Pandemic is blessing in disguise for logistics


Chennai : While logistics, like all other sectors, faced survival and operational challenges during the pandemic,its importance as the artery of the economy to keep goods moving was established as well. Less than 1 per cent of freight matching in India today is digital, and by growing confidence in digital medium among the users, the pandemic has actually been a blessing in disguise.

We are a step closer to shaking up an otherwise opaque and fragmented industry,’ said Raaho co-founder and CEO Imthiaz.

Established in 2017 by Chennai-based Imthiaz, Muralidharan, Vipul Sharma, Fahad and Joshua Jebakumar, Raaho is now ‘fastest-growing only marketplace’ for intercity trucks.

In an interaction with News Today, Imthiaz said, ‘Logistics, like many other industries, is reeling under the wonders of technology in the post-covid era. With growing thrust on automation, bots and sensors are lot more heard of at warehouses and autonomous trucks don’t seem distant.’

Talking about government support to start-ups, he said, ‘With initiatives like Make-in-India and incentives for increasing production, the government has been clearly encouraging start-up culture. What is remarkable is the focus on technology advancements and recognition awards to young ventures that are changing the daily landscape at scale.’

On his Chennai connect, Imthiaz said, ‘Chennai will always be dear to me. Nothing beats walking on the Marina beach and having ‘Thengai

Thanneer’ while the waves touch your feet. Even today whenever I visit Chennai – be it 5 am or 2 am – I have to go to the beach. There are so many moments that are just inseparable from Marina! And the other thing I have to do when at Chennai is feast on the heavenly idlis – no one comes even close to Chennai when it comes to authentic idlis!’