To enhance efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve end-to-end transparency of business operations, the Union government launched ULIP in 2022, as an integral part of the National Logistics Policy, with an objective to promote ease of doing business and logistics efficacy.
CT Bureau
Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), the digital breakthrough, was formed with an objective of breaking individual silos, promote integration among various ministries/departments and create a single window thus bringing efficiency and transparency in the trade.
In the past few months, ULIP has received tremendous response not only from private industry stakeholders but also from the government departments, associations, and entities. Many industry players have adopted and integrated ULIP for the vast number of benefits it offers. More than 80 companies have signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to access data from the ULIP. The ULIP enables the industry players secure access to related information to logistics and resources available with various ministries. At present, 33 systems from seven ministries are integrated through over 106 APIs, covering 1,600 data fields for usage by the stakeholders. Within eight months of its launch on 17 September 2022, the ULIP portal, Goulip.in, has received registration from 500 industry players with willingness to access data through the platform, of these 81 entities have already signed NDAs and taking the benefits of ULIP. Nearly seven crore API transactions have taken place so far over ULIP gateway by the industry players.
ULIP provides direct and indirect benefits to the stakeholders such as enabling verification of drivers and details of vehicles in a single click, tracking and tracing of consignment, route optimization planning, timely update on destination of consignment, decreasing paper works, empty carrier and container visibility, inventory management, among others. By reducing regulatory, documentary, and other delays, ULIP enables structured planning by helping in decision-making of optimum use of modes of logistics, thereby saving cost and time.
The digital platform has emerged as a gateway for the logistics ecosystem to access data available with various government systems for track/trace, authentication, document digitization, process automation, and discovery services.
Benefits
- ULIP has been designed as an independent virtual gateway without impacting or interfering with the regulatory and operational procedure of any concerned ministry. All modes of logistics, be it sea, air, road, rail, and waterways, are covered under ULIP, irrespective of type of cargo. So, data exchange for logistics is feasible.
- In ULIP, data is exchanged through APIs on request-response based manner, which makes onboarding of a new system faster and simpler. ULIP uses open standards, licences, and APIs, and promote interoperability.
- There is dedicated interface available for trade and industry players for fetching the relevant data based on a rule-driven mechanism. ULIP ensures data security and data confidentiality, while exchanging data in a secured manner. Any personally identifiable information automatically will be filtered through rule driven Personally Identifiable Information (PII) engine.
- ULIP has been developed as per the National Open Data Ecosystem (NODE) guidelines of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which ensures data-driven efficient and agile government operations to serve the needs of citizens and stakeholders. ULIP adopts open and inclusive processes/SOPs focusing on accessibility, transparency, and accountability for promoting digital inclusion, overcoming digital divides, and encouraging cross-sectoral and inter-governmental coordination and collaboration.
ULIP has a dedicated portal that makes the process of data request simpler, faster, and transparent. The portal can be accessed through ‘https://goulip.in/.’ A dedicated support team is working 24×7 to provide support to the industry players for registration on the portal. After the registration, users need to submit their use-cases, which will then be reviewed based on the proposed usage of the requested data. Maruti Suzuki, DHL, Safexpress, Ultratech, TCIL, Jindal Stainless, Tata Steel, Yes Bank, BOSCH, Total Group, MapMyIndia, CargoExchange, Freight Fox, Conmove, Intugine Technologies, Eikonatech, Superprocure, CargoShakti, Prism Johnson, TreZix Software, Shiprocket and AITWA have signed NDAs to access data on ULIP.
Vision & mission
Apart from ULIP, NICDC Logistics Data Services (NLDS) offers efficient Logistics Data Bank (LDB) service, aiming to provide easy-access single window visibility solution to streamline container logistics operations leveraging RFID systems. With successful implementation at key ports, ICDs, CFS’, toll plazas across India, LDB has not only been able to improve the dwell time, but also reduce logistics cost. LDB provides detailed analysis of dwell time, average delivery time, efficiency of different port operators, CFSs/ICDs and toll plazas, help identify bottlenecks across the supply chain.
At present, LDB covers 17 ports (27 terminals), over 90 toll plazas, more than 350 CFSs, ICDs Empty Yards and Parking Plazas, 37 Special Economic Zones, and 3 Integrated Border Check-Posts.
The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) created by the World Bank (WB) to rank the member countries based on the performance of their logistics sector has recognized LDB as a contributing factor in improving India’s rank from 44 in 2018 to 38 in 2023.
Anup Agarwal, Co-founder, SuperProcure
Since the launch of ULIP, SuperProcure has integrated ULIP-powered functionalities such as Vahan, Sarathi, FASTag, and FOIS with its existing transport management software. ULIP’s Vahan and Sarathi APIs have helped automate the vehicle and driver document verification processes, reducing theft risk and improving TAT at the loading points.
The advance intimations also help fleet owners to keep documents up to date and minimize the risk of non-compliance or vehicle rejection. Access to FASTag toll data and FOIS rail data is a non-intrusive way of real-time tracking material movements, creating better in-transit visibility for all stakeholders.
Leveraging ULIP APIs impacted ROI with a 95 per cent drop in vehicle/driver verification time, fraud prevention with verification, and vehicle direction. Cent per cent automated and accurate vehicle tracking with FASTag API and rail tracking with FOIS helps advance intimation to unloading points. Such integration aids in planning, reduced damages at unloading, and improved asset utilization for fleet owners.
Until today, ULIP integrations have enabled many manufacturing and construction enterprises via SuperProcure TMS to track four lakh shipments using FASTag,
verify 80,000 vehicles using Vahan, and validate several driving licenses using Sarathi.
Saahil Goel, Co-founder, and CEO, Shiprocket
For the sellers, ULIP provides an opportunity to streamline their operations and offer a better experience to the customers. One of the key benefits is increased transparency and visibility into shipments.
The platform’s APIs allow sellers to track their shipments in real-time, enabling them to plan their operations efficiently. Knowing where their shipment is and how long it will take to reach the destination, would allow sellers to communicate better with their customers. An improved customer experience enables sellers to build a community of loyal consumers.
Another benefit is automation. The platform helps automate many of the manual processes involved in logistics. Delivering on providing transparency and visibility into shipments, ULIP has a dedicated portal enabling the process of data request to be simpler, and faster. For example, it enables logistics providers to access shipment data in real-time, thereby addressing issues arising during transit.
Haresh Calcuttawala, CEO & Co-founder, TreZix Software
TreZix has integrated with the Union government’s ULIP to bring all modes of transportation under a single window to connect with its stakeholders. With this integration, TreZix can provide real-time visibility to its users and help them reduce logistics costs and improve efficiency. This integration has enhanced the overall trade visibility with various stakeholders of TreZix by reducing the cost of operation and ensuring the timely execution of opportunities.
TreZix can work to improve the competitiveness of Indian exporters. In the first phase, there will be five use cases of ULIP integration with TreZix.
The integration with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, DGFT will provide the stakeholders of TreZix with real-time API link to check IEC Code. Integration with the Union Finance Ministry, ICEGATE, importer will have full details on shipment and real-time shipping bill status. Datasets available from Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Union Ministry of Civil Aviation will offer real-time tracking of vessels, containers, and real-time flight cargo information with time of landing, among others.
In the next few months, TreZix envisions applying more cases on its platform with the ULIP integration, such as real-time tracking of Import Data Processing and Monitoring System and Export Data Processing and Monitoring System.
Uddhav Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Lynkit
I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) Team for its success. We have been closely working with the platform for several months now, and it has been an absolute pleasure. I truly appreciate the timely support and resolution that my team obtained, which allowed us to get the solutions in record time. I especially look forward to jointly developing many new use cases and having a long fruitful association.
