Lack of skilled workforce and limited technology access leads to inefficiencies in monitoring temperature controls. Regulatory complexities and regional disparities pose hurdles. The event was crucial platform for industry stakeholders to meet and discuss issues affecting temperature-controlled logistics sector.
Ritika Arora Bhola
Cold chain logistics in India faces significant challenges. These include poorly maintained roads, insufficient cold storage facilities, and reefer vehicles among others, which hinder the transportation of perishable and pharma-ceutical products.
The lack of skilled workforce and limited access to technology can lead to inefficiencies in monitoring temperature controls. Regulatory complexities and regional disparities also pose hurdles, complicating compliance and consistency in operations.
Also, high costs associated with maintaining temperature-sensitive supply chains can be prohibitive for smaller players thus impacting overall industry growth, pharma shelf-life, and food security.
To address the same, the logistics industry’s highly-awaited event focused on all aspects of cold chain business—Cold Chain Unbroken (CCUB) 2024 was recently held in Hyderabad of Telangana State.
AVPS Chakravarthi, Managing Director, World Packaging Assn and Sundeep Prakash, IRS, Chief Commissioner, GST & Customs Zone, Hyderabad, attended the event as the Special Guests.
The event served as a crucial platform for the industry stakeholders to meet and discuss issues affecting the temperature-controlled logistics sector. The insightful, comprehensive and informative panel discussions covered a wide range of topics such as cold chain infrastructure, dangerous goods management, airports becoming powerhouses with superior cold storage facilities, technology, and drones improving the last-mile deliveries. The challenges and opportunities in the sector, hazardous materials in cold chain, safety, compliance, and innovation, developing sustainable warehousing for cold chain, tech-driven cold supply chains for better visibility and efficiency, trends in supply chain, advancements in cold chain packaging and unlocking potential in ocean and rail, were also discussed.
The event was graced by the top industry stakeholders from across the globe from different sectors such as—airports, airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, technology experts, container manufacturers, cold chain end-users, and pharmaceutical companies. The professionals not only participated in panel discussions but also got an opportunity to visit the exhibition area wherein top cold chain companies showcased their innovative products. International giant SkyCell also organised a workshop to discuss about their cost-effective and advanced products, offerings, and solutions in the Indian market.
Csafe, the only provider of end-to-end cold chain shipping solutions, including active and passive bulk air cargo, parcel and last mile solutions, also opened its exclusive cold storage facility in Hyderabad near the airport. IT Minister D Sridhar Babu was invited as the Chief Guest for the ceremony. Overall, the event served as a platform that offered cutting-edge solutions, provided great opportunity to collaborate, network and explore potential opportunities.
