Category Archives: Technology

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organises an event on air cargo sustainability  

After a gap of two years, the air cargo fraternity got a chance to gather and meet and greet at an event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Delhi yesterday, focusing on the government’s visionary Gati Shakti Master Plan and the importance of air cargo sustainability for future growth. The event began with a welcome remark by Vipin Vohra, Chair, PHD Civil Aviation Committee, followed by highly visionary and impactful speeches by Sudhendu J Sinha, Adviser Infrastructure, Connectivity, Transport, and Electric Mobility, Niti Aayog; Pradeep Multani, President PHDCCI; and a special address by Guest of Honours Amrit Lal Meena, IAS, Special Secretary, Logistics Division, DPIIT; and Piyush Srivastava, Sr. Economic Advisor, MoCA. The event was a success as it saw great participation from industry leaders – freight forwarders, customs brokers, airlines, and airports from across the country – discussing extensively future growth, emerging trends, sustainability initiatives, growth strategies, innovation, and digitalisation. The event ended on a good note with an hour-long networking session and lunch. 

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Logistics Firm Bigblue nabs US $15 million in funding round

Logistics startup Bigblue, has announced a $15 million Series A round, Tech Funding. Founded in 2018, the Paris-based company’s services include giving retailers full control over packaging, branding and customer communications, as per the reports. With the new funding, it plans to hire more people for its sales; marketing and operations staff, along with tripling its engineering staff. According to the reports, co-founder, Tim Dumain said the company has “a lot of new customers in France, but now we’re expanding in Europe.” “We opened our services to Spain a few weeks ago and will soon open the U.K. in a couple of months for customers shipping products there,” he continued. “We plan to expand in five big countries in the European e-commerce market, including Germany and Italy.” Dumain added that Bigblue’s main goal is to “make it easy for brands to grow online.” “With this new round, we will support scaling service offerings for Bigblue’s growing base of online merchants, fuel hiring efforts, and continue to position the company as the leader in the D2C direct-to-consumer fulfilment space,” he added. The round was led by Runa Capital and LPV was the second lead investor.

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Lufthansa Cargo, cargo.one optimise digital booking process & customer experience

Customers of Lufthansa Cargo will now benefit from an optimised booking process on the cargo.one platform: Shippers can now have the air waybill number required for booking assigned to them digitally and fully automatically. This eliminates the need for time-consuming manual management of air waybill inventories and numbers. Lufthansa Cargo is the exclusive launch partner for this new, digital and free feature at cargo.one, which is available for all Lufthansa Cargo capacities that can be booked there. The air cargo airline plans to offer automated air waybill number assignment for customer bookings on its own website in the second quarter as well. “We are pleased that we will be able to offer our customers a more efficient booking process and an improved customer experience in the future,” said Ashwin Bhat, Chief Commercial Officer at Lufthansa Cargo. “The fact that we are the first airfreight airline to jointly launch the process of automated air waybill number assignment with cargo.one shows once again that Lufthansa Cargo is playing a pioneering role in the digitalization of the entire industry. “Excellent customer orientation and modern digital distribution are our top priorities.” As of today, forwarders who use cargo.one to book shipments with Lufthansa Cargo can book immediately without having to enter a valid AWB number first. Using a “Book now” button, the customer selects any Lufthansa Cargo offer and is then assigned a valid AWB number with the booking confirmation. The advantages of automated AWB assignment are obvious: the booking process runs much faster, is less error-prone, and much more user-friendly. However, customers who still wish to enter an AWB number manually can continue to do so. In addition, Lufthansa Cargo is working on …

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EV Cargo acquires Fast Forward Freight, seeks growth

EV Cargo has acquired Netherlands-headquartered Fast Forward Freight in a move that will more than double the firm’s annual airfreight volumes, says the release. The company, owned by Hong Kong-based private equity firm EmergeVest, said that the acquisition is part of its previously announced corporate strategy to expand its worldwide footprint and grow its freight forwarding and supply chain services business. As part of the transaction, EV Cargo has become the sole shareholder of Fast Forward Freight (and its trading subsidiaries), with the current owners of Fast Forward Freight becoming shareholders of EV Cargo. The deal adds more than $170m of revenue to EV Cargo, resulting in pro forma combined revenue of approximately $1.7bn, and grows EV Cargo’s employees to more than 2,600 globally, tripling its European workforce to more than 400 people. In terms of airfreight, the move will more than double EV Cargo’s volumes to over 100,000 tonnes. In terms of locations, EV Cargo will “significantly” increase its presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and UK, as well as expand into Greece and Switzerland. Fast Forward Freight will be rebranded as EV Cargo and operations will merge. Heath Zarin, Founder and Chief Executive of EV Cargo, said in a statement, “Fast Forward Freight shares our commitment to providing innovative technology-enabled solutions and has a strong history of providing supply chain control towers to its customer base of world-leading brands. This transaction helps us grow the EV Cargo global network by adding excellent colleagues, capabilities, and customers.” Fast Forward Freight founder and chief executive, Marc Terpstra, added, “EV Cargo is focused on providing an innovative technology platform, blending proprietary and industry leading technology based on a deep understanding …

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cargo-partner expands its footprint in Western India

The global integrated logistics service provider, cargo-partner, plans to expand its network across Western India by opening a new office in Pune. The logistics giant opened its offices in Vadodara and Indore in the last quarter of 2021. This takes cargo-partner’s total network strength to a total of 14 offices across India. While the company has now been present for over 15 years in the Indian market, the management believes that today’s logistics landscape requires a more decentralised approach as the cargo-partner needs to be where the customers need the company to be. “We take it personally. We intend to move closer to our customers and become faster in implementing our solutions. This is important in these challenging times with freight rates continuously rising and space in carriers coming at a premium,” said Rajesh Mallah, Regional Head – West, in an official statement. cargo-partner has dedicated a budget of more than a million EUR specifically to invest in and grow its presence in the Indian market. A sizeable share will be invested in creating new jobs and further developing the teams. cargo-partner plans to grow its workforce by an additional 50%, inviting skilled talent that wants to be part of the tech-driven vision. cargo-partner’s expansion plans are driven by the management’s confidence in providing excellent services to both existing and new customers whose demand is constantly growing. In line with the company’s vision of digitalisation and being future-ready to cater to our customers’ needs, cargo-partner is currently in transition to revamp and upgrade its systems across operations, sales, and human resources. cargo-partner with around 4 decades of experience in specialised warehousing services, has been at the forefront of delivering customised …

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FFFAI signs MoU with NAFL in Dubai to strengthen cooperation

The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) and the National Association of Freight & Logistics (NAFL) based in Dubai, UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of the recording and forming the basis of understanding between the said associations to strengthen, promote, and develop co-operation on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. The agreement was formally signed by Shankar Shinde, Chairman, FFFAI, and Nadia Abdul Aziz, President, NAFL. As per the MoU, key areas of work jointly by FFFAI and NAFL are as follows: a) Trade Support, b) Technology Exchange, c) Women’s Participation, d) Youth Promotion, e) Member Support Safety, f) Skill Development and Training, g) Business Opportunities, and h) Any other areas of cooperation. The cooperation would also extend to identifying and recommending members to securely do business and safeguarding/protecting them by providing services and support pertaining to payment reliability. “In view of the fact that there is a trend of increasing trade between India and the UAE and Dubai being one of the strategic hubs of logistics operations, the MoU is very significant. Both FFFAI and NAFL are playing catalysing roles in trade facilitation in their respective countries, i.e., India and UAE. The MoU would further explore new areas for win-win benefits for the members of both the associations in terms of business expansion and enhancement of skills,” shared Shinde. With the recent signing of the India-UAE FTA, the trade between India and the UAE is expected to touch USD 100 billion in the next 5 years, with most Indian items now duty-free in the UAE. FFFAI is the apex body and the sole representative of 28 member associations from all over …

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FedEx study reveals top priorities for Gen Z in India

FedEx Express today revealed the findings of its ‘Future is Now’ study among Gen Z (18–24 years old). As the fastest growing economy today, India is home to a fifth of the world’s youth, with half of its 1.3 billion population below the age of 25. The study offers valuable insights into the priorities of the younger generation in the country. With the future becoming more dynamic than ever, there is a substantial shift in the way generations are embracing ‘what’s next’, with new technologies and an interest in sustainability impacting both business and individual lifestyles. This is particularly true for Gen Z. According to the ‘Future is Now’ study, 38% of Gen Z respondents associated the phrase ‘Future is Now’ with technology advances in business, healthcare, education, and transportation, 33% to sustainable development; 13% to the rise in the use of robotics and artificial intelligence; 10% to living on Mars; and a mere 6% to expecting everything to be personalised for them. “The results of this study, particularly the responses of the younger population, reinforce our commitment to experimenting with sustainable technologies that benefit and align with our customers’ goals. As an industry leader, we have a responsibility towards the next generations and take bold actions by constantly innovating to meet future expectations,” said Mohamad Sayegh, Vice President of Operations for FedEx Express in India. “FedEx is a vocal advocate for modernising technologies that enhance the next generation of transportation vehicles and devices. Globally, we are testing Roxo, the autonomous FedEx SameDay Bot for last-mile deliveries, which is designed to reduce carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and noise pollution,” added Sayegh. The study also highlights what Gen Z considers when …

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Blue Dart ushers in the New Year with the launch of ‘Ugadi Express’

Blue Dart has introduced the ‘Ugadi Express’ offer to commemorate the New Year festivities. Ugadi Express enables customers to send their loved ones the warmth and joy of the New Year in the form of gifts, sweets, and much more. Offering a reach of over 220 countries and territories across the globe, Ugadi Express offers premium and reliable services at discounted rates. Leveraging this offer, customers can avail a 40% discount on international shipments weighing 5 kg and a 50% discount on international shipments weighing between 10 kg and 20 kg. The offer is valid in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana till April 02, 2022. Blue Dart’s focus on curating premium experiences for customers has always set its services apart in a highly competitive environment. The brand has successfully stayed ahead of the curve by understanding the pulse of its customers and introducing relevant services even before the need arises. Ketan Kulkarni, Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Dart, says, “World over, people are eager to address and accept the pandemic as an ‘endemic’; however, fear of contagion continues to linger. The festivities of the New Year necessitate being in the presence of loved ones, presenting and receiving the festive spirit in the form of gifts, sweets, and much more. Given the fear of contagion, our customers continue to remain wary. To provide a reliable, responsive, and resilient solution for them, we have launched ‘Ugadi Express’. Our customers deserve to experience the closeness of their loved ones and their support, no matter where they are in the world. Moreover, even as the pandemic increases distances, Blue Dart works hard to ensure that the world continues to remain a small …

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Delegation of 90 FFFAI members hosts executive committee meeting in Dubai

The Executive Committee of the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) hosted its 4th EC Meeting on March 23, 2022 in Dubai while participating in the World Expo 2020 in association with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) organised event, the 3rd Logix 2022, which started on March 21, 2022. On this occasion, the three-day FFFAI delegation, headed by Shankar Shinde, Chairman, FFFFAI, had various meetings and conferences, including the importance of the India-UAE CEPA agreement. FFFAI Executive Committee members included representatives from its 28 member associations from across the country, and the logistics sector was represented by a delegation. During the 3-day delegation, there were various business networking meetings organised with trade and logistics associations. Shinde pointed out that the initiatives of FIEO-FFFAI in organising the delegation to the event for logistics are very important as logistics is the backbone of the economy and plays an important role in supply chain and cost-effective solutions to boost the economy. The 3-day mega international buyer-seller meet LOGIX INDIA is an initiative focused on improving cost-effectiveness and operational efficiencies and creating an effective trade logistic system. According to FIEO sources, the first two editions of the show, which were held in New Delhi, witnessed over 3,000 B2B meetings. The past editions of the show had over 120 international delegates from over 24 countries and around 140 Indian logistics, warehousing, and shipping companies. The show is aimed at exploring investment opportunities in infrastructure development, warehouse consolidation, technology integration, IT enablement, and the skilling of manpower. The third Logix India 2022 brought together people, processes, and technology to improve global supply chain logistics. Currently, India’s logistics sector is highly fragmented, and …

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India-UAE trade agreement to bolster the logistics sector

At the inauguration of the 3rd edition of LOGIX India in Dubai, H.E. Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, UAE, said: “The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CEPA) shall result in accelerated trade and investment and shall open a new world of opportunities.” Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi said India is the UAE’s largest non-oil trade partner and the future is bright for India-UAE collaborations in global supply chain logistics. Thanking H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi for inaugurating the event, Dr. A Sakthivel, President, FIEO, said, “India is committed to spending US $1 trillion on various infrastructure in the next 5 years, which will facilitate our logistics by bringing efficiency and reducing its cost.” “Logistics is an important component of the economy, and its role in manufacturing and exports can hardly be undermined. The logistics cost in India is about 14% of GDP, as against the international benchmark of 8-9%. However, the focus of the government on addressing the cost through various measures has already started yielding results. The government is implementing the dual Bharatmala (road network) and Sagarmala (waterways network) to improve the logistic backbone,” added Dr. A. Sakthivel. HE Ahmed Mahboob, Director General of Dubai Customs and the CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said, “UAE has made significant progress in technology upgradation in customs and the logistics sector and looks forward to supporting India in its mission for logistics sector transformation.” Complementing FIEO on organising LOGIX India in the UAE, Sandeep Kumar Bayyapu, Deputy Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy, UAE, mentioned, “The Indian economy is on the upswing. We have become the fastest-growing major economy in the world. …

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