Cargo Talk Feb2021 (2) - Flipbook - Page 39
INDUSTRY INTERVIEW
are one of the 3PL service providers in
India to be associated with this initiative
for sustainable development with
the United Nations Global Compact
Network. We will soon launch electric
vehicle intra city transportation in
metros. We also plan to invest locally in
electric trucks for urban distribution.
Urban logistics with green energy
and last-mile is the next priority. FM
Logistic is committed to the objective of
decarbonising our distribution activities
and last-mile logistics. We have created
Citylogin, an urban, sustainable and
effective solution to limit the impact
of delivering goods (pollution, noise,
congestion, etc.) in city centres, by using
suburb-based warehouses and small
hybrid or electric vans. In India, we have
invested in electric vehicles to carry out
hyper local deliveries in cities. These
vehicles will be operational by the end
of this quarter.
What are the trends you see in
the logistics and warehousing
industry, besides omni-channels?
q
In addition to omni channel logistics,
below are some of the trends in the
logistics and warehousing industry to
look out for in 2021:
Connected Life - Secured, real-time
access to the consumer’s ecosystem of
connected devices can enable a variety
of innovative pick-up and delivery
services, as well as improved customer
service support and valuable insight
generation for logistics providers.
Augmented Reality - Blurring the
lines between the digital and physical
worlds, Augmented Reality (AR) will
provide new perspectives in logistics
planning, process execution.
Internet of Things - The Internet of
Things (IoT) has the potential to connect
virtually anything to the internet and
accelerate data-driven logistics.
Robotics & Automation - Robotics
solutions are entering the logistics
workforce, supporting zero-defect
processes and boosting productivity.
What are the main challenges
qyou have overcome?
The biggest challenge faced by the
industry today is insufficient integration
of transport networks, information
technology, warehousing & distribution
facilities, and real-time flow of
information. Regulations, existing at
a few different tiers, are imposed by
national, regional and local authorities.
However, the regulations differ from
city to city, hindering the creation of
national networks.
Trained manpower is essential both for
the third party logistics sector as well as
manufacturing and retailing sectors. At
the warehouse level, FM Logistic India
has recently launched the Supervisor
Development Program through which
existing warehouse associates can
become Team Leaders. The eligible
associates are evaluated on the basis of
their performance.
Poor facilities and management are the
reason for high levels of loss, damage
and deterioration of stock, mainly in the
perishables sector. Part of the problem
is insufficient specialist equipment,
i.e. proper refrigerated storage and
containers, but it is also partly due
to lack of training. The practitioners
and the academicians are now aware
of the importance of logistics and
supply chain, however, the field is
still under-penetrated as far as
research is concerned.
What is your present network?
qWhat are your expansion plans
five years down the line?
With an extremely strong client base
that includes several blue-chip Indian
and multi-national corporations, we
manage more than 6 million sqft
of warehousing space and provide
warehousing & distribution logistics
services for the FMCG, retail,
automotive, e-commerce, engineering,
telecom, pharma and other sectors.
In 2020, despite the ongoing
pandemic, we added 1 million sqft
of warehousing space under our
operations. We plan to expand our
operations by another 30 lakh sqft by
the end of 2022-23.
The biggest challenge
today is insufficient
integration of transport
networks, information
technology, warehousing
& distribution facilities,
and real-time flow
of information
We will soon start operations at our
two new multi-client facilities, i.e.
400,000 sqft in Farukhnagar where
we start operations for phase 1 of
our own 700,000 sqft warehouse. We
have signed a strategic partnership
with Welspun One Logistic Parks
to develop 900,000 sqft in the next
three years.
Thanks to our sister real estate company
NG Concept: We are working on deal
closures for additional A grade state of
the art Multi Customer Facilities of an
average size of 300,000 sqft each in
Bengaluru, Delhi NH1, Kolkata, Chennai
and Hyderabad.
Over the next five years, we aim to
become the leader of the contract
logistics market in India. We aim to
establish ourselves as a long-termoriented Indian service provider with
deep human values, stable, reliable,
with strong industry-wide expertise
having non-negotiable priorities
on safety, compliance, quality, CI
and customer satisfaction. We are
working towards being positioned
as the pioneer service provider for
sustainable and green logistics.
FM Logistic India’s network
More than 6 million sqft of
warehousing space managed
at present.
1 million sqft of warehousing
space added in 2020.
FEBRUARY - 2021
CARGOTALK 39
