Category Archives: Aviation

Xerrxes Master, President, Association of Multimodal Transport Operators of India (AMTOI) says, “Transporters and LSPs face several pain points when it comes to moving cargo via roads in India. These challenges stem from the country’s vast geography varied infrastructure, regulatory landscape and operational complexities. It includes poor road infrastructure, uneven road quality, congestion in urban areas, regulatory & compliance issues, multiple permits and taxes, overloaded regulations, corruption at check points, fuel cost & fluctuations, fuel price volatility, fuel theft & pilferage, driver shortage & retention, lack of skilled drivers, poor driver working conditions, cargo damage & theft, risk of theft especially of high-value goods, damage to goods, inadequate insurance coverage, limited technology adaption, lack of visibility to most transporters, inefficient route planning, delays at checkpoints and borders, time-consuming border crossings, toll booth delays, inconsistent last mile connectivity, difficulties in rural areas, lack of proper warehousing and distribution hubs, environmental and weather challenges, weather-related disruptions, environmental regulations, competition & cost pressures, competition, unpredictable demand.”

Accio Robotics, a Warehouse Robotics specialising in warehouse fulfillment solutions, and SCM Champs, a US-based firm renowned for its expertise in SAP and supply chain consulting services have collaborated to transform the landscape of warehouse management, integrating world-class robotics solutions with advanced SAP warehouse management systems. Pranav Srinivasan, Co-founder of Accio Robotics, said, “We are excited about this strategic partnership. The integration of AccioOS with SAP warehouse management systems positions us as a key player in global warehouse automation. Together, we are looking forward to delivering a seamless, cutting-edge solution that will help our clients enhance efficiency and simplify their supply chain processes”. Prabhjot Singh, CEO and Founder of SCM Champs Inc, added, “At SCM Champs, we specialize in optimizing SAP supply chain execution processes by enhancing operational efficiency through services like strategy refinement, ERP integration, and implementation. Our focus areas include SAP Warehousing, Transportation, Logistics, Visibility, and Traceability. By joining forces with Accio Robotics, we are able to offer our clients an unprecedented level of automation, efficiency and enhanced productivity, made possible through the seamless integration of AccioOS with SAP warehouse management systems.

Cathay Cargo has refreshed its Cathay Courier solution for urgent, small shipments and has added transparency to its existing features of speed, guaranteed capacity, dedicated handling and customs clearance.  Cathay Courier offers businesses speed, flexibility and access to the wider Cathay network for their shipments with high priority for “flown as booked” assurance. It can either be an airport-to-airport solution or with first and last-mile collection and delivery as required.  There is also real flexibility with a booking window that closes 240 minutes before departure. The acceptance window for documents and shipments of up to 32kg closes 90 minutes before the flight takes off, while shipments can be retrieved 90 minutes after wheels down. As part of the refresh, Cathay Courier now features greater visibility for customers who require piece level details, offering enhanced track-and-trace options to customers during the shipment journey. This makes it ideal for high-value or bespoke e-commerce shipments, personal effects and documents. The Cathay Courier solution is offered in partnership with Linex, Cathay Cargo’s exclusive general sales agent. Linex is part of the Lenton Group, which has global expertise and experience in courier and cross-border e-commerce shipments. As well as dedicated acceptance procedures and customs handling, including its own customs lines, the solution can also offer first and last mile collection and delivery if required, while flights benefit from Cathay’s extensive network and frequent schedules. Cathay Cargo has been able to add this piece-level tracking benefit by integrating systems with Linex. This will greatly enhance tracking when shipments are in Cathay Cargo’s care. Customers will be able to track shipments on the Linex systems at piece level, or at air waybill level on the Cathay Cargo website …

Uniworld Logistics recently completed a notable project cargo movement involving the transport of specialised machinery from Spain to an industrial site in South of India. This project required meticulous planning due to the large and delicate nature of the equipment. The logistics team coordinated multi-modal transportation, utilising sea freight for the bulk of the journey and specialised road transport for the final delivery. They handled all necessary customs documentation and compliance, ensuring smooth transit across international borders. The project was completed on schedule, demonstrating Uniworld’s expertise in managing complex logistics operations efficiently.

Sumadhura Group announces leasing of 1.8 lakh square feet of warehousing space to NX Logistics India (Nippon Express) at Sumadhura Logistics Park in Bengaluru. A part of the first phase of Sumadhura Logistics Parks development spanning 2.5 million sq. ft, this collaboration marks one of NX Logistics India’s largest warehousing transactions in the country. Sumadhura has entered into a 9-years lease agreement for offering a ready-to-move-in warehousing space at the logistics park to the global logistics player. The Grade A warehousing facility is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and amenities, offering unparalleled convenience, accessibility and top-notch storage solutions to the FMCG clientele of NX Logistics India. Sumadhura Group is investing Rs.600 crores in the first phase of Sumadhura Logistics Park, covering around 100 acres of land and offering 2.5 million sq. ft of commercial warehousing space. The company plans to expand the warehousing space to 6 million sq. ft in the next phase. Madhusudhan G, Chairman & Managing Director, Sumadhura Group said, “We are happy to welcome NX Logistics India, one of the leading global logistics players for warehousing solutions at our Sumadhura Logistics Park. Our collaboration reflects Sumadhura’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art warehousing solutions to businesses and transforming the logistics industry in India. The increasing demand for Grade A warehouses across various sectors indicates the growing market need for top-quality warehousing solutions, particularly from large-scale industries like FMCG, which is expected to become a $10 billion industry by 2030.”

Allcargo Gati Limited (formerly Gati) is strengthening its significant contribution to Agra’s footwear industry. Specialising in all kinds of footwear for both men and women, Allcargo Gati has been a vital part of this booming business for the past 20 years serving 350 MSMEs in this cluster and there is a significant rise in the sales especially during the festivals like Onam, Muharram, and Eid. Allcargo Gati operates across several key clusters in the region, including Hing Ki Mandi, which represents 50% of the MSME Cluster members with around 550 participants, and along with other clusters such as Shahganj, Tajganj, and Industrial, each comprising about 150 members each. With its major consumer footwear market in the south, Allcargo Gati has also firmly established its presence across India, serving the eastern, northern and western regions making sure that the footwear from Agra reaches markets throughout the nation. Allcargo Gati provides these clusters with reliable and efficient delivery solutions and has adopted the latest automation technologies in warehouses that has significantly enhanced the operational efficiency, accuracy, which helps to optimise costs.  Uday Sharma, Chief Commercial Officer of Allcargo Gati Limited, said, “The traditional pillars of the local economy in Agra are the leather and marble handicraft industries. “Our long-standing presence in Agra’s footwear market showcases our dedication to local MSMEs. We are excited to expand our presence, adding new kiosks to enhance our service and capture emerging opportunities. We are sure that our improved offerings will increase our impact in this thriving industry.”

M Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight says, “Fast customs clearance is the need of today’s technology world. It is crucial for improving operational efficiency. It reduces cargo dwell times, increases supply chain velocity, and enhances trade facilitation. Expedited clearance processes minimize delays, lower costs, and increase competitiveness. Implementing technology-driven solutions, such as automation and single-window clearance, can significantly streamline customs procedures, benefiting businesses and the economy as a whole.”

C K Govil, CMD, ActivAir Airfreight and President, ACAAI says, “In today’s fast-paced global trade environment, delays in customs clearance can significantly disrupt supply chains, leading to increased costs, missed deadlines, and customer dissatisfaction. As air cargo continues to play a pivotal role in delivering time-sensitive goods, the need for streamlined customs processes has become more urgent. 1. Reducing Delays and Downtime Fast customs clearance minimizes hold-ups at borders, which can otherwise result in cargo sitting idle for hours or even days. Time-sensitive shipments, such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, and just-in-time manufacturing components, suffer the most from these delays. A more efficient clearance process ensures that goods reach their destinations promptly, maintaining the integrity of the supply chain. 2. Boosting Operational Efficiency    When customs processes are swift and predictable, it allows air cargo operators to better optimize their logistics and inventory management. This directly translates to reduced storage costs, fewer logistical bottlenecks, and enhanced turnaround times for flights and shipments. 3. Leveraging Technology    Modern technologies such as AI, data analytics, and blockchain can accelerate customs clearance by automating documentation, streamlining compliance checks, and reducing human error. Implementing these solutions could enhance both speed and transparency in customs operations, significantly improving throughput for air cargo. 4. Compliance and Simplification    Regulatory compliance is a necessity, but simplifying and harmonizing customs procedures across countries can foster smoother operations. Collaborative initiatives between governments, international trade bodies, and the air cargo industry can pave the way for more efficient clearance processes. 5. Enhancing Global Competitiveness :    Countries with efficient customs clearance systems tend to attract more business and investment.  Faster clearance boosts the overall competitiveness of national logistics infrastructure, making it easier for …

  Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The import and export of goods at a station have been a vital part in achieving an enhanced economic objective. And one of the crucial bottlenecks has been the customs, an area that is ripe for technological innovation. Historically, customs clearance has been characterized as requiring plenty of documentation and lots of manual processing which needs to be done away with. In this regard, EDI, digitization & automation processes can be considered as important tools towards correction. Further, inadequate staff compliment and skills also affect the clearance pace at which the services are rendered thus retarding the process. Apart from such shortcomings, physical inspections and controls which could be seen as anti-trade facilitation leading to wastages of time and inefficacies thereby delaying the clearance functions. A far more accelerated customs clearance can thus be obtained by taking the above factors into consideration.”

Parvinder Singh, MD, Hans Infomatic says, “Fast customs clearance is crucial for operational efficiency in logistics. Delays lead to increased costs, dissatisfied customers, and lost business. At Hans Infomatic, we believe technology-driven solutions can streamline processes, reduce paperwork, and enhance transparency, enabling swift clearance and improved supply chain management. No paper should be used, as processing data is significantly faster than paper, and eliminates the need for physical documentation. By leveraging automation and data analytics, government can modernize customs clearance processes, minimizing delays and maximizing trade facilitation.”