Category Archives: Supply Chain

Bajaj Electricals (BEL) and Mahindra Logistics (MLL) signed an agreement for innovative logistics optimisation and outsourcing arrangement. This deal is a complete end-to-end redesign and outsourcing of Bajaj Electricals’ entire logistics by Mahindra Logistics, with the twin objectives of achieving enhanced & industry-best service levels, coupled with a logistics cost saving in excess of 25 per cent. The total contract value, of this one-of-its-kind deal in the Indian Logistics industry, will be in excess of Rs 1,000 crores over the next 5 years and is the outcome of a unique and collaborative solution. Working together closely, MLL has developed for BEL a fully redesigned and consolidated logistics network, with storage optimisation, transportation management and inventory movement through technology, best practice and automation. At the heart of the network, there will be two large ultra-modern mega-warehouses in Delhi and Mumbai, with latest technology, automation and skill-building, enhanced by environmentally conscious, greener & sustainable warehouse practices. This network will further operate fully IT-enabled fulfilment centres from which BEL’s dealers, distributors, customers will enjoy market-leading delivery lead times. As part of the solution, MLL will be deploying a healthy mix of dedicated long-haul fleets and local distribution trucks, enabled by the latest tracking technology and control tower operations. There will also be a transition towards sustainable logistics using electric delivery trucks from EDel by Mahindra Logistics. For BEL, this project marks a significant transition towards leveraging logistics management as a competitive advantage. Speaking on the occasion, Anuj Poddar, Executive Director, said, “At Bajaj Electricals, we have been actively working towards various strategic initiatives to enhance value for our customers and other stakeholders. This collaboration with MLL is one such key initiative and I …

Raag Technologies and Services (RTS) is enabling supply chain efficiency with its IoT-enabled logistics control tower. RTS has enabled the country’s leading manufacturing and distribution companies to save costs and enhance efficiency significantly. The ever increasing need for more visibility and traceability within the supply chain has made it pervasive to generate significant interest in unified supply chain systems and lower risks. Therefore, delivering end-to-end visibility becomes an important task. RTS’s state-of-art logistics control tower, enables an enhanced visibility and traceability to the customer’s dealer/distributor network and is designed to make the various aspects and steps of the chain clearer and easier to follow. Abhik Mitra, MD and CEO, Spoton Logistics, comments, “With one stop Control tower Web Portal, RTS is enabling an effective and strong end-to-end visibility, thereby enhancing the efficiency of our supply chain and operations. By creating an ecosystem that focuses on transparency, companies can have visibility in order to reduce the risk of potential issues as well as gain data on how to better manage orders”. Commenting on the same, Narsmihan Raghavan said, “Supply chain visibility and control are progressively improving, therefore it becomes more critical than ever that supply chains find a way to establish and sustain a competitive advantage within their respective markets. The RTS’s state-of-art logistics control tower uses AI and serves as a system of engagement across trading partners, people and things to work together in real-time to serve the end consumer.”

Tata Motors has announced its earnest commitment to the nation by providing refrigerated trucks for smooth movement of the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination drive. The company offers the widest range of trucks for end-to-end transportation of the vaccine. These vaccine trucks and vans are available on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for purchase. To ensure reliable, safe and speedy transportation of the vaccines, the new range of vehicles have been designed and engineered as per the temperature, volume and weight requirements. The vehicles are available in a variety of capacities and tonnage points to suit the diverse needs, with 20 and 32 cuM refrigerated trucks in the Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) and Medium Commercial Vehicle (MCV) segments, respectively, with the availability of insulated vans in the ICV and MCV segments. Insulated vaccine vans in the Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) and Pick-up (PU) range are also on offer, to facilitate last-mile and for rural transportation of vaccines. Girish Wagh, President – Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, says, “We are pleased to extend support as the nation readies to rollout the first phase of the vaccination, contributing for the safe and speedy distribution of vaccines across the country. By staying mindful of Government regulations and vaccination manufacturer needs, our range of superior products endeavour to contribute towards the vision of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat.” Tata Motors has tied up with leading reefer (refrigerated load body) manufacturers of the country, furthering its preparation of offering ready-to-use reefers and insulated vaccine vans. Over the years, Tata Motors has sold a substantial number of reefers to various cold chain customers, primarily constituting pharma companies. Combined with their specialised focus on applications concerning vaccine distribution, these vehicles …

DP World has announced that the company has started construction of its Nhava Sheva Business Park (NSBP) Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Mumbai. The Rs1000 crore DP World FTZ investment comes under the Hindustan Infralog (HIPL) joint venture between DP World (65 per cent) and the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) (35 per cent). This venture has been created to invest up to US$ 3 billion in ports, logistics and related sectors across the country. NSBP, a Special Purpose Vehicle, is a co-developer for the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) SEZ. The FTZ is on a long-term Lease of 60 years and is located 5 kms away from JNPT. After signing a lease agreement in July and successfully acquiring all permissions & approvals, the company has started construction in full swing. The facility comprising of 1 million sq. ft covered storage area with other cargo handling facilities, modern equipment, commercial building, etc., will be completed in 12 to 14 months. The facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure like specialised multi-product and temperature-controlled warehouses, and a container yard with ultra-modern digital & security systems. It will offer round-the-clock customs clearance and value-added services to provide customers a one-stop solution for all their consumption and trading needs. Its strategic proximity – to the largest container port in India, the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and National Highways – provides quick and direct access to domestic and global markets. It will offer long-term advantages to domestic as well as global traders and manufacturers, by enabling reliable and fast movement of cargo. Rizwan Soomar, CEO & MD, Subcontinent, DP World says, “We are delighted to build the Free Trade Zone in such …

Ecom Express has announced a strategic investment worth of US$ 11 million in Bangladesh’s largest third-party e-commerce logistics (3PL) firm Paperfly. Through this investment, Ecom Express is entering Bangladesh marking its maiden venture outside India. After having covered the length and breadth of the country reaching over 1.2 billion people daily, Ecom Express is now looking at expanding into adjacent countries, starting with Bangladesh. T.A. Krishnan, CEO and Co-Founder, Ecom Express, says, “We see a lot of growth opportunities in adjacent markets and the current investment is one of the many things in the pipeline. We looked at multiple aspects before identifying Bangladesh for our first international venture. The market draws parallel with India in terms of growth and demography and we want to leverage our experience and domain expertise to enable high scalability growth and build a strategic backbone of e-commerce logistics in Bangladesh. Paperfly is quite similar to Ecom Express in its operations and we admire what the company has accomplished in the Bangladesh market. We look forward to enabling Paperfly to unlock new avenues for an enhanced third-party logistics and home delivery in the country.” The investments will be used by Paperfly towards transformation of logistics through intelligence driven automations and data sciences that would enable the company to meet the fast-growing demand for quality e-commerce logistics services in Bangladesh. It will further accelerate the company’s implementation of advanced supply chain and logistics processes, agile solutions in delivery and warehouse management, and other operational facets in the logistics and supply chain. With more than 167 million inhabitants and over 90 million internet users, the e-commerce industry in Bangladesh is emerging and has become one of the fastest …

In order to manage its fulfilment operations for the Western region, FM Logistic India has been awarded a contract from Pepperfry. FM Logistic India will carry out warehousing operations at one of Pepperfry’s largest warehouses located in Bhiwandi which is spread across an area of 2,85, 000 sq. ft. The 3PL service provider will not only manage storage but also undertake a rigorous process of quality control as per prescribed guidelines and fulfil Pepperfry’s omni-channel orders. These goods will then be delivered to Pepperfry’s Studios for display and distribution centres across India, using Pepperfry’s last-mile delivery network. “Pepperfry is one of the most recognised furniture brands in India,” says Ashish Shah, Co-founder & COO, Pepperfry. “What started as a pure play online furniture store in 2012 has evolved as India’s leading furniture and home décor marketplace, both online and offline. The partnership with FM Logistic India will further help us serve our customers better thanks to a faster, most cost-effective supply chain and a continuous improvement orientation that FM Logistics brings to the table.” “We are committed to helping our customers develop their e-commerce and omni-channel strategies. A fast supply chain is critical for brands to strengthen their identity and relationship with end customers. Therefore, we are delighted to help Pepperfry manage their fulfilment operations for the Western region,” says Alexandre Amine Soufiani, MD, FM Logistic India. The Indian furniture market is segmented on the basis of: Material – Wood, Metal, and Plastic and Other Furniture Type – Home Furniture, Office Furniture, Contract Furniture, and Other Furniture Distribution Channel – Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Online, and Other Distribution Channels The furniture industry in India, which currently stands at $17 …

Freightwalla has announced partnership with TradeLens; a blockchain enabled digital supply chain solution jointly developed by Maersk and IBM, to provide unparalleled visibility and connectivity for shipper’s international shipments. Improving transparency, traceability, and rapid response mechanism has been a significant concern for the shipping and logistics industry. With robust end-to-end connectivity of all stakeholders with the blockchain technology, the partnership will strengthen the overall supply chain transparency. The association will further fast-track the digitization revolution in the industry. Speaking on the occasion, Punit Java, Co-Founder & CTO, Freightwalla, says, “As a digital freight forwarder, our mission is to improve transparency and reduce costs for our partners and customers. Freightwalla getting on board the TradeLens platform will enable seamless connectivity between all stakeholders in the logistics ecosystem, including transporters, shipping lines, ports, and financial institutions. It will enable shippers to get full visibility into their shipments and reduce the overall cost of logistics.” The company has developed its own digital freight forwarding app for the EXIM fraternity and plans to link it with TradeLens, providing its customers unparalleled transparency and visibility while shipping internationally. Java, who also heads the development of Freightwalla’s digital freight forwarding platform, believes that TradeLens will help reduce the operational overheads and errors by enabling the automation of significant parts of the operational process. Bimal Kanal, Head – South Asia, TradeLens, mentions, “TradeLens is an industry-wide neutral platform aiming at digitalising supply chains and the logistics industries. We aim to bring as many stakeholders involved in the logistics sector as possible onto the platform and create an efficient, digital ecosystem that will drive benefits to one and all. Freightwalla’s moves towards digital transformation are helping shippers to …

Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) has announced the findings of its industry performance review for the first half of fiscal 2020-21. The turnover of the automotive component industry stood at Rs.1.19 lakh crore (USD 15.9 billion) for the period April 2020 to September 2020, registering a de-growth of 34 per cent over the first half of the previous year. Commenting on the performance of the auto component industry in India, Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA says, “The auto industry witnessed a downturn in FY2019-20, the situation further aggravated with the outbreak of the pandemic and the lockdown. While the first quarter for FY20-21 was significantly stressed, however with unlocking of the economy, the sales of vehicles witnessed improvement, month-on-month, in the second quarter. The component industry, in tandem, posted a subdued performance with de-growth of 34 per cent over the first half of the last fiscal, registering a turnover of Rs.1.19 lakh crore (US$ 15.9 billion). However, for the first time ever, the industry witnessed a trade surplus with Auto Component exports at Rs 39,003 crore (US$ 5.2 billion) and imports at Rs.37,710 crore (USD 5.0 billion); both exports and imports declined by 23.6 per cent and 32.7 per cent respectively. The aftermarket estimated at Rs 31,116 crore, also witnessed de-growth of 15 per cent. Component sales to OEMs in the domestic market contracted the most to Rs.87120 crore (US$ 11.6 billion), declining 42 per cent”. Sharing his insights on the performance of the auto component industry, Deepak Jain, President, ACMA said, “In the backdrop of the pandemic and the lockdown, the automotive industry faced unprecedented challenges in the first-half of FY 2020-21. The auto component industry, through …

After a successful pilot phase, PrimaDollar has officially launched its operations in India. With clients already in over 30 countries, the company provides low-cost trade finance to importers and exporters around the world from its headquarters in the UK and network of offices across South and East Asia. It has now opened offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. PrimaDollar is also now starting to partner with banks and logistics platforms to embed this new form of trade finance into their business models – allowing exporters to take finance as they ship their container, rather than having to make a separate call to their local bank in order to arrange separate working capital. The company solves the resulting cash flow gap for the exporter, paying the exporter upfront, taking the buyer credit risk and allowing the buyer to pay later. All of this is done at low cost, without requiring collateral and with simple and clear pricing. It’s unique trade finance products work shipment-by-shipment, without the need for complex multi-period financing agreements or IT integrations. Tim Nicolle, Founder & CEO, Prima Dollar, says, “Trade finance has traditionally been a time-consuming service, involving multiple banks and the many layers of complexity associated with letters of credit. On a global basis, the market is looking for a transactional solution that works shipment-by-shipment, without collateral and at a low cost. That’s what PrimaDollar has pioneered. For the Indian market, this is especially important as Indian exports are rising (by 7% in 2018) whilst bank finance for exports is falling (down 20% by 2018). All of this points to a major funding gap that PrimaDollar’s trade finance products exactly fit.” “After a successful pilot …

Considering the need for a reliable supply chain mechanism for the vaccine distribution, LogiNext has announced the launch of a COVID -19 vaccine supply chain management and tracking platform. Building the digital backbone for a global logistics movement, LogiNext has been at the forefront of the automation technology revolution. During the nascent phases of the pandemic, the company has proactively started working on a solution which is now available for government and healthcare organisations. Dhruvil Sanghvi, Chief Executive Officer of LogiNext said, “We have been working hard for a while now on this vaccine tracking solution including some key features for the cold chain. We’re very proud to launch the first solution to manage a complex supply chain around COVID-19 vaccine from manufacturing facilities all the way till the last mile.” LogiNext Mile is a complete all-mile transportation automation platform which can be used for tech-enabled management of vaccine distribution. The SaaS platform can be deployed for complete visibility and tracking of the vaccine distribution right from the point of origin at the manufacturing units to the last mile. The solution can be used for the entire chain or a part of the solution can be used for: Visibility and tracking: LogiNext Mile gives a real-time dashboard via which managers can keep track of all logistical movement and orchestrate a distribution plan. Demand forecasting and Order scheduling: Operators now have the capability to accurately forecast the needs across the globe according to which orders on the first mile can be triggered. Detailed analytics: LogiNext’s expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities gives its clients (healthcare enterprises, governmental organizations, carriers and 3PLs) an added advantage in the form of detailed …