Page 30 - ITLN March - April 2022 issue

Special Report
Flower Logistics

Batting for digitalization and Since the last two
efficient processes that have years, different colored
streamlined operations at Bangalore roses have become a
International Airport Limited (BIAL), thing for the Indian
Mappillai avers, "Now a set number market, especially for
of trucks are docked at BIAL, the
shipment is unloaded, held at a wedding markets which
certain temperature and inspection now have the trend of
happens and in under one hour it is having colour themes at
done. Earlier we had to sign multiple weddings
invoices, papers, get multiple copies,
someone has to run and submit it Mammen Mappillai
and if there is some correction, some Indo Bloom Ltd
benefit will get held up. We had to "We put the roses back in the cold
wait for the hard copies to come back room and they remain there till they
after customs signature, whereas now then kept in buckets from the harvest have to be shipped out. Normally we
these invoices come automatically into stage and these buckets have water of pack it, then it goes in a cool truck to
my mailbox and you get the copies of 5 to 7 liters and so only the end of the the airport and from there it goes to
documents within the same day or by cut stems are in kept water. Further, whichever market you are supposed to
the next day. It's all technology at work the roses are kept in the cold room send it by air. Usually, if this whole cold
and it is much better now." within half an hour of harvest and they chain is properly maintained throughout
remain for 5 hrs minimum to cool down its journey, then it should last a week
Journey of the rose and hydrate. After hydration and once after it is sold in those markets. Mostly
Talking about the journey of the the rose has cooled down, they are then when you buy directly from a farm it lasts
rose from the farm to its destination taken out for grading, bunching, sorting longer," he explains.
markets, Mappillai reveals that once and then are divided into exportable Mappillai adds, "We send these
the roses are cut in the farm, they are flowers and non-exportable ones. roses in dry packs to our consignee in

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March - April 2022 www.itln.in