Catering innovative solutions to multiple domains across various global industry verticals, one-stop shop for the all the logistics requirements; Uniworld Logistics is one of the leading logistics company. Established in 2002, by M. Prem Kumar, Founder and Chairman; its mission is to “provide cutting-edge logistic solutions to its customers by building consistency, fortifying relationships, nurturing creativity and value learning”. To get more details about its services and uniqueness which this company offers we bring you an exclusive interview with Felicia Prem, Head of Marketing.
1) Kindly brief us about your company.
Uniworld Logistics is one of the largest Freight and Supply Chain solution providers in Asia. We have 31 offices spread across Asia primarily located in India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The company has a strong network of around 500 partner offices across the globe. Uniworld Logistics operates 7 integrated logistics facilities at Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Tuticorin, and Singapore, covering over 500,000 sq. ft. of warehousing area, gradually marching towards 1 million sq. ft. We are quality compliant with ISO 9001:2015, AEO certified for Customs Brokerage, Freight Forwarding, and Logistics, GDP certified for Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare and Veterinary products and FSSAI Licensed.
2) Brief us about the Founder and his contribution towards the upliftment of the company. What was the source of inspiration for your company to be a pioneer in the Transport and Logistic Service Providers segment?
Our Founder and Chairman, M Prem Kumar started his career with ISRO. Later on, he moved into the field of Freight Forwarding and Logistics and has over 35 years of overall experience. He is well known for his sharp business acumen, the knack for numbers and his eye for attention to detail. He is a hands-on leader and promotes leading by example. M Prem Kumar came with no background in Freight Forwarding and Logistics but was always hungry for success and to create his own space, which would be the talk of the town. He always admired Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam who once said, “Dreams float on an impatient wind. A wind that wants to create a new order. An order of strength and thundering of fire.”
Such has been his desire to stand out and excel when everyone was looking at the west, especially USA and UK in the early 2000s, he decided to look east. He ended up developing China on a growth margin of as high as 35% every year for a few years, marking Uniworld Logistics as one of the few multi-million dollar Indian logistics companies in China. His inspiration has always been his desire to passionately grow from one milestone to another and mark Uniworld Logistics on the world map as a major player in the industry.
3) What are the distinct products and services provided by your company, setting you apart from your competitors?
There is a need in today’s world for tailor-made solutions, which has become central to logistics strategy. We at Uniworld Logistics, provide a one-stop end-to-end customized solution for our customers.
The services which are offered by us are Route optimization, Asset planning, Control tower facilitation, cross-docking, temporary storage, permanent storage, packaging, JIT, cold storage, temperature controlled trucks and our expertise also lies in moving heavy and complex products.
We create value for customers and sustainable advantages for them by offering varieties of tangible services in distinct ways, taking into consideration the consumers value convenience, reliability, and support.
We share an implicit and complex relationship with our customers, which make us unique.
4) What are the key attributes that helped your company to overcome the challenges?
Strategies and tactics change but the mission can serve as a driving force behind what you are trying to accomplish. For our company, everything we do, from a freight forwarding perspective to warehousing to our transport strategies, is oriented around our mission. Our mission serves to cement long-term objectives. In our case, we are attempting to improve the overall quality of talent by providing high-quality training that fosters intellectual and personal development. We are focused on our mission which prevents us from the risk of chasing every opportunity that comes our way. We are working towards building a cohesive, unified, and meaningful series of products and services.
5) What is the current scenario of Transport and Logistic Service Providers industry, from your point of view?
Despite weak economic conditions, the transport and logistics industry is evolving and growing rapidly. With the implementation of GST, the logistics companies, which are were forced to set up many small warehouses across multiple cities can set up just a few big warehouses region-wise and can follow the hub-and-spoke model for freight movement from the warehouses to the different manufacturing plants, wholesale outlets, retail outlets and the various point of sale. The boom of e-commerce in India has undoubtedly resulted in an increase in demand for warehouse space and transport opportunities. Logistics is regarded as the backbone of the economy as it ensures efficient and cost-effective flow of goods and other commercial sectors depend on it. With the promise of improvement and continuous growth, the logistics industry is ready to expand beyond the horizons.
6) With the massive advancements in the Transport and Logistics industry, what are the opportunities and challenges evolving with it?
One of the biggest challenges is the continuous increase in fuel prices, which thereby increases the cost of logistic substantially.
The ratio of driver to truck availability is declining by the day which is leading to higher demand than supply.
Also, the ease of e-bill implementation along with reduced premium of third-party insurance for heavy vehicles should be addressed to ensure justification across all the classes.
7) What are the benefits gained by your clients while doing business with you?
The biggest advantage for our customers is to get tailor-made end-to-end solutions all under one roof. They have benefits of using a shared facility and assets, thereby decreasing their overall spend. Web access helps them to keep a track of their cargo. Use of automation helps them decrease the time taken and reduces human error. As a company grows and ships more freight, we at Uniworld can easily execute this due to the availability of resources such as trucks, cross dock space, automation etc. We constantly provide data for our customers allowing the shipper to make strategic decisions to better drive down their costs. Due to availability of assets, the customer is able to successfully procure transportation with less delay. This makes the warehouse and overall operations more efficient. With a more efficient transportation system, customers in Uniworld are reducing the costs incurred in storing inventory by using models such as JIT.
8) What is the role of your employees behind your company’s success? How do you keep them motivated?
The success of Uniworld Logistics has always been directly relational to the performance of all its employees. They have provided the resourcefulness, inspiration, ideas, and enthusiasm for the success of the company. We have always identified performance and rewarded them well from time to time. We engage our employees not only with rewards but also through CSR activities, team building exercises, regular huddles and in-house training. Recreational activities are also an integral part of employee motivation in the company. We constantly work towards making the office a happy space where employees can benefit from a positive work environment. We encourage ownership of tasks and let employees be their own bosses to create a sustainable culture.
9) What would be your advice for the budding startups and entrepreneurs in the industry?
Answered by Mr. Prem Kumar
Develop a passion towards whatever you do. It is the fuel to your destiny and the driving factor magnifying your abilities. As Nelson Mandela said, “There is no passion to be found playing small; in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Be innovative. Change is constant, keep your ideas close to your heart for what probably doesn’t make sense today, might create great value in the future. Breakthroughs are always brought on by inventing new ways to solve problems or creating solutions to disrupt a current trend.
Always dream big. Like they say, the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Always move forward and achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Leave no stone unturned.
Lastly, work hard as if there is no tomorrow. The rest will take care of itself.
10) Brief us about your company’s future perspectives.
Uniworld is into new-age business solutions and wants to venture into a technologically sound future. The company is currently studying Blockchain and its feasibility of application in the near future. Uniworld relies a lot on data analysis for improving sales, operational efficiencies, and customer experiences. We are in the process of making our gradual move towards Big Data, to organize the treasure of data for better use. The company wants to further expand its horizons overseas and build stronger business ties based on current geopolitical scenarios.
Uniworld Logistics also aims at bringing a top of the line warehousing solutions to India, integrating augmented reality, machine learning with human expertise to complement the upcoming future demands in terms of technological advancement.
Uniworld Logistics: Offering All-inclusive Customized Logistics Solutions
