Use of Technology in Logistics Management in India

Logistics software companies in India are always on their toes. There is a rapidly growing need to do things faster and more efficiently. It has become imperative to understand customer pressures and fine-tune the supply chain execution in order to meet their demands. Transport management systems (TMS) have greatly contributed towards reducing order cycle times and continue to do more. Information technology has thus become a savior when it comes to keeping up with the ever-evolving industry trends.

With the use of transport ERP software, logistics giants have moved beyond simple execution activities and are able to seamlessly coordinate the following activities with minimum difficulty – costs are reduced; goods are shipped, tracked and delivered on time; customer expectations are upheld; and large profits are accrued. No quality logistics arrangement is complete without the use of a well-integrated technology system.
 
At present, logistics operation in India incorporates the following activities:

1. Purchasing
2. Distribution
3. Inventory Management
4. Packaging
5. Manufacturing
6. Customer Servicing

Transport ERP software can help manage these actions better thereby reducing the overall order cycle time. However, it is important to note here that with the use of this enhanced software comes an increased investment cost owing to their purchase and maintenance. But in the long run, costs get abridged and results get magnified. Many IT companies have also development products and services that logistics software companies in India can use to reap crucial benefits for their operations.

Thus, the various technologies that a logistics company can adopt are:

1. Bar-coding and radio frequency identification (RFID)
2. Data acquisition technologies like:
a. Optical scanning
b. Electronic notepads
c. Voice recognition
d. Robotics for information management and control.

The most important advantage of using these technologies is that they help save a lot of time and money while tracing shipments and deliveries. Other benefits include:

1. Picking Material from Manufacturing Unit
2. Storing Material in Warehouse
3. Delivery Material to customer on Receipt of Delivery Order
4. Managing Customer’s Inventory
5. Providing Material Tracking to Customer

Companies have also started using highly developed technological systems such as Warehouse Management, Distribution System and Automated package movement system. The third system runs on RFID and is the most advanced version which allows tracking possible for origin, current location, destination and route information of a particular shipment. These kinds of technologies play a prominent role in furthering the growth of the logistics sector in India.

Hence, going forward, technology will always prove to be one of the biggest enablers for the logistics industry. Every logistics company must strive to adopt new technologies so as to enjoy maximum returns on their integrated operations. It is crucial to understand that IT outsourcing has transformed by leaps and bounds and can make the logistics industry in tapping maximum benefits from IT spending. Because in this fast emerging economy, re-imagining potential growth prospects and controlling expenses can really take make a huge difference.

About Auhtor:
Girdhar Joshi is the Director of BNG Infotech and also handling the social networking of the organization. Job profile includes strategy formulation, long-term strategic planning for marketing and product development, providing consultancy in product development, design and project management.