Renowned global entrepreneur and industrialist Captain G R Gopinath has plans to capitalise on increasing demand for logistics services in India with his latest Deccan 360.
Bhanu Prakash Eradettin
vyomkesh83@gmail.com
vyomkesh83@gmail.com
With the successful record in the aviation industry (Deccan Aviation), what prompted your decision to venture into logistics with Deccan 360?
I have experienced the restrictive nature of supply and chain operations in the country, which can be a massive struggle in the future to come. For example, during my time as the head of Air Deccan, we grounded an Airbus A320 for over a week in Assam, because logistics companies in India lacked the capabilities to transport our aircraft parts on time.
I have experienced the restrictive nature of supply and chain operations in the country, which can be a massive struggle in the future to come. For example, during my time as the head of Air Deccan, we grounded an Airbus A320 for over a week in Assam, because logistics companies in India lacked the capabilities to transport our aircraft parts on time.
Needless to say, this led to huge financial loss and massive inconvenience to customers. There is clearly a significant gap in our logistics market that needs to be plugged, which convinced me to launch Deccan 360 globally.
Were you concerned about launching a company during a global recession?
A lot of the Fortune 500 companies have launched during a recession, such as FedEx, Microsoft and Google. Considering the growth in India, with a trillion dollar GDP, logistics is still underserved and the potential is huge.
Were you concerned about launching a company during a global recession?
A lot of the Fortune 500 companies have launched during a recession, such as FedEx, Microsoft and Google. Considering the growth in India, with a trillion dollar GDP, logistics is still underserved and the potential is huge.
Our country is already a product and outsourcing destination, but manufacturing activities are increasing and sectors such as banking, insurance, telecom and retail are also opening. This will boost demand for logistics services and at the moment, foreign carriers are bringing cargo from outside the country, but cannot operate within India. This is the market we are looking to capture with Deccan 360.
What type of services will be provided to customers?
Initially Deccan 360 will focus on international cargo, with transport solutions for dangerous goods, general cargo, perishables, valuable goods, and heavy or outsized items.
Initially Deccan 360 will focus on international cargo, with transport solutions for dangerous goods, general cargo, perishables, valuable goods, and heavy or outsized items.
What targets have you established for these transportation services?
In the short-term, we want to deliver cargo within a day across 85% of India’s GDP, which will create unprecedented access and growth opportunities for Indian industries, entrepreneurs and agriculture. We also plan to explore the cargo charter segment in India and other international markets.
In the short-term, we want to deliver cargo within a day across 85% of India’s GDP, which will create unprecedented access and growth opportunities for Indian industries, entrepreneurs and agriculture. We also plan to explore the cargo charter segment in India and other international markets.
Does the express logistics sector appeal to Deccan 360?
Yes, we will launch our express operations in a few months, with a focus on providing customers a single solution for their shipment handling and delivery requirements. This will include a first class service for urgent deliveries, which will be transported by airfreight. Then, we will ship parcels that need to reach the destination in two or three days, and for large shipments, we will deliver it cost effectively via surface mode. The solutions will essentially be customised to meet the varied logistics needs of verticals such as electronics, automobiles, textile, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
Yes, we will launch our express operations in a few months, with a focus on providing customers a single solution for their shipment handling and delivery requirements. This will include a first class service for urgent deliveries, which will be transported by airfreight. Then, we will ship parcels that need to reach the destination in two or three days, and for large shipments, we will deliver it cost effectively via surface mode. The solutions will essentially be customised to meet the varied logistics needs of verticals such as electronics, automobiles, textile, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
What infrastructure do you have in place to achieve these targets?
An express cargo facility will be established in Nagpur which is spread over 100 acres. In addition, we have partnered with GMR Group to open facilities at Delhi and Hyderabad airports. This will support the central hub in Nagpur and form a multimodal storage, transport and delivery network.
Are you planning a dedicated aircraft fleet to support the operations?
We are deploying three Airbus A310 freighter aircraft with a capacity of 35 tonnes each, as well as six ATR aircraft, which will together match the current capacity in the Indian market. The first A310 is already in operation and another two will be delivered next month. We have decided to select larger aircraft because of the lower cost of operation.
An express cargo facility will be established in Nagpur which is spread over 100 acres. In addition, we have partnered with GMR Group to open facilities at Delhi and Hyderabad airports. This will support the central hub in Nagpur and form a multimodal storage, transport and delivery network.
Are you planning a dedicated aircraft fleet to support the operations?
We are deploying three Airbus A310 freighter aircraft with a capacity of 35 tonnes each, as well as six ATR aircraft, which will together match the current capacity in the Indian market. The first A310 is already in operation and another two will be delivered next month. We have decided to select larger aircraft because of the lower cost of operation.
Will the Middle East play a role in Deccan 360’s operations?
The trade route between India and Dubai is one of the busiest in the world. In addition to the traditional export and re-export trade, there has been a sharp increase in the export of industrial goods, handicrafts and agricultural products from India, which represents a great window of opportunity. Consequently, the India-Dubai trade route is critical to our business strategy and we’re geared to capture a sizeable share of the cargo market between the two regions.
The trade route between India and Dubai is one of the busiest in the world. In addition to the traditional export and re-export trade, there has been a sharp increase in the export of industrial goods, handicrafts and agricultural products from India, which represents a great window of opportunity. Consequently, the India-Dubai trade route is critical to our business strategy and we’re geared to capture a sizeable share of the cargo market between the two regions.
What will differentiate Deccan 360 from its competitors on this route?
We are the first Indian freighter to launch international operations and also the first to induct a wide body Airbus A310 freighter. We are going to deploy about 120 tonnes of cargo capacity in the first phase, which is equivalent to the entire capacity of all freighters put together in this country.
We are the first Indian freighter to launch international operations and also the first to induct a wide body Airbus A310 freighter. We are going to deploy about 120 tonnes of cargo capacity in the first phase, which is equivalent to the entire capacity of all freighters put together in this country.
In general, what are your views on the Middle East logistics industry?
In the past decades, the Middle East has become the centre of exciting global and regional opportunities in terms of transport and logistics. Given the phenomenal growth of trade, in particular within Asia, opportunities will continue to be provided in the region, thanks to its favourable location and excellent infrastructure.
In the past decades, the Middle East has become the centre of exciting global and regional opportunities in terms of transport and logistics. Given the phenomenal growth of trade, in particular within Asia, opportunities will continue to be provided in the region, thanks to its favourable location and excellent infrastructure.
No comments:
Post a Comment