Interaction - Zaiba Sarang, Co-founder, iThink Logistics

Zaiba Sarang, Co-founder, iThink Logistics, is trained in technology and business. Here she talks about her work.

What are the new technological developments in AI in the Logistics segment? 

Zaiba Sarang - There are many technological developments in AI in the logistics segment -

1. Automated Warehouses- Artificial intelligence in automation technology changes many warehousing operations, e.g., data collection, inventory processes and more. 

2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - It is utilised to spot trends and make decisions in the supply chain so logistics firms can make necessary changes in their organizations which reduces human error and helps compile all reliable prognosis quickly.

3. IoT - IoT in logistics results in the growth of various connections between goods, packaging, transportation hubs and vehicles. It offers more data that helps in managing various aspects. IoT when combined with blockchain technology may offer end-to-end visibility of packages.

4. Transportation Management Systems (TMS) - TMS helps managing carriers and optimise route automation. It is useful for tracking delivery drivers in real-time, lowering freight expenses, increasing transparency and improving overall customer satisfaction scores.

How do you keep updated with the ever-evolving AI? 

Zaiba Sarang - A lot of industrial research goes into keeping up with AI updates. Furthermore, we can refer to academic research conducted by universities such as Berkeley, MIT and Oxford via their Twitter, YouTube and podcast pages.

What are the challenges in your role? How do you resolve them? 

Zaiba Sarang - The challenges that we face are the following -

1. Most rural areas have improper address structures.
   
   To address this issue, we have developed a technology capable of understanding and structuring a complex Indian address, which will identify incorrect or monkey-typed addresses and switch them with the correct ones to improve overall delivery rates.
2. Customer unconfirmed order raises the RTO percentage
   
   We have a module that will assist the vendor in confirming with the customer before shipping any parcel and verifying the customer's intent and sincerity to reduce RTO.
3. We came up with a procedure in which products are verified to ensure that the product sent by the vendor is accepted by the customer and that no counterfeit products are shipped. This will assist us in gaining the customer's trust and establishing a better relationship.

What are the prospects of growth in AI-enabled courier platforms in the next 2 years?

Zaiba Sarang - According to Gartner, supply chain organisations expect the level of machine automation in their supply chain processes to double in the next five years. Thus, there is the need for the industry to leverage the power of the AI in supply chains and logistic.

1. Driverless delivery - Driverless delivery is done through self-driving vehicles powered by LIDAR technology. These vehicles run on electricity and reduce transportation costs, ultimately increasing productivity.

2. Risk detection/fraud prevention - The system helps businesses detect risks and prevent fraud. This significantly reduces the risk to the driver and the goods.

3. Route optimisation - Using GPS technology, the system identifies the shortest and safest route to the customer’s location considering factors like traffic, number of stops and vehicle capacity. This enables on time deliveries and helps increase revenue.

4. Accurate inventory management - It can ensure the right flow of items in and out of a warehouse. It also helps in preventing overstocking, inadequate stock and unexpected stock-outs.

How can AI help MSMEs to choose the perfect Logistics partner for them?

Zaiba Sarang - AI can help with customer service and reliability by tracking shipment timings based on the buyer's schedule, providing comparative pricing in one place so they don't have to go through the hassle of multiple pages, building consumer trust through positive reviews and testimonials, selecting the right 3PL partner based on its area of expertise, and so on.

Read more from Dr Archana Verma here 

Read products news here