Savoye, a leading one-stop-shop integrator of automated warehouse solutions and software publisher in the Middle East, is playing a pivotal role in optimizing logistics for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors across the region.
In a conversation with Mediworld Middle East, Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director of Savoye Middle East, highlights the company’s dual focus on robotic systems and powerful software platforms that streamline operations and ensure critical compliance in highly regulated industries.
“Precision and traceability are non-negotiable in pharmaceutical logistics,” Kaddoum emphasizes. Savoye addresses these needs through advanced Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Order Management Systems (OMS), and robotic solutions tailored for cold chain environments.
Kaddoum also details how Savoye’s automation-ready ODATiO, a modular end-to-end solution embedded with WMS, TMS and OMS systems, helps healthcare providers transition from manual to automated operations seamlessly. It integrates seamlessly with robotic systems and automated dispensers, optimizing inventory, enhancing picking speed, and reducing human error. Savoye’s most ambitious regional project—a fully automated Global Distribution Centre (GDC) located within the Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for CJ Logistics and iHerb—epitomizes this innovation.
As healthcare continues to demand faster, safer, and more sustainable logistics, Savoye stands at the forefront, empowering the industry with smart, scalable, and future-ready supply chain solutions.
Could you please provide a brief introduction to Savoye and explain how your core expertise in supply chain technology supports healthcare and pharmaceutical industries?
Savoye specializes in providing warehouse automation solutions and supply chain execution software. Our core offerings include automated and robotic systems designed for storage and order fulfillment within warehouses. Additionally, we develop and implement software solutions such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Order Management Systems (OMS), Transport Management Systems (TMS), and Warehouse Execution Systems (WES). These tools are designed to streamline both manual and automated processes, enhancing efficiency and accuracy across warehouse operations, which a critical need in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors where precision and reliability are paramount.
How is Savoye tackling challenges in pharmaceutical logistics, especially cold chain integrity and product traceability?
In the healthcare sector, traceability, order accuracy, order tracking, and cold chain management—when required—are all critical. Savoye addresses these challenges by implementing advanced technological solutions, particularly in the area of automated warehouse storage. By using robotics within cold storage environments, we are able to maintain a tightly controlled setting. These robots operate in enclosed, temperature-regulated areas with minimal handover zones between storage and operational areas, thereby enhancing cold chain integrity.
Traceability is especially vital. Each item is stored in a tote, and every tote is tagged with a barcode. These barcodes are scanned and tracked throughout the warehouse, allowing us to monitor essential product details such as production dates, expiration dates, and best-before dates. Our systems provide supply chain and logistics managers with full visibility over inventory and can trigger alerts when products are near expiration. Essentially, we equip warehouse operators and logistics professionals with the tools they need to maintain control, compliance, and efficiency throughout the supply chain.
How are Savoye’s automation and software solutions improving efficiency and accuracy in medical and wellness product distribution?
When discussing automation, it’s important to emphasize that the transformation must begin with the implementation of robust software solutions to manage and control warehouse operations. At Savoye, our ODATiO WMS software plays a crucial role in this transformation. It’s a highly innovative and flexible system used across various industries, including healthcare. This software manages and orchestrates all warehouse activities, handles inventory tracking, and ensures full traceability of items within the facility.
ODATiO is also designed to be “automation-ready,” which means it supports both manual and automated warehouse operations. This allows our clients to transition smoothly to automation whenever they’re ready. Moreover, the system can integrate specialized solutions tailored for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, such as robotic picking systems or automated dispensers. These enhancements significantly improve the speed, accuracy, and reliability of medical and wellness product distribution.
Can you share details about Savoye’s fully automated GDC for CJ Logistics and iHerb in Saudi Arabia and how it aligns with Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program?
When iHerb decided to establish a Global Distribution Centre in the GCC, they considered multiple countries before ultimately choosing Saudi Arabia. There were two main reasons behind this decision. First, Saudi Arabia offers attractive incentives and support for foreign investors and international companies looking to set up operations in the region. Second, the Kingdom represents a significant market, accounting for around 30% of iHerb’s regional operations.
Once the location was finalized, the next step was selecting the right logistics partner and technology provider. iHerb partnered with CJ Logistics as their third-party logistics (3PL) provider to operate the facility. Together, they sought cutting-edge technology to support a high-volume, fast-paced e-commerce operation.
This is where Savoye came in. We are designing and implementing a fully automated distribution center equipped with advanced automation technologies and integrated software solutions that manage the entire end-to-end warehouse operation. iHerb, being a pure e-commerce player, required a system with high speed and scalability to handle a large volume of orders efficiently—demands that our solutions are uniquely positioned to meet.This project strongly aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program by advancing the Kingdom’s logistics infrastructure, promoting innovation, and supporting the growth of the healthcare and wellness sectors through modern, efficient supply chain solutions.
What innovative solutions is Savoye using to meet the high-volume demands of the Saudi GDC?
When we began analyzing the customer data and expectations, it was immediately clear that this distribution center would require extremely high throughput—processing up to 15,000 orders daily. To meet this demand while preserving order precision and an excellent customer experience, we implemented several advanced and innovative technologies.
The core of the operation is our X-PTS shuttle system—an automated storage and retrieval solution that transports totes directly to operators for picking. It’s one of the highest-throughput systems available in the market today. Complementing this are our high-speed goods-to-person (GTP) picking stations, where the system automatically selects the appropriate carton size based on the order and synchronizes its arrival with the inventory retrieved by the shuttle system.
This synchronization happens within fractions of a second to ensure a seamless picking process. The cartons are automatically erected using carton erector machines, and the only manual task involved is the operator placing the items into the cartons.
Once packed, the cartons are automatically closed, labeled, and sorted by destination using automated systems, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring consistency and speed.
All these elements—from high-speed shuttles and synchronized picking stations to automated packaging—are designed to guarantee not only the accuracy and efficiency of order fulfillment but also the quality of packaging. This ensures that customers receive their orders in perfect condition, maintaining iHerb’s strong focus on customer satisfaction.
Is this project already completed, or is it still in progress?
The project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase is already live and operational, while the second phase is set to go live in the coming month. The entire system is expected to be fully operational before the end of this year. In the first phase we deployed our ODATiO Warehouse Management System (WMS). ODATiO now drives the facility’s main operational processes.
What technologies and systems does Savoye implement to minimize human error and enhance safety and regulatory compliance during medical order processing?
Depending on the area of operation, we deploy multiple systems to ensure order accuracy and reduce the risk of errors. First, because the process is highly automated, the likelihood of selecting the wrong item is already significantly reduced. However, we take additional measures to eliminate any remaining risk. We use advanced scanning systems that scan 100% of the items during order fulfillment to verify their accuracy.
Beyond that, every completed order is placed on a weighing scale, which compares the actual weight of the carton with its theoretical weight. This step helps detect any discrepancies, such as missing or incorrect items, ensuring an additional layer of control.
We also use pick-to-light technology, which guides operators to the correct items and locations, reducing reliance on manual decision-making.
At the software level, our ODATiO WMS plays a critical role. It includes comprehensive track-and-trace functionalities, allowing us to manage inventory accurately and monitor key attributes like expiry dates, best-before dates, batch numbers, and SKU-specific details. Together, these systems significantly improve order precision, safety, and compliance throughout the entire medical order fulfillment process.
From a sustainability standpoint, how is Savoye supporting greener logistics operations in the healthcare sector, especially given the perception that automation is energy-intensive?
While automation was once considered highly energy-intensive, the landscape has changed significantly. Today, the robotic solutions we implement are far more energy-efficient. Most of them are battery-powered and consume very little energy—comparable to charging a laptop. So, from a technology perspective, these machines are much more environmentally friendly than many assume.
Now, in terms of our direct contribution to sustainability, let me give you two practical examples rather than just marketing claims.
First, we offer a solution called Jivaro, which automatically reduces the height of shipping cartons to match the exact height of the contents. By doing so, we minimize empty space in packages. This reduction in carton size translates directly into fewer delivery trips or better space utilization in transport vehicles—ultimately lowering carbon emissions during last-mile delivery.
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Second, we focus on selecting the right carton size for every order. For example, in the iHerb project, we use seven different carton sizes ranging from very small to large (up to 600x400x300 mm). Our system includes a software module that analyzes the item dimensions and calculates the optimal carton size at the order preparation stage. This ensures each product is packed efficiently, avoiding wasted space and unnecessary transportation bulk.
These innovations not only reduce transportation costs for our clients but also contribute to a measurable decrease in carbon emissions—making our logistics solutions more sustainable in practice, not just in theory.
