Global Trade Identity Can Be The Cornerstone Of Paperless Trade

A single, unified digital identity for each separate player on supply and transaction chains is needed to streamline global trade, writes Henrik Hvid Jensen

IT Is Key To Warehousing Growth In India

The demand for regulatory compliance, security and quality assurance has increased the demand for modern warehousing where organised players have an essential role. Technology adoption in warehousing is deemed as an imperative for efficient business processes.

Transforming Perishable Logistics With DHL Smartrucking

With the demand for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy and other products on the rise, temperature-controlled transportation in India is estimated to grow at 15 percent per annum from 2016 to 2020. Tapping the immense potential in this space, the German logistics and mail service provider DHL launched DHL SmarTrucking and DHL SmarTrucking Cold Chain last year. This trucking solution leverages technology and data analytics to provide features such as temperature-controlled vehicles fitted with devices that help track location. While vehicles in DHL SmarTrucking are aimed at servicing e-commerce and FMCG, DHL SmarTrucking Cold Chain caters to pharma, dairy and fresh agri-produce companies. With 745 trucks that are currently operational and being utilised at full capacity, the company has 170 dedicated trucks for perishable logistics. In a telephonic conversation with Surya Kannoth, DHL SmarTrucking’s chief sales officer Charles D'Costa throws light on the current trends in perishable logistics and how DHL SmarTrucking is aiming at reducing inefficiencies in the cold chain market.

Jupiter Group Acquires 60 Percent Stake In CEBBCO

Kolkata-headquartered Jupiter Group, which manufactures freight wagons, railway components and railway equipment at its integrated, state-of-the art facility in West Bengal has, along with its international partners, announced the acquisition of over 60 percent stake in Madhya Pradesh based company Commercial Engineers & Body Builders Co. Ltd. (CEBBCO).

India's Maritime Sector Forges New​​​​​​​ Opportunities

In a country where 95 percent of trading by volume and 70 percent by value is done through maritime transport, the importance of ports and terminals is significant. Since the country has the advantage to engage in trade and commerce through sea routes, the Indian maritime sector is constantly on the lookout for technologies and advancements to develop ‘smart ports’. Technologies such as real time track and trace, facilitating paperless transactions, big data, are all helping the industry to enhance security, lower the cost and deliver more for less.

EbixCash Acquires Trucking Logistics Marketplace Routier

Ebix, a leading international supplier of on-demand software and e-commerce services to the insurance, financial, healthcare and e-learning industries has announced that one of its India-based EbixCash subsidiaries has acquired a 67 percent stake in Routier, a Delhi-based B2B Marketplace for trucking logistics.

FIATA World Congress Paves Way For Collaboration; New Pacts Inked

The 52nd edition of International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress (FWC) 2018 held at Pullman Hotel, Aerocity, New Delhi from September 26-29 was attended by 1,200 delegates from more than 130 countries.

Filling The Gaps In Logistics Industry

Kushal Nahata, who bootstrapped fareye along with two of his batch mates, talks about transforming logistics and supply chain industry using digital tools and software as a service and address the gaps in the industry with innovative customer first solutions using automation and machine learning.

Ushering In Air Cargo Africa 2019

The all-important ‘Air Cargo Africa 2019’ is a month away and here’s where the global air cargo fraternity will come together to interact with industry stalwarts and discuss the challenges concerning the industry and future of the sector. The highlight of the event remains the commodity-specific conferences that will provide an equal opportunity for high yield shippers/exporters, key policymakers and other stakeholders in the supply chain to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges that arise in the shipping of flowers, automotive, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce goods.

Auto SCM Summit 2018 Initiates A Dialogue To Speed Up Efficiency In Supply Chain

The automobile supply chain stakeholders and regulatory authorities came together to discuss the challenges and their expectations to enable efficiency in supply chain operations.

Adopting Technology & Global Benchmarking

Setting standards in cold chain processes and integration between small scale farmers were identified as keys to achieving the full potential of Africa’s flower and perishable industry at the recently held Flower and Perishable Logistics Africa conferences in Nairobi, Kenya.

Tech Race For A Seamless Last Mile Delivery

While digital transformation is primarily driven by rapidly changing technologies, its successful adoption depends on having a sound strategy. Enterprises who want to stay competitive need to work on scaling up their solutions along with introducing new innovations from time to time.

Pumping Energy Into India's Arterial Roads

India is moving ahead with a pan-nation scheme to improve the road network to bridge critical infrastructure gaps through corridor-based development. A timely completion can give a solid foundation for the ushering in of a better India.

Powering The Supply Chain Of Future

The first chapter of the Supply Chain Meetup in India, organised by Locus, brought together best minds of supply chain from various industries to discuss and deliberate on modern logistics issues and solutions from their respective sectors.

Plan To Reach One Million Partners In Next 5 Years

Bengaluru-based Shadowfax, started in 2015 with an aim to make instant deliveries a reality in India. At present, the plug-and-play platform caters to 3,500 pin codes across 200 cities and fulfils two lakh orders per day for food, grocery, fashion, pharmacy, furniture, e-commerce, and other sectors. Abhishek Bansal, co-founder & CEO speaks to Shalini Nair on their mission of connecting over a million micro entrepreneurs and suppliers in logistics industry, and expecting to grow 150 percent y-o-y.

Focusing More On Cross-Border Ecommerce

With more than 4 million square feet warehouse facility at 65 sites across India, Schenker India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DB Schenker is planning to expand its warehousing footprint to 7 million within the next three years. Vishal Sharma, CEO India and Indian subcontinent in interaction with Shalini Nair speaks about Bangladesh entity, evolving contract logistics in India and how cross-border ecommerce could enhance business prospects.

Evolving Solutions & Enduring Relationships

The change of its name from TVS Logistics Services to TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) was an important one. TVS SCS has become an integrated service provider, offering the entire realm of supply chain solutions. In an interaction with Reji John and Blessy Chettiar, R Shankar, CEO (India), TVS SCS, articulates about the evolutionary process in the 3PL freight space, need to reduce cost of logistics, consolidation in the supply chain and the role of automation in business.

The Ecommerce Rumble For Logistics

Delivery times for ecommerce goods are getting ever shorter with the number of same day and one or two hour delivery services rising. This has had a knock on effect on customer expectations. End recipients are demanding greater flexibility as well as more delivery options, fitting around their lifestyles, rather than around the operational processes of last mile delivery companies. With this, frequent peaks and troughs of demand have opened up many opportunities for ecommerce players and their logistics partners.

Mission Is To Digitise Freight Forwarders

Chennai-based startup FreightBro has been changing the face of digital logistics ever since 2016. It recently inked new business deals with Port of Wilhelmshaven and NAFL. Raghavendran Viswanathan, CEO & founder, FreightBro Logistics tells Shalini Nair about the industry knowhow while setting up a business, rolling out tailor-made solutions for the Dubai market and how collaboration is crucial for a blockchain to flourish.

‘Automation Contagiously Harmonising With The Logistics And Supply Chain Industry'

Web-based e-cloud platform LogYcode offers a cost-effective solution for freight forwarders, exporters, importers, and also air freight carriers. From published tariffs and surcharges of all carriers from pan-India, to a user-friendly interface, LogYcode employs AI and machine learning to build a comprehensive service.

Every Player Must Integrate On Same Platform For Technology Adoption

Backed by the investments from Accel and Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys, Fortigo Network Logistics (4TiGO) entered into digital logistics platform to empower the Indian truck network through technology and networking. Over the last 18 months, the company has recorded y-o-y growth of over Rs 150 crore p.a. Anjani Mandal, CEO and co-founder of the 2015 founded company interacts with Shalini Nair on $50 million funding plan and its outlook to grow 10X over the next 30 months.

Digital Twins For Logistics

How do you operate, maintain, or repair systems when you aren’t in their physical proximity? That was the challenge for NASA when it had to monitor its rockets and vehicles on space missions. So it created mirrored systems or digital twins, still on earth that allowed engineers and astronauts to determine how they could control space mission vehicles. The concept of digital twin helps to control Chandrayaan-2, India’s lunar mission. A digital twin can create huge value in logistics and provide greater insight into and visibility of the current and future state of logistics.

Tracking Innovations In Logistics

Trading intuition for accurate datadriven insight has been a compulsory and continuous journey for today’s logistics businesses. This quest has led to innovations that have automated and streamlined process, in order to bring improved efficiencies to the logistics and supply chain business.

Making Logistics Employees Skillworthy

By 2022, the logistics sector is expected to employ more than 28.4 million employees from the current figures of 16.74 million. With logistics being a service oriented sector, skill development is emerging as a key capability. this makes it absolutely necessary for the government, training institutions, the logistics companies and the sector skill council to step up their efforts in building training capacity and offer industry-relevant skills to the candidates.

A Decade In Logistics: Before And After

As technology begins to take centerstage in global logistics, Nishith Rastogi, chief executive officer and founder of Locus.sh, reflects on the fascinating trends that will define logistics as much more than a support function.

Ocean Freight on a Growth Trajectory

The projects underway at major ports in India is expected to boost the Indian shipping industry, EXIM trade and economy of the country. Over the years, cargo handled at major ports in India have grown considerably. The containerised cargo export from India has increased over the years with India standing on the ninth position. 

Automotive Supply Chain Makes Smart Move

Increasing visibility, better collaboration among the partners and innovation in the supply chain is vital for the dynamic sector of automobiles to enhance their competitive edge and meet world class standards.

Transforming the future of​​​​​​​ India's automotive supply chain

India’s economic landscape has been witnessing tremendous change and the automotive sector is a significant growth driver. With the ongoing introduction of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the government’s latest 10-year Automotive Mission Plan, the sector has been on top gear.

A Greener Route for Freight Transport

Amid growing awareness about the need for adopting sustainable practices, freight transportation has majorly drawn global attention as they account for a substantial share of traffic and pollution in urban and metropolitan areas. Measures are therefore being explored to mitigate the negative effects of freight transportation.

Freight Sector Fastens Belt for Hyperloop

Flying cars and jetpacks could still take time to become a reality, but Hyperloop seems all set to revolutionize the transportation industry. The freight sector could be the first beneficiary of this super speed technology.