| | JUNE 20228IN MY OPINIONBy Huafreed Nasarwanji, Chief Commercial Officer, Gati DECODING THE DISRUPTIVE IMPACT OF SMART TRANSPORTATION ON THE INDIAN LOGISTICS SECTORonventionally speaking, the Indian logistics industry has been considered as manpower-heavy and characterized by an unorganized structure. It has generally been opined that over the years, a tech-averse outlook has been a key impediment in the sector achieving its optimum potential and retaining a fragmented outlook. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing intensification in geopolitical tensions has exposed the vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Added to this, the sustained rise in e-Commerce activity has forced global and Indian logistics players to have a relook at their digital strategies and policies, particularly focusing on setting up a robust transport logistics infrastructure at every stage of the supply chain. It has dawned upon industry leaders that they need to have a futuristic vision with an emphasis on digitalization and automation while setting business goals or arriving at business decisions.Players maintaining large trucking fleetscannot ignore the fact that self-driving vehicles are the future of transport logistics and the future is right here and now. Of course, an Impact Assessment (IA) study of the effect of self-driving vehicles on the job of drivers will need to be undertaken. Nevertheless, the fact exists that the transition from traditional driving to a connected driving ecosystem will need to be undertaken in a phased manner. It is high time that supply chain players undertake trial runs of self-driven vehicles and incorporate them into their fleet on a commercial basis. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into transport management systems is key to ensuring the seamless movement of cargo. It also facilitates the mapping of speed-efficient routes by studying traffic patterns and facilitates hassle-free first-mile and last-mile deliveries. With an emphasis on route optimization, AI can play a key role in optimizing cargo transportation costs for supply chain players.CHuafreed Nasarwanji, Chief Commercial Officer
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