Ayesha Katgara, Head of the Transformation Office at Jeena & Company, shares how the logistics industry is preparing for the digital transformation era.
The logistics industry that we know of is poised for a dynamic change. Steadily, in the background, it is undergoing a massive, and positively disruptive transformation backed by technology-led tools and techniques. With the shifting customer demands and rapid move towards speedy deliveries and the visible e-commerce boom, digital, tech-enabled logistics is now a necessity. To keep pace with the shifting demands, logistics players are reimagining our operating models to stay future-focussed. We are leveraging digital techniques for data collection and analysis, implement sustainability, while keeping the human element alive in for impact on the overall business.
Logistics operations that were traditionally dependent on manual processing via paperwork and fragmented systems, often led to inefficiencies, delays, and a lack of visibility across the supply chain. The integration of advanced digital tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and Internet of things has changed the landscape dramatically. Today, intelligent systems track cargo in real time and make critical decisions with greater accuracy.
For instance, predictive analytics can forecast demand and optimize routes to support dynamic resource allocation. Real-time visibility platforms help empowering the management teams to monitor cargo movements across ports, customs, and warehouses on a single dashboard. This enables on-time problem solving, enhancing transparency and quicker, more informed problem solving.
This paradigm shift has enhanced operational efficiency, reduced transit time, costs involved, and supported companies to deliver more consistent customer experiences.
Essentially, I believe that data lies at the very core of this digital transformation, and data-backed decision-making drives performance.
At Jeena, we have been agile and focused on building smarter, faster, and resilient supply chains through data-centric solutions that are aimed at creating reliable, strategy-driven environment for our partners and customers by integrating digital tools.
The human element is still in fashion even when warehouse automation, robotic process automation (RPA), and AI-driven documentation systems have all, significantly improved productivity. It is true that automation is revolutionizing logistics in essence, but we believe that integration of the human element with technology is the only way ahead – training our people to use technology for efficiency and long-term resilience is our primary focus. In this context, strategic investment in skilling workforce in data management and digital adaptability is essential for a reliable, sustainable transformation.
Digital transformation is also significantly advancing sustainability – from counting carbon footprint to minimizing it, the logistics industry can now seamlessly embrace sustainable operations.
The government is actively pushing for digital transformation supported by the broader, “Digital India” agenda, which enables use of digital infrastructure, e-governance, data sharing and interoperability across sectors including transport and logistics. Such policies matter for logistics companies as they reduce fragmentation in the logistics ecosystem.
Future looks bright as digital transformation continues to evolve, and companies adopt a holistic and data-driven approach to lead the way. The more the industry moves towards agility and digital adaptability, the stronger the future of logistics will become.
For an industry that once relied on physical networks, the next phase of growth lies in building digital networks which are connected, transparent, and resilient. We believe that the future of logistics does not lie solely on moving goods, instead how intelligently the ship has sailed.