IKEA announced the launch of its e-commerce deliveries across 62 districts in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. “The expansion comes into play as IKEA continues to see excitement, demand and visits from thousands of customers hailing from nearby cities and towns to shop from the IKEA stores. These new customer meeting points will offer a full range of over 7,500 well-designed, affordable, good quality, functional and sustainable home furnishing products, along with practical solutions for the home,” reads the release. Shoppers can now order home furnishing products through the website www.ikea.in, the IKEA shopping app and via its Shop By Phone assistance service, starting February 1, 2024. Susanne Pulverer, CEO & CSO (chief sustainability officer), IKEA India shares, “IKEA has received a lot of customer love and trust over the last five years from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Expanding our reach further in these markets means making IKEA more accessible to our customers, more convenient, and truly omnichannel. We see great potential in ecommerce helping us inspire and make our solutions available to the many Indians. We will leverage the distribution capabilities of our existing physical stores in these states to fulfil the demand from online channels. These emerging cities are key hubs for online retail growth, and we are thrilled to bring the IKEA experience to the doorsteps of our many customers in India.”

E-commerce firm Meesho formally launched a logistics vertical – Valmo (VALue+Movement) – to provide shipment facilities to sellers. “VALMO will redefine India’s supply chain by leveraging our strong technology capabilities and tapping into a vast logistics entrepreneur network to deliver shipments at the lowest cost. So far, we have partnered with over 3,000 local entrepreneurs, created more than 30,000 jobs, and expanded our reach to cover over ~6,000 pin codes in 20+ states,” says Meesho in its LinkedIn post.

International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) operated by DP World at Cochin, announced the arrival of two state-of-the-art STS (Ship-to-Shore) Mega Max cranes at its terminal on 9th of December. This initiative aligns seamlessly with ICTT’s steadfast commitment to expansion and modernization, mirroring its overarching goal to strengthening its position of being the premier gateway for South India and a leading transshipment terminal for India. The Mega Max cranes are 51 meter tall under the spreader bar and have an outreach of 67 meter. The cranes can handle up to a width of 25 container rows. The commissioning of the two new quay cranes to ICTT’s existing fleet will strengthen the terminal’s productivity with increased lift capacity and the ability to handle ULCVs (ultra-large container vessels). Speaking on the arrival of the Mega Max Quay Cranes, Praveen Thomas Joseph, CEO, DP World Cochin said, “DP World is committed to continuously elevating operational excellence and customer service standards. The addition of the two mega max quay cranes, coupled with the recently acquired four e-RTGs, strengthens ICTTs ability to efficiently move the world’s cargo, enabling customers from the region to transport their volumes safely, swiftly, and sustainably for decades to come.” ICTT boasts direct service links to over 12 ports on both Indian coasts and various international destinations, including the Middle East, Far East, Europe, and the Mediterranean, making it one of the best-connected terminals in the south and east of India.

Ecom Express launched the Same Day Delivery (SDD) services, a significant stride in expedited shipping across top 30 cities in India. This move comes at a time when the company is building its portfolio of D2C brands in online and offline commerce. The D2C brands and e-commerce ecosystem is moving towards same day delivery and this product by Ecom Express is curated to serve this need and aims at enabling maximum user demand on customer platforms. With a focus on elevating customer experience, the company has launched faster delivery services in cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, Guwahati and Pune. The Same Day Delivery service features pick-up cut-off time of up to 12 PM in metros and key cities, offering customers flexibility to comfortably place orders while still enjoying swift deliveries in the same city. Ajay Chitkara, CEO & Managing Director stated, “In a fast-paced world, our focus is on empowering customers with a seamless and swift delivery experience. The introduction of expedited services is not just a logistical milestone; it is a testament to our dedication in creating a more accessible and convenient e-commerce landscape for our customers.” In response to the growing trend, where 60-70% of online customers express their willingness to pay a premium for expedited deliveries, Ecom Express aims to solidify its position as a trusted logistics partner in India. The introduction of the SDD service, designed for products stored across a network of micro-fulfilment centers, further enhances efficiency for retail brands as well as enables brands to deliver shipments on the same day.

V-Trans has unveiled ambitious plans for rapid growth, targeting a turnover of INR 3000 Crore by 2026. The company, known for its leadership position in the industry, has outlined a comprehensive strategy focusing on surface transport and leveraging technology for sustainable profitability. Key Highlights of V-Trans’ Growth Plan: 1) Strategic Focus on Core Competence: V-Trans will prioritize growth in its core competence area, surface transport, while also expanding its multimodal logistics operations, including air and road combinations. 2) Full Truckload (FTL) Segment: The company aims to capitalize on the $120 billion FTL market, intending to capture a more significant share by enhancing its presence in this lucrative segment. We are digitizing the process to bring in more efficiency and transparence in the entire process from procure to pay process. 3) Northern India as a Focused Market: With 30% of overall revenue coming from northern India, V-Trans will make substantial investments in expanding branches, warehouses, and infrastructure in this region. 4) Expansion in Northern Region: We are moving to new Transhipment facilities in Ghaziabad and Zirkapur apart from the existing large warehouses in Dharuhara and Raliawas in Haryana, which are already operational. The company plans further expansions by opening new branches in 3 & 4 tier cities eastern UP, western UP, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. 5) Technology Integration: Acknowledging the role of technology, V-Trans has invested in a new ERP system, ensuring advanced functionalities, and API integrations with government portals, customers, and vendors for seamless information flow. Also building on its commitment to transparence and compliance it is moving its financial system to Standard Global platform for the entire group. 6) Third-Party Logistics Operation: V-Trans is expanding its third-party logistics operation under …

DP World has partnered with Vedanta Sesa Goa to facilitate the seamless movement of crude iron cargo from the coastal state of Goa to its cutting-edge inland container depot at Modinagar, said DP World’s official LinkedIn post. This rail freight solution aims to reduce reliance on road transport, alleviate traffic congestion, cut road maintenance costs, and contribute to environmental sustainability through its capacity to handle bulk cargo. The transition from road to rail is expected to result in a 70% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for Vedanta Sesa Goa. This partnership underscores our commitment towards fostering innovation, ensuring sustainability, and elevating the standards of cargo transportation in the metallurgical industry, the post added.

SMILe (Shree Maruti Integrated Logistics Ltd) has announced its ground-breaking collaboration with Skye Air. This strategic partnership is set to revolutionize the e-commerce landscape and introduce a game-changing capability to deliver shipments via drones. As the first-of-its-kind offering in India, this transformative alliance showcases SMILe unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology to bring better solutions to its sellers and customers. The partnership is centralized towards enabling faster order fulfillment within urban traffic congestion with the help of Skye Air’s autonomous logistics solutions. By integrating drones with highly adaptable on-demand interfaces, Skye Air minimizes disruptions to partner operational processes, thereby enhancing shipping capabilities and ensuring unparalleled customer satisfaction for both B2B and B2C operations. The introduction of drone delivery services will not only provide Shree Maruti sellers with the ability to offer same-day and next-day deliveries but also revolutionize the entire delivery process, making it more efficient, eco-friendly, and customer-centric. “SMILe (Shree Maruti Integrated Logisistics Ltd) is on a mission to empower Indian merchants with inclusive, tech-driven solutions to ease their business operations,” said Priyank Patel, VP-Business of SMILe. “Our collaboration with Skye Air represents a significant step towards achieving that goal and propelling the e-commerce landscape towards future advancements throughout India. With this partnership, we are redefining the future of e-commerce and providing our sellers with a competitive edge in the market.” “Skye Air is dedicated to revolutionizing drone delivery and making it a mainstream logistics solution in India, and our collaboration with Shree Maruti is a significant step in that direction,” said Ankit Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO of Skye Air. “By leveraging our state-of-the-art tech stack and infrastructure, including Skye Pod and Skye UTM, we aim to …

Challenge Group, the end-to-end solution provider for complex verticals, announces the acquisition of an additional Boeing 747-400F aircraft. This strategic decision demonstrates Challenge Group’s confidence in its vision for the future and its dedication to providing top-tier services to clients globally. “The new 747-400F is a testament to Challenge Group’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve despite industry discussions about overcapacity,” said Or Zak, Chief Commercial Officer of Challenge Group. “It is an ideal choice for transporting commodities such as heavy & oversize, horses, pharma, aircraft engines, dangerous goods, cars and other complex verticals and will enhance our capacity and flexibility, allowing us to tap into new markets as well.” Boasting unique nose-loading capacity and a 120-tonne payload, the aircraft is set to elevate Challenge Group’s operational capabilities, ensuring timely and efficient cargo transport in the evolving air freight landscape. In recent years, Challenge Group has diversified its fleet with the addition of a B767-300BDSF aircraft in August 2023, the continuation of the conversion program with two aircraft undergoing simultaneous conversion, and the full fleet of four B767 converted freighters expected to be fully operational by Q3/2024. Challenge Group anticipates that the new aircraft will be deployed on strategic trade lanes to enhance the connectivity between Europe and the Far East.

Indian Institute of Freight Forwarders (IIFF), which is a training arm of the Federation of Freight Forwarders Association of India (FFFAI), opened its Eastern Region Chapter by launching a training programme for the G Category Examination candidates. The training programme was initiated by the Odisha Customs Brokers Association (OCBA) in the presence of Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Commissionerate, Bhubaneshwar Madhab Chandra Mishra, IRS. FFFAI Chairman Dushyant Mulani; Chairman Elect Amit Kamat, Immediate Past Chairman Shankar Shinde; Vice Chairman Puneet Jain; Hon. Treasurer & OB In-charge, IIFF Sudhir Agarwal and IIFF President Tej Contractor. Sudip Dey, Hon. Secretary, FFFAI moderated the launch programme and Viren Dayal, Faculty Member IIFF conducted the first training session. The members appreciated the efforts of FFFAI, IIFF and OCBA in providing additional qualified manpower in Odisha and adjoining regions, will help the entire logistics community of the East India region and will be immensely beneficial. Mulani shared how FFFAI has been playing a pivotal role in the country in dissemination of knowledge and holding training courses periodically for the benefit of the logistics industry. He also commended OCBA president Sachidananda Pattanayak and other members of this FFFAI Member association for their path-breaking initiative concerning the human resources development by skilling the aspirants for the entire logistics industry. He stated that IIFF would offer many more training courses to the students of this region to make them efficient multipliers in strengthening the logistics industry as well as the economy of this region. Speaking on this occasion, Shankar Shinde said there should be more professionalism in the logistics sector. This can be achieved through imparting the required training to the candidates. This industry is no longer an industry …

DHL Express and Aragen LifeSciences jointly announced partnership to use DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. This collaboration makes Aragen the first Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) customer of DHL Express in India. The GoGreen Plus service supports Aragen’s goal to reduce carbon emissions in international shipments. R.S Subramanian, Senior Vice President – South Asia, DHL Express, said, “We are happy to announce our partnership with Aragen LifeSciences, a significant move towards sustainable business in India. Aragen is our first Science Based Targets Initiative customer to have come on board to reduce carbon emissions, and we’re proud to support their ambition. Now more than ever, it has become necessary to address the problem of Scope 3 emissions. With our GoGreen Plus service, we’re assisting customers in this journey. We hope this agreement inspires others to adopt sustainable practices and embrace low-emission transport services through sustainable aviation fuel.” Manni Kantipudi, CEO, Aragen Life Sciences, added “Sustainability and ESG are key priority areas for Aragen and this collaboration with DHL Express will help us achieve our near-term target under SBTi by 2032. As a socially and environmentally responsible corporate, Aragen is committed to reducing carbon emissions produced while shipping internationally and the GoGreen Plus service will enable us to achieve this. Aragen and DHL have a long-standing association and this collaboration underscores our mutual commitment to responsible sustainable practices and managing our scope emissions with carbon insetting.”