A major trend in the Indian logistics and supply chain sector is the strong impetus and focus on developing infrastructure for transport, so much so that it can offer valuable and customised support to key industries like pharmaceuticals, textiles and other manufacturing sectors earmarked by the government to drive the robust growth of the Indian economy. From being the backbone of a developing economy, the logistics and supply chain sector is now a frontrunner and major driver of not just national and international trade but also the lifeline of smaller business, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Upamanyu Borah
The 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.
As per research reports, the estimated size of the Indian logistics market is pegged at US$215 billion and is growing at a CAGR of 10.5% and only 10-15 per cent of the overall market is owned by organised players. Out of the aforesaid amount, the online vertical is estimated between US$20 and US$30 billion by 2025.
The growth in the sector is mostly being driven by the rise of international business in India which is itself the result of the improved bilateral trade.
With the government striking trade deals with countries like the US, Australia, Japan and top European nations, there's little doubt that the Indian logistics and supply chain management sector is on the path of becoming one of the most sought after sectors in the Indian economy.
As per a recent report by Arthur D Little India in collaboration with the CII, India’s Logistics and supply chain costs currently amount to a staggering US$400 billion, up to 14% of the GDP, compared to the global average of 8%, raising a competitiveness gap of approximately US$180 billion.
“Logistics will witness an uptick post-COVID as the focus will progressively be on the entire supply chain of doorstep delivery. This means specific thrust on warehousing and packing/packaging to enable the smooth flow of goods. Warehousing will see a thrust mainly due to the higher farm produce to the market. The development of eNAM bodes well for building more warehousing space as farmers move to the market,” Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at CARE Ratings had previously revealed.
“Growth in this industry is dependent on several factors. Firstly, higher growth in GDP which goes with a recovery entails higher movement of goods across the country. Secondly, warehousing today is an integral part of the e-commerce industry which is booming. Furthermore, the growth of the food processing industry in particular will lead to growth in private demand for warehousing space. Above all, growing exports will increase demand for efficient logistics services to cut costs and become more competitive,” Sabnavis further added.
“As we celebrated 75 years of India’s independence, the announcement by the honourable PM about investing Rs 100 cr for the ‘Gati Shakti’ master plan to accelerate development of transportation and logistics infrastructure in the country, that in turn is set to help faster ‘reach to market’ for Indian manufacturing sector that is gearing up to expand, thanks to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative,” said Hector Patel, Executive Director and Board Member, Jeena & Company.
“In addition to this, the National Logistics Policy introduced by the government is further designed to promote seamless movement of goods through focus on digitisation, process re-engineering, multimodal transport, EXIM trade, etc. which will further provide an impetus to trade and enhance the Logistics Performance Index for the country.”
Patel said that in the backdrop of the global pandemic, the Indian logistics, and supply chain sector evolved from being a support sector to a high impact sector, growing at a rate of 10.7% CAGR. “While the pandemic and the massive vaccination drive have already led the sector to evolve rapidly so as to meet the numerous challenges, it is now ready to take a giant leap in the coming years.”
Manufacturing in India holds the potential to contribute up to 25% to 30% of the GDP by 2025 which will drive the growth of the warehousing segment in India. The logistics market in India is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% between 2019 and 2025. E-commerce is another major segment which is expected to support growth of the logistics industry during the forecast period. Increasing investments and trade point towards a healthy outlook for the Indian freight sector. Port capacity is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% to 6% by 2022, thereby, adding a capacity of 275 to 325 million tonnes. Indian Railways aims to increase its freight traffic from 1.1 billion tonnes in 2017 to 3.3 billion tonnes in 2030. Freight traffic on airports in India has the potential to reach 17 million tonnes by FY 2040.
Practically, the factors that have contributed towards India leveraging its growth potential to achieve fruitful bilateral trade, increasing its global footprint, and thrive for an efficient logistics sector to achieve its growth target are as below:
Unlocking export opportunities
As numerous industries enter and set their manufacturing plants in India, it is a noteworthy fact that Indians no longer have to go out of their way and increase any existing trade deficit. India's overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April-August 2021* are estimated to be US$256.17 billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 44.04 per cent over the same period last year and a positive growth of 15.79 per cent over April-August 2019.
Stronger open trade policies
India is now one of the most powerful players in the global economic landscape with the logistics and supply chain sector as its backbone. The improved bilateral trade and the opened gateway to the Indian economy through globalisation and liberalisation is providing all the needed opportunities. New and improved trade policies have also helped achieve bilateral trade and increase international business. Foreign trade policies such as the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and the Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) have positively complemented the logistics and supply chain management and enhanced the manufacturing sector in India. Extra efforts for improved bilateral trade by the Indian government have also resulted in lower tariffs and taxes by different countries.
Growth and innovation of infrastructure
With a major thrust on strengthening the Indian logistic ecosystem, new and improved logistics hubs and warehouses are planned, strategically around important ports. Logistic parks and specialized spaces for warehouses, is proving extremely helpful. According to a report by the National Transport Development Policy Committee., India’s cargo traffic handled by ports is expected to reach 1,695 million metric tonnes by FY2021-22. Additionally, if Drones Policy 2.0 draft is implemented, India will witness droneports and dedicated drone corridors in upcoming times.
New-age technologies steering growth
New age technology has revolutionised the logistics sector by being a key differentiator. The immediate future is all about leveraging the power of AI, IoT, AR and VR to revolutionise supply chain logistics. Another emerging technology which is poised to create a profound impact is Blockchain. Driverless vehicles, wearable devices, warehouse automation is helping achieve operational efficiencies to counter supply chain cost pressures in the industry. According to IDG’s 2021 State of Digital Business Transformation report, improving customer experience and engagement continues to be the top goal fueling digital transformation. Organisations are also increasing their focus on speed-to-market and innovation.
Futuristic Green Logistics initiatives
With India targeting Net Zero emissions across sectors, logistics companies are already on the road to reduce their carbon footprint and at the same time grow rapidly. India is introducing GPS-enabled toll payments to ensure zero wastage of fuel and resultant emissions across hundreds of Toll Plazas. E-commerce companies have committed to delivering 30 per cent of shipments using Electric Vehicles. Modern warehouses and logistics parks are built with solar rooftops and sell carbon-free electricity rather than consuming it. With the integration of timers, thermostats, and gauges for all forms of electricity, gas, heat, and water, energy management systems are being put to use to derive the best practices to use what is needed without excessive waste.
“Sustainability within logistics is expected to be taken up on a larger scale, with digitalisation and automation being prime movers of such operations. Ports and terminals are some of the largest nucleated sources of carbon emission within the logistics ecosystem. The situation is worsened as major ports often find themselves close to densely populated cities, strengthening their need to oversee ‘greener’ operations next year. This could be done by general electrification of terminal cargo handling equipment like cranes and forklifts,” informed Huseni Vohra, Regional Sales Director, Ocean Insights.
“Overall, 2021 would define how global economies break free from the pandemic’s shackles. As the proverbial ‘mid-mile’ of supply chains, the industry will have to rise to the occasion. In many ways, the pandemic served as a wake-up call to logistics, hastening the adoption of technology in an industry mired in archaic operations. Visibility would be a defining theme, with stakeholders across the value chain leading concerted efforts to effect change and eliminate opacity-related inefficiencies. The interest in data intelligence has fostered supply chain connectivity, with several consortiums created within maritime networks—notably bound by Blockchain technology.”
2021 and beyond….
Change is in the air and India’s logistics industry is becoming organised and technology-driven. Currently, India’s logistics sector is valued at US$160 billion and employs over 22 million people directly. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent to US$215 billion by 2022.
India is also in the middle of an infrastructure building boom. The government’s National Highways Development Project aims to expand the country’s current expressway network of 2000 km and plans to add 18,637 km of Greenfield expressways by 2022. The Bharatmala Project is aiming to construct 83,677 km of highways by 2024.
But it is the ‘Digital Transformation’ that is silently underway and will re-define Indian logistics over the next decade. There is now an entire generation of start-ups focussing on solving India-specific logistics issues deploying state-of-the-art technology.
Notably, the falling cost of technology inclusion, such as cloud computing, GPS trackers, IoT sensors now enables even smaller logistics companies to modernise their systems. Even a newly started logistics company can avail itself of world-class technology at a very low monthly cost.
Logistics companies can easily integrate their systems with larger logistics companies or their customers to offer real-time visibility of inventory and shipments. This democratisation of technology of a large swathe of the logistics sector has the potential to leapfrog India’s logistics ahead of many peer economies and even developed economies.
Also, the government has pushed digitisation in a major way through initiatives such as E-Way bills, FASTag, E-Invoicing, GPS-based toll, etc.
“As per The India Transport Management System Market Report 2021, transport management system (TMS) market in India is estimated to register double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2028. One of the factors that is accelerating this change is evolving consumer preferences and online shopping. It is quite possible that these habits are likely to stay in the post-COVID world as well, which means that the logistics and supply chain industry of the future will need to focus on optimisation of technology and automation for safe and efficient movement of goods. This also means that the supply chain of tomorrow will be leaner, faster and most importantly, self-orchestrated,” explained Sukrit Sondhi, VP of Product Engineering at Fulcrum Digital.
Digital twins, Sondhi says, are possibly one of the most exciting logistics technology trends to keep an eye on in 2021. “This is drastically changing how the sector works: Now, physical and digital worlds can be melded into one, thus allowing, for the first time, to engage with the digital model of a physical object or part just like we would with their physical counterparts.”
With above, the National Logistics Policy that is expected soon to be released by the Government of India aims to promote seamless movement of goods across the country. It will focus on several areas such as process re-engineering, digitisation, focus on multimodal transport, EXIM trade, etc. and will look at improving logistics in core sectors. It will address many issues in a seamless manner. Effective implementation of the policy would help provide an impetus to trade, enhance export competitiveness, and improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index.
With opportunities galore and a business environment filled with hope, there’s no looking back for our country and the Logistics sector in 2021!
A major trend in the Indian logistics and supply chain sector is the strong impetus and focus on developing infrastructure for transport, so much so that it can offer valuable and customised support to key industries like pharmaceuticals, textiles and other manufacturing sectors earmarked by the government to drive the robust growth of the Indian economy. From being the backbone of a developing economy, the logistics and supply chain sector is now a frontrunner and major driver of not just national and international trade but also the lifeline of smaller business, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Upamanyu Borah
The 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.
As per research reports, the estimated size of the Indian logistics market is pegged at US$215 billion and is growing at a CAGR of 10.5% and only 10-15 per cent of the overall market is owned by organised players. Out of the aforesaid amount, the online vertical is estimated between US$20 and US$30 billion by 2025.
The growth in the sector is mostly being driven by the rise of international business in India which is itself the result of the improved bilateral trade.
With the government striking trade deals with countries like the US, Australia, Japan and top European nations, there's little doubt that the Indian logistics and supply chain management sector is on the path of becoming one of the most sought after sectors in the Indian economy.
As per a recent report by Arthur D Little India in collaboration with the CII, India’s Logistics and supply chain costs currently amount to a staggering US$400 billion, up to 14% of the GDP, compared to the global average of 8%, raising a competitiveness gap of approximately US$180 billion.
“Logistics will witness an uptick post-COVID as the focus will progressively be on the entire supply chain of doorstep delivery. This means specific thrust on warehousing and packing/packaging to enable the smooth flow of goods. Warehousing will see a thrust mainly due to the higher farm produce to the market. The development of eNAM bodes well for building more warehousing space as farmers move to the market,” Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at CARE Ratings had previously revealed.
“Growth in this industry is dependent on several factors. Firstly, higher growth in GDP which goes with a recovery entails higher movement of goods across the country. Secondly, warehousing today is an integral part of the e-commerce industry which is booming. Furthermore, the growth of the food processing industry in particular will lead to growth in private demand for warehousing space. Above all, growing exports will increase demand for efficient logistics services to cut costs and become more competitive,” Sabnavis further added.
“As we celebrated 75 years of India’s independence, the announcement by the honourable PM about investing Rs 100 cr for the ‘Gati Shakti’ master plan to accelerate development of transportation and logistics infrastructure in the country, that in turn is set to help faster ‘reach to market’ for Indian manufacturing sector that is gearing up to expand, thanks to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative,” said Hector Patel, Executive Director and Board Member, Jeena & Company.
“In addition to this, the National Logistics Policy introduced by the government is further designed to promote seamless movement of goods through focus on digitisation, process re-engineering, multimodal transport, EXIM trade, etc. which will further provide an impetus to trade and enhance the Logistics Performance Index for the country.”
Patel said that in the backdrop of the global pandemic, the Indian logistics, and supply chain sector evolved from being a support sector to a high impact sector, growing at a rate of 10.7% CAGR. “While the pandemic and the massive vaccination drive have already led the sector to evolve rapidly so as to meet the numerous challenges, it is now ready to take a giant leap in the coming years.”
Manufacturing in India holds the potential to contribute up to 25% to 30% of the GDP by 2025 which will drive the growth of the warehousing segment in India. The logistics market in India is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% between 2019 and 2025. E-commerce is another major segment which is expected to support growth of the logistics industry during the forecast period. Increasing investments and trade point towards a healthy outlook for the Indian freight sector. Port capacity is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% to 6% by 2022, thereby, adding a capacity of 275 to 325 million tonnes. Indian Railways aims to increase its freight traffic from 1.1 billion tonnes in 2017 to 3.3 billion tonnes in 2030. Freight traffic on airports in India has the potential to reach 17 million tonnes by FY 2040.
Practically, the factors that have contributed towards India leveraging its growth potential to achieve fruitful bilateral trade, increasing its global footprint, and thrive for an efficient logistics sector to achieve its growth target are as below:
Unlocking export opportunities
As numerous industries enter and set their manufacturing plants in India, it is a noteworthy fact that Indians no longer have to go out of their way and increase any existing trade deficit. India's overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April-August 2021* are estimated to be US$256.17 billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 44.04 per cent over the same period last year and a positive growth of 15.79 per cent over April-August 2019.
Stronger open trade policies
India is now one of the most powerful players in the global economic landscape with the logistics and supply chain sector as its backbone. The improved bilateral trade and the opened gateway to the Indian economy through globalisation and liberalisation is providing all the needed opportunities. New and improved trade policies have also helped achieve bilateral trade and increase international business. Foreign trade policies such as the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and the Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) have positively complemented the logistics and supply chain management and enhanced the manufacturing sector in India. Extra efforts for improved bilateral trade by the Indian government have also resulted in lower tariffs and taxes by different countries.
Growth and innovation of infrastructure
With a major thrust on strengthening the Indian logistic ecosystem, new and improved logistics hubs and warehouses are planned, strategically around important ports. Logistic parks and specialized spaces for warehouses, is proving extremely helpful. According to a report by the National Transport Development Policy Committee., India’s cargo traffic handled by ports is expected to reach 1,695 million metric tonnes by FY2021-22. Additionally, if Drones Policy 2.0 draft is implemented, India will witness droneports and dedicated drone corridors in upcoming times.
New-age technologies steering growth
New age technology has revolutionised the logistics sector by being a key differentiator. The immediate future is all about leveraging the power of AI, IoT, AR and VR to revolutionise supply chain logistics. Another emerging technology which is poised to create a profound impact is Blockchain. Driverless vehicles, wearable devices, warehouse automation is helping achieve operational efficiencies to counter supply chain cost pressures in the industry. According to IDG’s 2021 State of Digital Business Transformation report, improving customer experience and engagement continues to be the top goal fueling digital transformation. Organisations are also increasing their focus on speed-to-market and innovation.
Futuristic Green Logistics initiatives
With India targeting Net Zero emissions across sectors, logistics companies are already on the road to reduce their carbon footprint and at the same time grow rapidly. India is introducing GPS-enabled toll payments to ensure zero wastage of fuel and resultant emissions across hundreds of Toll Plazas. E-commerce companies have committed to delivering 30 per cent of shipments using Electric Vehicles. Modern warehouses and logistics parks are built with solar rooftops and sell carbon-free electricity rather than consuming it. With the integration of timers, thermostats, and gauges for all forms of electricity, gas, heat, and water, energy management systems are being put to use to derive the best practices to use what is needed without excessive waste.
“Sustainability within logistics is expected to be taken up on a larger scale, with digitalisation and automation being prime movers of such operations. Ports and terminals are some of the largest nucleated sources of carbon emission within the logistics ecosystem. The situation is worsened as major ports often find themselves close to densely populated cities, strengthening their need to oversee ‘greener’ operations next year. This could be done by general electrification of terminal cargo handling equipment like cranes and forklifts,” informed Huseni Vohra, Regional Sales Director, Ocean Insights.
“Overall, 2021 would define how global economies break free from the pandemic’s shackles. As the proverbial ‘mid-mile’ of supply chains, the industry will have to rise to the occasion. In many ways, the pandemic served as a wake-up call to logistics, hastening the adoption of technology in an industry mired in archaic operations. Visibility would be a defining theme, with stakeholders across the value chain leading concerted efforts to effect change and eliminate opacity-related inefficiencies. The interest in data intelligence has fostered supply chain connectivity, with several consortiums created within maritime networks—notably bound by Blockchain technology.”
2021 and beyond….
Change is in the air and India’s logistics industry is becoming organised and technology-driven. Currently, India’s logistics sector is valued at US$160 billion and employs over 22 million people directly. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent to US$215 billion by 2022.
India is also in the middle of an infrastructure building boom. The government’s National Highways Development Project aims to expand the country’s current expressway network of 2000 km and plans to add 18,637 km of Greenfield expressways by 2022. The Bharatmala Project is aiming to construct 83,677 km of highways by 2024.
But it is the ‘Digital Transformation’ that is silently underway and will re-define Indian logistics over the next decade. There is now an entire generation of start-ups focussing on solving India-specific logistics issues deploying state-of-the-art technology.
Notably, the falling cost of technology inclusion, such as cloud computing, GPS trackers, IoT sensors now enables even smaller logistics companies to modernise their systems. Even a newly started logistics company can avail itself of world-class technology at a very low monthly cost.
Logistics companies can easily integrate their systems with larger logistics companies or their customers to offer real-time visibility of inventory and shipments. This democratisation of technology of a large swathe of the logistics sector has the potential to leapfrog India’s logistics ahead of many peer economies and even developed economies.
Also, the government has pushed digitisation in a major way through initiatives such as E-Way bills, FASTag, E-Invoicing, GPS-based toll, etc.
“As per The India Transport Management System Market Report 2021, transport management system (TMS) market in India is estimated to register double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2028. One of the factors that is accelerating this change is evolving consumer preferences and online shopping. It is quite possible that these habits are likely to stay in the post-COVID world as well, which means that the logistics and supply chain industry of the future will need to focus on optimisation of technology and automation for safe and efficient movement of goods. This also means that the supply chain of tomorrow will be leaner, faster and most importantly, self-orchestrated,” explained Sukrit Sondhi, VP of Product Engineering at Fulcrum Digital.
Digital twins, Sondhi says, are possibly one of the most exciting logistics technology trends to keep an eye on in 2021. “This is drastically changing how the sector works: Now, physical and digital worlds can be melded into one, thus allowing, for the first time, to engage with the digital model of a physical object or part just like we would with their physical counterparts.”
With above, the National Logistics Policy that is expected soon to be released by the Government of India aims to promote seamless movement of goods across the country. It will focus on several areas such as process re-engineering, digitisation, focus on multimodal transport, EXIM trade, etc. and will look at improving logistics in core sectors. It will address many issues in a seamless manner. Effective implementation of the policy would help provide an impetus to trade, enhance export competitiveness, and improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index.
With opportunities galore and a business environment filled with hope, there’s no looking back for our country and the Logistics sector in 2021!
The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) held its 6th EC Meeting for the term 2021-23 on May 27 and 28 in Bengaluru. The meeting was attended by the Office Bearers and 28 Member Association representative of FFFAI from across the country, there were many issues discussed and updates provided concerning customs, CBLR, EDI, Service Tax/GST, logistics, air cargo, sea cargo, skill development,importance of social media which FFFAI has expanded recently, technology developments, etc. The special focus of the 6th EC meeting was the updates on forthcoming 24th Biennial Convention of FFFAI to be held from August 12 to 14, 2022 in Chennai with the theme LOGISTICS RESHAPE, EMBRACE AND SURGE IN THE DIGITAL ERA. At this EC meeting, FFFAI also implemented Digital Learning platform for members and next generation for e-learning. It has been decided that FFFAI would initiate FIATA eFBL here in India to benefit the trade, which empowers customs brokers, freight forwarders and logistics service providers. In addition, updates on the recently held FIATA HQ Meet was also provided by the concerned members of FFFAI. FFFAI members present at this EC meeting stressed upon enhancing productivity on ICEGATE for trade facilitation and Ease of Doing Business. The FFFAI members also urged for creating a dedicated portal for LSP integration. As regard to skill development initiatives, IIFF’s (training arm of FFFAI) past and forthcoming training programmes (both online and classroom/physical) for the entire logistics industry were presented at the EC meeting. In addition, FFFAI’s various initiatives on capacity building through technology/IT also discussed withadequate importance. Recent activities of FFFAI Women’s Wing including organising interactive meetings with Government of India officials and industry experts were highlighted at this meeting which drew huge appreciation from the members. The members committed to expand the activities of the Women’s Wing in all the 28 member association locations to empower/encourage the women logistics practitioners. At this EC meeting FFFAI has signed an MoU with the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) with an objective of skilling the aspiring candidates looking for opportunities in the logistics sector. Notably, a special session was organised at this 6th EC Meeting where N Sivasailam, former Special Secretary (Logistics), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India was present to address the FFFAI members and highlight the recent initiatives of the government in strengthening the logistics infrastructure, thereby leading in increase of international trade through multimodal connectivity and faster cargo clearance. He projected the ambitious growth potential of the logistics industry in India with a strong collaboration between government and industry people. Also speaking on the occasion was Bani Bhattacharya, IRS, who interacted with members of FFFAI on various initiatives of CBIC for the trade facilitation without human intervention. FFFAI Chairman Shankar Shinde thanked all the 28 associations for their support and appreciated the contribution of CBIC/DG systems trade facilitation measures. FFFAI Member Associations are: 1. Ahmedabad Custom Brokers' Association2. Aurangabad Customs House Agents Association3. Association of Custom House Agents Thiruvanthapuram4. Bangalore Custom House Agents Association5. Brihnamumbai Custom Brokers Association6. Calcutta Customs House Agents Association7. Chennai Customs House Agents Association8. Cochin Customs Brokers' Association9. Coimbatore Customs House and Steamer Agents Association10. Custom Brokers Association Hyderabad11. Delhi Customs Brokers Association12. Goa Custom Brokers Association13.Indore Customs House Agents Association14. The Kakinada Customs Brokers Association15. Kandla Custom Brokers Association16. Kanpur Customs Brokers Association17. Ludhiana Customs House Agents Association18. Mangalore Customs House Agents Association19. Mundra Customs Brokers Association20. Nagpur Customs House Agents Association21. Nashik Customs House Agents Association22. Nadia Custom Brokers Association23. Pipavav Custom Brokers Association24. Pune Customs House Agents Association25. Rajasthan Customs House Agents Association26.Tuticorin Custom Brokers Association27.Visakhapatnam Cusotms Brokers' Association28.West Bengal Custom House Agents Society FFFAI welcomes Women in Logistics/Youth in Logistics to participate on FFFAI forums and also invites membership application form logistics service providers in industry as this is a big national and international forum to network.
Ecom Express Limited, India’s sole pure-play B2C e-commerce logistics provider as of the Financial Year 2024, has introduced a new brand identity, underscoring its commitment to customer-centricity. This rebranding reflects a focus on addressing specific customer needs, prioritising customer-facing metrics, and integrating innovative technology across its nationwide express logistics network. The goal is to enhance speed, agility, and network reach, ensuring a customer-focused approach. The rebranding includes a dynamic logo and a refreshed visual identity, symbolising Ecom Express’s pursuit of excellence. The new logo features a forward-moving arrow within a square, representing the company’s dedication to delivery. The letter "E" in the logo stands for Expression, Innovation, and Progress, while the bold magenta colour signifies bravery, self-expression, and strength. This vibrant magenta reintroduction reflects Ecom Express's renewed commitment to customers, partners, and team members, as the company aims to simplify and democratise logistics for all. Ajay Chitkara, CEO and MD of Ecom Express, elaborated on the transformation, stating, “Our refreshed brand identity reaffirms our customer-first approach as we continue to integrate technology and innovation to provide reliable, high-speed services with the widest network reach. This transformation also underscores our commitment to our employees and delivery partners, who are essential to our business.” The new logo embodies Ecom Express’s dedication to its core values, focusing on customer welfare and fostering a diverse, inclusive environment. This rebranding signifies a promise to redefine logistics through advanced technology, making life easier for all types of customers.
ESR India, the largest APAC focused industrial and logistics real estate platform, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu for a potential investment of INR 550 crores. The MOU is signed for the launch of two industrial parks in Kancheepuram and Krishnagiri districts of the state over the next five years. Once fully operational, the two projects have the potential to create over 4,400 jobs in the facility, that shall boost the overall socio-economic growth in the region. The MoU was signed at the Investment Conclave 2021 conference held today. It will facilitate ESR India’s proposed investment at Kancheepuram and Krishnagiri industrial parks by helping in streamlining land acquisition, approvals, clearances, and administrative processes as per existing policies, rules, and regulations of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The policy and regulatory reforms unveiled in recent times has accentuated the entry of international institutional players and has set new benchmarks for industrial developments in the country. Commenting on the development, Abhijit Malkani, CEO and Country Head, ESR India said, “We are delighted to announce our affiliation with the state government. The Government of Tamil Nadu has been very supportive in encouraging industrial developments in the state by creating a favourable business climate for industrial players. The MoU will see ESR invest INR 550 crores to develop industrial parks in Tamil Nadu, offering 1,800 direct and 2,600 indirect job opportunities in the facility.” “Our goals are aligned with the vision of the Tamil Nadu government, to create avenues to increase business and trade inclusion opportunities and employment towards garnering better economic growth in the region,” he further stated. ESR India is currently present across 9 cities and 15 locations with a total GFA of 18 mn sq ft. These state-of-the-art facilities will be developed upholding the best practices for ESG and sustainability.
Singapore’s Changi Airport is sharpening its focus on pharmaceuticals and e-commerce shipments to navigate constrained cargo capacity until planned expansion in the 2030s. According to Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President of Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, current facilities face mounting pressure due to growing regional demand, necessitating strategic tenant and cargo type management. E-commerce continues to be a key growth driver for air cargo globally, fueled by major players like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop. At the same time, Singapore is solidifying its position as Southeast Asia’s preferred pharmaceutical hub, attracting investments from global biopharma giants such as Thermo Fisher, Sanofi, BioNTech, and MSD. Looking ahead, Changi Airport plans to launch a second logistics park by the 2030s, aiming to increase its annual cargo capacity from 3 million tons to 5.4 million tons. The new free trade zone will further expedite cargo handling and redistribution. In 2024, Changi Airport reported handling 1.99 million tons of airfreight, a 14.6% rise from 2023, driven by robust cross-border e-commerce demand, improved trade routes with China and the U.S., and recovering electronics exports. Top air cargo markets included China, Australia, the U.S., Hong Kong, and India.
The Uttar Pradesh government is set to develop a multi-modal logistics hub (MMLH) in Greater Noida’s Dadri, investing Rs 7,064 crore to support its $1 trillion economy goal. This hub will cover 823 acres, with a core development area spanning 455 acres. Key developments include commercial and administrative facilities over 17.5 acres, a rail yard, and other projects across 350 acres. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directives, a detailed action plan has been designed to expedite these initiatives. The Dadri MMLH aims to become a world-class freight handling facility, functioning as a dry port to ensure the swift transit of goods and raw materials. This project is poised to be India's largest logistics hub. Located on the eastern and western dedicated freight corridors, it will serve as a central hub for container handling, warehousing, cold storage, processing, de-stuffing, stuffing, and value-added packing. Providing seamless rail connectivity, the hub will feature rail platforms, customs clearance facilities, cargo segregation areas, truck parking zones, and extensive green spaces. The project is being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, supervised by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and adhering to the guidelines of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT). The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority has prepared the Master Detailed Project Report (DPR) for constructing the approach track and Rail Over Rail (ROR) bridge from New Dadri station to the MMLH boundary. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) has approved the DPR for railway tracks and terminal stations within the MMLH. Additionally, the tender documentation for land acquisition and signaling processes for the approach track has been finalized. Concurrently, the development of trunk infrastructure, including boundary work, roads, canals, bridges, utility relocation, and water and power supply, is progressing through various phases.
Trade shows are mission-critical, high-investment events where logistics execution directly influences marketing ROI. Exhibitors spend months preparing for a few days on the floor, since a single missed delivery window can jeopardise the entire programme. In this environment, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) trade show logistics is no longer just transportation; it is an orchestration of timing, compliance, risk control, and venue-specific expertise. While standard LTL carriers can handle general freight, elite trade show shippers excel because they are built for the ecosystem — understanding drayage, marshalling yards, target windows, live-loading rules, equipment constraints, and the high-value nature of exhibits. This updated guide unpacks the differentiators that set the best providers apart, enhanced with additional dimensions such as KPIs, risk mitigation frameworks, technology adoption, sustainability practices, and a practical vendor-evaluation checklist. The Key Differentiators of Elite Trade Show Shippers When shipping general freight, a standard LTL carrier may be sufficient. However, event logistics demand a higher level of specialised service. The top trade show shippers possess four key differentiators that distinguish them from the rest. Proactive and Specialised Support Trade shows operate on rigid move-in schedules tied to booth size, dock flow, and decorator rules. The strongest providers deploy dedicated trade show teams who can interpret show manuals, coordinate with decorators, and time deliveries to avoid re-handling fees. Best-in-class partners also: Pre-audit documentation and labels to avoid show-site rejections Manage drayage coordination to reduce dwell and material-handling charges Offer pre-receiving and staging at regional facilities for smoother Day-1 move-ins This advisory-driven model transforms logistics from a cost center into a risk-mitigation service. Flexible Coordination and Network Access Because no two events are alike, trade show logistics demand configurable access to LTL, FTL, hot-shot, air, and international capacity. Top providers match service levels, route constraints, and budget requirements by tapping into broad asset and partner networks. A sophisticated network allows for: Expedited or guaranteed-capacity moves for high-stakes shows Cost-effective options for booth materials that can stage early Lane-specific equipment (air-ride, liftgate, climate-controlled) This flexibility becomes essential during peak show seasons when capacity is tight and timelines narrow. Guaranteed Performance and Asset Protection Event deadlines are immovable. Leading providers commit to guaranteed on-time service, narrow ETA bands, and contingency planning across linehaul and last-mile execution. They also emphasise exhibit protection through: Air-ride suspension fleets Strapping, padding, and vibration-control practices Secure transport protocols for prototypes and LED/AV assets With show participation costs rising, damage and delay prevention become competitive differentiators. End-to-End Visibility and Services Real-time visibility is no longer optional. Tocay, exhibitors rely on it to make staffing, booth-build, and drayage decisions. The best LTL partners deliver: Live tracking from pickup to booth delivery API connectivity with exhibitor dashboards Pre-emptive exception alerts and delay recovery paths For international events, leading providers integrate customs documentation, Carnet handling, temporary import permits, and venue-specific rules, ensuring frictionless handoffs across borders. What Are the Best LTL Logistics Companies for Trade Shows? Several providers exemplify these differentiators. The following firms are selected based on their demonstrated strength in specialised show support, performance-oriented service design, event fluency, flexible coordination and comprehensive offerings that cover pre-show to teardown. 1. Green River Logistics Solutions A brokerage-led model with deep carrier reach, making it ideal for exhibitors with varied lane structures. Key strengths: Highly personalised coordination and single-point-of-contact support Flexible equipment sourcing — LTL, flatbed, refrigerated, heavy haul Real-time updates and precise timing for fragile builds 2. XPO Logistics A multinational leader with a controlled linehaul network and a dedicated Trade Show Desk. Key strengths: Tight schedule integrity Venue-specific coordination and dock navigation Strong performance management systems. 3. TWI Group A global exhibition logistics specialist excelling in international customs and venue compliance. Key strengths: ATA Carnet expertise and cross-border support On-site liaisons at major venues High-touch service model for global exhibitors 4. Averitt A time-definite, reliability-driven carrier focused on window compliance. Key strengths: Guaranteed performance Expertise with marshaling yards and dock appointments Rapid recovery for last-minute constraints 5. TTI Logistics A specialist for fragile and custom builds requiring maximum protection. Key strengths: Air-ride fleets and vibration-controlled handling Precision timing for target-move-ins Advanced security protocols Comparing the Top LTL Logistics Providers for Trade Shows These providers excel in different areas. This table offers a quick comparison of their key service features to help you align their strengths with your specific needs. New Strategic Enhancements Added for a Modern Exhibitor’s Playbook Technology Advancements Worth Evaluating AI-assisted ETA predictions Digital drayage coordination tools IoT-enabled condition monitoring for AV and prototype freight Automated warehouse cut-off compliance checks Risk-Mitigation Practices That Matter Pre-show risk audits Contingency rerouting plans Venue-specific compliance checklists High-value cargo insurance design Sustainability Expectations from Today’s Exhibitors Low-emission or EV linehaul and last-mile options Carbon-neutral freight programs Reusable or recyclable crating solutions Emissions dashboards linked to booth shipments Performance Metrics That Define Best-in-Class Providers On-time delivery to target windows Damage-free shipment percentage Visibility uptime SLA Drayage handoff accuracy Exception-resolution response time How to Vet Your Trade Show Logistics Partner Applying the key differentiators includes asking potential partners the right questions. When your program includes international stops, ask about their documentation process, how they manage Carnets and how visibility will work across handoffs. The following can further validate fit and execution discipline: What is your detailed experience with my venue and decorator? Can you guarantee delivery within target-window constraints? What risk-mitigation plan is activated if my freight misses staging cutoff? What specialised equipment will you use for fragile or custom exhibits? How do you integrate with drayage contractors and marshaling yards? Which visibility tools and tracking integrations are available? Can you manage international customs documentation end-to-end? What sustainability options can be applied to my show calendar? Your Partner Is Your Most Critical Exhibit A logistics provider is more than a freight handler; they are the enabler of your presence on the show floor. The right LTL partner combines timing discipline, technical fluency, equipment strength, and venue intelligence to protect your brand and maximise your event ROI. Elite trade show shippers don’t just move freight; they orchestrate flawless show execution.
The expansion of Dammam Port in Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step towards strengthening trade relations between India and the Gulf region. The enhanced infrastructure and capacity of the port are set to benefit businesses and industries on both sides, facilitating smoother trade and commerce. The expansion of Dammam Port opens up new opportunities for Indian businesses to engage in import and export activities with the Gulf nations. It also serves as a strategic gateway for goods traveling to and from India, further improving the logistics and transportation landscape for businesses. The project showcases the commitment of both India and Saudi Arabia to enhance economic ties and boost bilateral trade. The increased port capacity will help meet the growing demand for trade between the two regions, ultimately contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of both nations.
Air India is setting its sights on a promising future as the exclusive carrier for TATA's iPhone exports. This strategic partnership between the renowned Indian airline and the tech giant TATA promises to boost India's manufacturing and export capabilities. The collaboration will enable Air India to become the sole carrier for TATA's iPhone exports, facilitating the efficient transport of these popular devices to international markets. With a reputation for reliability and global reach, Air India is poised to play a crucial role in TATA's supply chain. The move not only strengthens the relationship between two major Indian companies but also underlines India's growing importance in the global technology and manufacturing sectors. Air India's role as the exclusive carrier for iPhone exports is expected to generate significant revenue for the airline and enhance India's position as a hub for high-tech exports.
