Tagging the tech to logistics
- 1. TECHNOLOGY30 CARGOTALK DECEMBER 2014 Tagging the tech to logistics With an aim to streamline and fast track cargo movement both at sea and on land, the Centre is preparing a system to oversee and trace all movement of containers in real time. The government would soon put in place a new tracking project, which is being developed under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor with the help of Japan-based NEC Corporation to ensure timely delivery of consignments. Different departments and Ministries including the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Road, Transport & Shipping and Ministry of Railways are working together to finalise the project. speaks to industry veterans to find out, to what extent this software will help in timely delivery of consignments and enable tracking and viewing of the movement of containers from ports to ICDs. For speedy freight movement and timely delivery of consignments, the Government has come up with a Logistics Data Bank (LDB) project to keep an eye on containers. However, the industry feels there is a need to look upon lack of adequate infrastructure as the primary reason for poor transits and high dwell times for import and export consignments. CT BUREAU Anil Kumar Gupta Chairman and Managing Director, CONCOR The LDB project is a good concept for providing better information to all stakeholders regarding container tracking. CONCOR currently has ‘on-line’ integration with Freight Operation Information system (FOIS) of Indian Railways, which provides information about enroute status of containers from port to ICD and vice versa.With RFID tags, the position will become more real time.We have also developed a very suc- cessful SMS-based query system, which can track and trace individual units.The information provided through this software can be used for internal processing and also helps customers take timely delivery of consignments. Vivek Sharma Chief Executive Officer, Adani Logistics Theprojectisinanadvancedstageofimplementationdevel- oped under DMIC. It will provide real time tracking of containers across the logistics chain through installation of RFID tags and integration of software of different service providers.It will enable importers, exporters and other stakeholders to view bottlenecks and develop strategies for overall development of the sector apart from helping the customer reduce lead time and transactional cost and give him more visibility while helping optimise the operations. ThissoftwarewillworkonrealtimetrackingthroughinstallingRFID tags that will help track the container once it reaches the port, after which the logistics company’s transport desk can track in real time andreconfiguretheseRFIDtagswhenevertheycarryanewcargo. Manish Puri Managing Director, APL IndiaLinx The project will require a high level of coordination between various stakeholders to get it implemented. At present, the stakeholders who would need to be involved, i.e., shipping lines, ports, customs, CTOs, road carriers, Indian railways and ICDs are all working on different IT plat- forms .There is no standard format for such data exchange tohappen.Improvedtransparencyandinformationisalways helpful, but the primary reason for poor transits and high dwell times for import and export consignments does not stemfromlackofinformationbutduetothelackofadequate infrastructure at different‘choke points’in the supply chain. Amit Chaudhri Chief Executive Officer, Kribhco Infrastructure We need to understand that the core issue is tracking of containers or else expeditious delivery or clearance of containers.If we talk about tracking, an operator-wise sys- tem already exists to trace and track containers and Container Corporation is a pioneer in this field.For expedi- tious delivery of containers, the coordinated and consoli- dated efforts of the custodians, Customs, shipping lines, importers,etc.wouldberequired.Thevitalissueisnottrans- portation, but the dwell time of containers at the ICDs/ CFSs that prevent timely delivery of containers. 4G to address connectivity issues of E-commerce The issues affecting E-commerce can be resolved using 4G services; also India Post is being seen as a vital link in the growth of E-commerce. “Logistics and connectivity issues affecting E-commerce in the country could be addressed with the launch of high speed 4G mobile services,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications and IT Minister. Prasad met Flipkart co-founder and CEO, Sachin Bansal, and assured him that the government will provide full support in resolving issues related to logistics and con- nectivity. “Bansal talked about cer- tain hurdles including connectivity and logistics issue that could be addressed with the arrival of 4G when connectivity becomes richer,” Prasad said. Bharti Airtel and Aircel are offering 4G services in select circles. The minister said it is a very proud moment that young, fresh IIT graduates like Sachin have chosen the path of innovation and established a very successful com- pany like Flipkart. “The company has around two crore customers and Flipkart is employing about 15,000 people, about 900 engineers for innovation and research.These are very excit- ing and shining examples of new India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to promote this new India in a big way,” Prasad said. Asked about his views on FDI in E-commerce, Bansal said the government is the best judge to look into the matter. Speaking about the postal department’s performance, Bansal said, “In the last six months we have seen lot of improvement in the India postal services and we have started using these more and more. We hope to see more improvement over time and also more roll out of 4G, looking forward to that.” Post offices are viewed by some experts as an important link for the growth of E-commerce. Ravi Shankar Prasad Communications and IT Minister Govt. of India