The future of logistics is bright. As a sunrise industry, and in the wake of the global pandemic, the possibilities of what can be done seem endless. Balancing innovation and experience helps chart out a sustainable path to achieve greater visions, taking the industry and services to the next level. The importance of supply-chain, while never underestimated, is now being highlighted on a daily basis.

As we enter an era that will be rooted in digitization and data, what does that mean for traditional logistics companies? And with innumerable well-funded startups and tech-heavy companies coming up, why is it that the traditional companies are still sought after?

Logistics as an industry in a country as unique as India can be tricky. Between bureaucracy, issues of infrastructure, labour and a lack of skilling, there is huge value in experience and on-ground knowledge. Traditional companies that have been able to adapt to changing needs and expectations while maintaining consistency of deliverables have been able to create a value-chain over the years; in the case of Balurghat Technologies, over 70 years.

Knowing the business, to put it another way, is an achievement that in logistics in India is gained by doing, and doesn’t happen overnight. The nitty-gritty of the execution part needs to be learned, along with an understanding of the challenges.

“Technology and logistics have had a relatively late marriage. There is a rush to deploy systems in order to meet requirements, but hasty overhauls are shortsighted. Sustainable growth requires a more sophisticated solution. What we’re building will be able to take the work of the previous generations even further.” - Ankit Sethia.

Balurghat Technologies is looking forward to creating customized technological solutions for clients. With one-size-fits-all technology proving to be more hit-and-miss than a permanent solution, a more fluid setup is looking to be the ideal solution.

“We are not looking to recreate an ecosystem or reinvent the wheel. We want all our clients - be it old-school companies, those with distributed stakeholders of their own, new entrants, hi-tech firms, or government organizations - everyone we work with receives the same level of commitment and service from Balurghat. We want to enable them to seize opportunities wherever they may arise, so why should the tech be any different?"

Traditional companies that are able to pivot with the changing needs of the country are at a distinct advantage of being able to cater to every type of client while maintaining the same dependability, timeliness, and quality of service for stakeholders.

“It is more effective for our clients to be able to use the systems they are comfortable with while still taking advantage of the technological tools we are setting up internally. Some clients want to invest in overhauling their current systems; others still prefer sending a text or calling with the order for the day. We meet them where they are and where they anticipate being.”

Companies are using digital competencies in the supply chain to drive better products and services; those that don’t adapt will find themselves increasingly uncompetitive. Here again, experience and a thorough understanding of the on-ground practicalities prove to be invaluable. Being able to anticipate roadblocks lets companies like Balurghat maintain a degree of flexibility to experiment with newer methods and innovations without any disruption of process.