LuLu keen to explore variety of solutions with Qatar startups: Althaf

Hypermarket chain LuLu is open to working with startups in Qatar for the development of different solutions for a variety of applications, according to Dr Mohamed Althaf, director, LuLu Group International.Speaking to Gulf Times, Althaf said many innovative startups have made their presence in the Qatari market. “We hope they could get the much-needed support, and we are looking for ways on how we could collaborate with them,” he noted.“There are a lot of encouraging signs in Qatar; a lot of startup companies are going to the country, and we hope that Qatar would attract more startups to come here. These companies should not be specific to the retail sector. Because today, every business is interconnected.“For example, whatever developments that happen to fintech or to other sectors, they would indirectly benefit our payment solutions. Fulfilment solutions worldwide are used for logistics or in electronic processing; it is the same technology that even we will be using,” Althaf explained.Althaf noted that LuLu is keen to work with startups and app developers to explore solutions in the field of delivery, payments, or even in traceability, stating that it is possible to digitally trace “almost anything” from a company’s carbon footprint to organic certifications.“We are in talks with some people who really provide umbrella startup services. We are not looking for retail solutions only – it could be any type of solution that could be developed in digital marketing, payments, food wastage control, and carbon footprint, among many others,” he clarified.Earlier, Althaf had told Gulf Times that LuLu will establish Qatar’s first robotic fulfilment centre, adding that the company is almost in the final stages of negotiations with one of the most advanced, cutting-edge robotics companies in Europe. He also said LuLu is getting the hardware for reverse vending machines (RVMs) for plastic bottles. “At some point, we want that to be integrated with some software or app that is available, processed, and made in Qatar,” he said, adding that the hypermarket will be implementing self-scan checkouts.“I think at some point all these things should be done by an algorithm and with robots. One thing that we're going to do is to automate all our shelf reading, and based on a robotic and automated system, it will tell you the items that are out of stock, so we are discussing automating that part of our business,” Althaf emphasised.He said, “I believe all these ecosystems should come together. Every business today is part of the knowledge-based economy. The food sector is a high-tech business. Every technology is useful; drone technology has been widely used in the military. “But today, drones are being used in warehouses for stocktaking. Drones are also being used in many sectors, such as in agriculture. Similarly, every technology that is evolving will have an impact on us.”