K Log Global Logistics Smooth Going

Sunny Pandya, Director, K Log Global Logistics, is upbeat about the future of the logistics industry in view of the transformational changes brought about by the government’s initiatives on infra development, GST, and ease of doing business in India. Excerpts from an interview with Maria R.

How do you see the growth potential of the Indian logistic industry and what positive trends are visible in the sector?

I am quite upbeat about the growth potential. My conviction comes from the fact that Logistics, once a standalone activity, is now an Integrated activity, and this spans geographies across the world. The Make in India initiative has boosted manufacturing activity in India. Warehousing, customised transportation solutions, increasing adoption of technology, and the infrastructure status given to this sector, are some game changers and we will be hearing more growth stories going forward.

What are the issues and challenges in the logistics and supply chain management industry?

Despite the positive outlook, challenges continue to dog us with clients willing to treat this industry as partners, toll taxes, highways upgradation, dynamic fuel pricing, etc.

How do you think programmes like Bharatmala and Sagarmala will benefit the sector?

Indeed, these are highly ambitious projects and I am glad that the Government has given them due regard. Benefits are both direct and indirect. Under these projects, all-round development of Roads, Ports, Coastal Movements, Multi Modal Logistics Parks, etc., will directly contribute to the Logistics Sector by harnessing more operating efficiencies. This will translate to cost optimisation and will make our products more competitive. There will be huge collateral benefits such as employment generation, a more skilled workforce for manning this sector, increased capital investments, etc.

How has the Government’s initiative to improve ‘ease of doing business’ and GST impacted this sector?

The recent report of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index showed that India jumped 30 notches to reach a level of 100. This is a direct endorsement that the Government means business and is quite serious about implementing various initiatives. Also, it is quite encouraging to note that various states in India are now competing with each other to have a good index on this count. GST ensured better tax compliance by all. Vehicles move easily and with the least hindrances enroute. This translates to higher returns on our investments and thus, improves overall operating efficiencies.

With clients becoming more demanding, how do you ensure speedy and reliable service while maintaining high quality standards?

We are highly focused on delivering optimum service to our clients. Our policies, regular staff training, etc, are fully aligned towards providing the best service and quality. With the various initiatives discussed above and drawing on them, it is our constant effort to optimize operating methodologies and costs, without compromising on quality of services. We are also investing in technology and are committed to regularly increasing our fleet and providing customized solutions to our clients.

How is Blockchain technology transforming the supply chain and logistics industry?

In brief, something like this had to happen as there were too many fragmented pieces in the entire ecosystem of the supply chain. Given the global scale with which B2B transactions take place today, information visibility and sharing are very vital, as the ecosystem becomes more regulated. By regulation, I mean when you transcend boundaries and operate, you are actually talking about a multitude of compliances that are required. This is just one case in point. The Blockchain technology now brings the physical, financial and digital information onto a single baseline, promising a seamless integration. I believe that as more and more companies globally adopt this technology, we will have a highly visible and transparent ecosystem. So, it is indeed a major transformation for all of us!

Demand for over dimension cargo (ODC) has increased during the past few years, especially from infra and heavy engineering projects; how is K Log Global Logistics positioned to offer the best, specialized transport services to these sectors?

We are focusing on technology and innovation to provide customized solutions to our cargo clients. As an organization, we are committed to safety, conservation of the environment etc., and this approach has positioned us more strongly amongst our competitors.

What is your fleet size and strength, and do you plan to acquire new cranes and trailers for ODC?

We have sufficient equipment to meet our requirement. Over the years, we have developed project management skills within the organization and have added new vendors to meet the requirement of higher safety standards and HSE practices. All of these are aligned with our company policies to provide services as per our commitment. In times of additional fleet requirement, we use such associates to cater to the needs of our customers.