The prolonged lockdown had cast a shadow on the freight and the logistics business in India. There was large scale disruption in the supply chain aspects. Though essential goods and FMCG were moving despite the lockdown, the supply chain of non-essential goods and other items had taken a hit due to the restrictions. However, this is also gradually inching back to normalcy now. Though the complete normalisation of businesses is expected to take another month or so, the positive sign is that almost 50 per cent of the total capacity has already been achieved. This is gradually inching back towards normalcy as a number of truck drivers, who had left for their villages during the lockdown, have begun returning to their work.
Read MoreFedEx Corp. and Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced a new multiyear collaboration to help transform commerce by combining the global digital and logistics network of FedEx with the power of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud. Together, FedEx and Microsoft aim to create opportunities for their customers through multiple joint offerings powered by Azure and Dynamics 365 that will use data and analytics solutions to reinvent the most critical aspects of the commerce experience and enable businesses to better compete in today’s increasingly digital landscape.The company has temperature controlled warehouses set up adjacent to cities with significant potential for sourcing and consumption of temperature sensitive products and materials, such as foods and beverages for grocery stores. With a capacity of 107,200 pallets, and 293 trucks making up its fleet, Snowman Logistics boasts the best-in-class infrastructure in the region, living up to the claim as India’s leading cold chain logistics provider. Snowman Logistics has also recorded almost $100mn USD in investments into its infrastructure. Keeping all of this going is the 1500 strong workforce, employed across 33 strategically located warehouses throughout the country.
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Download AppHistory is repeating itself. Shipping lines like ONE, Evergreen, MSC, Cosco have opted for the longer route through Cape of Good Hope. Suez Canal charges vary depending on the size of the vessel, number of containers carried and the proportion of laden boxes. Based on current tariff, a fully laden 20,000 TEU container vessel may pay approximately USD 700,000 in transit fees for Asia-Europe sailing. Nobody wants cargo due to drop in demand arising out of COVID-19 lockdown. Lot of uncertainty still prevails regarding the resumption of economic activities. Shipping lines will save millions of Dollars that will compensate for the revenue loss. Supply Chain de-coupling happening again, unintentionally.
Read MoreThe months from March to June every year experience the onset of the spring season with multicolor flowers blooming in the trees, freshly-grown fruits turning ripe and rabi crops ready to be harvested. However, the spring season this year has not been very colorful. The nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus has resulted in acres of farmers’ produce left to rot or sold at dirt cheap prices- Rs 3 per kg for onions in Maharashtra’s Lasalgaon mandi. Transport constraints, labour shortage and limited market access, with almost no buyers, is deeply hurting the farmers in India. Even though the government has lifted certain restrictions in order to ease the operations in the agriculture industry, the farming community is still striving to cover the losses.
Read MoreEven as the government eases restrictions on industrial activity in a graded manner under Lockdown 4.0, migrant workers' return to their homes has exacerbated the trouble for the transport industry. Trucks are stranded at warehouses, and the level of idle trucks or the vehicles currently not in use is now close to 70 percent, sources told CNBC-TV18. The scarcity has also led to freight rates shooting up in the range of 15 percent-20 percent currently, which are expected to increase to 25 percent-50 percent in the coming weeks, if the shortage is not addressed soon.Inflated freight costs are acting as a spanner in the works for automakers and their parts suppliers as they start to reopen factories after a two-month halt due to the countrywide lockdown. Truck fleet operators are charging a premium of 30-40% for transporting finished vehicles, parts as well as raw materials across routes connecting industrial zones and ports, said five industry officials. The cost of transporting goods is very high right now as transporters are charging premium freight. They say that they are offering more salaries to the truck drivers to get them back to work but drivers remain insecure about job stability and health risks.
Read MoreHere’s a vision of how coronavirus might change the world. Governments devastated by pandemic and the costs of supporting locked-down and unemployed workers will reverse decades of retreat to take a more muscular role in their economies. Businesses that for years have outsourced production to China and profits to tax havens will bring those activities home. In an echo of the years after World War II, a new era of egalitarianism will replace an age of private excess and public deprivation.
Read MoreFedEx Corp. and Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced a new multiyear collaboration to help transform commerce by combining the global digital and logistics network of FedEx with the power of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud. Together, FedEx and Microsoft aim to create opportunities for their customers through multiple joint offerings powered by Azure and Dynamics 365 that will use data and analytics solutions to reinvent the most critical aspects of the commerce experience and enable businesses to better compete in today’s increasingly digital landscape.
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Download AppVehicles with invalid or non-functional FASTag will be charged double the toll fee applicable on the national highways, the government said on Sunday. Before this amendment, the user of vehicle was to pay twice on the fee plaza only if the vehicle didn't carry the FASTag and entered in dedicated lane for the tag. The amendment in the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules was done in exercise of the powers conferred on the central government. The government had made FASTags mandatory from December 15, 2019.
Read MoreIndia has around 130 Mn farmers with 195 m hectares of land under cultivation. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of the population. The gross value added by agriculture, forestry and fishing is estimated at INR 18.55 lakh Cr (US$ 265.51 billion) in FY19. However, it’s impossible for farmers, who largely live on sustenance to shoulder even a small disruption in cash flow putting them in deep debts. The pandemic has also derailed harvest preparation, due to lack of agricultural labour to harvest. Logistical curbs on transportation of produce are adding to their woes. The government’s move to alleviate their troubles by putting agriculture under the list of the essential services hasn’t done much to allay their fears.
Read MoreEven as the government eases restrictions on industrial activity in a graded manner under Lockdown 4.0, migrant workers' return to their homes has exacerbated the trouble for the transport industry. Trucks are stranded at warehouses, and the level of idle trucks or the vehicles currently not in use is now close to 70 percent, sources told CNBC-TV18. The scarcity has also led to freight rates shooting up in the range of 15 percent-20 percent currently, which are expected to increase to 25 percent-50 percent in the coming weeks, if the shortage is not addressed soon.
Read MoreRecently, the Future Group had announced plans to exit its insurance joint ventures. These moves are part of the group's efforts to sell non-core assets to repay loans to banks and redeem shares pledged with other lenders. Kishore Biyani-promoted Future Group has put its logistics arm, Future Supply Chain on the block, sources told CNBC-TV18. Recently, the Future Group had announced plans to exit its insurance joint ventures. These moves are part of the group's efforts to sell non-core assets to repay loans to banks and redeem shares pledged with other lenders.
Read MoreSometime in December, 2019, Adani group forayed into cold chain logistics by purchasing a major stake in Snowman Logistics Ltd,at a time when India was battling with economic slowdown amid domestic companies cutting down on expenditure due to lack of strong revenue visibility. Now, with an unprecedented crisis like the current pandemic, Adani Group is revisiting the decision of continuing with the deal, in the aftermath of the ongoing pandemic. On Wednesday, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) notified the possibility of either letting go of the deal or re-negotiating the price to buy a 40.25 per cent stake in Snowman Logistics Ltd for INR 296 crore.
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Download AppThe warehousing and logistics asset class could be among the fastest to recover from the coronavirus crisis, a report says, citing an expected increase in domestic demand and possibility of global firms shifting manufacturing to India to de-risk supply chains as reasons. The Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP) report estimates that the warehousing and logistics industry will grow at 35% in 2021 compared with the earlier industry demand forecast of 25%.
Read MoreAs the country opens up in a measured and sequential manner, businesses are keeping an eye not only on the red, orange and green zones across the country but also the traffic lights on their own businesses. The disruption in our daily routines will bring in long standing changes in both consumer behaviour and businesses, both of which are tilting heavily in favour of going digital and an internet enabled ecosystem. Segments of eCommerce have had differentiated degrees of impact, some have come to a grinding halt and are starting to slowly ramp up operations, while others have witnessed fast paced adoption and focusing on keeping and increasing momentum.
Read MoreIndia’s Industrial and logistics real estate quarterly demand dropped by 30% in the first quarter of 2020, according to JLL’s latest report “COVID-19: Industrial & Logistics Sector in India. Impact and Opportunities,” released today. This has been lower than the previous first quarter of last three years (2017 – 2019) demonstrating a contraction of approx due to nationwide lockdown. India’s warehousing sector, driven by new supply in eight major metros including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Pune, saw an approximately 15% contraction (in mn sq. ft.) during January-March, the first quarter of 2020.
Read MoreLockdown has halted the transport sector with just about 20 per cent rolling in transportation of essential goods. While for the rest, lack of drivers and subordinate staff as many have left for native villages are seen as major challenge in resuming work with easing lockdown guidelines. Many transporters said though many industries are gradually resuming operations with ease in lockdown guidelines and may require transportation, lack of drivers will play a spoil sports for them.
Read MoreLarge foreign ships carrying container cargoes are avoiding congested Indian ports due to difficulties in loading and unloading goods, which is likely to affect the flow of material across sectors, said industry executives.The ports are, however, preparing for a phased exit from the lockdown, as the Centre relaxes measures to kick start economic activity. The congestion is because many importers are not willing to move cargo from ports due to low consumer demand, besides shortage of trucking capacity. The waiver of demurrage—charge payable for storage—by the government, which was meant to provide relief to the industry during the lockdown, are being misused.
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Download AppCOVID-19 has created high transaction costs and uncertainty in India’s transformed food supply chains, putting food security at risk as 92% of food consumption in India is purchased, predominantly from the private sector. Government faces the challenge of marshalling resources between mitigating the impending food crisis and containing the contagion as the risk of sociopolitical tensions looms large. It is recommended that the government concentrate on sustaining the food supply chains towards eventual rebound, recognising that government food distribution cannot replace even a tenth of the market.
Read MoreAs millions of kiranas face unusual supply constraints, especially as movement of distributors remains restricted, and they scurry to meet rising demand for household staples, neighbourhood grocery stores have partnered a new set of suppliers and startups for online orders and deliveries. The move is vastly different from the way they have functioned for years, that is relying on a fleet of salesmen and distributors who make weekly visits to their stores to place orders, and then deliver supplies of everything from milk, bread, chips to detergents. As the lockdown has proved kiranas to be more agile, startups have built businesses around digitizing kiranas by helping them order goods online, and even making digital payments.
Read MoreIndia eased some lockdown restrictions, but bureaucratic hurdles still hamper interstate trucking. According to the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), only 25-30% of truck fleets are on the road, and restrictions at state borders are “impeding their movement.” Drivers are being “harassed and forcibly taken” for coronavirus testing, AIMTC said, claiming others were being subjected to “extortion and corruption”.
Read MoreWhen the timeline of the pandemic of 2020 is complete, March 24th will stand out as a day to remember for everyone from sports fans to anthropologists to cola drinkers.The supply chain is creaking around the world. Fast forward a month and some strains remain and some are worsening, particularly in the pipelines for fresh food and medical goods.
Read MoreIndia could witness deals of nearly $600 million in warehousing if present-day negotiations go to plan, according to property consulting firm Savills India. The firm reported that manufacturing, third-party logistics and ecommerce companies have signed over three million square feet of new warehousing contracts across six locations in the last week alone, while land acquisition of 3,000 acres for construction of new warehouses is currently under various stages of closing.
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Download AppThe trade is down, production is halted, the supply chain has been disrupted and markets are bearish. MSME segment has perhaps been the hardest hit due to the prolonged lockdown. As the economic activities come to a halt, MSMEs are grappling with problems like cash flow, low liquidity and lack of workforce. In a move to curb the economic impact of the virus, the RBI has announced a moratorium on term loans, put off interest payment on working capital facilities and eased working capital financing.
Read MoreBlackBuck, the trucking technology company, said on Wednesday it had waived off commissions for using its platform to help logistics and supply chains during the national lockdown to contain the coronavirus. Manufacturers, traders and shippers can access a million trucks to transport products across India, said the firm that has Flipkart and Goldman Sachs among its investors.
Read MoreAmazon India on Monday said it will use 55 railway routes to transport goods between cities as the e-commerce major works on ways to ensure faster deliveries to customers amid the nationwide lockdown. Strengthening its partnership with the Indian Railways, the company would now be utilising 55 railway lanes. Amazon India will transport consignments via rail across the country and is leveraging the 'COVID-19 Parcel Special Trains' introduced by the Indian Railways to ramp up its operations to 55 lanes during the lockdown period.
Read MoreAs the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc, the Indian government has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3, 2020, which is absolutely necessary step to check the spread of the virus. This has inevitably resulted in an interruption of supply chain and access to food items, medicines and personal hygiene products in the country.
Read MoreThe Covid-19 pandemic has made business tougher for domestic ports and logistics companies, which were already grappling with falling earnings amid the global economic slowdown. Currently, different sections of the business, like warehousing, trucking and last-mile delivery among others, are facing several challenges, with labour shortage being the biggest challenge across all the segments.
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Download AppToday, the importance of the supply chain has again been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic in India and around the world. In the Indian market, the sudden announcement of a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020 halted the movement of numerous interstate goods carriers. On the retail front, the unforeseen spike in demand for essential goods which was fueled by mass hysteria and panic-buying created a shortage of inventory at numerous supermarkets and other local retail outlets.
Read MoreEnter AgriBazaar, a Delhi-based agritech marketplace that helps farmers and traders sell their produce quickly and efficiently through online mandis (or e-mandis). The startup works with over 120 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in India and connects more than 200,000 farmers with state governments, procurement agencies, and food processing companies like Britannia, AgroPure, and others.
Read MoreRating agency ICRA in its latest report has said that Indian logistics sector is probably going to witness 6-8 per cent fall within the current year (FY21) on account of rapid outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. It noted that the rapid rise of COVID-19 pandemic as well as the government’s decision to contain the disease outbreak in India through 40-day lockdown is adversely impacting the logistics sector.
Read MoreIn the face of a slow economy and everything that goes with it, Kevin McMaster, Vice President of Carrier Sales and Operations at Flock Freight, expects shippers and carriers to bounce back from the coronavirus, just not immediately. Coronavirus is an unpredictable event that has changed life as we knew it. It has led to outcomes the likes of which we’ve never seen before in global freight markets, supply chains, and the United States trucking industry.
Read MoreGlobal container supply chains could be facing an unprecedented congestion crisis, as isolated hotspots of boxes pile up at ports, and container freight stations expand and spread.
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Download AppWhether it was drafting the Indian Railways to transport more than 13 million tonne of foodgrain from the Food Corporation of India since the lockdown or getting Air India to launch its first cargo flight to bring back 19,416 kg of medical supplies from China, an empowered group headed by secretary of drinking water supply, Parameswaran Iyer, was on the lookout for ways to get essentials to those who needed them the most.
Read MoreAccording to the MCA filings reviewed by YourStory, Porter has raised Rs 139.7 crore in its Series D funding round. The filings reveal that 5,48,190 shares were allotted to the venture capital firm by Porter as a part of the deal. The price per share stood at Rs 2,540.21 with a nominal value of Rs 100.
Read MoreTruckers and transporters are increasing prices by as much as 80% and freighter operators are adding surcharges for transportation of goods as they grapple with regulatory challenges, shortage of manpower and a huge slump in supply. This will increase logistics costs for companies and likely in products as well, industry executives said.
Read MoreAs economies and several industries witness near standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic, a KPMG report says that the crisis may lead to greater protectionism globally. It said that the supply chain disruption has brought to light the immediate and tangible impact of black swan events. That, along with the ongoing geopolitical environment and a globally recessionary climate is likely to lead to greater protectionism and risk aversion. This is expected to lead to greater localisation of supply chains, especially of essential commodities as well as for sectors that are perceived to be strategically important," said the report titled "Potential impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy.
Read MoreDaily wages and compensation of truck drivers, labour and even delivery front staff shot up 25-30% in the past fortnight, as fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and foods companies look to restart manufacturing lines, transport goods and deliveries through ecommerce players. The companies are facing the dual challenge of acute labour shortage because of migration and fear of the Covid-19, which are creating demand-supply imbalance, leading truckers and loaders to charge exorbitantly.
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Download AppIn order to ensure the uninterrupted and continuous flow of essential commodities in the market, the Indian railways has announced an on-demand parcel service for ecommerce companies such as Amazon, Flipkart and more. With the supply chain for essential items such as farm produce, grocery and medical supplies being impacted heavily by the lockdown measures across the country, the Indian railway service is offering a viable alternative to road transport for ecommerce and logistics players.
Read MoreShares of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company Britannia Industries jumped 10 per cent to Rs 2,818 on the BSE on Tuesday after the company said it has partnered with on-demand e-commerce platform Dunzo for home delivery of all its products.Customers can avail Britannia products through the Dunzo app in under an hour of ordering from the ‘Britannia Essentials’ store.
Read MoreThough commercial flights stand suspended in India due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the skies are still buzzing with regular cargo flights to transport critical medical equipment and supplies. On Sunday, as many as 116 flights have already been operated by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF, Pawan Hans and private carriers under Lifeline Udan. Lifeline Udan is a government initiative for air transport of medical cargo and essential supplies across India at the time of the Covid-19 crisis.
Read MoreEfficient management of procurement and supply chain systems is crucial for business operations, and an inefficient supply chain can severely impact the bottom line of the company. How can an organisation revamp its outdated supply chain systems? How can it track the source of the produce and ascertain the credibility of its vendors? More often than not, business leaders are perplexed by these questions. These are not easy questions to answer.
Read MoreSnowman Logistics has communicated that the company is running their operations 24x7 as cold storage warehousing and transportation are under essential services notified by the Government of India to meet the demand for home delivery of food, medicines and essential goods amidst the lockdown. The company is taking abundant precaution and ensuring strict social distancing of people engaged in the supply chain business.
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Download AppAn emergency pass (e-pass) issuance system has been put in place to give passes to those from private establishments engaged in the production or supply of essential goods or services. The State government has identified 23 types of industries as essential ones and exempted them from lockdown. Twenty per cent of employees of such industries are permitted to work.
Read MoreE-commerce, logistics and ride-hailing firms are putting in place several measures to ramp up capacity to deliver essentials to customers.These include procuring permissions to stock food at their warehouses, use railway freight to move goods and cabs to enable last-mile deliveries. Around 125 fulfilment centres and hubs of Walmart-owned e-commerce company Flipkart were certified to stock food items.
Read MoreAllcargo Logistics joined the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by contributing to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in Maharashtra and supporting various initiatives to help migrant labourers, daily-wage earners as well as doctors and paramedics who are on duty. Allcargo motivated its employees to generously donate from their salaries and a contribution of INR 1 crore was made to the CM’s Relief Fund in Maharashtra. A donation was also made to the PM Cares Fund through support from the senior leadership and management.
Read MoreThe digital revolution has brought change to industries of all kinds, and global logistics is no exception. With increased expectations from consumers for faster, more efficient management and transport of goods, logistics companies have turned to technology as a competitive differentiator to exceed service level goals. Whether in the form of connectivity, predictive analytics, faster processing speeds or smarter hardware, virtually every link in the supply chain can digitally connect to the other links at each point in the process.
Read MoreAmerican retail giant, Walmart, has always expressed its commitment towards India through its support to the large Indian MSME community from which it sources not just for its cash & carry and ecommerce (Flipkart) businesses, but also for its global outsourcing arm that supplies to the US, Canada, UK, Mexico, Central America and other developed markets. Its e-commerce arm, Flipkart, itself has over 200,000 MSMEs on its platform.
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Download AppBritannia said the packaged food industry has the risk of running out of stock in 7-10 days if the supply chain is not normalised immediately. The supply chain has been severely disrupted across the country since Sunday, with many workers unable to go to factories, and transporters unable to move products. The food industry supply chain is disaggregated and dependent on interstate movement of goods. Due to the nature of the materials, inventories across the chain are low.
Read MoreSince March 23 when lockdowns have been enforced deliveries by e-retailers have been hampered thanks to police action causing inconvenience to customers and physical harm to delivery staff boys who were man-handled. Services of e-grocers remained partially disrupted on Thursday despite efforts by the authorities on Wednesday to facilitate the delivery of essentials. Those companies that had activated partial services late on Wednesday were able to resume services in some more cities.
Read MoreRetailing of medicines improved in major metros such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru on the second day of a 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19. Manufacturers and pharmacists, however, say the situation may worsen as they continue to face hurdles from authorities in making deliveries. There is a problem faced in logistics for transport of shipments from factories to C&F (clearing and forwarding) agents because the staff are either not coming to work or if they do, they are being stopped by the police.
Read MoreWhile the impact of coronavirus on Indian industry has so far been moderate, India’s extremely high import dependence on China means there are significant ramifications for Indian industry. Of the top 20 products that India imports from around the world, the average Chinese share is close to 30 percent. Sectors in India that have been are impacted by the coronavirus in China include shipping, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, textiles, and solar power.
Read MoreThe Global Cash Logistics Market has witnessed continuous growth in the past few years and is projected to grow even further during the forecast period (2019-2025). The assessment provides a 360 view and insights, outlining the key outcomes of the industry. These insights help the business decision-makers to formulate better business plans and make informed decisions for improved profitability.
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Download AppThe global e-commerce giant, Amazon has partnered with the temperature-controlled logistics provide Snowman Logistics for the delivery of FMCG perishables including vegetables, fruits, eggs, frozen food and groceries in Mumbai. This partnership plans to replicate the same in Delhi and other cities soon. A pilot project in stealth mode was launched in Mumbai late last year in Western Maharashtra. As part of the pilot, Snowman Logistics set up a collection centre in Manchar near Pune to facilitate the collection of vegetables and fruits directly from farmers.
Read MoreJack Muhs, regional president, FedEx Express for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa region (MEISA), has signed the CEO statement of support for the ‘Women’s Empowerment Principles – Equality means Business’ established by United Nations Global Compact and United Nations Women. The Women’s Empowerment Principles are a set of seven actions that companies choose to adopt to advance gender equality in the workplace and community.
Read MoreAllCargo Logistics has leased nearly 3 million sq ft warehousing space in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad to a large e-commerce player and a global sports goods retailer. Property consultant JLL India facilitated AllCargo Logistics, which is a part of Avvashya Group, in leasing about 3 million sq ft warehousing space. The deal will enable setting up of warehousing facilities for a large e-commerce retailer and a multi-national sports goods retailer.
Read MoreFedEx cargo flights are unaffected by the Europe-to-U.S. travel restrictions announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday night in response to the coronavirus pandemic. “We have confirmation from the White House that the 30-day European travel ban does not apply to cargo flights,” FedEx said in a statement. “The FedEx network will continue to support trade between the U.S. and Europe.” Memphis-based FedEx’s response comes after Trump’s speech caused confusion about the restrictions’ effects on trade.
Read MoreRhenus Logistics, a leading global logistics service provider, has recently opened its first regional headquarters for the Americas in Miami, Florida. The Germany-based logistics company, which currently has a strong presence in Europe, Asia and Africa, established its footprint in the Americas to expand its services in their new 160,000-square-foot warehouse that is designated as a foreign trade zone. The new facility currently provides vertical solutions for consumer electronics, industrial telecommunications, high-technology, high-fashion and retail.
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Download AppRenault F1 Team have signed an agreement making DP World the Global Logistics Partner and Title Partner of the team, which will become the Renault DP World F1 Team starting from the 2020 season. Under the partnership, teams from DP World, Renault Sport Racing and Groupe Renault will leverage the F1 global marketing platform and explore opportunities to increase the efficiency of their supply chain.
Read MoreCII Institute of Logistics, a CII Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the logistics and supply chain management domain, said its multi-pronged approach has helped transform the logistics sector, and that it would be working to enable the sector to add value to manufacturing, domestic trade and exports. The Institute, which was started in 2004, with the objective of bringing more players into the organised segment, has succeeded in bringing service providers and users of logistics services on one platform to gain more insights into the emerging trends and adopt global best practices.
Read MoreUnicommerce, a leading player in e-commerce enablement software for warehouse management and omni channel services, has been selected as the exclusive partner by the House of Anita Dongre for managing its warehouse and e-commerce operations across its leading brands – AND & Global Desi. With this partnership, Unicommerce will enable the fashion house to manage its products, inventories and deliveries across 12+ marketplaces. In an exclusive conversation with DipankarSikdar, DGM eCommerce, House of Anita Dongre shares more insights
Read MoreThe new coronavirus Covid-19 will end up being the final curtain on China’s nearly 30 year role as the world’s leading manufacturer. China’s economy is getting hit much harder by the coronavirus outbreak than markets currently recognize. Wall Street appeared to be the last to realize this last week. The S&P 500 fell over 8%, the worst performing market of all the big coronavirus infected nations. Even Italy, which has over a thousand cases now, did better last week than the U.S.
Read MoreFuture Supply Chain Solutions (FSC) announced the inauguration of the National Distribution Centre of Benetton India at Koka, Jhajjar in Haryana outside the Delhi NCR. The warehouse spans 1,12,000 square feet and serves as the primary distribution centre for Benetton India. It has the capacity to handle an inventory volume of over 4 million and more than 1,00,000 SKUs, as well as various value-added services like product kitting, customized packaging and returns management.
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Download AppNextGen Technologies are tough. In so many ways. They can prove tough to get your arms around. They can be tough to implement and integrate with your processes, which will inevitably change. They are often tough on your people too. But all is not lost. Not by a long shot. The benefits of NextGen Technologies far outweigh the grit needed upfront. Furthermore, NextGen Technologies are the future of the supply chain. Bet on it.
Read MoreRhenus Logistics is a 108 years old company with a Euro 5.1 billion global turnover. Rhenus Logistics has 31,000 employees across 660 sites globally. Rhenus India specializes in providing Integrated Logistics Solutions operating out of 69 offices and warehouses across the country with an employee strength of over 1600. Embassy Industrial Parks leased 3.5 lakh square feet of warehousing solutions to global 3PL player Rhenus Logistics at their Farukkhnagar facility in Haryana. It is situated close to the large consumption centres of IMT Manesar and Gurugram, and Delhi – Jaipur Highway (NH 8 (New NH 48)).
Read MoreAllcargo Logistics is set to emerge as a controlling stakeholder in Gati, as it has received Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approval on its open offer to acquire approximately 3.17 crore shares or 26% stake in Gati at Rs 75 a share. On full acceptance of the open offer, it will take Allcargo’s stake in Gati to 46.83 percent. This will mark the completion of the acquisition process which was initiated on December 5, 2019. Allcargo has already deposited Rs 238 crore - equivalent to 100 percent of the capital required to fund the open offer - into an escrow account set up as per SEBI norms for the open offer transaction.
Read MoreThe recent conference organised by ASSOCHAM titled “India on the cusp of a logistics revolution” saw diverse stakeholders – including policymakers, transport and terminal infrastructure service providers, and logistics service providers (LSPs) – converge on multiple issues that impact the sector. The tripartite theme of the conference revolved majorly around the pre-eminence of end-to-end logistics integration, capacity expansion, effect of digital revolution, and the outlines and expediency of a comprehensive National Logistics Policy.
Read MoreSnapdeal, India’s leading value-focused e-commerce marketplace, has expanded its logistics network by opening 15 new centres at manufacturing hubs located across 10 cities in India. The new centres are located in Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Indore, Hyderabad, Panipat, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi. In the metros, the new centres are located inside manufacturing hubs in areas like Kirti Nagar, Patparganj and Okhla (New Delhi), Reay Road (Mumbai) and Chandra Layout (Bengaluru).
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Download AppFebruary 2020 will come to be remembered as a period of historic disruption to physical supply chains the world over, as the coronavirus wrecks trade. Dozens of export sailings to ship China-made goods to consumers from the U.S. to Europe -- think handbags, flat-screen TVs, and plastic toys -- have been canned since the coronavirus crisis escalated last month. Those non-shipments are part of a much bigger picture in which every aspect of global shipping -- from oil and gas through to dry-bulk commodities.
Read MoreWith over 50,000 registered startups, India has the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China. From raising $550 million in 2010 to $14.5 billion in 2019, the Indian startup ecosystem has come a long way witnessing a 25x growth over the decade. A total of 887 startups raised $14.5 billion across 1,185 funding rounds, reported TechCrunch. In 2019, a total of 81 financing deals ranged from $25 million to $100 million, up from 56 in 2018. Furthermore, there was also an increase in the number of deals valued over $100 million from 17 in 2018 to 27 in 2019.
Read MoreThe Integrated Chennai Business Park (India) Pvt, the free trade warehousing zone (FTWZ) project, which is coming up in 130 acres of land in Vallur and Edayanchavadi in Ponneri taluk of Thiruvallur district, is taking shape, as a recent authority meeting of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has given the green light to reclassify the partly primary residential use zone and partly non-urban use zone -- to commercial use zone. The MoU for the `1,000 crore project was signed last year with Dubai Port (DP) world. FTWZ will create trade-related infrastructure to facilitate the import and export of goods and services with the freedom to carry out trade transactions in free currency.
Read MoreThe problems relay trucking could solve is what drove us. Truck drivers lead a life of misery in India, away from their families for days altogether. Parents were unwilling to marry their daughters off to truck drivers. They were almost an outcast. We would go to dhabas, outside warehouses, wherever we could meet and speak to them and understand. The more we spoke, the more we realised what a profound thing we were getting into. It was not just (a business model of) trucks-on-demand, it was fundamentally changing the profession itself.
Read MoreThe freight solutions company, Tiger Logistics India, registered 56 percent decline in profits to Rs 204.82 lakh during the nine months of April - December in 2019 from Rs 473.43 lakh in the same period of 2018. Meanwhile, the BSE listed company also saw a profit of Rs 79.37 lakh in the quarter ended in December 2019 compare to Rs 31.90 lakh for the same period in 2018 (an increase by 148 percent) and Rs 49.67 lakh for the September quarter in 2019 (an increase by 59 percent).
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Download AppIn Asia, BSI and TT Club most frequently recorded cargo thefts in India and China, a trend similar to that of 2018. Cargo thieves in these two countries are similar in profile and employ a wide range of tactics. The methods utilized by thieves in India and China range from very opportunistic means, such as pilferage and thefts by drivers or passersby, to more disorganize tactics, including in-transit truck thefts. In these types of thefts, thieves drive a vehicle behind a moving cargo truck, board the vehicle, and then throw goods to trailing accomplices.
Read MoreCOGOS is an AI-led logistics platform solving challenges in the intra-city trucking supply chain. The platform aims to digitise operations for truckers and organises the largely unorganised market through SaaS and accounting tools. Cofounder Prasad Sreeram said strong presence in northeast India has given COGOS the initial momentum.
Read MoreThe global logistics and digital supply chain solutions company, Blume Global announced the company’s new Asia Pacific regional office in Hong Kong. With its AI-enabled, data-driven digital platform and solutions for real-time visibility, logistics execution, asset management, optimization and financial settlement, Blume Global has more than 25 years of data insights, its globally connected network, and advanced technologies to help enterprises be more agile and responsive, improve service delivery and reduce costs.
Read MoreThough with three cases reporting from Kerala, the penetration of Novel Coronavirus into the sub-continent is less when the death toll rising close to 1000 and infections around 40,000 in China, the impact of the outbreak on Indian industry, logistics and exports are inevitable. The virus has already adversely impacted the global supply chain due to halted industrial activities in the second largest global economy and countries restricting their ships and airplanes from going to China.
Read MoreLogistics leasing activity increased 30 per cent in 2019 to touch 33 million sqft, mainly driven by policy announcements made by the government which boosted e-commerce and retail sectors. The government aims to enact several structural reforms to improve physical connectivity.
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Download AppAgility India, a part of the Kuwait-based global logistics provider Agility, is keen to expand its presence in Hyderabad, including exploring opportunities for investment in the upcoming Hyderabad Pharma City. The growth strategy is in line with the decision of Agility’s global strategy team (in Switzerland) to develop five Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) centres in India covering key pharmaceutical markets-Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
Read MoreAllcargo Logistics announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2019, with 7.1 percent profit and 5.9 percent revenue growth. The total revenue stood at Rs 5475 crore for nine months ending December 31, 2019 as against Rs 5168 crore for the corresponding previous period, increased by 5.9 percent. The profit after tax was at Rs 180 crore compared to Rs 168 crore for the corresponding previous period, witnessing an increase by 7.1 percent.
Read MoreADNOC Logistics and Services has entered into an agreement with Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P) for the conversion, supply, operations, and maintenance of a floating storage unit (FSU) at India’s Karaikal Port. Under the agreement, the 137,756 cubic-meter FSU owned by ADNOC L&S will be chartered to AG&P for 15 years through an innovative commercial model enabling supply to be scaled to match demand.
Read MoreLogistics in India is no longer a business process, it has become an integral part of the value chain operations with digital innovations and e-commerce offering the ease of reliable and timely deliveries, said Talwinder Singh, Regional Director, Lalamove. According to an IBEF study, the logistics sector is poised to reach $215 billion by 2020, while it might attract investments worth $500 bn by 2025.
Read MoreAgri-logistics firm Leap India has raised INR 164 Cr in Series B funding from Danish SDG Investment Fund and Neev Fund. The Coimbatore-based agricultural warehousing and logistics platform will utilise the funding towards tangible future growth and to transform itself into a robust company that connects the grain supply chain from farm to business.
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Download AppWith innovations and developments in the cold supply chain, specialised warehousing, and digitisation, it has become mandatory to have a skilled workforce that is well equipped and efficient. India’s logistics sector is pegged at USD 215 Billion and as per a study by the IBEF, the sector is expected to attract investments worth USD 500 Billion by 2025. Having received the infrastructure status in 2017, the sector has also been a massive employment generator, estimated to employ up to 40 million people by the end of 2020.
Read MoreGurugram-headquartered artificial intelligence (AI)-driven logistics platform, fleetx.io, has begun the new year with a fresh round of funding from new and existing investors. Contrary to unconfirmed reports today about FleetX raising INR 10 Cr, the company told us the funding amount is $2.8 Mn with participation from VCs and angel investors.
Read MoreThe trucking start-up, Mavyn, signs contracts with FMCG giants- Britannia, Haldirams, Grofers and the German Kitchenware brand – Fackelmann to provide end to end truckload solutions. Mavyn clientele base includes players like – Amazon, Flipkart, Urban Ladder, Pepsico, HUL, Kelloggs, Good Year, Usha International, Orient electric and MINISO. Mavyn has grown from 250 shipments in April 2019 to 600 + shipments in October 2019.
Read MoreYou probably didn’t know this, but if the FASTag for your car isn’t properly detected by the reading machines in different lanes at toll plazas, you do not need to pay any toll at all for that particular trip. The National Highway Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Amendment Rule 2018 of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) clarifies the little-known rule. This could be useful information as the FASTags become mandatory for payment at toll plazas across all national highways in India from January 15.
Read MoreSustained robust demand for office spaces has pushed leasing activity across the country in 2019 to a new record high. Gross office leasing volumes pan-India touched a 69.4 million sq ft in 2019, compared to 49.5 million sq ft a year ago, showed data from Cushman & Wakefield. While registering 40% on-year growth in leasing, preleasing activity also rose to a record level. Vacancy levels stayed low despite robust supply, rentals too increased, and co-working space take-up rose 1.43 times compared to 2018.
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Download AppWhen Shubhankar Rawat bought a Kia Seltos sports utility vehicle in late December, he says it felt like an upgrade. The Korean automaker’s first offering on the roads in India was loaded with features thus far unheard of in a mid-segment car. It’s loaded with bells and whistles - three screens, including a retractable one, to handle vehicle health, navigation and entertainment duties; cameras and sensors all over; ventilated seats; the works.
Read MoreFrom strategically finding love, to helping researchers search for extraterrestrial life - there is quite literally an app for almost anything these days. It is therefore no surprise that apps have become one of the largest consumer ecosystems on the planet, with the global app economy expected to reach $6.3 trillion by 2021.
Read MoreFast-growing internet startups with high cash-burn rates have started downsizing staff - after years of ballooning wage bills - on the back of increased investor scrutiny of their money-guzzling business models. Big-name startups that have handed out pink slips recently or are likely to in the immediate future include Oyo, Ola, Paytm, Quikr, Zomato and Rivigo.
Read MoreThe integrated temperature-controlled logistics service provider, Snowman Logistics recorded revenue of Rs 58.76 crore in the third quarter ended on December 31, 2019 compared to Rs 58.38 in Q2, Rs 62.07 in Q1 and Rs 59.34 crore in Q3 2018. in December 2019, Adani Logistics announced the signing of agreements to acquire 40.25 percent stake in Snowman Logistics for Rs 296 crore from Gateway Distriparks.
Read MoreA comparison between the Indian logistics ecosystem and its peers from the West would show differences that prop up the former’s deficiency in key indicators like efficiency, visibility and cohesion. These market conditions generate chaos and lead to far higher logistics costs, with India spending roughly 14% of its GDP on the industry – a number that hovers around 8% in the U.S. and Western Europe.
Read MoreThe year 2020 will likely see even more forceful regulatory intervention by the Indian government to identify and plug perceived transparency gaps in logistics costs. Solving the perplexing question of transshipment that has for years diverted cargo from Indian ports is near the top of the list. According to government estimates, approximately 30 percent of Indian export-import cargo is transshipped over foreign hub ports, with Sri Lanka’s Colombo port grabbing a large slice of that pie.
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Download AppAs warehousing is fast becoming an integral part of integrated logistics network due to technological advancement and the reform-led policy measures, the sector is expected to add around 40 million sq ft space across the top eight cities this year. In 2019, the total supply of warehousing space was 37.94 million sq ft while the absorption stood at 33 million sq ft.
Read MoreIndian warehouse absorption in 2019 stood at 34 million square feet while vacancy less than 10 percent, according to a report released by the international property consulting firm Savills on India's industrial, warehousing and logistics sector. The research firm predicted a 20 percent growth driven by manufacturing sector leasing and 3PL & E-commerce increasing their needs in Tier-II cities.
Read MoreWith both sides "declaring victory and going home”, the first phase of the US-Iran standoff triggered by Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani’s assassination last Friday appears to have been defused. It is perhaps a good time to assess the likely impact of the crisis on Indian economy. The emergent picture, though fuzzy, nevertheless provides definitive indications.
Read MoreA new study by the global research company HexGn on funding trends in the global start-up ecosystem in 2019 revealed that transportation logistics start-ups in the country attracted funding of over $2.4 billion by riding on the success of bike-sharing, mobility, and freight aggregators. The study analysed over 60,000 deals and one million data points for the report. Start-up funding in Asia dropped by a whopping 56 percent from $158 billion to $83 billion.
Read MoreLogistics tech unicorn Rivigo has raised Rs 25 crore of debt fund from venture lending company Trifecta Capital according to regulatory filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Rivigo has issued Series B NCD (non-convertible debentures) to Trifecta worth Rs 10,00,00 each to raise Rs 25 crore. The NCD shall have a tenure of 24 months and will carry a fixed rate of 14.25% paid monthly, reports Entrackr.
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Download AppThe global food company, Nestlé, has appointed DHL Supply Chain (DHL) to manage the entire warehousing operations for its food products in Myanmar, which include brands such as Coffee mate, MILO and Nescafé. Total operations for Nestlé products spans 4,000 sqm, which accounts for more than 60% of total warehouse space in DHL's first multi-user warehouse in the country.
Read MoreWalmart’s national head Krish Ayer & strategic business head Stacy Stanley and Amazon India’s business head Charu Mathur are all scheduled to visit Madhya Pradesh while Reliance MD Mukesh Ambani already committed Rs 400 crore investment, particularly, to set up national distribution centres and warehouses in the state for their retail businesses in the country.
Read MoreAdani Logistics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Ports on Friday announced its plans to acquire cold-chain operator Snowman Logistics with the latter’s promoter Gateway Distriparks Ltd making a complete exit. The Adani Group company will buy the 40.25% stake of Gateway Distriparks for a consideration of Rs 296 crores. At Rs 44 per share, the deal gives a premium of 3.2% over Snowman Logistics’ closing price on the exchanges on Friday.
Read More15 branch offices of Dachser India have completed the rollout of the in-house air and ocean freight management system, Othello, in December 2019. Available in 21 countries, the software allows all stakeholders to track shipments with a unique identification number, offers an automated evaluation of the shipment, and allows mapping of the physical movement of goods throughout the transportation. The system is also linked with Dachser’s overland transportation and warehousing activities.
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Download AppIndia’s retail market is estimated to be worth $600 billion. Today eCommerce comprises only 5% of the total. Compare that to the 15% stake e-commerce has in the US market, and it becomes clear there’s still plenty of room for growth. Despite efforts like ‘Digital India’, affordability of smartphones and data packages, vast sections of India’s population have yet to come online. India’s total internet user base is set to grow from 665 million in 2019 to 829 million by 2021.
Read MoreProject’s curbs-free status will continue, US assures India. Diplomats from India, Iran and Afghanistan took stock of the activities at the Chabahar Port in South-Eastern Iran one year after its inauguration in a recent meeting and discussed ways to further enhance connectivity and use the port to expand the India’s trade links with Central Asian countries.
Read MoreThe Chinese eCommerce giant is investing $10 Mn in its logistics portfolio company, Xpressbees. Pune-headquartered logistics company Xpressbees on December 16 approved a board resolution to issue Series D preference shares to Alibaba. The filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs showed that Xpressbees is offering 9317 Series D preference shares at a price of $1073.30 per share, making this worth $10 Mn.
Read MoreMavyn Logistics has tied up with Grofers for providing end-to-end solutions for the online grocery retailer. This is another prime client of the logistics company after Flipkart, Amazon India and Urban Ladder. Mavyn does not own the trucks that it uses but works as an intermediary for facilitating logistics supply. It believes it is to logistics what Uber is to taxi hailing services. The company is one of the first non-asset transportation companies in India.
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Download AppAfter building up India’s largest portfolio of office assets, Blackstone has committed INR 12.5 billion ($175 million) to an industrial real estate investment initiative as its first move into the country’s logistics real estate sector. The US private equity giant has joined forces with Mumbai-based real estate giant Hiranandani Group in a plan to build 12 million square feet of industrial properties in the country, including warehouse assets.
Read MoreTechnology is finally solving inefficiencies in logistics, a sector that is directly linked to economic growth. Till not so long ago, the trucking and logistics industry was known for delays and unpredictability. An enterprise or individual was never sure whether shipments would actually arrive on a given date. Now, with most firms adopting technology-led tracking systems that make it easy to predict when a parcel is expected, the sector is becoming more streamlined.
Read MoreClimate Change Performance Index 2020: Decreasing emissions in 31 out of 57 high emitting countries - global coal consumption falling. But more ambition and accelerated action needed. USA for the first time replaces Saudi Arabia as worst performing country. Sweden continues to lead, Denmark climbs up significantly in the ranking. Majority of countries show decline in emissions: Climate Change Performance Index sees opportunity for turning point.
Read MoreThe Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 which will pave the way for safer environment in which ships are recycled in India. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha last week, will make for India’s accession to the Hong Kong Convention that enlists environmentally sound conditions of ship recycling. Till now only the guidelines of the Supreme Court passed in 2013, as code on hazardous waste management were being followed.
Read MoreInternational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has announced the revision of limits of liability under Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99). The new revision will be effective from 28th December 2019. Under the said convention, the limit of liability for transportation of air cargo under Article 22, Paragraph 3 has been revised from 19 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to 22 SDR.
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Download AppOn the evening of November 24, the cargo vessel MV Beki sent an SOS after running aground on the Jamuna, in Bangladesh. The ship, which was carrying coal from Haldia to Guwahati, also asked the accompanying vessels MV Maheshwari and MV Aai to anchor right away to prevent it from getting stuck in the shallow river bed. The vessels were part of India’s first attempt to send containerised cargo via a river from Kolkata to Guwahati.
Read MoreIn order to plug tax loopholes, the central government had blocked e-way bill generation for taxpayers who have not filed their monthly GST Return (GSTR)-3B for two consecutive months from Monday, impacting roughly 3.5 lakh GST payers, reported Business Today. The government had rolled out the rule last month as an enforcement measure amid subdued revenue collection. Also, the taxpayers generating e-way bills on the portal were given a cautionary message about blocking of the facility.
Read MoreCargo volume of 12 major Indian ports were scarcely up by 0.34% at 463.07 million tonnes (MT) during April-November as compared to 461.48 million tonnes in the same period of the last fiscal, reported Indian Ports Association (IPA). The major ports with marginal growth were Deendayal, Mumbai, JNPT, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar, VO Chidambaranar, Vishakhapatnam, Pradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). According to the data revealed, iron ore handling saw a 30.24% jump to 33.95 MT while the thermal coal shipment reported a decline by 17.82% to 58.17 MT.
Read MoreIn the present scenario, tolling-related technologies have gained momentum for enabling acceptance of digital payments in lieu of cash at toll plazas. With emphasis on implementing an effective and efficient toll collection system, electronic toll collection (ETC) emerged as the key solution to enable a fast, efficient and cashless payment option for collection of toll fare.
Read MoreThe Union Cabinet has cleared the Personal Data Protection Bill for introduction in the current session of Parliament. The Bill deals with data protection of citizens. It will look at how the interests of Bharat and the interests of everybody is handled. The Bill could be introduced in either house of the Parliament in the current Winter Session which will conclude on December 13
Read MoreLogistics industry in India has been lagging behind its global counterparts in terms of technology maturity. However, with initiatives such as GST, E-way bill, Bharat VI emission norms, Electric vehicles, mandatory GPS and FastTag, the industry is set to witness unprecedented transformation and has the potential to leapfrog generations of technological advancements to be at par with global logistics industry. In India, Logistics in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is expected to grow over next decade owing to increased urbanization, growth of e-commerce, warehouse consolidation and deep distribution.
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Download AppWalmart-owned Flipkart has led a $60 million (about Rs 429 crore) investment round in logistics startup Shadowfax, as India’s largest online retailer looks to enable faster 2-hour delivery using a hyperlocal network and launch newer on-demand categories. This capability enables us to do on-demand categories from delivering smartphones, fashion to grocery in less than 120 minutes... It also opens up the potential to build newer categories like dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables, and pharmacy using Shadowfax’s technology, as well as Kirana (corner store) network.
Read MoreYou can now control every trip, hub and branch of your network. As always, WebXpress has focused on Business Problems faced by transporters and solve them with a combination of domain expertise and cutting edge technology. Look out for more updates as we release new HawkEye features every week.
Read MoreAllcargo Logistics, an integrated logistics company present across multiple B2B (business-to-business) ventures, announced its foray into the B2C (business-to-consumer) vertical by acquiring a controlling stake in express logistics firm Gati. Mumbai-based Allcargo announced that it was acquiring a majority stake of about 44.64% in the listed company for a consideration of ₹416 crore.
Read MoreThe slowdown in India’s economy is beginning to manifest in the logistics industry, with top companies such as DHL Express, Allcargo Logistics, the logistics arms of Mahindra & Mahindra and retail behemoth Future Group, and the Warburg Pincus-backed Stellar Value chain witnessing the impact of tepid business on the pace of growth.
Read MoreIndia’s logistics sector, currently valued at $160 billion, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% to $215 billion by 2022, as reported by General (Dr) V.K.Singh (retd.), Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways at a conference on the Logistics and Transport sector organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport – India (CILT India) in association with Exhibitions India Group at the National Rail Museum in New Delhi on November 21-22
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Download AppToday, logistics cost in India accounts for 13-17 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is nearly double (6-9 percent) the logistics cost to GDP ratio in developed countries such as the US, Hong Kong and France. Much of these escalating costs are due to the absence of efficient intermodal and multimodal transport systems. But with the government giving infrastructure status to the logistics sector, development of multimodal transport networks and initiatives to set up industrial corridors and logistics parks, a massive transformation of the country’s logistics landscape is underway.
Read MoreIndia likely to sign logistics pacts with Japan & Australia to boost Navy partnership While the Japan pact may be signed over the next weekend during the maiden 2+2 meet before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s India visit in December for the annual summit, the Australian agreement is expected during Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s state.
Read MoreCome December, owners of vehicles without FASTags will have to cough up twice the normal rate at toll gates as the government gears up to achieve seamless road travel nationwide by making collections electronic. The highway ministry has declared that from December 1, toll plazas across national highways will be equipped to electronically debit amounts from accounts linked to RFID-based FASTags affixed on vehicle windscreens, enabling people to drive through without stopping to make payments.
Read MoreThree-fifths of the transportation in India’s logistics sector occurs through a strong road network against the global average of 30-40 per cent, according to a new report, called ‘India: Evolution of Integrated Logistics – Aiming Transformation Through PAGI’, released by JLL Industrial Services Research recently at the CILT India Expo 2019 in Mumbai. Optimised use of roads is possible by building up enhanced hinterland infrastructure and specialised storage space spread over the country.
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Download AppToday, logistics cost in India accounts for 13-17 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is nearly double (6-9 percent) the logistics cost to GDP ratio in developed countries such as the US, Hong Kong and France. Much of these escalating costs are due to the absence of efficient intermodal and multimodal transport systems. But with the government giving infrastructure status to the logistics sector, development of multimodal transport networks and initiatives to set up industrial corridors and logistics parks, a massive transformation of the country’s logistics landscape is underway.
Read MoreFASTags are prepaid rechargeable tags for toll collection that allow automatic payment deduction from the FASTag, they are normally affixed on the windscreen of your vehicle. With the help of a FASTag, you will not have to stop your vehicle at toll plazas to pay the toll. As soon as the vehicle crosses the toll plaza, the toll fee will get deducted from the bank account/prepaid wallet linked to the FASTag affixed on the vehicle's windscreen. An activated FASTtag works on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
Read MoreAgility, which is aligning itself in the ‘digital’ forwarder category, has announced a mixed set of results for its third quarter, as challenges in the freight forwarding industry hit its logistics division. Its Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business saw ebitda fall 1% year on year to KWD7.8m ($25.6m), which, the company said, was down to increased operating expenses for new facilities and new digital investments.
Read MoreWith the expansion of its warehousing solutions to Asia-Pacific, Rhenus Logistics on Tuesday announced that it now offers end-to-end logistics solutions to India, Greater China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. The German-headquartered global logistics provider plans to add a new warehouse in every three months and extend its global experience to the region with a portfolio of storage types.
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Download AppWhipped cream brand Rich Graviss has appointed DHL SmarTrucking as its logistics partner. Apart from its reefer services, DHL SmarTrucking’s pan-India network helps companies scale operations in accordance with seasonal demand. DHL SmarTrucking will provide long-haul cold chain trucking services across India for Rich Graviss' portfolio of bakery and F&B products, including Rich’s Whip Topping, a leading non-dairy whipped cream topping.
Read MoreVenture capital funding is no proof of a startup’s success, but it is a pretty good gauge of its promise. Automation startup GreyOrange has raised funding four times in its eight years of existence. The most recent was last September when it raised $140 million in Series C funding at a reported valuation of $400 million to $500 million.
Read MoreIn a significant breakthrough for India’s digital transformation in supply chains, Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP) has agreed to become the first global partner for an online port community system India has been developing into a single-window logistics experience. The redesigned module - dubbed PCS1x - went live in December 2018, with the implementation task assigned to the Indian Ports Association (IPA) along with its technical services provider Portall Infosystems.
Read MoreHyundai has revealed two concept vehicles at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show as a part of its Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle 2030 Vision. Fuel cells are the "perfect fit" for commercial heavy-duty trucks because of a higher drive range and payload and lessened refueling time and costs, according to the automaker. The automaker's 2030 Vision includes the widespread use of hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology in order to its goal of producing zero-emission vehicles in a decarbonized world.
Read MoreThe focus of the Indian government over the past few years has been on accelerated growth through improved bilateral trade and foreign investment policies. India has garnered tremendous goodwill and become a global brand for trade development, thanks to the proactive government initiatives. The growth in the sector is being driven by the rise of international business in India which is itself the result of the improved bilateral trade.
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Download AppIndia and Russia will discuss a major defence logistics sharing pact this week that will expand the Indian military’s operational reach in the region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will discuss the Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS) with his Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu during the 19th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation on November 6. Singh will be on a visit to Russia from November 5 to 7. He left India on Monday night.
Read MoreLogistics unicorn Delhivery may soon acquire the B2B operations of Blue Dart Express and Gati, as it looks to grow beyond its sizeable ecommerce-related operations. According to a media report, the startup is said to be in early-stage talks with both companies, which have strong B2B plays with corporate tie-ups and franchise-based businesses.
Read MoreIndia being strategically located at the center of the trans-Indian Ocean routes that connect European and Asean markets, it is witnessing immense growth in the logistics space and is positioned as a potential market for global leaders to invest in the world’s fastest growing e-commerce market. Teleport, the digital cargo and logistics platform of AirAsia, and Zeal Global Services Pvt Ltd have come together to forge an association to establish a local subsidiary in India.
Read MoreAn Amazon order starts with a tap of a finger. Two days later - or even in a matter of hours - the package arrives. It seems simple enough. But to deliver Amazon orders and countless others from businesses that sell over the internet, the very fabric of major urban areas around the world is being transformed. And New York City, where more than 1.5 million packages are delivered daily, shows the impact that this push for convenience is having on gridlock, roadway safety and pollution.
Read MoreThe CMA CGM Group on Tuesday has announced its partnership and investment in the French online logistics start-up ‘Wing’ to offer solutions in e-commerce logistics. The shipping and logistics giant will now have a position in the start-up that had disrupted the e-commerce market by offering online delivery service to small and medium retail businesses in France and Britain. Meanwhile its subsidiary CEVA will forge a financial, industrial and commercial partnership with Wing.
Read MoreVirtual logistics network ElasticRun has raised $40 million in a funding round led by Prosus Ventures (formerly Naspers Ventures), with participation from existing investor Avataar Ventures and Kalaari Capital. The freshly raised capital will be used to expand the company's network coverage to new geographies and further deepen its operations in existing geographies.
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Download AppIt took nine long years, two governments, and two committees to make electronic toll collections on India’s highways a reality. Muddled priorities delayed the FASTag project endlessly, as private-sector banks and public-sector entities sparred on the revenue model, unable to find a middle ground. It’s still a long road ahead. An ET Prime exclusive.
Read MoreGreenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer. Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years.1 The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.
Read MoreCEVA Logistics on Tuesday announced the launch of a 'specialist installation service' for large-scale medical equipment using its dedicated team of engineers and technicians in India. As an expansion of its global healthcare capabilities, the new service consolidates CEVA’s expertise in healthcare logistics. Initially based in Mumbai, India, the team will work on installations there as well as in Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Belgaum, before being gradually expanded across CEVA Logistics’ network.
Read MoreUber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi launched the new service in Delhi on October 22. Uber will have pick-up points and kiosks at 210 Delhi metro stations. Metro passengers can use the Uber app to get passes for the train journey. The company has partnered with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to enable the service across its 200 Delhi Metro stations.
Read MoreAmazon India on Wednesday announced that it has partnered with the Indian Railways for a pilot programme to carry out inter-city transport of e-commerce packages. Amazon India would transport customer packages with the Railways on three routes from New Delhi to Mumbai, Mumbai to New Delhi and New Delhi to Kolkata, the company said in a press release.
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Download AppFreightBro, India’s first freight forwarder facing digital platform that digitizes operations for Freight Forwarders, became the first Indian startup to join the Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg in an exclusive event titled ‘Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg Roadshow – An Indo-German Logistics Startups Connect’ Organised by FreightBro, the event focused on the importance and the success of building a digital logistics ecosystem in Germany and the potential of replicating similar ecosystem based models in India.
Read MoreIn the new age, logistics is the mixture of infrastructure, technology and new types of service providers. The Indian logistics sector is currently around $160 Bn and estimated to be of $215 Bn by 2020. International cooperation is required to make the logistics sector grow.
Read MoreThe new warehouse will have a storage capacity of 100,000 pallet positions and provide a dedicated area for co-packing and other value-added services. FM Logistic, a leading provider of logistics and transportation services, has broken ground on its new multi-client logistics facility (MCF) in Jhajjar, near Gurugram, Haryana. This warehouse, which is expected to be completed in December 2020, is part of the five-year, $150 million investment plan the company announced on March 2019.
Read MoreGiven the increasing demand for quality warehousing space after the implementation of GST, the industrial and logistics sector has attracted investments close to 500 million dollars. Going forward, developers are likely to build large-sized spaces to cater to the growing demand which may result in warehousing stock touching 500 million sq ft by 2030.
Read MoreThe Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL) and Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) will sign a memorandum of understanding on Monday for integration of FASTag with GST e-way bill system. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be inked at the 'One Nation, One FASTag' conference, which will be inaugurated by Road Transport and Highway Minister.
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Download AppLogistics forms the backbone of any modern economy and with the advent of ecommerce, demand for the logistics sector is bound to grow manifold, increasing the pressure on the existing infrastructure. Detlev Mohr, senior partner at consulting firm McKinsey and Company, in an interview with Nehal Chaliawala and Satish John said that India will be one of the hottest growth markets in this area and foreign players are keen to invest here.
Read MoreGMR Hyderabad Airport Cargo has recently launched ‘Hyderabad Cargo Charter Circle (HC3)’ in order to develop Hyderabad as an air charter hub for the Southern part of the country. This dedicated platform will not only facilitate the cargo charter operators via Hyderabad air cargo terminal but also boost the regional connectivity and link it to the main hubs across the globe. The HC3 was unveiled in the presence of Charter Operators, Freighters, Shippers, Consolidation Agents, Freight Forwarders and other airport stakeholders at a gala event.
Read MoreThe triangulation of containers by MatchLog will lead to quick turn around of boxes by eliminating the empty container movements. Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company or MSC, the world’s second-biggest container carrier, has taken the help of an Indian logistics start-up to cut costs, reduce wastages and drive efficiencies in the country’s container logistics chain.
Read MoreWe are proud to announce that FSC has won the 'Best Use of Digital Techniques / Technologies' and 'B2B Brand of The Year' award at the 3rd Edition Digital Enterprise Awards & B2B Marketing Awards 2019. Congratulations to the entire team on winning these awards.
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Download AppIndia’s own domestic GPS (Global Positioning System), Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) has been approved by the international organization 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). NavIC is RPS i.e. Regional Navigation System. While others GPS have a position accuracy of 20-30 meters, the position accuracy of the NavIC is 5 meters, making it technically better than the all others GPS.
Read MoreCredit rating agency ICRA Research has forecast a stable outlook for the domestic logistics sector, which it said would grow at 8-10 percent over the medium term. The festive season and anticipated revival in infrastructure spending post monsoons and improvement in receivable cycle of contractors could drive the demand pick-up. The ensuing demand momentum will lead to higher freight volumes in the second half of FY2020 despite weak macro-economic scenario.
Read MoreGlobal trade enabler DP World today launched Log-X, a national technology accelerator platform for logistics, in partnership with Invest India, Kerala Start-Up Mission and its accelerator partner Startup Réseau, to encourage innovation and technology adoption in the Indian logistics sector. The accelerator program is specially curated for entrepreneurs in the logistics and other associated sectors. The goal is to catalyze Indian entrepreneurs and the start-up community to develop smart trade solutions by leveraging massive opportunities offered by digital technology.
Read MoreThe Prime Minister's Office on Thursday held a meeting of secretaries to discuss the draft national logistics policy, which aims at promoting seamless movement of goods across the country and reducing high transaction cost of traders, an official said. Secretaries from different departments, including commerce, steel, revenue, chemicals, and corporate affairs attended the meeting, the official added.
Read MoreIndia has fast tracked norms for creation of formal vehicle scrapping centres and the government will soon announce a voluntary vehicle scrappage policy and wants a stringent framework in place for setting up of centres that will carry out scrapping. The government is set to float new norms that will make way for formalising vehicle-scrapping sector, laying down strict parameters for setting up one of these units, as it prepares ground for voluntary vehicle scrappage policy in the country.
Read MoreFew industries or business functions are experiencing as much disruption as logistics, supply chain and transportation. In fact, according to a recent Forbes Insights survey of more than 400 senior transportation-focused executives, 65% say tectonic shifts in these areas are driving an era of profound transformation. Whether your products rely on ground, rail or sea to reach end-customers, today’s levels of disruption are unprecedented.
Read MoreData from the municipal corporations shows that 3.5 lakh tags have been issued and around 63,500 have recharged their accounts so far. Almost 70-80% of the uncharged RFID accounts belong to private cabs and Ola/Uber cab drivers. The SDMC will now initiate an on-spot recharge mechanism using handheld devices for the vehicles that are stuck in queues at border points.
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Download AppDP World has been planning to make Container Multimodal Terminals Ltd (CMLT), its Hyderabad Private Freight Terminal (PFT) as a multi-modal distribution hub by leveraging its rail-road transport connectivity and warehouses. DP World has drafted a plan to make the multi-modal distribution hub for Southern India’s cargo. Notably, CMTL is equipped with a Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Thimmapur (near Hyderabad in Telangana State) with proximity to National Highway 7.
Read MoreAllcargo and TVS Supply Chain Solutions are in initial discussions to acquire the supply chain business of Sical Logistics, the offshore and multimodal logistics services firm owned by the Coffee Day Group. Container freight hubs of Sical’s subsidiary, Sical Multimodal and Rail Transport, are also up for sale as the coffee chain seeks to sell a range of assets and use the proceeds to repay debt. Allcargo and TVS Logistics are also in discussions for the railroad assets, and both deals together could fetch the Coffee Day Group Rs 500-550 crore.
Read MoreJapan-based Nippon Express Co will acquire 22 per cent stake in Kishore Biyani-led Future Group's logistics arm Future Supply Chain Solutions Ltd through a combination of primary issuance and secondary purchase from an existing investor. As part of this transaction, Future Supply Chain Solutions Ltd (FSC) will issue 37,89,350 shares to Nippon Express at a price of Rs 664 per share (22 per cent premium to the current market price).
Read MoreGlobal logistics provider FM Logistics has broken ground on its 31-acre multi-client logistics facility (MCF) in Jhajjar, near Gurugram, Haryana. The facility, expected to be completed in December 2020, is part of the five-year $150 million investment plan FM Logistics announced in March 2019. The new warehouse will have a storage capacity of 100,000 pallet positions and provide a dedicated area for co-packing and other value-added services. It will offer safety and security features, and cost efficient, quality storage and handling services.
Read MoreThe internet gawks each time Boston Dynamics releases a video showing its eye-catching humanoid robot, Atlas, performing newly acquired acrobatic tricks. But until now, most of the machine's maneuvering - whether it was jogging, hopping over a log or executing box jumps - has remained well within the realm of average human athleticism.
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Download AppSpiceJet's cargo division, SpiceXpress has taken delivery of its first 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF), which it will operate in South Asia. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has validated the 737-800BCF’s certification, clearing the way for the freighter to serve a rapidly growing region. “We are expanding the markets we currently serve, particularly in the Middle East, Hong Kong and Bangladesh and the 737-800BCF’s reliability and versatility is helping enable our strategic direction,” said Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director, SpiceJet.
Read MoreTrade association of the world’s airports, Airports Council International's (ACI) latest World Airport Traffic Report has revealed that most of the world’s fastest-growing airports are located in emerging markets, a significant proportion of them being in the Asia-Pacific region. As many as 12 of the fastest-growing top 30 airports in 2018 are located in either China or India. India's Bangalore airport was the fastest growing airport in 2018 for more than 15 million passengers. Bangalore airport carried 32, 331,783 (29.1 percent) passengers, while Hyderabad airport took the third spot carrying 20, 903, 930 (21.9 percent) passengers.
Read MoreLow-cost carrier SpiceJet has revealed plans of selling shares of its cargo arm SpiceXpress in an initial public offering. SpiceJet was quoted at the news agency's New York headquarters saying that SpiceXpress could be listed on a stock exchange within 12 months. They have a country of 1.3 billion people, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and very few air logistics players. They think that there’s a good space for us.
Read MoreAs a masterstroke to curb tax evasion, GST Council decided in Modi 1.0 Government tenure to study the feasibility of e-invoicing system. Under the chairmanship of newly elected Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Modi 2.0 Government tenure, GST Council has finally decided to roll out the e-invoicing system for B2B transactions from January 2020 voluntarily.
Read MoreSATS Ltd. and DHL Supply Chain, on Friday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create turnkey solutions that enable airlines to optimise their supply chain for catering, merchandise and supplies across their flight networks. Combining DHL’s strengths in third party logistics (3PL) solutions with SATS’ large scale culinary, procurement and last-mile expertise, this new solution will help airlines to enhance the passenger experience with a wider range of authentic F&B offerings and amenities.
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Download AppFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that government will further leverage technology for timely completion of the ongoing initiatives to reduce ‘Time to export’, through seamless process digitisation of all export clearances, in the third press conference held to announce measures to boost the country’s declining economy. An action plan is prepared to align time-to-export/turn-around-time at airports and ports as per the international standards.
Read MoreWalmart owned Flipkart, which is pulling its socks before the festive season, on Sunday announced the expansion of its supply chain for large appliances by 80% to cover almost all the pins in India ahead of its “Big Billion Days Sale” starting 29th September. Flipkart now for the delivery of large appliance has a reach of 19,200 PIN Codes as from the 10,660 codes in 2018.
Read MoreGujarat has once again topped a survey of logistics ease in the country. Punjab and Andhra Pradesh closely followed Gujarat in the perception-based index of the mobility of goods and efficiency of the logistics chain. LEADS is based on indicators such as infrastructure, services, timeliness, traceability, competitiveness, security, operating environment and efficiency of regulation. The index is developed by the commerce and industry ministry along with Deloitte.
Read MoreSical Logistics Ltd - a Coffee Day Group company that runs port terminals and container freight stations - is likely to see bidding by JSW Group and Adani Group. Sical Logistics could be a perfect fit for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s biggest private port operator and Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Infrastructure Ltd due to the logistic company’s presence in areas where they are also operating and looking to expand.
Read MoreThe US-China trade war has not only been affecting their exports/imports. It is, in fact, impacting the global supply chain and economy, and India is no exception. With increasing global trade tension and declining domestic consumption, Indian ports have seen a further decline in cargo in the month of August as compared to the same period last year. Apparently, the cargo handled at the ports had seen improvements in July after two months of consecutive fall.
Read MoreBlackstone Group is in talks to invest Rs 15 billion ($209 million) in a venture with Allcargo Logistics to build warehouses in India. A real estate unit of the US private equity firm is considering owning 51 per cent of the venture, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. Talks are still continuing and the contours of the deal may change, they said. Allcargo is talking with other investors as well.
Read MoreA digital freight forwarding innovation for customers in India to tap on global logistics services efficiently. Schenker India, a subsidiary of DB Schenker, the transport and logistics division of Deutsche Bahn Group, has launched its digitally forward innovation, Connect 4.0 Ocean to simplify the logistics process as easy as click, ship, done. This service will enhance efficiency and provide hassle-free logistics and real-time tracking through technology deployment.
Read MoreTata Sons is unlikely to bid for Air India as it believes that it will not add any heft to its airline business. Tata Sons owns 51 per cent each in Vistara, a full service carrier and low-cost airline, and AirAsia India. Considering a rethink on its way forward with AirAsia India. The airline’s slow growth has been a source of concern for the group coupled with court cases that have stalled the launch of international operations.
Read MoreSpoton is now expanding beyond its bread-and-butter sector, and is contemplating a foray into third-party logistics (3PL), similar to Mahindra Logistics or Future Supply Chain, in six to eight months, potentially through an acquisition. An air express service was launched earlier this year. Spoton competes with deep-pocketed logistics startups such as Delhivery and Rivigo, apart from the likes of Gati, TCI, Safexpress, DHL, Bluedart and Fedex. Besides, the current slowdown in consumption could stall growth for the overall segment.
Read MoreThe ongoing US-China trade war has been causing distress for air cargo industry, according to a data released by The International Air Transport Association (IATA) for global air freight markets, the demand for freight volumes has declined for the 9th consecutive month on the year-on-year basis. A 3.2% of contraction is seen in July 2019, compared to the same period in 2018 for the air freight demand which is measured in freight tonne-kilometres (FTKs).
Read MoreWarburg Pincus-backed logistics real estate firm ESR on Tuesday tied up with Future Group to develop two logistics parks with an investment of ₹300 crore. The logistics parks, to be located at Nagpur and Gurugram, will span 75 acres with a potential development of around 1.3 million sq. ft, the two companies said in a statement. The logistics parks will be jointly developed by Future Group’s Future Market Networks Ltd and ESR, with the latter as the majority partner.
Read MorePune-based logistics and distribution startup ElasticRun is in talks to raise $50-$55 million in a funding round led by South Africa's Naspers, a global internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. ElasticRun runs an asset-light, app-driven, variable capacity transportation network built using idle transportation and logistics capacities from large number of dispersed entrepreneurs. It caters to industries across the board, including FMCG, food, manufacturing and e-commerce.
Read MoreFM Logistic has reported financial results for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2019. The company reported revenues of €1,318 million in the year ending March 2019, up 11.8 per cent year-on-year, and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €35.1 million, up 32 per cent from last fiscal year’s €26.5 million. Adjusted for currency effects, revenue growth was 15 per cent. The EBIT improvement was driven by measures taken by the company to increase its operational efficiency and be more selective in its commercial approach.
Read MoreDP World has partnered with Zhejiang China Commodity City Group Company Ltd (CCC) to develop ‘Traders Market’ - the first smart Freezone market place in the Middle-East for retail and wholesale industries. To be located in Jebel Ali Freezone (JAFZA), the Traders Markets aims to serve the wider region with a population base of over 2 billion. The Traders Market project will span approximately 800,000 square metres, with Phase 1 development covering about 220,000 square metres.
Read MoreRivigo, on Friday, launched Relay-as-a-Service (RaaS) to benefit its disruptive relay trucking model to millions of fleet owners and truck pilots in India. The services will be accessible by fleet owners using its technology, pilots and countrywide network of relay pit-stops. It offers significant advantages over traditional trucking like air equivalent transit time, higher asset utilisation, four times safer than industry and more importantly pilots return home every day.
Read MoreAuto component giant Motherson Group on Monday launched Samvardhana Motherson Hamakyorex Engineered Logistics Limited (SAMRX), a JV company between Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd. (SAMIL), India and Hamakyorex Co. Ltd., Japan. SAMRX aims to revolutionise the transportation of finished vehicles in India by developing a modern, technology enabled and equitable socially conscious solution for the OEM customers, the company said in a release.
Read MoreRapid progression in e-commerce retail with augmented demand for fastest/same-day deliveries are bringing about paradigm shifts in the e-commerce retail supply chain functions. Logistics requirements for the e-commerce retail sector are getting reshaped by continuously evolving customer and business demands. To overcome these challenges the retail supply chains are adopting processes and innovations to meet the rising consumer expectations that benefit the e-trailer/retailer, the supply chain partner and the customer.
Read MoreGlobal logistics company Agility has reported second-quarter 2019 (Q2, April to June 2019) earnings of 12.99 fils per share on net profit of KD21.6 million, an increase of 8.1 percent over the same period in 2018. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) grew 31.2 percent to KD48.6 million, and revenue increased 3.2 percent to KD396.3 million. Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) achieved EBITDA growth of 7 percent (excluding IFRS 16 impact) despite higher operating expenses related to new facilities and higher staff costs for operations and commercial requirements.
Read MoreThe world leader in integrated container logistics, Maersk announced its partnership with BlackBuck, India’s largest online marketplace for trucking on Tuesday. The partnership will provide an online marketplace for containerised trucking in export-import logistics in India. The new partnership platform will be owned and operated by BlackBuck as Maersk will support BlackBuck in developing compelling industry-specific solutions. The collaboration will accelerate innovation in the logistics space and enable trade while transforming the highly fragmented containerised trucking space.
Read MoreEssar Ports has declared that the higher capacity utilisation at its recently commissioned terminals at Salaya and Vizag, and an increase in third-party cargo were the two key factors that will help it to achieve its target of handling 60 million tonnes (MT) of cargo by March 31, 2020. Essar Ports reported an impressive 17.4 percent growth in cargo volumes across its four terminals. The combined throughput stood at 13.5 million tonnes up from 11.5 million tonnes in the same period last year.
Read MoreGlobal restaurant search and discovery provider Zomato has partnered with digital logistics company FarEye to help it gain end-to-end logistics visibility and enhance restaurant compliance. Through its intelligent route optimisation engine, FarEye aims to help Zomato reduce cost of pickups and deliveries. FarEye, with its Machine Learning platform, will help Zomato gain visibility and boost KPI management of third party logistics providers. The partnership will help restaurants stay compliant with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) guidelines.
Read MoreIndia has operationalised a partial guarantee scheme announced in the budget for non-banking and housing finance companies (NBFCs and HFCs), which will allow state-run banks (PSBs) to purchase their assets.It is aimed at providing liquidity support to avoid distress sale of assets in a sector facing a shortage of cash due to asset-liability mismatch.
Read MoreCochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) launched two Ro Pax vessels for Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on August 8. The new vessels are the third and fourth in the series of a 10-vessel order from IWAI.The launch ceremony was attended by senior officials of IWAI, directors and employees of CSL. The vessels were launched by Dr Asha Paul, wife of Mathew George, director, IWAI and Mini CC, wife of Suresh Babu NV, director (operations), IWAI.
Read MoreFlipkart has recently joined hands with National Skill Development Corporation’s Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) to co-develop a skilling module which trains 20,000 delivery executives across the country. The eight-hour training module provided by Flipkart in conjunction with LSC teaches delivery executives different gradations of delivery mechanisms.
Read MoreMukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries on Monday announced to set up “World’s largest blockchain network” in India. Ambani was addressing the 42nd annual general meeting of the Reliance Industries.Allaying the fears of economic slowdown, India’s richest person said that the slowdown in some sectors of the economy is temporary and he sees India growing into a USD 10 trillion economy by the year 2030.
Read MoreThe National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) today unveiled its findings for India's agritech sector in its report titled, "Agritech in India – Emerging Trends in 2019”.
Read MoreTechnology companies have expressed concern over a delay in introducing the Personal Data Protection Bill in Parliament, and a lack of clarity about its contents. Although a committee led by Justice B N Srikrishna, a former judge of the Supreme Court, submitted its report and the draft Bill to the government in July last year, it has yet to be sent to the Cabinet for approval.
Read MoreTechnology-enabled logistics firm Rivigo has bagged patent rights for its driver relay model by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The Relay Trucking model uses algorithms to ensure drivers are behind the wheel for a maximum of four-five hours at a stretch and reach home the same day. The Gurugram based start-up was started in 2014 with this innovative model and freight marketplace.
Read MoreFedEx Express has announced enhanced temperature-controlled shipping services in which packing for an international shipment is completed at the customer’s place of business. FedEx will offer two different packaging options with the service.
Read MoreReserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das Wednesday said the economy is in the midst of a cyclical slowdown and not a structural one, and exuded confidence of growth reviving soon on the back of cheaper money and likely more government measures.He expressed confidence that the government will come up with more measures to revive the sagging growth
Read MoreGlobal logistics major DHL Express is concerned about lack of adequate infrastructure at the city airport, warning this may be detrimental to the country's $5-trillion growth aspiration as well. The company said there is only a single slot for all air freight operators and there is no scope for expansion at the nations second largest
Read MoreThe Ministry of Shipping, after the other National Waterway Projects, is now keen to start the inland waterways navigation and passenger transportation in the rivers of the North-Eastern states of the country. The project is said to bring easy movement in the region. Despite the cost efficiency and other benefits, the use of Indian inland waterways is only 0.1% while in the United States it is 21%.
Read MoreRivigo becomes the first Indian company to get a US patent for a differentiated technology that boosts performance and productivity for the logistics industry. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent rights to Rivigo, a tech logistics startup, for its unique driver relay model. The driver relay model that uses algorithms to determine the availability of drivers for trucks enables drivers to return home every day.
Read MoreEssar Bulk Terminal Ltd (EBTL) has registered a growth of 22 percent growth in its third-party business in the quarter ending June 30, 2019. The company achieved an overall cargo throughput of 7 MT (million tonnes) in Q1 FY2019-20, of which 1.1 MT was third-party cargo. The share of third-party cargo in overall cargo volumes also rose to 15.7 percent, informed a company statement.
Read MoreIndian railways have roped in Amazon India, an e-commerce giant, to transport its goods by trains attracting the ire of railway unions in the process. What railways see as a boost to its business the railway unions see as a snatching away of their livelihood. Amazon will pay freight charges equivalent to the highest lease rate on the same train on pro-rata basis. Apart from this one-month advance freight charge will also be paid by the Amazon to the railways.
Read MoreNational airline Air India has adopted Unisys Digistics™ integrated logistics software suite to create a connected and automated cargo ecosystem for consistent and accurate data across the organisation. While Air India has been using Unisys technology for approximately 30 years, the new system will leverage advanced analytics for booking, accounting, to help improve cash flow for the airline while creating greater transparency around shipment status for the airline's cargo clients.
Read MoreThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to relax priority sector lending norms for exports by removing the turnover condition of Rs 100 crore and enhancing the maximum sanctioned limit to Rs 40 crore from Rs 25 crore now. This boost for the credit-strapped export sector comes amid slow global trade growth. The central bank will also review the threshold for export credit, which is capped at 2% of the total credit forwarded by banks, known as adjusted net bank credit (ANBC), to further ease the flow of credit.
Read MoreDHL Supply Chain has implemented its first smart warehouse in Asia Pacific with the digital twin technology, which involves using digital models to better understand and manage physical assets. DHL Supply Chain has implemented an integrated supply chain solution for Tetra Pak’s warehouse in Singapore. With this digital twin solution, Tetra Pak is able to maintain 24/7 coordination of its operations to resolve issues as they occur, particularly those that involve safety and productivity.
Read MoreThe logistics sector is likely to add 1.49 lakh new jobs in the April-September period of this financial year mainly triggered by the growing online seller base in smaller cities, according to a report. The report was based on a research done across 19 sectors and 14 geographies surveying 775 enterprises in India and 85 businesses across the globe.
Read MoreTVS Group plans to raise ₹350- ₹400 crore by selling about a 20% stake in its logistics and warehousing business to private equity investors. TVS Industrial and Logistics Park (TVS ILP) Pvt. Ltd has mandated Mumbai-based investment bank Avendus Capital for the transaction, said the first person, adding that the company is seeking valuation of ₹2,000 crore. TVS Group currently owns 50% of TVS ILP.
Read MoreMumbai-based logistics startup Leap India has raised INR 216 Cr ($31.77 Mn) in a Series C funding round led by private equity firm TVS Capital Funds. While TVS Capital has infused INR 100 Cr ($14.52 Mn), Sixth Sense Venture Fund invested INR 32 Cr ($4.64 Mn) and Samena Capital pumped in INR 40 Cr ($5.81 Mn) along with existing investors such as Mayfield and IndiaNivesh Fund.
Read MoreIndia is close to inking a key defense logistics sharing pact which will place it as a rare nation that has such a strategic agreement with both of the old cold war rivals - the US and Russia. India and Russia are finalising a defence agreement that will simplify interoperability and enable military platforms to receive support and supplies across bases in both nations.
Read MoreThe government’s focus on building a digital India is again highlighted with its willingness to train people on AI, IoT and Big Data that will transform the supply chain and logistics industry. The logistics sector plays a very crucial role in propelling India to become a $5 trillion economy. Some key measures like Ease of Doing Business, simplification of e-way bills, will improve the overall logistics sector and also reduce the cost of transportation.
Read MoreThe state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has proposed the development of logistics hubs in six corridors comprising Nagpur-Wardha, Jalna-Aurangabad, Chakan-Talegaon-Hinjewadi-Ranjangaon, Khalapur-Taloja, Shahpur and Tarapur over the next two years. The government expects an investment of over Rs 20,000 crore in the proposed logistic hub. The first of such hub will come up at Chakan within a year. Apart from Indian companies, investors from China, Singapore and Indonesia have already evinced interest to invest in the upcoming logistics hubs.
Read MoreIn the emerging age of biologics, gene therapies and personalized medicine, pharmaceutical products will have short lifespans and must be shipped under temperature-controlled conditions and just-in-time timelines. It is here that supply chain management for pharmaceutical industry plays a critical role to ensure quality, safety and efficacy. The day-long conference was organised by The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), along with Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA).
Read MoreDTerminal 2 Gesellschaft, a joint subsidiary of Munich Airport and Lufthansa, has awarded an upgrade contract for its Terminal 2 and satellite building at Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich to Siemens Logistics. The measures are scheduled to be completed by mid-2022. The upgrade to the current safety and security regulations for baggage handling will require Siemens to replace the X-ray equipment in the baggage handling system in compliance with the Standard 3 of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). Siemens is also implementing screening units of the latest generation that provide high-resolution 3D imaging and enhanced scanning quality.
Read MoreHyperlocal logistics space is set to see intense competition as Swiggy has been ramping up for a debut in the segment. According to three of Entrackr’s sources, the Naspers-backed company is launching Swiggy Go. This would be a service akin to dunzo – moving parcels from one point to another. Swiggy Go will be taking dunzo head-on with this new vertical. The multi-billion USD valued firm already impacting dunzo volume through Stores in Gurugram.
Read MorePharma logistics is expected to get a shot in the arm when the Swissport Pharma Center is completed by 2021 in a phased approach. Swissport is investing several million euros in developing approximately 3,620 sqm of end-to-end facilities in the new Swissport Pharma Center. The brand new Swissport Pharma Center will feature an increased surface area for pharmaceutical products. Ambient pharma space (+15° to +25°C) will more than triple from 800 sqm to 2,620 sqm. Additionally, a 1,000 sqm cooling facility (+2° to +8°C) will be available.
Read MoreTechnology-enabled logistics firm Rivigo has raised a funding of $65 million in the ongoing series E round led by existing investors Warburg Pincus and SAIF Partners. The company plans to utilise the funding to further strengthen its technology and network coverage. Rivigo recently launched the National Freight Index (NFI) to bring transparency to the largely unorganised logistics sector. It provides fleet owners and logistics decision makers unrestricted access to freight rate information and trends.
Read MoreSingapore headquartered log-tech startup Ezyhaul has raised $16 million in series B funding to expand to new markets in South Asia. The three-year-old company plans replicate its successful launch in Malaysia, Singapore, India (Mulura Logistics Pvt. Ltd) and Thailand. It is also integrating a cross border solution that currently stretches from China to Singapore. The company seeks to provide a complete plug and play model for its clients through its online platform.
Read MoreDHL Freight has announced a peak season surcharge effective September to December 2019. The surcharge of average 4 percent will apply to all full-truckload (FTL), part-truckload (PTL) and less than-truckload (LTL) transport in Europe. The shortage of drivers and constantly increasing road freight demand are further constraining the available capacity. DHL Freight's driver recruitment initiative is currently running on a pilot basis at five locations in Germany. The company has hired more than 50 truck drivers and deployed 30 brand new high-technology trucks.
Read MoreDHL Global Forwarding has opened a new logistics services facility in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Chennai. The hub will offer value-added services including packaging, labeling, embossing, sorting, inspection, strapping, kitting and assembly of complete and semi knocked-down kits. Flexible storage options and a single window customs clearance also ensure a more streamlined and quicker processing of the stored cargo.
Read MoreThe 16th rake of specialised rail wagons has been delivered to APL Logistics VASCOR Automotive (APLL VASCOR). The rake is the first of five additional rakes scheduled to be introduced this year to APLL VASCOR’s AutoLinx product. The specialised rail wagons can transport (up to) 318 passenger vehicles, but can also accommodate motorcycles and automotive parts.
Read MoreFreight forwarders DB Schenker, Agility Logistics and Hellmann Worldwide Logistics have embraced Air cargo rates distribution platform, IATA Net Rates, to manage their full air cargo rates spectrum. IATA Net Rates fits perfectly within the vision and mission of IATA to develop standards, remove the paper with technology that brings efficiency to the industry and engage with all parties to join. IATA Net Rates is a neutral platform run by the air transport association for the benefits of the industry.
Read MoreMumbai-based logistics technology startup Freight Tiger has received a funding of $8 million. The funding round is led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from Alsthom Industries (one of the Dalmia Group Companies) and Pawan Munjal Family Trust. Following this funding round, Freight Tiger plans to connect with more customers, expand its product and technology through Artificial Intelligence as well as Machine Learning and build industry specific AI extensions on the platform.
Read MoreTo increase its presence in the global logistics and marine services industry, DP World PLC has acquired international critical logistics and solutions provider Topaz Energy and Marine Limited (Topaz) for an enterprise value of $1,079 million. Dubai-based DP World acquired Topaz, which operates a modern, versatile fleet of 117 vessels, predominantly in the Caspian Sea, MENA, and West Africa regions, from Renaissance Services SAOG and Standard Chartered Private Equity/Affirma Capital.
Read MoreSEKO Logistics has gained the ISO 13485 quality management certification for its facility in Amsterdam, which will now be a major MedTec hub for SEKO in Europe. The certification will play a key role in managing growing demand for the company’s international transportation and fulfillment solutions, cross-border eCommerce, Omni-Channel, White Glove and Final Mile services.
Read MoreKnight Frank launched the latest edition of its flagship report, India Warehousing Market 2019 at the recently concluded 9th India Warehousing Show 2019 in Delhi. According to the independent global property consultancy's report, top warehousing markets in India witnessed a growth of 77 percent year-on-year in leasing in April 2018-March 2019.
Read MoreTech-logistics start-up Blowhorn has made an environmentaly friendly commitment by announcing that it would move 50 percent of its fleet to eco-friendly mobility solutions like electric vehicles (EV), hybrid vehicles, CNG by the end of 2021 and 100 percent by 2025. Currently, 10 percent of Blowhorn fleet already run on EVs and is environmentally sustainable.
Read MoreDHL SmarTrucking has been appointed as perishables trading company JVS's exclusive logistics partner. DHL SmarTrucking provides bespoke refrigerated trucking solutions for temperature-sensitive products, in addition to tailored trucking solutions for dry goods. DHL SmarTrucking is based in India with more than 1,900 drivers and 745 trucks, and 13 SmartHubs across the country.
Read MoreContainer logistics company Maersk has launched its online product Maersk Spot to simplify the buying process for its customers. It provides customers a cargo loading guarantee at a fixed price upfront. Currently available as a BETA site, the product will be implemented on maersk.com at the end of July. With Maersk Spot, customers can search and get competitive rates online 24/7. The all-in price is calculated and fixed when the booking is confirmed, which happens instantly.
Read MoreAllcargo Logistics has sold its last vessel, thus exiting the shipowning and coastal shipping business. The company, which is headquartered in Mumbai, provides services including LCL consolidation, FCL Forwarding - exports and imports, air freight services, movement of over dimensional and project cargo, multi city consolidation - exports and imports and DDU/DDP/Ex works.
Read MoreDHL Supply Chain has established its Vision Picking solution in more warehouses around the globe after its successful augmented reality pilots. A statement claimed that the international trials had shown an average improvement of productivity by 15 percent and higher accuracy rates, adding that the solution had also halved onboarding and training times.
Read MoreOverall, the advent of technology forces is leading to a culture of decision making based on data and not gut-feel. The gains in both quality and performance as delivered in a technology-powered logistics value chain is realised by both buyers and providers. Today, it is not one unique identifiable technology that can create a quantum impact on the logistics industry.
Read MoreThe share of e-commerce in overall warehouse leasing uptake went up from 10 percent in 2017 to 23 percent in 2018, according to the findings of the report 'Online retail driving realty - Elevating the e-commerce game' by real estate consulting firm CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. Warehouse leasing crossed the 25 million sq. ft. mark in 2018; grew by more than 45 percent on a year-on-year basis in 2018.
Read MoreThe International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) is establishing a new working group to define and deliver a Sustainability Program for the air cargo industry. To support the initiative, TIACA has signed a long-term partnership agreement with CHAMP Cargosystems. The concept and growing importance of sustainability is everywhere in our current society and is defined through the following interconnected domains or pillars: environment, economic, and social.
Read MoreIn a bid to transform the logistics sector in India, Rivigo, a tech-enabled logistics company, launched the National Freight Index (NFI) here in Delhi on Thursday. With this, Rivigo aims to bring transparency to the previously opaque industry. This first-of-its-kind barometer of the road freight market in India is based on a Rivigo rate exchange, which gives a live spot rate on over 7 million lane and vehicle type combinations in the country.
Read MoreAmazon no longer needs FedEx. But that's actually not so bad for the shipping company, which is cutting ties with the e-commerce giant. In many ways, these two companies had long been using each other, all the while knowing that a breakup was inevitable. FedEx has opted to not renew its domestic FedEx Express partnership with Amazon, the companies become only rivals.
Read MoreCity-based realty player Lodha Group has partnered with Warburg Pincus-backed logistics developer e-Shang Redwood (ESR) to develop an industrial park in Thane district at a cost of $100 million. The 50:50 joint venture between the two companies will develop 89 acres of land parcel in an industrial park in phased manner, which will house 17 institutional-grade speculative and non-speculative buildings.
Read MoreSpoton Logistics, one of the most agile express logistics companies in India, on Friday announced the inaugural of a major logistics hub with a total area of 120,000 sq feet at Chakan. This modern state-of-the art logistics hub is situated near Pune –Nasik Highway (NH60) and offers access to 38 route vehicles. The brand new hub offers storage capacity in excess of 650 tones and cross-docking facilities for simultaneous loading and unloading operations.
Read MoreEssar Ports Limited, one of India’s largest private sector port operators, has registered a massive growth in its throughput and port capacity ever since the beginning of the current fiscal. In just the first two months of April and May, the company has seen an increase of 29 percent in its cargo volumes accompanied by a throughput of 9.2 Million Tonnes (MT). The recorded throughput for the same months in 2018 was 7.2 MT.
Read MoreThe truck rentals in India are seeing a sharp decline for over the past 6 months, according to a report of the Indian Foundation of Transport Research & Training (IFTRT). The freight rentals have gone down by 15%, averaging around 2 – 3 per cent per month from November 2018 to May 2019. The major reasons to be considered for this freight downfall are the plunge in the factory output and the increase in cargo capacity.
Read MoreCompany has launched 8 new last mile delivery services with a target of doubling its top line to INR 3,000 crore by next financial year. The new services have been tailored to suit different customers of B2B and B2C segments under the brand Kerry Indev Express. The new brand will act as a door-to-door express service operating through 200 service centres on a Pan-India basis.
Read MoreUber Freight is sharing nearly all the revenue from its digital freight-matching platform with its carriers, according to a Morgan Stanley & Co. analysis that estimates it could be years before Uber Technologies Inc.’s logistics division generates meaningful profits. Uber’s freight brokerage business launched in 2017 and uses technology to connect truckers with shippers looking to move cargo.
Read MoreThe import demand was buoyed by pharmaceuticals, metal, appliances and kitchenware, paper, chemicals and fruit & nuts, mainly from Northern Europe, South Asia, China and Russia. Exports were driven largely by the East and West of India, which both contributed double digits to the growth, with commodities including plastic, rubber, textile, vehicles, and vegetables as the key drivers.
Read MoreThe 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. India has come a long way from basic godowns to smart distribution centres.
Read MoreWith 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.
Read MoreZomato, online food ordering app is planning to invest around Rs 56 crore to set up 20 more warehouses across the country by the end of 2020 under its online business-to-business (B2B) food ingredient ordering platform, Hyperpure. With setting up of warehouses across 18 cities, the company is targeting a combined capacity of 90,000 metric tonnes (MT) and 700,000 square feet by 2020.
Read MoreFM Logistic, a leading international organisation from France, specialising in warehousing, transportation and co-packing, has announced its plans to invest $150 million over five years, as part of its strategy to grow in India. FM Logistic plans to strengthen its position in India by delivering on its post GST strategy of focusing on developing multi-client facilities (MCF) in the most important Indian Economic Zones.
Read MoreA fresh crop of companies is trying to change the huge but fragmented logistics market, employing technology to achieve efficiency, better volumes and lower costs. The startups, backed by large private equity firms, are improving the working conditions of truckers, who put in long hours behind the wheel with little respite.
Read MoreWhen the ecommerce industry took flight in India, one sector that immediately gained prominence was the logistics space, as startups rushed to provide efficient business-to-consumer (B2C) supply chain solutions to online retailers. Now, the large but fragmented logistics sector is once again emerging the darling of investors and startups alike.
Read MoreIIoT refers to a universe of intelligent products, processes and services that communicate with each other and with people over the Internet and promises to be the most transformative industrial revolution yet for manufacturers. While countries like Germany, France and China have made significant progress in terms of IIoT adoption, India has not yet moved much ahead in its IIoT journey.
Read MoreThe governments of Japan, India and Sri Lanka have agreed to develop a container terminal at the Port of Colombo, which has attracted major investment from China. This is located at the newly expanded south part of the Port of Colombo. The MoU will enable the concerned parties to develop a facility to allow large container ships to enter.
Read MoreDespite the many advancements in technology, when one-third of the world’s food is lost or spoiled in logistics because of poor management and human error, the need to come up with problem-solving solutions becomes pressing. StaTwig uses Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain to monitor every minute step of the products’ journey, providing complete transparency and preventing disruptions in large-scale deliveries.
Read MoreRiding on structured reforms including the infrastructure status and the implementation of Goods & Services Act, Indian warehousing and logistics sector is estimated to attract nearly $10 billion investments over the next 4-5 years. With addition of around 200 million sq ft warehousing space across India, total supply is expected to nearly double by 2022, estimated JLL India.
Read MoreTVS Motor Company has invested $3.85 Million in Bengaluru based-TagBox, a supply chain industrial internet of things (IIoT) and machine learning platform company as part of its Series A funding round. The round was entirely led by TVS Motor Company and its Singapore based Subsidiary, TVS Motor (Singapore) Pte.
Read MoreSnowman Logistics, an integrated temperature-controlled logistics services provided has been increasing its pan-India presence with strategically located temperature controlled warehouses, including key markets of Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
Read MoreLogistics optimisation startup Locus has secured $20 Mn in a funding round led by New York-based hedge fund Falcon Edge, VC firm Tiger Global and existing investors Exfinity Technology Fund- Series II and Blume Ventures India Fund II, in two tranches in February and April. Although, it’s not clear whether this investment is part of the bigger $20 Mn funding round or not.
Read MoreTrucking in India has long been a dangerous and thankless job. Most drivers have to deal with long periods away from home, sleepless nights, and harassment by police and other authorities. They have high rates of alcohol and drug abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases. So, while India’s growing economy needs around 10-15 lakh new drivers every year, very few young men want to take up truck driving.
Read MoreThe roar of passing trucks frequently drown out conversations at eateries lining NH 48 in Nelamangala, an hour northwest from Bengaluru city. A nondescript highway town of some 38,000 residents, this is a significant way station on the key highway connecting Bengaluru & Mumbai, as it heads out towards the commercial hubs en route, such as Tumakuru, Hubbali and beyond.
Read MoreZinka Logistics Solutions Pvt. Ltd, which operates business-to-business (B2B) technology-enabled logistics startup BlackBuck, has raised $36.07 million (Rs 249.78 crore at the current exchange rate) as part of an ongoing funding round. Venture capital firm Accel, an existing investor, led the fresh infusion by contributing $30.92 million (Rs 214.10 crore), show filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. B Capital, the venture capital firm floated by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, put in the rest.
Read MoreIndia’s big e-commerce companies as well as startups are set to ramp up delivery fleets, the most crucial last-mile link in the supply chain, amid intensifying competition to grab a larger share of the customer wallet. Swiggy, Grofers, MilkBasket and Shadowfax are doubling delivery teams this financial year, and biggies such as Amazon and BigBasket have equally aggressive plans.
Read MoreFor the past few years, India has been battling with higher air pollution, and there’s increased pressure from the global community on India’s increasing population to cut down reliance on fossil fuels. The switch to renewable energy is happening, but at the same time, high pollution rates mean Gurugram is the most polluted city and Delhi the most polluted capital in the world. A major contributor to this growing pollution is vehicular emissions, especially as millions of Indians start using the convenience of online shopping and deliveries.
Read MoreThe government on Thursday relaxed the norms for e-way bills. Rules regarding validity have been changed, while a facility has been provided for auto-calculating the route distance. Under the goods and services tax (GST) regime, an e-way bill has to be generated if goods worth over Rs 50,000 are transported.
Read MoreHome-grown logistics firm DTDC is planning an investment of ₹400-500 crore over the next three years. Investments will be made towards setting up transit hubs and allied infrastructure. The company is eyeing a 60 per cent growth in its profits for FY19 (as compared to the previous year).
Read MoreBengaluru-headquartered logistics startup BlackBuck’s parent company Zinka Logistics Solutions Pvt Ltd, the company raised the funds in two rounds of INR 249.78 Cr ($36.09 Mn) and INR 303.31 Cr ($43.28 Mn) issuing 12,903 and 15,668 Series D compulsorily convertible preference shares respectively.
Read MoreGerman insurer and asset management company Allianz has tied up with global logistics developer e-Shang Redwood (ESR) to jointly invest about $1 billion in India's rapidly developing logistics and warehousing sector.
Read MoreThe rapidly growing e-commerce sector launched its own trade association under the name of The E-Commerce Council of India (TECI) on Wednesday. The founding members of TECI include Snapdeal, ShopClues, UrbanClap, Shop101, Flyrobe, and Fynd along with online brands like Mamaearth, Superbottoms, and Azah.
Read MoreFrance-based FM Logistic Friday said it plans to invest USD 150 million (a little over Rs 1,000 crore) over the next five years to set up new warehouses in India. This amount will be used to focus on multi-client warehouses. The company plans to expand to five cities including four metropolitan cities.
Read MoreBy the year 2020 the FMCG market is expected to blow up to 104 Billion. It is a paramount indication of top FMCG companies in India investing on the optimization of organized retail. Digitization and automation are thus reimagining the traditional sales and distribution set-up of the FMCG market in India.
Read MoreUS based late-stage investor Accel Growth is leading a $100-150 million investment - along with Goldman Sachs, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin’s B Capital and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital - in online freight aggregator BlackBuck. The deal will also see existing backers like Sands Capital and IFC invest in the four-year-old startup, valuing it at over $800 million, said the sources.
Read MoreA Bengaluru-based logistics company, Shadowfax has recently announced that it will expand its business-to-consumer (B2C) logistics service for Chinese ecommerce and logistics companies to deliver goods at the doorstep of Indian online consumers. The startup’s initiative to tap into Chinese imported goods comes at a time when China’s imports to India rose by 16.6% to $50 Bn in 2017-18.
Read MoreGurgaon-based logistics startup Delhivery raised $395 million in its Series F round to become the first Indian unicorn of 2019. The company raised $350 million from SoftBank Group alone, while existing investors Carlyle Group and Chinese conglomerate, Fosun International also participated in the round.
Read MoreThe Ministry of Commerce had published the draft policy and opened the issue for public discussions. The policy is being prepared by the logistics division within the commerce ministry. Accordingly, the logistics division came up with a draft which aims to provide an impetus to trade, enhance export competitiveness, improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to between 25 and 30, among other initiatives.
Read MoreToday, the transformations that India is going through can be witnessed across all walks of life. Our industries are getting modernized as relevant automation and tech-adoptions are increasing their throughput while also improving efficiency. Looking at the larger picture, this development is adding to the market visibility and that of across-the-board processes.
Read MoreCalcutta has emerged as the third-largest market for warehousing and logistics in India, recording a 70 per cent growth in the absorption of space as the state starts reaping benefit from the implementation of the GST and the penetration of e-commerce. The city, which usually appears at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to residential and office space adsorptions, consumed 3.4-million-square-foot space in 2018.
Read MoreRiding on structured reforms including the infrastructureNSE 0.96 % status and the implementation of Goods & Services Act, Indian warehousing and logistics sector is estimated to attract nearly $10 billion investments over the next 4-5 years. With addition of around 200 million sq ft warehousing space across India, total supply is expected to nearly double by 2022, estimated JLL India.
Read MorePune-based eCommerce logistics provider Xpressbees has raised INR 35 Cr ($4.9 Mn) from Mumbai-based venture debt and specialty lending company InnoVen Capital. It is not yet known if other investors participated in the round. It provides services such as last-mile delivery, reverse logistics, payment collection, drop shipping, vendor management, cross-border services, fulfillment services and tailored software solutions.
Read MoreAramex global financials were impacted after down-scaling India ops. Aramex had earlier acquired Mumbai’s Grab.in, and Jaipur’s Logisure. It provides logistics for major eCommerce companies such as Amazon India. Delhivery has reportedly acquired the India business of Dubai-based logistics firm Aramex for an undisclosed amount. Delhivery will take over Aramex’s local operations with effect from March 1, 2019.
Read MoreIndia’s largest e-commerce firm, Mjunction services limited, has entered into a strategic partnership with blockchain shipping firm Shipnext, global maritime news agency Sea News reports Feb. 20. The new partnership intends to boost efficiency across Mjunction’s supply chain, bringing value-added services to its clients. Mjunction’s large cargo base is expected to attract more traffic, shipowners and ship operators to Shipnext platforms.
Read MoreAs the government refused to budge on the FDI norms kicked in on February 1, Amazon sellers have reportedly cited that they are unable to manage logistics and order deliveries on their own, and some have even reportedly called it quits. Amazon’s FBA sellers, such as Cloudtail and Appario, which helped the sellers in fulfilling orders have now stopped operations due to restrictions.
Read MoreChicago-based freight tracking logistics startup FourKites has announced that it will utilise a part of its $50 Mn Series C funding in doubling the employee headcount of its engineering arm in Chennai. Its existing investors - August Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, CEAS Investments and Hyde Park Angels - had invested in the startup’s latest funding round.
Read MoreLogistics-technology firm Rivigo Services Pvt. Ltd has raised $35.6 million in a fresh round of funding from existing investors Warburg Pincus and SAIF Partners. Company secured this sum by issuing compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) to the private equity giant and multi-stage investment firm.
Read MoreAll other industries are highly dependent on transportation, materials and goods for their very functioning - an efficient flow of which is what the logistics sector is essentially tasked with. Logistics has been projected to play a progressively significant role in driving the Indian economy further. Indian logistics sector has received great boost through policy level changes and transforming business environment in the past few years.
Read MoreMorgan Stanley is set to enter the Indian warehousing space through a Rs 400-crore investment via which it will take 85-90% stake in a platform to be jointly operated with KSH Group, sources close to the deal told FE. The investment is likely to be done from the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund (MSREF).
Read MoreIndia has a total road network of 5.6 million km. National highways account for 2.3% of this with a total length of 131,326 km, state highways account for 144,961 km and other roads 5.3 million km. National highways cater to more than 40% of the road traffic.
Read MoreBacked by a $300-m equity fund it hopes to develop 14-15 million sq ft of logistics space. Singapore-based real estate major Ascendas-Singbridge, which is among the largest foreign developers in India, is on a major expansion-cum-diversification drive, including logistics parks, data centres and co-working spaces.
Read MoreExpect the bigger conglomerates to continue to partner with technology partners. Expect companies to put more emphasis on increasing the visibility of their operations. Expect companies to focus more and more on automated optimal routes.
Read MoreThe logistics sector in India witnessed a new high recently, when the Kolkata-Varanasi and the Kolkata-Patna container cargo route was made operational by IWAI. After this successful endeavour, The plans in place for a safe and effective mode of transport for pilgrims and elaborates on the big plans towards making the cost-effective and environment friendly, inland waterways a flourishing new transport modal choice in India.
Read MoreDIPP on December 26, 2018, introduced certain changes to the 2017 policy governing FDI in the ecommerce sector. Policy changes in the garb of clarifications have the potential to change the dynamics of Indian ecommerce space. The changes are likely to impact the core business model of the likes of Amazon and Flipkart.
Read Moree-Shang Redwood (ESR) announced its strategic partnership with global asset manager Allianz Real Estate to invest around US$1 billion in the country’s logistics and industrial property market. Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint venture floated by Dubai-owned port operator DP World and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) committed US$3 billion in ports, logistics and related sectors.
Read MoreIntel’s CLP provides services in the logistics and transportation industry to operate at low margins to boost efficiency. Intel’s Connected Logistics Platform allows the customer to automate shipment tracking and increase shipment visibility (e.g. location, temperature, humidity, mishandling) of high-value goods as they move through the supply chain and to their final destination.
Read MoreFairfax owned Saurashtra Freight plans to invest an amount ranging from INR 50 million to INR 1,000 million in companies in the field of logistics, warehousing, transportation and other relevant sectors associated to freight industry. The organization aims to invest up to INR 3500 million in the next three years to fuel its growth in the industry.
Read MoreAccording to market estimates, 30% of products sold on e-commerce platforms are returned. Reverse logistics, or managing the product return process, besides repackaging and refurbishing them, is disrupting the $160-billion Indian logistics industry.
Read MoreSouth East Asia and India-focused private equity firm Everstone is set invest $500 Mn (INR 3,577.5 Cr) in the logistics sector along with global logistics company GLP. The investment will focus on different sectors, including express-delivery, smart trucks, telematics and automation/robotics.
Read MoreE-way bill is mandatory for interstate movement of goods where the value of goods exceeds Rs. 50,000 (US$716), in motorized conveyance. The mechanism ensures that transporters need not have separate transit passes for moving goods across state-borders as the electronic bill is valid throughout India.
Read MoreIndia's logistics industry, currently estimated to be worth around $160 billion, is projected to reach $215 billion in the next two years. The meet, titled 'Logix India 2019', is an initiative taken by India’s trade body FIEO (federation of Indian exporters organizations), along with the Indian government, with the twin objective of inviting various international investment opportunities and tie-ups in the domestic logistic sector..
Read MoreBengaluru-based tech-enabled logistics marketplace Diptab Ventures Pvt. Ltd, which runs under the brand name LetsTransport, has raised $14.2 Mn (INR 100 Cr) in Series B funding from Bertelsmann India Investments, Fosun International and other investors. The company will use the fresh funds to strengthen new technology, add new portfolio verticals and scale up its operations.
Read More“Especially in the tech analytics space,” says CEO, Pirojshaw Sarkari. Mahindra Logistics is currently in talks with two companies. Three months earlier, it invested in Transtech Logistics in a two-step transaction that will see it holding 51% in the startup.
Read MoreChief Minister Manohar Lal says Haryana is third in India in ease of doing business. Five new cities similar to Gurugram in development and investments of over Rs 5.5 lakh crore, one of many, are taking place. Several lakhs of job opportunities expected in the coming years.
Read MoreThe company has drawn up a strategic roadmap to expand its operational footprint by establishing a market presence in Kenya, where the government plans to make the country Africa's auto-manufacturing hub, and Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, which has emerged as a leading logistics and distribution hub for the automotive industry in the region.
Read MoreThe LDB project, unveiled in July 2016, was launched in the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), with the aim to track cargo in real-time. The initiative is expected to help cut logistics cost, which is high in India at 14% compared to 7-8% in developed nations.
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