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years, but not immediately,” says Pavan a 3PL perspective. However, with the
Kumar, Director Business Development, growth in export demand for generic
Softbox Systems. medicine we are seeing some traction
TechEagle, a Gurugram based in quality warehouses domestically
DeepTech start-up drone recently also. Many pharma companies are
partnered with the government evolving and focusing on upgradation
of Meghalaya to carry out India’s to the quality infrastructure and access
first hybrid e-VTOL Drone delivery to quality assurance services. Currently
of lifesaving medicines. It also got the infrastructure space is mainly price
official approvals to deliver vaccines driven and lacks the desired quality
and medicines supply in the state of standards. The New Year may bring
Telangana using drones in collaboration new beginnings for them to shift base
with the government of Telangana, NITI to modern warehouses which offers
Aayog and the World Economic Forum. greater flexibility, efficient handling
“We also need to think about the The issue I foresee is and optimisation of vertical space etc,”
shelf life of a drone and the shelf life more drones in the says Sanjay Sharma, vice president,
of an EV and then calculated the risk. air, more accidents Coldman Logistics.
Apart from implementation, recycling of and more danger to Coldman has observed a demand for
the drone needs to be put into place,” human lives change in warehousing requirements
adds George. and a trend in micro delivery. Thus
The year 2022 began with a high Arnold George in this year they will be focusing on
number of Omicron cases in India, TPC Packaging BTS project customizing to client
bringing in new challenges for the requirements and temperature
pharma industry with on-time delivery requirements.
of medicines and vaccines. Kumar says, “Since the last two
Talking about everyday logistics years the pharma logistics industry
challenges, transparency and visibility has faced difficulty, especially the cold
in the supply chain has been the talk of chain logistics, because the air freight
the town. Supply chains have witnessed rates significantly have gone up. So, in
an unprecedented disruption all around this year, if things become normal, I am
the world. In fact, this represents one optimistic that the air freight and sea
of the major challenges facing the freight challenges that we are facing will
pharmaceutical industry. get resolved by the mid of 2022.”
“Being a one stop solution, that's the Innovation in the logistics sector is
need of the hour. In the domestic market what the market leaders are looking
I think, there is not much knowledge. If out for. The manufacturers, producers,
you go to a pharmaceutical drug store, distributors, forwarders are anticipating
do you know what temperature your If things drastically to come level-headed and work towards
medicine is being delivered to you? Do change, if the human a better supply chain management and
you have any visibility on that? No right. tangibility and the smooth logistics.
So, education is the most important “There are three areas where I see
thing that the domestic market perceptions change, positive signs. One is the growth of the
requires,” George says. probably then we will warehousing sector in India. The second,
“In Singapore, Europe and in the US have to bring up drones the growth in the logistic companies and
as well, right after manufacturing till and robots in place the emphasis on temperature control.
delivery, there is this visibility on what There's been a constant growth of at
temperature the product is maintained, Pawan Kumar HS least 15 percent in reefer vehicles in
right from the start till the end, till the Softbox Systems India. So that's a very positive sign as
time it is at the drugstore, the patient can well. And number three, the traditional
just scan the QR code and he can know expected to bring in modernization and use of packaging domestically first, I
what temperature is maintained right improvements. Here is what the industry think even today, 80 to 90 percent of
after manufacturing. That's the kind of players think about the market in 2022. the domestic packaging and transfers
visibility available outside but for India to “EXIM (Export and Import) may play happen in thermocol boxes and with four
get to that level, it's going to take some a vital role in the pharma logistics to six ice packs pouches. But people are
kind of education,” George continues. market in view of growing exports from updating. Our business approach is not
India which registered an impressive 18 about selling, but we want to educate the
Optimistic outlook towards 2022 percent growth rate in FY21. This shall client, we tell them that this is what the
In the New Year, pharma logistics is help growth in Air and Sea trade from box is going to do,” George concludes. 

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www.itln.in January - February 2022