The express logistics industry has seen a dramatic rise in demand, especially with the acceleration of e-commerce. As customer expectations for faster and more reliable deliveries grow, businesses are under pressure to innovate and optimize operations.
Satish Lakkaraju, CEO of Garudavega, a brand of Nextgen Logisticshighlighted the transformative nature of this shift: “The express logistics sector has moved beyond just delivering packages—it has become the backbone of modern commerce.
“Customers now expect same-day or next-day deliveries, which requires us to rethink traditional business models and invest in scalable, technology-driven solutions.”
Enabler of efficiency
Technology has emerged as a cornerstone to address the challenges of express logistics, particularly in terms of route optimization, real-time tracking and operational scalability. Automation in sorting centers and warehouses is noted to reduce manual errors and improve turnaround times, making operations more agile and cost-effective.
Kabir Seth, Chief Executive Officer of Allied Express, emphasized that, “From AI-driven route optimization to IoT-enabled tracking, technology enables us to deliver greater efficiency and visibility across the supply chain.
“This progress not only improves operational performance, but also builds trust and transparency with customers.”
Collaborative business models
The panel emphasized the importance of collaboration between logistics providers, retailers and technology partners to overcome scalability challenges., emphasized the value of strategic partnerships. It is essential that shared infrastructure and resources, such as co-located warehouses and multimodal transport hubs, are critical to scaling operations without increasing costs excessively.
Abbas Panju, Managing Director – India at UPS mentioned that, “Collaboration is essential for creating integrated logistics networks that can handle the increasing volumes of express shipments.
“By partnering with local and regional players, we can expand our reach while maintaining service quality and cost efficiency.”
Optimizing costs in a competitive market
Cost management remains one of the biggest challenges in the express logistics sector, especially given rising fuel prices and infrastructure constraints.
Speaking about leveraging multimodal logistics to address these challenges, Giridharan Srinivasan, Area General Manager – Indian Subcontinent at Etihad said: “Air cargo offers unmatched speed, but it can be expensive. By integrating air cargo with road and rail networks, we can create cost-effective multimodal solutions that meet both time-sensitive and budget-conscious demands. This approach not only reduces costs, but also improves overall supply chain resilience.”
Retail and wearables
The discussion also explored how express logistics adapts to the unique requirements of specific sectors, such as retail and smart wearables.
Amol Prasadi, head of supply chain management and procurement at Metro Brands, highlighted the importance of flexibility in retail logistics by citing, “In retail, seasonal demand fluctuations and product variety require a highly adaptable logistics network.
“Using real-time inventory management and just-in-time delivery models, we meet customer expectations without overloading our supply chain.”
For the wearables sector, speed and accuracy are extremely important, given the high value nature of the products.
Seetharam Srinivasan, Chief Operating Officer for Smart Wearables at Titan Company, elaborated on his views by saying, “Express logistics plays a critical role in ensuring that our customers receive their products promptly and in perfect condition.
“Innovations like automated order processing and AI-based demand forecasting help us deliver a seamless experience while efficiently managing costs.”
Opportunities and challenges
While the express logistics industry has made significant progress, challenges such as infrastructure limitations, last-mile delivery complexity and regulatory barriers remain. The panel highlighted the need for continued innovation and collaboration to address these issues and unlock new opportunities.
“The future of express logistics lies in its ability to adapt and innovate. By embracing technology, building collaborative networks and focusing on sustainability, we can create a logistics ecosystem that is not only efficient, but also resilient and customer-centric. Lakkaraju said.
