Deepak Vazirani

It was a great experience moderating an insightful panel discussion on "Developing Smart and Sustainable Warehousing for Cold Chain" at Cold Chain Unbroken 2024 on 19th Sept. A big thanks to my fellow panelists Chandrakala Bobba , Gubba Kiran, Mahesh Vodela, Manu Bhalla, and Mohit Kumar Giri for sharing their expertise.​ ​ Key Discussion points:​ 💡 Key design and performance factors that make cold storage smarter.​ 💡Materials and technologies to ensure consistent and efficient temperature management.​ 💡 Viable automation tools like conveyors, sorters, and AGVs to reduce TAT and operational losses.​ 💡 How cold chain sustainability aligns with green certifications, renewable energy, and waste management.​ 💡 Best practices for working with logistics providers to ensure smooth cold chain operations.​ 💡 Optimized strategies for efficient inventory and order fulfillment in cold storage.​ ​ Thanks to everyone who contributed to this enriching discussion and to Dhiren Sanurag Lakkaraju for such an amazing event! Let’s keep innovating for a smarter, greener future.🌍​ ​ #ColdChain #Sustainability #Automation #SmartWarehousing #Collaboration​

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Continuation from Part 1 last week as to the key elements of creating a culture of improvement. As I mentioned last week, this is a journey here at SEKO Logistics. Link to part 1. https://lnkd.in/d3PG4HRZ As always, welcome your thoughts. 6. Reward and Recognize Improvement Efforts    •   Acknowledge Contributions: Recognize and reward employees who contribute to continuous improvement. This could be through formal recognition programs, bonuses, promotions, or simply public acknowledgment of their efforts. It takes energy to get this going but critical for leadership to feed the loop.    •   Celebrate Small Wins: Celebrating incremental improvements reinforces the value of continuous progress and motivates others to contribute. 7. Encourage Innovation and Creativity    •   Incentivize Innovation: Create a system where innovative ideas are encouraged and rewarded, even if they don’t always succeed.    •   Foster Experimentation: Allow employees to test new ideas without the fear of punitive consequences for failure. A fail-fast, learn-fast approach encourages ongoing experimentation. With any improvement initiatives, failure will occur, but even through failure you can learn! 8. Measure and Track Progress    •   Use KPIs: Implement key performance indicators (KPIs) that track progress in areas such as efficiency, quality, and employee satisfaction. Regularly review these metrics to identify improvement areas. This should be obvious, however. See in many organizations, I see far too often, that the people who can impact the score, have no idea what the score truly is!    •   Feedback on Results: Continuously communicate progress on improvement initiatives to the entire organization. Mushrooms grow in the dark, people do not. Share what is being done and more important, WHY! 9. Adapt to Change    •   Embrace Flexibility: Encourage a mindset that is adaptable to change. The business environment is constantly evolving, and a culture of continuous improvement should be flexible enough to adjust to new conditions. 10. Sustain Momentum    •   Long-Term Commitment: Building and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement is an ongoing process. Make it a long-term strategic priority for the company, embedding it in daily operations and planning.    •   Accountability Structures: Create accountability at every level for improvement efforts, ensuring managers and employees take responsibility for continuous learning and process enhancements. By integrating these strategies, businesses can create a dynamic, adaptive culture where improvement becomes a shared goal and part of the organization’s DNA. #lean #continuousimprovement #culture #engagement #success #journey #sekologistics

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The ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, compounded by developments in the Middle East, has forced businesses to rely more heavily on-air routes, driving up demand and further inflating air freight rates. Mango farmers in Karnataka are facing significant challenges this year, dealing with both low yield and a sharp rise in air freight costs. The crisis in the Middle East has dealt a severe blow to the mango industry, making exporting the fruit a daunting task due to scarce slots and fluctuating freight rates. Last year, air freight costs stood at approximately Rs 250 per kilogram, but this year, they have skyrocketed to Rs 400 to Rs 550 per kilogram. Moreover, securing export slots has become increasingly uncertain, with rates fluctuating unpredictably. #SupplyChainDistruptions #AirFreightRates #Export #IndianExport #VUCA #Volatility #Uncertainty #Complexity #Ambiguity

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A powerful conversation with Payal Khanna organised by Shipra Yadav of Health Shots which highlights the importance of building a personal brand! Payal’s journey epitomises the framework - 1. Gravitational - creating a value that creates a pull 2. Brave - take the risks and try out new paths 3. Authentic- be true to yourself and be the best version of yourself 4. Substantive- build deep expertise 5. Reliable- create trust by being consistent The workshop I facilitate on building personal brand to power your career covers this and more! Reach out to know more! #leadership #careerbuilding #coaching #dei #womenleaders

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Container lines are wrestling with growing service reliability challenges on connections out of India – the longer journey around southern Africa and congestion problems at hub ports en-route, particularly Jebel Ali, have taken a toll on their operations. “We are facing a major disruption due to the Red Sea crisis,” an Indian liner industry executive told The Loadstar. “Some delays are only to be anticipated, but container lines are making every effort to serve the trade as best as possible.” Hans-Henrik Nielsen, global development director at Dubai-based NVO CargoGulf, voiced industry concerns over the deteriorating port flow situation. He said: “Apart from the cost, it also means delays to cargo operations, which cause congestion with trucks, port gates, collection of containers, etc.” He added that most Asian hub ports were facing an additional one-to-six-day delay, on average, in vessel turnarounds, according to him. A significant portion of Indian east coast cargo is traditionally transhipped over Colombo, but the Sri Lankan hub is also dealing with serious capacity issues due to a spike in vessel calls. The concern comes as Indian trade stakeholders are betting on a rebound of goods exports, after ending fiscal year 2023-24 on a respectable note, despite multiple economic headwinds. #Containershipping #PortCongestion #SupplyChaindistruption #Delays #RollOvers #VoidCalls #Challenges https://lnkd.in/gbkBGatc

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Too much uncertain world of Supply Chain , emerging toughness. Functional expertise shall come to rescue, in diverse scenario building and well buckled preparation for each. High times to apply the mathematical algorithms and heuristics in exexution by Supply-chainers. Freight uncertainty : Impact of iran/israel war on crude inflation Commodities uncertainty : Impact of crude inflation on Plastics and the rest. Agri-commodities attract additional uncertainty led by bio-fuel mandates and recent high rains in India. Demand Planning uncertainty: Impact of e-commerce and q-commerce on traditional channels. Sizeable growth rates in new-age channels have been disregarding statistical models output. https://lnkd.in/gAdG_Pu8

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The workforce in India is expected to grow by 7.1% in the second half of FY25, with logistics, e-commerce, and manufacturing sectors leading the charge. As someone deeply involved in logistics, this growth trend is particularly exciting. Logistics is projected to see a significant 14.2%  (1) increase in headcount, driven by advancements in logistics, green supply chains, and the support of the National Logistics Policy. These are not just industry buzzwords but tangible changes that are reshaping the sector and creating real job opportunities. What’s also noteworthy is the spread of job growth beyond traditional metro cities. Coimbatore, Gurugram, and cities like Jaipur and Lucknow are emerging as new job hubs, indicating a decentralization of employment opportunities across India. This is a positive shift for both businesses and job seekers, as it makes career growth more accessible across regions. The future of logistics, e-commerce, and tech-driven sectors looks promising. With ongoing technological advancements and infrastructure investments, there will be no shortage of opportunities for skilled talent to drive this growth further. Source: TeamLease Services 'Employment Outlook Report for October 2024 to March 2025 Read full article  https://lnkd.in/dYzSdQ62  The Economic Times #WorkforceGrowth #LogisticsInnovation #ECommerceTrends #5GLogistics #GreenSupplyChain #NationalLogisticsPolicy #JobOpportunities #supplychaintitans #letsbuildtogether  

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Learnings for Corporates from Family Run Businesses Happened to visit a supplier recently whom we had asked to take up an audacious production target in a short span of time. They are a group of 4 people from different states and decided to start a business 3+ decades ago and today some of their sons have also joined the family business and they have a booming business. Few things really amazed me and set me thinking:- 1. How have they maintained such a cordial relationship amongst the 4 founders for over 3 decades ? Would it not be a valuable lesson for all the start up founders and budding ones ? 2. No fancy degrees, no hi fi English, no data analytics, no gen AI… yet they are leaders in their field ! 3. When we gave them a massive production target, within a fortnight they invested a sizeable sum to scale up their capacity and within a month they were ahead of the expected run rate !! No biz fin approvals, no PMO for monitoring progress, no fancy townhalls , no pep talks, but they are there and galloping !! Kudos to their passion, clarity and business acumen.. This story is a typical template for thousands of small family run businesses across India- would you agree? #Startups #business #Passion #Audacity #Motivation

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Transforming India’s Ports: Innovations and Investments Driving Growth India’s ports and shipping sector is witnessing unprecedented growth and transformation. Key highlights include: 1. **Specialized Terminals**: The International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) in Cochin and the LNG storage and regasification terminal in Dahej are optimizing resources and streamlining operations. 2. **Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)**: These have driven significant port growth, contributing to 45% of port traffic in FY23. 3. **Sagarmala Programme**: This initiative focuses on expanding port capacity and enhancing logistics infrastructure, including road, rail, and coastal projects. 4. **Technological Innovations**: Facilities like the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) are improving efficiency with RFID-based port access control and digitized documentation through the Port Community System. 5. **Government Investment**: The government plans to invest $82 billion in port projects by 2035, aiming to increase capacity and integrate renewable energy sources across key ports. 6. **Future Outlook**: With initiatives like Blue Economy 2.0 and the Sagarmala logistics project, India aims to achieve net-zero by 2070 and enhance port connectivity, ensuring sustainable and global competitiveness. India’s ports are set for even greater success in the years to come through strategic investments, technological advancements, and a commitment to sustainability.

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𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻! 🚨 On 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵, we’re kicking off our new AMA (Ask Me Anything) series with none other than 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶n, Global Supply Chain Director at Procon Pacific! 🌍 This is a unique opportunity to gain direct insights from a seasoned industry leader who will be discussing: - Procurement in India: From team setup to quality control, logistics, pricing, and more. - Vendor Relations: Effective strategies for identification, qualification, and management. - Comparative Analysis: How India stacks up against China and Vietnam in procurement. 🗓 Date: September 25, 2024 ⏰ Time: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (GMT+8) 💻 Format: Live Online Session via Chain.NET Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge in procurement, optimize your supply chain, or simply gain new perspectives, this session is for you! Don’t miss out—register now and secure your spot: https://gscc.events/amadk #GSCC #APAC #ChainNET #AMA #OnlineEvent #SupplyChain #Procurement #India #China #Vietnam #Sustainability #NoCommute #NoTravel #NoWaste

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𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻! 🚨 On 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵, we’re kicking off our new AMA (Ask Me Anything) series with none other than 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶n, Global Supply Chain Director at Procon Pacific! 🌍 This is a unique opportunity to gain direct insights from a seasoned industry leader who will be discussing: - Procurement in India: From team setup to quality control, logistics, pricing, and more. - Vendor Relations: Effective strategies for identification, qualification, and management. - Comparative Analysis: How India stacks up against China and Vietnam in procurement. 🗓 Date: September 25, 2024 ⏰ Time: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (GMT+8) 💻 Format: Live Online Session via Chain.NET Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge in procurement, optimize your supply chain, or simply gain new perspectives, this session is for you! Don’t miss out—register now and secure your spot: https://gscc.events/amadk #GSCC #APAC #ChainNET #AMA #OnlineEvent #SupplyChain #Procurement #India #China #Vietnam #Sustainability #NoCommute #NoTravel #NoWaste

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𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻! 🚨 On 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵, we’re kicking off our new AMA (Ask Me Anything) series with none other than 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶n, Global Supply Chain Director at Procon Pacific! 🌍 This is a unique opportunity to gain direct insights from a seasoned industry leader who will be discussing: - Procurement in India: From team setup to quality control, logistics, pricing, and more. - Vendor Relations: Effective strategies for identification, qualification, and management. - Comparative Analysis: How India stacks up against China and Vietnam in procurement. 🗓 Date: September 25, 2024 ⏰ Time: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (GMT+8) 💻 Format: Live Online Session via Chain.NET Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge in procurement, optimize your supply chain, or simply gain new perspectives, this session is for you! Don’t miss out—register now and secure your spot: https://gscc.events/amadk #GSCC #APAC #ChainNET #AMA #OnlineEvent #SupplyChain #Procurement #India #China #Vietnam #Sustainability #NoCommute #NoTravel #NoWaste

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