The logistics chain in the country has
typically involved 2 to 3 intermediaries situated between the truck driver and
the consignor. These intermediaries tend to impose commissions. This results in
substantial financial losses for truck owners. A significant portion, approximately 15 to 20 percent of their
revenue is lost due to these intermediary charges.
Moreover, the transport and warehousing sectors
were not able to leverage modern technology in the past. This led to a
relatively low level of operational efficiency within the industry. This lack
of technological integration has hampered transparency and the ability to keep
pace with evolving demands.
Elevated
indirect costs in the logistics industry have been attributed to unpredictable
supply chains and insufficient first and last-mile connectivity.
According to the World Bank’s ‘Doing
Business 2020’ report, customs clearance for imports in India takes an average
of 14 days, significantly higher than the global average of 8 days. These
inherent challenges contributed to increased operational complexities and
elevated costs. This underscored the urgent need for strategic interventions to
streamline processes and enhance overall efficiency.
It is in this context that Unified Logistics
Interface Platform (ULIP) emerges as a solution. In
businesses requiring the seamless transport of goods, the ULIP Platform emerges
as a critical asset. It furnishes pertinent information for enhanced
operational efficiency. Through
real-time tracking, it provides valuable insights into logistics activities.
This includes shipments, inventory levels, and orders, offering a comprehensive
perspective for both small and large-scale business owners, and logistics
stakeholders. This holistic view facilitates the identification of operational
bottlenecks, empowering swift and strategic actions
Functioning as a sophisticated tool for
transportation network optimisation, the platform considers key factors such as
distance, capacity, and cost to determine the most efficient routes and
transportation modes. The overarching objective is to minimise transportation
costs, streamline delivery times, and maximise resource utilisation.
Facilitating seamless integration among logistics stakeholders—spanning
suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and carriers—the platform enables the
smooth exchange of critical data and information, fostering coordination and
collaboration.
Introduced in 2022, the inception of the
Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) represents a transformative leap
towards digitizing the logistics sector, spearheading increased efficiency. As
an integral component of the National Logistics Policy, this initiative stands
as a catalyst for substantial growth within the logistics industry
ULIP is designed to enhance the nationwide
logistics landscape by prioritising strategic inventory management, enhancing
supply chain visibility, streamlining operations, and effecting cost reductions. At its core what it does is, it seeks to
empower the logistics sector by enabling real-time monitoring of freight and
ensuring the utmost data confidentiality through end-to-end encryption.
We are witnessing that this initiative is
continuing to establish seamless connectivity among all stakeholders, offering
real-time tracking capabilities. Built upon a foundation of 100+ Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) covering over 1600 fields, ULIP operates as a
responsive system that aggregates data from diverse channels. These APIs play a
pivotal role in optimising logistics performance, providing end-to-end
visibility, real-time tracking of in-transit operations, and fostering seamless
collaboration among participants. The initiative positions itself as a dynamic
force propelling the logistics industry into an era of heightened efficiency
and collaboration
ULIP has emerged as a catalyst for logistics
companies…ULIP is crucial to this strategy and it will
help position the logistics industry as a pivotal growth engine, playing a
significant role in propelling India toward a US$ 5 trillion economy. In
addition to this, the government's increased investment in technology
underscores a forward-thinking approach, augmenting our competitive edge and
optimizing the entire supply chain. This visionary stance highlights the
pivotal role of transformative technologies like the ULIP platform in logistics
optimisation, driving economic growth, and championing sustainability in the
dynamic landscape of global trade.