CARGOCONNECT-AUGUST 2025 - Flipbook - Page 48
FEATURE : MORE THAN MILES
of this transformation, applying AI-based route optimisation,
Electric Vehicle (EV) fleet management, and sensor-driven
tracking tools. These technologies are making sustainability a
performance enhancer, not a trade-o昀昀.
He emphasises that such innovations are yielding multilayered bene昀椀ts—reducing carbon footprints while simultaneously
bolstering supply chain transparency and resilience. “These innovations aren’t just reducing emissions;
they’re driving systemic change by
creating transparent, resilient, and
logistics frameworks
Investment surge in India’s future-ready
that address both ecological responsigreen logistics—covering AI, bilities and market competitiveness,”
electric mobility, and reuse Tripathi points out. Apparently, as
push to decarbonise intensi昀椀es,
yards—enables start-ups to the
start-ups are stepping in as powerful
scale impactful solutions. change-makers, reinventing freight
Government programs and logistics from the ground up.
o昀昀ers a complementary
venture capital are crucial in viewGupta
that zooms in on how start-ups
building physical and digital are leveraging technology not to
infrastructure, supporting replace, but to recon昀椀gure existing
operations. “Start-ups are
India’s goal of reducing logistics
uniquely positioned to reimagine
emissions and enhancing legacy problems without the burden
efficiency by 2030. of legacy systems,” he says. In India’s
logistics sector, where ine昀케ciencies
such as empty container repositioning and underutilised return legs are
deeply entrenched, such a mind-set is proving transformative.
According to Gupta, these start-ups are not reliant on high
capital-intensive models. Instead, they “layer technology over
existing infrastructure to extract value,” using software-driven
insights to drive better utilisation and lower emissions.
Gupta also points out the ecosystem-level flexibility that
start-ups bring to the table. By collaborating dynamically with
shipping lines, transporters, and regulatory bodies, they are
building integrated solutions that deliver both cost savings and
environmental bene昀椀ts. “They also bring agility in working with
shipping lines, transporters, and regulators, creating integrated
48 | CARGOCONNECT AUGUST 2025
ecosystems that improve cost-e昀케ciency and sustainability
at once,” he notes. Crucially, Gupta argues, start-ups’
ability to generate granular, real-time data on logistics
昀氀ows and emissions ensures that sustainability isn’t
just aspirational—it’s trackable and scalable. “Most
importantly, they can generate real-time, data-backed
insights that make sustainable logistics measurable
and replicable at scale.”
All in all, the result is an innovation landscape in which
Indian start-ups are not competing on green credentials
alone but are setting new performance benchmarks across
e昀케ciency, accountability, and system-wide resilience.
Their ability to adapt quickly, work across stakeholder
boundaries, and deploy technology with precision makes
them not just participants, but catalysts in India’s journey
toward a cleaner, smarter logistics future.
BACKING THE BREAKTHROUGHS:
EMPOWERING START-UPS TO
LEAD THE CARBON REVOLUTION
The role of start-ups in enabling a carbon-conscious
future has become increasingly evident particularly as
the logistics industry undergoes a transformative shift
toward lower emissions and greater e昀케ciency. However,
their ability to scale impact and innovate meaningfully
hinges on targeted 昀椀nancial backing and ecosystem-level
support. Funding, in this context, is not just capital—it’s
the backbone of a broader transformation that empowers
start-ups to address complex sustainability challenges
and scale their solutions to industry-wide relevance.
Shetty highlights how strategic funding acts as a
catalyst for innovation and resilience in sustainabilityfocused logistics start-ups. “Access to strategic funding
allows start-ups to accelerate innovation, scale operations,
and invest in impactful technologies,” she notes. These
investments aren’t con昀椀ned to digital tools alone; they
extend to clean energy infrastructure, AI-led platforms
for emissions management, and geographic expansion
