Why robots are finally breaking into business – but sadly not our kitchens March 10, 2014 ROBOTICS is now the fastest growing industry in the world, according to a recent report from Littler Mendelson, and could well become one of the largest within a matter of decades. Yet for all the hype, and fears of autonomous machines replacing human jobs, this is a comparatively recent development. The fields of robotics and [...]
Home Retail’s sales jump as Duddy departs March 13, 2014 HOME Retail Group’s outgoing chief executive Terry Duddy will leave the company on a high after reporting strong full-year sales yesterday across both of its businesses and raising full-year forecasts. Sales at Argos leapt 5.2 per cent to £526m in the eight weeks to 1 March, with same store sales growing by the same amount [...]
Dubai launches drone delivery fleet February 10, 2014 The government of Dubai is leading the way in the use of drones to deliver essential items, according to reports from Sky News. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to use the drones as part of a programme to improve government services. The four-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles are will use fingerprint and retina identification [...]
Five reasons delivery drones won’t take off December 2, 2013 The news is buzzing with hopes for Amazon's drone-based delivery service – Prime Air. But skies in the UK will remain quieter for the time-being. Here's why. 1. Regulation John Moreland, a spokesperson for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Systems Association (UAVS) says that regulator fears over drone technology still hold back development. The Civil Aviation [...]
MPs demand overhaul of business rates March 3, 2014 A GROUP of MPs has waded into the debate on business rates by demanding a complete reform of the current system, calling for a tax based on sales instead of the value of a property. Suggesting a series of reforms that could hit online retailers such as Amazon and Asos, the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) [...]
Five reasons why delivery drones won’t take off December 2, 2013 The news is buzzing with hopes for Amazon's drone-based delivery service. But skies in the UK will remain quiet for the time-being. Here’s why. 1. REGULATIONJohn Moreland, a spokesperson for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Systems Association (UAVS), says that regulatory fears over drone technology still hold back development. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) wants all [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 11 February 2014 February 10, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Woodford puts name to new fund Neil Woodford, one of Britain’s most successful fund managers, will pin his own name to his asset management venture, according to Companies House filings. Woodford Investment Management has been set up at the same address at Oakley Capital, the firm Mr Woodford is joining in May after [...]
Bottom Line: AO could be the next online retail success February 26, 2014 WHITE goods retailer AO.com has done little to dissuade comparisons with Asos, the phenomenally successful online fashion retailer that floated 13 years ago – when it announced listing plans earlier this month it even named former Asos chairman Brian McBride (also an ex-Amazon UK managing director) to its board. Yesterday’s 32 per cent rise in shares [...]
Bottom Line: A merger of egos could be difficult to seal February 24, 2014 AS THE world’s telecoms bigwigs gathered in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress yesterday, something was afoot much closer to home. Forced to reveal much earlier than planned that they were in “very preliminary” talks over a potential merger, Carphone Warehouse and Dixons quickly became the FTSE 250 darlings – climbing almost nine and seven per cent respectively. [...]
CNBC Comment: Alibaba float splits investor opinion March 24, 2014 FROM advisers to potential investors, many are salivating over the forthcoming Alibaba listing stateside. Investors who dabbled in Facebook and Twitter will now have access to the champion of Chinese internet players, where e-commerce is booming. According to China Internet Network Information Center, China ended 2013 with 618m internet users, 500m of which were mobile [...]