Platforms like Cargo Community System aim at streamlining, upgrading, and standardising interactions with and between the supply chain stakeholders, helping to advance digital collaborations and making way for enhanced efficacy by promoting a powerful partnership between carriers, freight forwarders, Airports/Ports, transporters, regulatory agencies and traders. Amar More, Chief Executive Officer, Kale Logistics Solutions tells it all:
Q1. How has digitalisation changed the dynamics of the cargo and logistics sector ever since the pandemic hit?
Cargo has gained tremendous significance ever since the pandemic hit. We saw the demand for pharmaceuticals, essential commodities, FMCG, agriculture and e-commerce rose. At the same time, supply chain disruptions caused Port/Airport congestions, backlogs at the warehouses or while in-transit and container shortages. These contrasting situations made the industry think that mere usage of digital technologies will not help create a digital and autonomous supply chain; there needs to be a connected ecosystem that routes data in real-time basis. So this accelerated several emerging trends, including supply chain digitisation at the grass-root level, revolutionising how the entire cargo segment does business. The Logistics sector is leveraging digitalisation to not only change their existing processes but to adapt unique cultures, incorporate new initiatives, and even redesign their customer experiences to respond to market demands and dynamic business scenarios. Digital interventions like the Cargo Community System (CCS), powered by the latest technologies, are addressing the industry to move up the digital transformation ladder rapidly. CCS across the world is helping reduce overall Logistics costs and enabling better supply chain planning by linking systems of supply chain actors collectively to maximize the synergies and benefits.
Q2. Do you think digitalisation has become the backbone of the sector and will help take the sector to new heights?
Digitisation is a journey, not a destination-Organisations need to understand this very clearly. AI, IoT, and Big Data are some of the phrases that have made it into the vocabulary of the Logistics sector as technology continues to overthrow the old ways of doing business. Some of the primary objectives of automation of the freight industry are enhanced customer experience, online services, transparency of data, and a sustainable future for the Logistics industry. Digitalisation provides an uninterrupted flow of data and processes among all the touchpoints until the successful completion of the shipment. These touchpoints include but are not limited to digital booking, digital invoicing, e-contracts and constant status updates. Platforms like the Cargo Community System aim at streamlining, upgrading, and standardising the interactions with and between the supply chain stakeholders. It helps to advance digital collaborations and makes way for enhanced efficacy by promoting a powerful partnership between carriers, freight forwarders, Airports/Ports, transporters, regulatory agencies and traders.
Q3. Please share the plans for 2022 at Kale Logistics Solutions?
When we started off the year, we were sure the industry would rebound, and tech adoption would continue to gain more ground. It has played out the way we envisaged. There is more demand for cloud-based and SaaS-based solutions. We are focused on digitising more Airports and Ports this year. We have already touched 100+ Air Cargo Stations and are talking to 40 more Airports and Ports at this point in time to transform them digitally. We have introduced the Maritime Single Window, which is now a mandate from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to be implemented in all Ports before Jan 2024. We are working closely with global bodies to give impetus to digital policies and initiatives.
