Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing the Supply Chain Management domain: Chief Business Officer, NimbusPost
We sit down with Naveen Mathur, Chief Business Officer, NimbusPost to talk about the growing logistics tech space and how NimbusPost is leveraging its solutions to tackle the market.
Updated Jun 12, 2023 | 04:38 PM IST
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Talk to us about NimbusPost and its offerings.
NimbusPost is a tech-enabled gateway for eCommerce businesses where tailor-made solutions are available to meet every customer’s exclusive business needs.
At NimbusPost, we create innovative and advanced logistics solutions to address our customers’ complex business needs and help them grow in their domain. Our tech-enabled assets work as a robust support system and provide maximum ease of business to the clients. Our end-to-end shipping solutions along with a strong partner network, provide D2C brands and eCommerce businesses an edge over their competitors and uplift their customer experience.
We offer comprehensive order fulfilment solutions to meet the needs of eCommerce and direct-to-consumer (D2C) businesses in today's highly competitive market. Our key services include Domestic Shipping and International Cross Border Shipping Services, which also include the export of time-sensitive eCommerce shipments. Our rich courier partner network enables us to provide an extensive delivery reach across 29000+ pin codes within India and 196+ countries across the world.
We also offer warehouse and fulfilment services in addition to shipping. This implies that online businesses can manage everything from inventory storage and order fulfilment to last-mile delivery through a single platform. We are able to manage over 2 million transactions every day by employing cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning , and automation with the help of a team of very talented engineers and logistics specialists.
How technology has shaped the Logistics Industry?
Technology has had a profound impact on the logistics industry, transforming the way businesses manage and execute their supply chain operations. Improved technology not only minimizes costs and errors but benefits all areas of the logistics industry such as trucking transportation, international transportation (ocean and air), supply chain management, and shipment tracking. Here are some key ways in which technology has shaped the logistics industry.
Shipment Tracking Systems
Shipment tracking system tailored for sellers that allows them to monitor and manage their shipments in real time. It features shipment notifications and messages, customizable reporting, and customer accounts with information.
Enhanced GPS Accuracy
Long gone are the days when you printed out directions from the computer before you left the house. Now almost everyone uses GPS, whether built-in on their vehicles or on their cell phones. The accuracy of these devices has drastically increased throughout the years, not only helping frustrated, lost drivers but also improving the supply chain. The advanced accuracy of GPS allows for increased productivity and satisfied customers, by tracking trucks’ locations and improving hauls through access to updated traffic data.
Social Media
The power of social media is optimizing the logistics industry and operations as a whole. These platforms are becoming the easiest and most efficient way for companies to communicate with customers, conveying urgent information and package updates, industry news, and customer responses quickly.
Automation and Robotics
Numerous logistics procedures have been automated thanks to technology, which has enhanced production and efficiency. Robotics and automated systems are being employed for jobs like picking and packing orders, sorting and handling items in warehouses, and even driving autonomous vehicles. This has accelerated order fulfilment, decreased mistakes, and enhanced operational performance overall.
Advanced Analytics and Big Data
The emergence of powerful analytics tools and the accessibility of enormous volumes of data have revolutionized logistics decision-making. Logistics businesses can optimize their supply chain operations by analyzing data from many sources, such as transportation routes, inventory levels, and client demand trends, also trends of the market on YOY - growth or slumps. Demand forecasting, improved route planning, inventory level optimization, and cost reduction are all made possible with the aid of predictive analytics.
Cloud Computing and SaaS
Thanks to cloud computing, data storage, access, and sharing have become simpler for logistics companies. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), a type of cloud-based software, provides scalable and flexible platforms for managing several facets of logistics operations, such as transportation management, warehouse management, and inventory control. As a result, there is no need for a complicated on-premises architecture, and various stakeholders can collaborate easily.
E-commerce and Mobile Technology
With the emergence of e-commerce, logistics companies have had to adjust to quicker delivery times and higher consumer expectations. Mobile technology is essential to this adaption because it allows delivery boys or wish masters to obtain real-time information, navigate effectively, and update customers on the status of their deliveries. Customers can also communicate with logistics companies and track their shipments via mobile apps.
Thereby, mobile technology has transformed the logistics sector by raising overall efficiency, reducing procedures, and improving visibility.
How has the implementation of automation and robotics in logistics impacted supply chain efficiency and accuracy?
While many companies currently seek technology for penetration into the sector, precision and efficiency while speeding up the processes at the same time, the performance of the supply chain is confronted by numerous challenges that can hinder its performance. Here’s how implementing automation and robotics promotes supply chain efficiency and accuracy.
Increased Operational Efficiency
Automation and robotics streamline various processes within the supply chain, such as order picking, sorting, packing, and loading/unloading. By replacing manual labour with automated systems, tasks can be performed faster and more consistently, leading to improved operational efficiency. Robots can work around the clock without fatigue, resulting in increased productivity and shorter lead times.
Enhanced Accuracy
Automation and robotics have greatly reduced human errors in logistics operations. Robots are programmed to perform tasks with high precision, minimizing mistakes that can occur due to fatigue, distractions, or other factors. This has led to improved accuracy in order fulfilment, inventory management, and shipment tracking, reducing the occurrence of errors such as incorrect shipments or misplaced inventory.
Optimal Space Utilization
Automated systems can optimize the utilization of available space within warehouses or distribution centres. Robots can efficiently stack and organize inventory, making the most of vertical space and minimizing the need for excessive storage facilities. This allows businesses to optimize their warehousing operations, reduce storage costs, and maximize the capacity of their facilities.
Faster Order Processing
Advanced automation accelerates order processing in logistics. Automated systems can handle a large volume of orders simultaneously, ensuring faster order fulfilment and reducing order processing time. This leads to improved customer satisfaction by providing shorter delivery times and timely order updates.
Real-time Data and Analytics
Automation enables logistics companies to collect and analyze vast amounts of data in real-time. This data can be utilized to gain valuable insights into supply chain operations, identify bottlenecks, optimize routes, and improve overall performance. By leveraging analytics and machine learning algorithms, businesses can make data-driven decisions, implement predictive maintenance, and proactively address issues before they impact the supply chain.
Improved Workplace Safety
By using robots to automate repetitive and physically demanding tasks, logistics companies can ensure their workers are exposed to fewer risks associated with manual labour, thereby enhancing workplace safety. Robots can handle heavy loads, navigate hazardous environments, and perform tasks in controlled and safe manners, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
What role can artificial intelligence and machine learning play in optimizing logistics processes?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing the Supply Chain Management domain. These technologies are helping companies streamline their supply chains, reduce costs, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase revenue. They also help companies achieve faster business results by automating manual processes and providing valuable insights to improve customer experience.
In the past, few tools were available to help companies manage their supply chain. But now, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have revolutionized this domain by improving efficiency and reducing costs. These days, suppliers are widely using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for demand forecasting, route optimization, warehouse management, supply chain visibility, predictive maintenance and risk management.
While AI and ML have only been applied to Supply Chain Management in recent years, they are already making a big difference for businesses around the world.
What are the benefits of implementing a warehouse management system (WMS) in logistics operations?
Exploring the benefits of a warehouse management system is imperative for businesses experiencing growth. Growing businesses with on-hand inventory will benefit greatly from using a warehouse management system (WMS). Using an advanced WMS like the one we offer at NimbusPost can scale a brand’s operational efficiency as it allows them to monitor processes at various levels, enhancing productivity and increasing asset utilization. Further, WMS automation assists with inventory control in a way that improves accuracy, throughput, and speed.
A WMS benefits an organization in many ways, some of which are highlighted below.
Optimized Space and Lower Operating Expenses
Warehouse management systems optimize warehouse flow by analyzing the best use of floor space based on the task and material characteristics. In the WMS implementations, the use of space and floor plan analysis is used to determine how space should be best used and provides opportunities for reducing waste – waste of premium floor space and waste of time for locating products.
WMS solutions can also help maintain material rotation, whether through first-in, first-out (FIFO), last-in, first-out (LIFO), or first-expired, first-out (FEFO) practices. Whatever rotation rule is required, the WMS can help the rotation. Typically, LIFO enables cost-effective use of space and movement. FIFO or FEFO can maintain product quality for items from ageing out in the warehouse. Some solutions have additional fuzzy logic so that a slightly relaxed FIFO or FEFO reduces additional moves, for example, products that expire in the same month may be considered both.
Inventory Visibility
Using a warehouse management system will also provide visibility of accurate, real-time inventory levels. This enables a company to more securely estimate supply and avoid backorders, which leads to more satisfied customers and increased new signs offs.
Traceable Materials
Inventory materials can be easily traced with warehouse management systems using lot, batch, and serial numbering. Lot/batch numbers indicate the group in which materials were made, and the serial number identifies an item specifically. By use of WMS inventory tracking as previously noted, the ability to match specific lot/batch or serial numbers with incoming receipts and outgoing shipments allows for full traceability.
Optimized Supply Chain
A warehouse management system optimizes a warehouse’s internal operation which can then extend to the broader supply chain. Within the warehouse, a WMS streamlines the entire warehouse process from inbound receipts to outbound deliveries improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs. Warehouse staff achieve fast and accurate shipments by reducing or eliminating unnecessary or non-productive activity. These savings in time and cost coupled with improved processes and information can then be passed along to internal and external partners enabling them to improve their own operations.
Internal Automation Benefit
With an advanced WMS, mobile devices can automate internal work assignments and support a transition from paper to electronic work and activity recording. This simplifies processes and further increases the ability to scale and ensures information accuracy.
Effective Shipment Management Providing better Customer Service
Inbound and outbound planning can be efficiently managed with a warehouse system that can adjust the movements of inventory and equipment. As inventory is scheduled for arrival, the exact date and time can be optimized, considering available labour and equipment for storage tasks. There is the ability to plan both receiving dock doors as well as outbound shipping docks with WMS solutions. Some WMS solutions also connect to transportation management solutions (TMS) to further optimize the supply chain processes.
Ongoing Improvement
As a valuable technological tool, warehouse management systems are designed to enable continuous improvements. The system can be implemented in phases to allow ongoing updates with newly developed features consistently, keeping warehouses efficient as they keep up with current changes. This also allows for the warehouse to incorporate new processes and innovations over time.
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