculating the budget for your app project, it is time to hire a dedicated mobile app development company that can offer the fuel required for your company’s digital transformation.

 

trade Blockchain is not Revolutionizing the Supply Chain yet
Archives, Education, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Technology

Blockchain is not Revolutionizing the Supply Chain yet

Leave a comment

Just four years ago, the mere mention of the word blockchain could spark a never-ending conversation. Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology where blocks (records) are added, transaction data is captured, and a timestamp remains. The timestamp is the proof that a transaction took place and marks when the block was created. In 2018 the Food Trust Group was formed, a cluster of some of the biggest food companies in the world – Walmart Inc., Nestlé SA, Dole Food Co., Golden State Foods, Kroger Co, Driscoll’s Inc., among others. The goal was to use blockchain to improve recalls, identify stubborn bottlenecks in real-time, and improve the overall customer experience. 

At the time major firms across industries were using blockchain, excited by its ability to eliminate costly middle layers and its apparent inability to be manipulated or faked. IBM and Walmart  collaborated most famously to track produce items via blockchain. The two decided upon leafy greens as the jumping-off point, but just four years later only one item – green bell peppers – has been added. The technology that was going to revolutionize supply chains has stalled. What’s behind the delay? 

The consulting and technology research firm, Gartner Inc., has a theory, and it’s not overly complex. Namely, most firms rely on a host of partners that require a common “operating language.” Blockchain is intricate and costly and many non-Fortune 500 companies are reticent to adopt it. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S knows this all too well. Also in conjunction with IBM, Maersk launched TradeLens in 2018 to ultimately digitize container shipping on their global tracking platform. Yet, as with any new system, the success of TradeLens depended on the collaboration of Maersk partners as well as numerous countries. This never occurred and Maersk will be scrapping the platform by the end of the first quarter of 2023. 

At this point, blockchain needs to become less complex and more affordable. The learning curve is steep, especially for those firms who rely on small to medium-sized suppliers who are not necessarily tech-savvy. Coming back to Walmart, many of its partners are growers and farmers and blockchain is still out of their purview for the moment. A short-term solution could be to focus on single products. For example, the state of Jharkhand in eastern India has been using blockchain to track the distribution of seed sales to farmers. The chain is only tracking seeds that come directly from the state and the process is exceedingly simple. 

Part of the incentive, however, to use the chain is the farmers want the seeds and are thus more motivated to participate. Perhaps some better incentives are needed.       

chinese car makers
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Imports/Exports, Technology

China Carmakers are Ordering Their Own Ships to Get Export Ready

Leave a comment

Two of China’s biggest automakers are so determined to ensure their cars make it from factories on the mainland to anyone who wants to drive them they’ve bought their own ships.

BYD Co., which only makes electric and hybrid cars, is going the extra length to avoid any last mile supply chain snarls, ordering at least six ships in October, each with the capacity to carry 7,700 cars, for 5 billion yuan ($710 million). State-owned SAIC Motor Corp., which already operates the world’s fifth-largest shipping fleet via transport arm SAIC Anji Logistics Co., has a tender out for seven new carriers that can each hold 8,900 vehicles.

Representatives for SAIC and BYD declined to comment.

With the vessels in question not expected to come online for several years yet, it’s a bold bet on lasting global consumer demand for Chinese cars. China recently overtook Germany as the world’s second-largest auto exporter, sending almost 2.6 million vehicles abroad in the first 10 months of 2022, eclipsing 2021’s volumes. Even October’s unexpected drop in demand for Chinese goods didn’t derail that upward trajectory with car and chassis exports growing 60% from a year earlier to 352,000 units in the period, or a record high $7.1 billion.

But while auto exports have surged, “the number of car carriers globally has barely increased,” said Xing Yue, the head of Clarksons Research Services in Shanghai, a unit of the world’s largest shipbroker. Shipping costs have skyrocketed and there’s now “lots of investment pouring into building new ships for vehicle transport because of this demand-supply mismatch.”

The lack of vessels is stretching an auto supply chain already worn thin by a scarcity of semiconductors, pandemic-related labor shortages and months of port congestion intensified by China’s Covid-19 lockdowns. Daily rates for vessels that can carry up to 6,500 cars (commonly known as roll-on/roll-off ships, or ro-ros) have surged to about $100,000 a day as of October, more than tenfold 2020 levels and the highest on record since at least 2000, according to Clarksons.

With all the last leg supply chain disruptions it makes sense for Chinese automakers to strike out on their own, according to Tobias Bartz, chairman and chief executive officer of Rhenus Logistics. Ships have become “such a scarcity,” he said on the sidelines of a conference in Singapore last month.

The shortage has meant that some vessels almost 30 years’ old are still operating instead of being scrapped, raising the risk of accidents. Trying to extinguish any lithium-ion battery fires that occur may also be harder.

Chinese automakers aren’t alone in their desire for more freighters. Tesla Inc., which uses Anji Logistics’ car carriers, has also had trouble transporting vehicles from its factories.

“There weren’t enough boats, there weren’t enough trains, there weren’t enough car carriers to actually support the wave” of vehicle deliveries at the end of the last quarter, CEO Elon Musk said during Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call. “Whether we like it or not, we actually have to smooth out the delivery of cars intra-quarter, because there just aren’t enough transportation objects to move them around.”

This latest pinch point may be new but BYD and SAIC aren’t the first automakers to run their own shipping fleets. Toyota Motor Corp. owns shipping company Toyofuji Shipping Co., while South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. has logistics group Hyundai Glovis Co.

It’s also a telling sign of how far Chinese automakers’ export ambitions go.

Just a few years ago, China was mainly selling cars to developing nations in Africa and the Middle East. But the rise in electric-vehicle production has boosted made-in-China cars in Europe, which is now the biggest market for Chinese auto exports. China exported over 852,000 EVs in the first 10 months of this year, up from almost nothing a short while back. Over a fifth of those were Tesla electric cars produced in the US automaker’s Shanghai gigafactory.

To be sure, some aren’t entirely confident that buying ships now is the right decision.

“Car shipping costs are set to come down as the risks shift from backlogs to a glut in the car market,” said Craig Fuller, founder and CEO of supply chain market intelligence provider FreightWaves. With supply chain bottlenecks easing, “the risk is more on the demand side of the equation,” he said.

Until that inflexion point, Chinese automakers appear keen to control as much of the process as they can. Electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. and Chery Automobile Co. are also eying ship orders, local media reported last week.

Among Chinese brands, SAIC is the furthest along overseas. It sold 697,000 vehicles abroad in 2021 — bolstered by the success of MG Motor, the British brand it acquired — and is aiming for 800,000 this year. That’s a way off from meeting its annual shipping capacity, which stands at around 10 million vehicles, but meanwhile SAIC’s ships can and do serve other carmakers too, including Nio.