Nikhil Agarwal, President, CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd.

With a Master's degree in finance and investment from University of Nottingham, England, Nikhil is an experienced professional with over 17 years of work experience in the industry. As President & Promoter of CJ Darcl, he is committed towards driving logistics emphasizing on innovation and sustainability.

In a recent interaction with M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent at siliconindia, Nikhil shared his insights on how technology, sustainability, and data-driven intelligence are reshaping India’s logistics landscape.

As India aims to achieve net-zero by 2070, it’s critically important to invest in models that help enhance sustainability in operations. The use of digital carbon tracking is growing faster than ever across industry as customers seek practical solutions to be implemented to combat climate change. With the help of carbon tracking and analysis, clients see the precise carbon footprint of road freight versus rail versus coastal shipping, enabling them to opt for sustainable transitions from traditional road only approach.

This data-driven decision-making also brings cost effectiveness into the supply chain in the long run. Companies like CJ Darcl have pioneered this approach by embedding carbon emission data on every invoice for the past two years, enabling our clients to evaluate more than just cost and time, but the environmental impact for each shipment.

With digital carbon tracking and AI-driven logistics, companies can measure not just cost and time, but the true environmental impact of every shipment.

The Next Chapter of Digital-First Logistics

Resilience in logistics is being redefined by artificial intelligence in various aspects from rerouting shipments to inventory management in warehouses. In unforeseen situations, AI-based analytics can dynamically divert shipments in real-time, determining the most dependable and sustainable alternatives between different modes.

With live data on traffic congestion, harsh weather changes, and energy usage, it possesses the ability to predict and alert teams to redirect shipments to more sustainable methods, including rail, inland waterways, and EV fleets. AI-powered route optimization further strengthens this approach by analyzing the real-time status of each shipment to recommend rerouting or mode switches, ensuring delivery commitments are met while significantly reducing environmental impact.

Blockchain has become a key technology to build secure and transparent logistics systems. It provides an auditable, tamper-proof log of all the transactions from first mile to the air freight segment and the last mile delivery while minimizing paperwork and chances of fraud. Indian logistics players are experimenting with blockchain by piloting its different use cases in customs clearance and tracking containers.

Although the use of blockchain in the industry is at its early stages, our company remains ahead in assessing its application as an extension of our overall digital transformation initiative to enhance reliability and trust within logistics operations.

Also Read: Leveraging Sustainability in Logistics with Electric Vehicles, Eco-Friendly Operations, & Emission Reduction Initiatives

The Rise of Predictive Fleet Management

Predictive maintenance powered by AI and machine learning is transforming the way fleet is managed whether it’s owned by the company, third party or government. It has enabled processes to transition from reactive repair to a proactive approach by setting up IoT sensors that monitor the health of engines, temperature, and fuel efficiency in real-time. This proactiveness enables logistics operators to predict failures before they occur and save the time and costs incurred in case of vehicle breakdown.

This cuts down the downtime, wastage of fuel, and supports just-in-time delivery models across air, coastal, road, and rail networks. Beyond vehicle health, IoT sensors also track the environmental conditions of containers based on temperature and humidity levels and share proactive alerts in case of any discrepancy in the set conditions.

Conclusion!

The intersection of human expertise and technological advantages is the perfect combination that possesses the ability to transform how the industry functions. At CJ Darcl, an integrated approach is followed that emphasizes investing in both the workforce and adoption of technology to complement their human capabilities. While Artificial intelligence-based digital platforms, Internet of Things, and cloud computing offer real-time access to the movement of freight, human experience guarantees situational decision-making and flexibility.

This synergy enhances accuracy in planning, serving customers, and partner collaboration. As logistics become increasingly interdependent, it is important to create a balance between both, human expertise and tech to create resilient and sustainable networks.