Allcargo and Gati-KWE power the Multimodal Logistics – Transport Summit India 2021

At a time when the logistics sector is tasked with the responsibility to keep economies running and help citizens stay safe during the pandemic, it is imperative for the sector to come together on a common platform in the spirit of collaboration, share best practices and recommend solutions for the future. Being responsible global logistics leaders, Allcargo and Gati-KWE took on the mantle to power the prestigious Multimodal Logistics – Transport Summit India 2021.

Giants of the supply chain and logistics sector as well as thought leaders and decision-makers from all modes of freight transportation including sea, road, rail, and air, congregated virtually to discuss ideas and chart the way ahead for the logistics sector in India, in this event facilitated by Allcargo and Gati-KWE.

Leaders from Allcargo, Gati-KWE and ECU Worldwide shared their insights, alongside leading experts from the sector.

Building resilience through technology

Suresh Kumar, CEO – India, Allcargo Logistics, anchored his address around building logistics resilience with digitalization. He expounded how resilience and visibility driven by integrating technology was the right way ahead, and shared in-depth insights on key drivers of multimodal logistics.

He spoke about customer expectations, Logistics Performance Index, digitalization, innovation, and digital analytics – highlighting their importance and level of impact they have on the sector. To navigate the digital maze, he suggested collaborating with peers, forming centres of excellence to assess and evaluate where new-age technologies fit in, and working with nimble startups on cost-effective solutions.

CFS/ICDs – a gateway for integration and efficiency

Ravi Jakhar, Chief Strategy Officer, Allcargo Logistics, participated in the panel discussion, ‘Transforming the country into a Logistics & Transportation Hub’ where he laid emphasis on the importance of digitization, which would make tracking of all cargo movement as easy as tracking products bought online.

Further, he drew attention to CFS/ICDs as a gateway infrastructure that play a critical role in sea-road integration and rail-road integration, and the need to promote them for enhanced accessibility and efficiency.

Optimisation powered by technology and data science

The Chief Digital Officer of ECU Worldwide, Vaishnav Shetty, shared his views on how technology is bolstering the logistics sector to deliver enhanced performance in a panel discussion on ‘Role of Emerging Technologies for enhancing transparency & resiliency in the logistic networks’. He elaborated on the various benefits of digital technology such as API and EDI and cloud-based offerings for all involved.

With lesser margin for errors, digital solutions are augmenting efficiencies across the board, resulting in lesser delays. The end-to-end visibility offered by digitally-enabled services ensures security of the cargo, which is a win-win for the organisation as well as the customer. While from a resource optimisation perspective, upskilling is also supported and made easier through digital technology. Exception management is enhanced since the digital integration builds resilience and flexibility allowing for swift identification and quick response. Moreover, with automation, repetitive, mundane heavy tasks can be replaced – thereby enhancing efficiency for the employees as well.

Building domestic multimodal logistics in India – an audacious vision

Representing Gati-KWE, the then Deputy Managing Director, Bala Aghoramurthy, laid emphasis on the requirements for multimodal logistics in the Indian context. He spoke about how India went multimodal by citing the example of Indian Railways diversifying its functions, to even transport groceries and oxygen cylinders, to support the country’s needs and mitigate the suffering caused by the second wave of the pandemic.

He went on to elaborate how the index for the development of a nation, is closely linked to logistics development in the nation and that if India has to realize her aspiration of being a developed power – the entire logistics ecosystem has to be changed.

Conclusion

With industry leaders from across sectors, pharma, e-commerce, tech and even defence sharing their expertise to benefit the industry, the Multimodal Logistics – Transport Summit India 2021 will surely pave the way for more such events.