A look at the growth of logistics companies in Mumbai

Logistics refers to the process of coordinating and moving resources like people, materials, inventory, and equipment from one location to the final destination. Logistics involves things like transportation, inventory, packaging, supplies and warehousing. India's logistics sector is highly defragmented and the government is aiming to reduce the logistics cost from the present 14 percent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to less than 10 per cent by 2022. 

With the ecommerce industry growing exponentially during the pandemic and thanks to advancements in digital technologies, there has been a massive transformation in how a logistics company in India is conducting its business. And this is getting reflected in the workings of those companies that are situated in Mumbai, a city bustling with many businesses and industries.  

Few challenges faced by logistics companies in India

      · Fluctuating transportation costs due to fuel prices and maintenance.

· Providing timely and best delivery.

· Enhancing customer experiences.

· Manpower management.

· Transparency and visibility in supply chain activities.

· Government and state rules and regulations.

· Lack of proper digitalization of processes.

The logistics market in India is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% between 2019 and 2025. Government reforms and investment are also playing an important role in the growth of this sector. Safexpress, a leading supply chain and logistics company provides logistic services in various industries like e-commerce, health care, automotive, FMCG and many more. A few of the services offered by the company are Easy2Move Express Distribution, 3PL, inventory management, consulting and so on. With their operations spanning PAN India, Safexpress is well-equipped to provide logistics services to its customers.  

Key initiatives provided by the Indian Government

· Drafting of a national logistics policy to aid in streamlining rules and addressing supply-side constraints, which will lead to lower logistics costs.

· Generation of a single-window e-logistics market.

· Promoting multi-modal infrastructure.

· Promoting cold chain facilities and adoption of reefer (refrigerator) trucks in strategic locations.

Key initiatives provided by the Maharashtra Government

With logistics sector being accorded industry status by the Maharashtra government, it has benefited immensely under the state logistics policies. These policies will help logistics companies in Mumbai to avail a variety of services, process and facilities to accelerate their growth.

With two major ports, a major airport and good road infrastructure, the logistics companies in Mumbai can never fall short of businesses.  In addition to this infrastructure, you can find major warehousing clusters located in and around Mumbai.

The Maharashtra government has invested around over Rs 150 crore in the supply chain and logistics sectors in Pune and Thane regions to promote multi-modal connectivity, technology driven accreditation, and a standardization process, to support the supply chain ecosystem within the state.  

In conclusion

The logistics and supply chain sector in India play a significant role in business continuity and also propelling the nation to become a global investment destination. While the central government is working on a ''National Logistics Policy'' to promote seamless movement of goods and commodities across the nation, state governments are also investing generously in the logistics sector.  

Digitalization of the various processes involved in the logistics industry will improve the efficiency and performance in operations. Warehouse automation will also aid in achieving operational efficiencies to offset supply-chain cost pressures in the industry.

A combination of government reforms, increased investment in infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, growing ecommerce sector, and emerging new technologies is likely to see major and new logistics companies investing in the logistics industry. The future of logistics companies in Mumbai as well as the rest of India is sure to experience exponential growth in the coming years.

 

All you need to know about managing a FMCG logistics supply chain

Most people are familiar with the term FMCG, meaning Fast-moving Consumer Goods. These are the products which are sold at a low cost. Most of the products in this category are packaged foods, cosmetics, dry goods, toiletries, beverages etc. And, the FMCG and consumer electronics industry are known for a high percentage of returns. 

Reasons for that could be multiple– damaged, unsold products, or others. To streamline the goods' supply chain, it is essential to understand the in-depth aspects of logistics for single-point solutions. Here, FMCG logistics plays a vital role.

 

Features of FMCG products: -

· The ones that get sold fast

· Mass consumption

· High volumes

· Extensive distribution

· Range of the products should be low to medium

· Shorter shelf life

Today, it is easy to notice a major paradigm shift where the purchase of these FMCG goods is concerned, as mainly everything can be ordered online, without requiring any physical presence at the store. The logistics team is the ninja architect of the business as they are the brainchild behind the seamless, efficient transportation of the goods from one place to another. They deliver goods in the most regimented and synchronized manner.

Apart from transportation, logistics also encompasses inventory, packaging, social security, supplying and sometimes warehousing. Safexpress, a market leader in supply chain and logistics, offers solutions from warehousing to timely distribution of goods in PAN-India. The 'Stock2Shelf' service provided by Safexpress is swift, cost-effective strategy that responds to stock shortage at retail stores by transporting products from the feeder warehouse within the set time limits. 

It helps to shorten the order-to-delivery time, avoid maintaining high inventories and setting up of warehouses near retail stores. Safexpress, with their expertise for efficient last-mile delivery and reverse logistics would be able to provide an ideal logistics solution for companies dealing with FMCG products.  

Hence, logistics professionals manage how resources are obtained, stored, and supplied to their destination. This means that the FMCG logistics team must be the one to meet the requirements of the customer in a timely, cost-effective, and efficient manner.

 Following are the features of such a logistics team: -

· Transportation of low margin, high distribution network goods

· The right selection of wholesaler, distributor, and retailer

· Timely delivery of goods at the warehouse

· Taking into consideration the transportation costs and safety

· Calculating the maximum safe stacking height

· Permissible method of placement of fragile materials

In addition to all these, they also have a fleet management system which allows one to control the transport of the goods from the moment the cargo is collected from its delivery location. Some logistics companies also use an application, from which one can track down the location using the GPS. The dispatcher can receive information about the flow of the traffic along the route in real-time.

 Electronic logistics

E-logistics or electronic logistics is the mechanism of automating logistics, thereby providing an integrated, end-to-end fulfillment, and supply chain management services to the stakeholders of logistics processes.

Implementation of E-logistics:

For smooth and efficient implementation of e-logistics, it is always better to include multiple steps in the plan. It will help in reducing the chances of error at an early stage. Below are some tips that can help you manage your logistics effectively to ensure a smooth supply chain:

· Make a foolproof plan

· Keep an incidental plan handy

· Engage a logistics manager who possesses strong interactive skills

· Include automation wherever possible

· Address your mistakes seriously and learn from such opportunities

Thus, managing both FMCG logistics and electronic logistics processes involve effective problem-solving capabilities, skills, adaptability, ability to manage stress, flexibility, leadership skills, etc. Logistics managers need to be aware of the latest innovations and automation's to make the process as accurate, efficient and smooth as possible.

A brief overview of the automotive logistics industry in India

Automotive logistics refers to the warehousing and transportation of spare parts, production material and finished vehicles in the automotive supply chain.  The automotive logistics industry is fragmented in nature, with the presence of large global players as well as medium-sized and small-sized local players. 

Most of the global logistics players have an automotive logistics division to meet the market needs and demand. Local players are increasingly enhancing their capabilities in terms of inventory handling, service offerings, products handled, and technology, to cater to the automotive industry.

The automotive industry is constantly evolving, and with the introduction of electric vehicles, the demand for automotive logistics is constantly increasing. And any forward-thinking logistics company in India needs to develop supply chain strategies, in order to exploit new market opportunities, reduce costs, and maintain competitive advantage. 

Safexpress, a leading logistics provider, with its vendor managed inventory are able to maintain high level, detailed view of stocks available at the vehicle manufacturer and also ensures coordination with OEMs to maintain sufficient stock of components. The transportation management system of Safexpress is able to provide customers with visibility and real-time data of their deliveries. The ‘Express Distribution’ service of Safexpress is able to serve dealers and centers across the country with the required parts thus ensuring on-time deliveries.    

Types of automotive logistics

The market for automotive logistics has been segmented into finished vehicle and automobile parts. The automobile parts segment leads the market, which includes revenue generated from the logistics of spare parts from both the automobile manufacturer as well as aftermarket. Owing to stringent regulations related to carbon emission, a market for upgraded standard aftermarket parts for the existing vehicle fleet has been generated. This has helped in supporting the growth of the automobile parts’ segment.

The finished vehicle segment includes the revenue generated from the logistics of the finished vehicle. And this segment is estimated to expand owing to the rising demand for low emission vehicles and electric vehicles. This demand is attributed to favorable government initiatives, which include the availability of tax relief from the purchase of these vehicles. The rising demand for electric vehicles is also expected to boost the finished vehicle segment growth.

Transformation of Indian automotive logistics

The Indian automobile industry is a major contributor to the Indian economy and the fourth largest automobile market in the world. The Indian automotive supply chain is undergoing various changes like regulatory demand of BSVI engines and promoting the usage of electric vehicles. 

The industry is experiencing change in existing logistics trends, automation and on-time delivery demand, with major changes in the modes of transport used for freight transport and infrastructure support. While the main mode of transport for automotive logistics is by road, initiatives to use rail, water or air modes are increasing, as they help to lower overall costs.

Automotive logistics providers are also investing in technologies like Big Data and Connected Ship, to enhance their supply-chain management processes. These technologies aid in reducing labor costs, by making use of predictive assessment on routing, which eliminates delays in shipments.

In conclusion

The automotive logistics industry is expected to witness massive growth by improving connectivity, distribution networks and implementing new technology to track shipments. Earlier, automobile manufacturers incurred high cost of inventory due to the storage of automotive components and systems. 

Now, by adopting strategies like Just in time (JIT), they can eliminate the cost related to all sources, unnecessary inventory and scrap in production. Implementation of JIT is done with the help of an effective supply chain and an efficient automotive logistics system.

How logistics companies in India managed operations continuity amid COVID-19

 

COVID-19 pandemic stunned the world economies on a short notice and affected smooth operations of big and small businesses in all sectors as it scaled. But even in those unprecedented times, there were some essential industries such as logistics, where companies were operational on the field bearing risk of virus everyday. 

As the time moved, it was understood that the only choice left was to ‘live with the virus’ while staying safe from it. 

One of the top logistics companies in India, Safexpress, adroitly managed business continuity to ensure stable, secure and effective work flows in such challenging times by working in a pro-active and planned manner.

The company ensured utmost safety of its staff and retained the custodianship of customers’ consignments during the pandemic. The quick decision making, continued connect through internal & external communications and swift actions really changed the current adversity into opportunity for Safexpress.

 

On the ground level, practical challenges were often faced by the team such as employees turning up with sub-optimal health conditions that disrupted the planned roster. Working on a skeletal team made it challenging to achieve operations efficiencies, but the challenges were seized when the government released the APIs for the Arogya Setu app, Safexpress took the opportunity of unifying the application with Arogya Setu that helped immensely to track the health and risk profile of employees on real-time basis. This allowed better planning as it was able to keep a check on employees at risk in the roster and avoid last minute confusions.

 

To execute smooth operations continuity in all the regions amidst the crisis, Safexpress prioritize its critical resources i.e. workforce, network, partners and ensured their continuity by providing 100% safe & healthy environment and development without any compromise with clear objectives in mind to serve its customers' supply chain and logistics needs and to support the country's economy by keeping it's wheels running.

 

It also digitally transformed its operations & transactions to minimize the risk of physical contact and incorporated cloud-based systems that facilitated Work From Home for most of the workforce. Safety & security of employees, staff, premises and customers’ consignments was ensured by ‘no-contact’ deliveries, promoting digital payments, regular sanitization, daily thermal screening of those coming at work and religiously following all the guidelines mandated by the Government of India.

 

The ongoing pandemic has changed the delivery operations for the entire industry including the top 10 logistics companies in India, if not forever but for a long time coming. To avoid the spread of COVID-19, customers today are shifting their loyalty towards businesses that are guaranteeing ‘zero contact’ delivery and digital payments. Logistics companies in India have planned out their execution of operations based on the same idea as it its new but fortunately, not hard to achieve.

Say goodbye to all your shifting hassles when moving from campus to home!

Another semester begins. No more stress of project deadlines and submissions. So why worry about moving all your stuff back to college? Multiple student luggage delivery services across India have taken the load of transiting lugging bags, sporting equipment and other study-related studying paraphernalia off student’s mind and are providing fantastic solutions to deal with the stresses of travelling with luggage.

When you’re moving on to the next stage of your education, things can start to get stressful. There is so much to think about; from the new place you’ll be residing in to the new people you’ll be meeting. The last thing on your mind is how you will manage to stay within your airline’s baggage allowance. It’s only once you get to the airport and you are hit with extortionate excess baggage charges that you realize you have over packed. 

Luggage is just as much of a hassle when travelling by train as you toil to pull your suitcases onto a train while other passengers push past you. So why not consider the best packers and movers as a stress-free alternative to dragging your bags with you on your journey to college? All you are required to do is empty your bedroom into sturdy bags or reinforced corrugated boxes, ensuring there’s nothing breakable inside them, book in your luggage shipping online with one of the logistics service providers, have your bags and boxes collected from home, and get them delivered from your halls of residence to your student digs.

Simplify your search for the most reliable and affordable student luggage delivery with Safexpress’s Campus2Home service and bid goodbye to all your shifting related worries to/from college campus. Mr. Amit Kumar, GM, Retail, Safexpress said “At Safexpress, we understand how stressful and annoying it can be to transport student luggage from your home to college or rental accommodation, often having to make multiple journeys to get everything you need there. 

Even if you end up going to a college at the opposite end of the country and you just can’t transport all your stuff to your new accommodation via friends or family, we’ve got a range of solutions for you, whether you need an urgent delivery service or something more economical. Our services keep in mind your best interests and ensure that you can cherish your last days at the campus without any worry of your possessions not getting home safely.”

Campus2Home is a specialized service for graduating students, who are looking to move into the next phase of their lives and are considering seamless logistics services to manage the movement of their baggage and material during their transition from student life to professional life. To help students in packing their belongings, Safexpress provides special 20 kg-capacity ‘Campus2Home’ boxes that are exclusively designed keeping in mind the need of the students and are available on request free of cost. 

So, you can pack as much into your parcel, suitcase, trunk or box as you like. The expert team of Safexpress offers free pickup from the students’ hostels and delivers at their homes with an option for payment upon booking or at the time of delivery and online tracking of the consignments, all at competitive prices. With Safexpress’s handy quick quote tool, you’ll be able to estimate how much your student shipping will cost, even if you need to send your bags to an especially far-flung destination.

We at Safexpress understand your apprehension with handing over your belongings to other people, which is why we offer access to real time tracking on your delivery with information about its shipment status from collection to delivery. Our door to door service means that you can have your stuff picked up from home and have it delivered at your new student home when you need it. Our customer care experts are there to solve all your relocation related queries and help you out in the best possible manner. Our exclusively designed, reliable and affordable service is your best bet for transporting your baggage.

So, all you need to think about is getting there yourself!

Key features of the service include:
• Pick- up from Hostel/PG and Door delivery anywhere in India
• Free insurance (limited liability) if package is lost in transit
• Packing and documentation support
• Convenient Value Added Services
• Option of To-pay/Freight collection on delivery
• Online and Mobile app-based tracking of consignments
• Weather proof container vehicles
• Power to choose express distribution through Surface and Air

If you are a college student who would like to avail of our specialized services and would like to have the company set up a kiosk right next to your hostel for bulk student pick-ups and deliveries, contact centralized customer assistance on toll free number 1800 113 113 and get an excellent solution for your shifting needs.

Safexpress serves most of the premier management, engineering and several other prestigious campuses in India including all IIMs, IITs, NITs, LBS, National Academy of Administration, FMS-DU, IIT-BHU, NIFT, IMT, XLRI, BITS, NIDs, ISB, MICA, SP Jain, K. J. Somaiya, Management Development Institute (MDI), BIMTECH, Symbiosis, Loyala Institute, Sharda University, Nirma University, and many more.

Several premium coaching institutions and renowned boarding schools are also covered in its gambit. IIMs alone account for more than 2000 students who avail and appreciate this service every year, making it the most efficient and simple way to relocate to/from college.

With a fleet of over 7000 ISO-certified, fully containerized, all-weather-proof vehicles traversing 10,00,000 kms a day and a strong network of over 580 delivery gateways, Safexpress offers seamless cutting edge logistics solutions to its users and extends maximum value to businesses at every level, right from providing world-class warehousing support to ensuring time-definite deliveries of goods anywhere in India. 

The company delivers over 100 million packages a year, has a warehousing space of over 16 million square feet and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With a wide array of Value-Added Supply Chain & Logistics services and the intrinsic quality with which they are delivered, Safexpress has completely redefined the functioning of Supply Chain & Logistics industry in India.

Source: https://safexpressblog.com/2020/02/07/say-goodbye-to-all-your-shifting-hassles-when-moving-from-campus-to-home/

Put your effort where it will do the most good: Green supply chain practices

Efforts are the best indicator of interests, and putting them where they will do you maximum good adds on to putting in more and more each day. Since the last few decades environmental issues have been rising, and are spreading faster than forest fire! With the ongoing hustle and bustle about generating awareness for the environment or the depreciating environment, different stakeholders like the government and the customers have started pressurizing the businesses to act responsibly. 

Indeed, corporate sectors have started putting efforts in integrating their business with green supply chain practices. Such practices are a boon to mitigate environmental degradation and in the process control air, water, and waste pollution through sustainable efforts in the right direction, thereby adopting and implementing green practices in each and every business operation.

A supply chain is a network that consists of all parties involved like the supplier, the manufacturer, the distributor, the wholesaler, the retailer and the final customer either directly or indirectly, in producing and delivering products or services to ultimate customers. Now, delving into green supply chain practices; it is simply integrating environmental practices into the traditional supply chain practices.

Reducing and controlling the harmful impacts of supply chain on the environment, adoption of ecological design, sourcing green materials, and providing green training under ethical leadership is what constitutes green supply chain. This can include processes such as supplier selection, purchase of material, product design, product manufacturing, packaging, and assembling and distribution which together result in value addition or value creation.

Adoption of such green supply practices like designing eco friendly products using less material, minimum operations, implanting green purchasing policies to reduce harmful emissions and proper and careful use and disposal of hazardous materials can also help in achieving economies of scale. Optimizing truck loads, routing of distribution and moving over to fuel efficient tools and machines in case of logistics are some simple yet very efficient ways to contribute towards a safer and better environment. 

It comes as a win-win situation for both the business as well as the environment, because adhering to green supply chain practices can not only reduce the environmental pollution and production costs but can also spur economic growth, and eventually help the business create a competitive advantage in terms of having a reputable brand image, satisfaction and hence loyalty and better business opportunities.

A lot of times, especially in such a competitive environment, looking at other businesses’ practices triggers firms to act in a socially responsible and ethical way themselves. Green supply chain management comes with a host of benefits that include financial, social and of course environmental benefits.

When we talk of financial benefits they can be:

• increased revenue
• reduced costs
• enhanced customer service

Social benefits include:

• reduced undesirable community impacts

• enhanced security

• increased safety

• superior health benefits

Environmental benefits can be summarized as:

• reduced waste
• increased energy efficiency
• reduced water, air emissions
• reduced fuel consumption

Apart from these advantages, channelizing your efforts in the right direction can also improve operations and agility by speeding up innovation, increase adaptability in terms of continuous and innovative improvements and finally aid in better alignment of business processes and principles. There are a few players in the industry who religiously follow such practices.

Safexpress, one of the leading logistics providers in the country has totally redefined the way supply chain functions in the country through their pioneering initiatives. The company has designed and developed an in-house mobile app called the ‘Green App’ which is centered around productivity and optimization, and has immensely helped to reduce its carbon footprint by digitizing its business process instead of relying on paper.

Safexpress has been driving its ‘Go Green with Safexpress’ campaign for the last decade. In the process, it has educated millions about the importance of going green and has helped countless firms develop a Green Supply Chain.

Source: https://safexpressblog.com/2020/02/11/put-your-effort-where-it-will-do-the-most-good-green-supply-chain-practices/

Safexpress Radar

It is very easy to track the condition of the safexpress delivery. They will provide a distinct waybill number which can be utilized to track the safexpress carrier when we schedule a consignment with risk-free reveal logistics. Just enter the waybill number in the above box and after that click the track safexpress button to get the shipment status.

​Safexpress Logistics

​Safexpress was developed in 1997 with a goal of giving good logistic services to the clients. Safexpress has actually come to be effective in catching excellent amount of market. Some of the key attributes are listed here:

​Campus to Home: Safexpress has introduced this service for the very first time. It is special kind of solution to the trainees that are searching for moving their travel luggage and also materials. The key features are door pick up, distribution as well as free insurance coverage for the baggage. Safexpress uses a variety of solutions to its customers.

Easy to Move: In this type of service, customers can deliver samll tons of products to any part of the nation. The silent features of this service are uniform rates and limited responsibility.

Sainik Express: This is a customized service provided only to the Indian Support individuals. This solution makes certain fastest shipment, appealing rates, distribution throughout any kind of part of India and also in constructed risk coverage.

Safe Express: A specail solution which assures supplying of product safely and also safely. This sort of service can be availed by the exhibit facility suppliers as well as by anybody who wants safety and security of their items.

All the above stated services can be gettinged by any type of person. Besides these safexpress offers unique solutions to business like supply to shelf, vendor management warehousing, supply as well as supply chain monitoring. Safexpress additionally supplies solutions like surface and also air; 3PL stock monitoring, tailored projects and turn around logistics.

​Safexpress was developed in 1997 with an objective of supplying great logistic solutions to the consumers. Safexpress offers a vast variety of solutions to its clients. Apart from these safexpress deals unique services to business like supply to shelf, vendor administration supply, supply and also warehousing chain monitoring. Safexpress also provides solutions like surface as well as air; 3PL stock management, customized projects and turn around logistics.