N Sivasailam, Special Secretary (Logistics), Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, during his special address as the Guest of Honour at the Retail Supply Chain Summit 2020 organised on Thursday asserted that the implementation of GST has changed the scenario of retail businesses forever.
The Special Secretary asserted that it was time that our country resorted the joy of shopping in its people with efficient mechanisms of city logistics coupled with the benefits of digitization in the Indian supply chain logistics sector.
“City logistics is a nightmare in India,” Mr Sivasailam said. “You cannot have a cost-effective Retail Supply Chain without proper city logistics.”
He also stressed upon the importance of efficient return logistics in a retail supply chain.
Mr Sivasailam urged PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its member stakeholder to enter into business and trade pertaining in state logistics and thereby create platforms and business opportunities that can facilitate, catalyze and encourage businesses and along with digitization add huge efficiencies at the Supply Chain front.
Dr D K Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in his welcome remarks highlighted the vital role played by Digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in living up to the global competition in the supply chain logistics market.
Digital transformation is the best approach to minimize cost per square feet and optimize efficiency at all stages of supply chain management system starting right from procuring raw materials for production till consumption by the end consumer, said Dr Aggarwal.
Sumit Duggal, Founder, Signcatch presented the industry perspective and talked about empowering Kirana stores through Kirana Development Programmes that enable store owners to bring more transparency and agility to their retail supply chain.
Dr. Yogesh Shrivastav, Principal Director, PHDCCI delivered the formal vote of thanks which was followed by four interactive panel discussions that discussed the opportunities, challenges and other important aspects of the retail supply chain.
