20 December, 2023, Gandhinagar: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), under the leadership of the Gujarat State Council organised a conference on Supply Chain and Logistics in Gandhinagar with focus on bringing efficiency through Digital Transformation. As a leading National Chamber in the country, ICC addressed various sectoral issues through discussions with the industry experts and government authorities with the aim to improve commerce in India. 

The event commenced with a warm welcome by Shri. D.K. Agarwal, Chair, ICC Gujarat Council, who set the tone for discussions. The conference was inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Nandeesh Shukla, Dy. Chairperson, Deendayal Port Authority. Prof. (Dr.) Jitesh J. Thakkar, Dean (Academics), Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, and Shri. Madhvendra Singh, CEO, Gujarat Maritime Cluster, delivered special addresses, emphasizing the importance of embracing digital transformation in the current business landscape. Keynote addresses were presented by industry stalwarts, Shri. Mahendra Shah, Chairman & MD, V-Trans (India) Ltd, and Shri. Sukant Mishra, MD, Octagon International FZCO, shedding light on the critical role of digital transformation in shaping the future of supply chain management.

Digital transformation has emerged as a catalyst for positive change, offering innovative solutions to age-old challenges. It is not merely about adopting new technologies; it is about embracing a mind-set that values efficiency, transparency, and adaptability. The integration of digital tools and technologies in logistics operations has the potential to revolutionize the way we move goods, manage inventory, and respond to dynamic market demands 

The Indian supply chain is highly diverse and dynamic, spanning across sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and service. Amid the challenges it faces, supply chain industry act as a network between producer, raw materials, market and consumers. With advent of technology, innovation and upgradation, the industry is becoming efficient, transparent and cost effective day by day with an aim to enhance resilience and streamlining operations.

In 2020, the industry was valued at $225 billion, and this is expected to rise to $637 billion by 2025. India’s e-commerce market is projected to be worth $200 billion by 2026, and the logistics market is expected to reach $307 billion by 2026.  The Indian supply chain industry is evolving rapidly, with several key trends like E-commerce, Last mile delivery, Industry 4.0, Omni-channel and many more. 

The conclave featured insightful panel discussions, with the first panel focusing on ‘Automation & Digitalization in Warehousing and Material Handling’. Moderated by Mr. Chittaranjan Mohanty, Founder, Samvi Hi-Fresh Foods Pvt. Ltd., the panel comprised of experts such as Mr. Nandeesh Shukla (Dy. Chairperson, Deendayal Port Authority), Mr. D.P. Bamanavat (IRS, Addl. Commissioner, Kandla Customs), Mr. Madhvendra Singh (CEO, Gujarat Maritime Cluster) and Mr. Manoj Kothari (Head Supply Chain, Zydus Wellness).

The second panel addressed ‘Tackling Challenges in Last-Mile Connectivity’ and was moderated by Mr. Amit Kumar Srivastava, Head of Artificial Intelligence, Fujitsu. Panelists included Mr. Devinder Sahani (VP Operations, Shadowfax), Mr. Rajiv Bhattacharya (VP - Strategy & Projects, V-Trans), Mr. Himanshu Bhat (HOD Logistics, Amul - GCMMF) and Mr. Pankaj Tiwari (DOM of Ahmedabad Division, Indian Railways).

Standalone presentations by industry leaders added further depth to the discussions:

• Mr. Rajiv Bhattacharya spoke on Industry Landscape and V-Trans March Towards Excellence
• Mr. Sukant Mishra represented APSL and spoke on Connecting India to the World through new-age technologies.
• Lastly, Mr. Himanshu Thacker, Founder, Port Links India Pvt. Ltd. launched an enterprising App thereby revolutionizing Logistics. As the supply chain service providers shared insights on the development in the sector, the conference saw the introduction on the new application based solution which creates a single window for all supply chain services. This will be a break-through service for both, the service providers as well as the industry users – thereby bringing transparency through aggregation of all services in one single App. 

“Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are two major technologies that are revolutionizing the Indian supply chain industry in recent days through optimizing several aspects, such as demand forecasting, inventory management and logistics planning. Moreover, these technologies are enabling businesses analyse large data sets, detect patterns and make predictions that can lead to significant cost savings and improved customer satisfaction” said Mr. Ameya Prabhu, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce. 

The event's success was made possible by the support of its partners: V-Trans, ASPL, Port Links India. With 160+ attendees from diverse sectors in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Gandhinagar and Rajkot, the Smart Supply Chain Conclave provided a platform for valuable insights, collaboration and networking opportunities, marking it as a significant milestone in the realm of supply chain management.

The success of the Smart Supply Chain Conclave was further amplified by the active participation and support received from esteemed individuals and organizations. The organizing committee extends heartfelt gratitude to the ICC Founder Members of Gujarat Council for their unwavering support by Mr. Bhavesh Ambani, MD of Ambani Ceramics, Morbi, Mr. Pradeep Gohel, Mr. Mahendra Gupta, Smt. Jaya Arya and Mr. Ravi Jain

Special acknowledgment goes to those who contributed through association participation: Mr. Mukesh Kundariya, President of Tiles and Ceramics, Morbi, and Mr. Iswar Chand Goel, Vice President of Transport Association, Ahmedabad.

The organizing committee also expresses sincere thanks for the best wishes received from all Gujarat Chambers' presidents, signifying the broad industry support for this program.

Media played a crucial role in disseminating information and promoting the event. The organizing committee extends appreciation to the media for their valuable contribution.

Special recognition is extended to the Gujarat Committee Members Mr. Hiten Bhai Bharwad, Mr. Faisal Ahmed Patel and Mr. Mahesh Savani

Lastly, a heartfelt vote of thanks was given by Bharat K Gupta, Convenor ICC, Gujarat, acknowledging the collective effort and collaboration that made the Smart Supply Chain Conclave a resounding success.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a premier body of business and industry in India, set up in 1925 by a group of pioneering industrialists. The Chamber has been functioning efficiently in building meaningful synergies among the Industry and Government by addressing strategic issues of national significance. It has been instrumental in facilitating better commerce within the country in the last 98 years.