Regulatory changes, improvement in transportation infrastructure and enhanced collaborations with other countries make India an exciting logistics opportunity, asserts Grégory Goba Blé, Director, MOVIN Express and Head of UPS in India. Overtly bullish about the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, he tells INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY’s Manish Pant in this exclusive interview that cross-border trades would continue, notwithstanding the ongoing geopolitical realignments. Edited excerpts.MOVIN is recognised as India’s  fastest-growing logistics services provider. What are the key elements of your growth strategy?MOVIN, a joint venture between UPS and InterGlobe, began business three years ago with the vision of helping India develop infrastructure and become a global leader. Our strategy focuses on technology, service excellence, and people. We leverage government initiatives to increase digitalisation and ease of doing business, guarantee reliable and time-definite deliveries with a money-back guarantee, and have a dedicated learning and development team to train and certify our partners. Both UPS and MOVIN operate with clockwork precision, especially in sectors like healthcare.On a lighter note, in your over-three-decade career with UPS, you started as a legionnaire and are now a general. That’s an evolution as well!Yes, exactly! It’s indeed a personal evolution. MOVIN’s DNA embodies reliability and perfection. Transparency is key, both within the company and with customers. We prioritise reality, ensuring transparency in our services and commitments. We leverage technology to provide real-time updates on shipments. Trust is another critical element; we view our relationships with customers as partnerships, knowing that the fast-moving Indian business ecosystem requires agility and flexibility. Our approach is to offer current solutions while being open to special requirements and new operating plans. We aim for excellence and understand the importance of evolving with the market, especially in critical sectors.What makes you optimistic about the opportunities in India’s logistics sector?I have been actively engaged with this great country for the last five years. I witness India’s growth daily through my experiences. The evolution in market movement is remarkable, with many startups emerging. I spend a lot of time in the field with my team at MOVIN and with customers, observing this growth firsthand. This makes me hopeful. Additionally, significant regulatory changes like GST and demonetisation signal that the country has a strategy and vision. These changes, coupled with infrastructure improvements and government targets, have created a conducive environment for growth. In a recent address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined impressive regulatory changes and a vision. The government’s regular communication with us fosters a great relationship. India is aligning itself for growth, and the trust from other countries further supports this. The growth is already happening, as is evident in our volumes and customer interactions. I’m excited about the future because I see a strong, well-managed ecosystem driving this growth. Overall, I’m pleased with the opportunities in India’s logistics sector.The logistics business requires stakeholders to take a long-term view. Therefore, which sectors do you see as the key growth drivers in the medium and long-term?We are focusing on the premium side, which we believe is our area of expertise. Specific verticals include healthcare, which is a priority for MOVIN and UPS globally due to our integrated network and reliability. India’s significant production of drugs and vaccines makes healthcare a crucial sector for us. We recently opened a cross-docking facility for healthcare in Hyderabad. Another critical sector is aerospace, given the growing passenger requirements and the need for reliability, speed, and transparency. The automotive sector is booming, particularly with the rising demand for new vehicles and EVs (electric vehicles). Retail, especially the premium segment, is another area we are targeting, with an increasing demand for fast delivery of  premium products. Although MOVIN does  not engage in quick commerce, we observe  its impact, such as services like Blinkit. We focus on meeting the speed requirements of premium customers who value reliability. We primarily concentrate on the B2B segment, believing we can make a significant difference there. By remaining focused on delivering what matters to our customers, we aim to excel in our chosen areas and contribute to India’s logistics sector growth.Also, when you launched in 2022, one couldn’t help but notice that the name MOVIN and its branding seemed to signify a high-end lifestyle brand rather than a B2B parcel service.Yes! There has been a lot of research on this. MOVIN is about movement, speed, agility, and supporting India’s growth. Our branding reflects these values. The colours are related to our parent companies, UPS and InterGlobe, showing respect for them. We recognised that some logistics companies were dated, adhering to old methods, while India needed change and evolution. MOVIN embodies this spirit of progress. Our LinkedIn page showcases our commitment to providing movement to Indian businesses. We are excited about this growth and aim to bring something new to the market while respecting competition and the ecosystem. With experience in diverse global markets, I can attest that India is unique and full of energy. This motivates us to aspire for progress, backed by a supportive population. I miss this energy whenever I return to France. We don’t want to offer what is already available. As a company operating in over 200 countries, UPS brings global expertise and adaptability to India’s dynamic market. This market is unique in a good way, and we are excited to contribute to its growth and evolution.MOVIN is also creating one of the biggest technology stacks in Indian logistics. Tell us something about that initiative.UPS has spent more than $1 billion on technology improvements over the last decade. It recognised early on that technology is essential for excellence, and this has been true for us. It's not just about educating our people but also integrating advanced technology. For MOVIN, we aimed to develop a technology stack that brings reliability and transparency. Often, there’s a lack of visibility in domestic shipping – you don’t know when the package will arrive or what’s happening with it. So, from day one, we focused on providing as much transparency as possible, good or bad, but at least it’s clear. We implemented a write-free solution for shipping documentation, reducing manual errors and risks. This digitalised system allows seamless integration of billing and shipping processes. We also focus on educating our customers, especially in tier-2 and -3 cities, to facilitate digitalisation. Our approach is to make logistics as easy and reliable as possible, allowing young entrepreneurs to focus on their businesses. Our tools, like API (application programming interface) and OCR (optical character recognition), scan invoices and create shipping labels automatically. We continually upgrade our systems, ensuring our technology evolves and adapts to our customers’ needs. This commitment to leveraging technology positions MOVIN to lead in the Indian logistics sector.How well is the National Logistics Policy (NLP) of 2022 delivering on its stated goals of improving logistics services, digitalisation, human resource development, and process reform?The NLP aims to improve efficiency across the logistics sector through various approaches. Reducing logistics costs is crucial, and efficiency will help achieve this. Throughout my career at UPS, I have seen how technology and skilled personnel are essential for cost reduction. The NLP emphasises technology and human resource development. Enhancing the skills of logistics workers leads to greater efficiency and reliability, which in turn lowers costs. Inconsistencies in logistics operations create defects and additional costs, so addressing these issues is vital. Paperless processes also play a significant role in cost reduction by minimising manual intervention and errors. The NLP encapsulates these elements, making it a promising direction for the industry. At MOVIN, our goal is to support the NLP’s objectives by reducing the cost per package through improved processes and technology. Collaboration between the government, companies like ours, and competitors will further reduce logistics costs in India.Does that mean the cost of moving goods has started declining?Definitely! The government is pushing initiatives that are aiding this decline. New companies and startups in India are also contributing significantly by challenging the status quo and demanding efficiency. They push us to find innovative solutions to reduce logistics costs. Startups need cash flow and prefer low logistics costs to invest more in marketing and other areas. Over the past five years, I’ve observed a noticeable evolution in this sector. However, there is still more work to be done. Infrastructure improvements, such as better roads and railways, are crucial for further cost reduction. These infrastructure initiatives, driven by the government, are making a significant impact. The NLP is a testament to the government’s commitment to this cause. Though we are not fully there yet, the dynamic is positive, and the progress is evident. With continued efforts and collaboration between the government and industry players, we can expect further reductions in logistics costs.How are emerging technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) transforming the logistics business, or is this just another upgrade?That’s a good one! AI is now essential for the logistics business. UPS and MOVIN are heavily investing in AI as part of our technology advancements. We are already leveraging AI and see it as a crucial aspect of our future technology development. AI brings additional value, but it must be combined with the skills of our people. Technology is fantastic, but it’s useless if you don’t know how to use it. We focus on both technology and skill development. Our learning and development team uses AI to help our people improve their skills. AI is also used for customer benefits, creating a seamless experience. AI is integral to our ecosystem, and we will continue to develop and incorporate it into our tools and solutions.How do you see the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) boosting India’s position in the global supply chains?I’m excited about IMEC because it aligns with my UPS experience in providing global coverage. India’s diplomatic approach is impressive, focusing on collaboration and respect. PM Modi’s recent visits to France and the US highlight this strategy. The agreements between India, the Middle East, Europe, and the US present fantastic opportunities for free trade, which we advocate at UPS and MOVIN. This diplomatic approach will help companies like ours support customers and participate in global supply chains. The large Indian diaspora worldwide also creates demand where we can add value. Facilitating trade by removing barriers is crucial for the logistics industry’s development globally and in India. Despite current protectionist trends, I believe that promoting free trade is the right approach to support the logistics sector's growth.Will the ongoing realignment of global supply chains and growing calls for protectionism in various countries have an impact on the global logistics sector and India?The ongoing realignment of global supply chains and growing calls for protectionism are geopolitical issues. I always look at the long-term, as short-term changes can lead to frequent strategy shifts. There is a noticeable shift in observing trends and long-term decisions, including reshoring production from China to places like Mexico and India. Companies like Apple are moving production to India, positioning it diplomatically and in trade. Despite protectionist tendencies, trade has always been a constant. The world has always traded and will continue to trade. If there are some pockets of issues here and there, we will find ways to keep trading because that’s what human beings do. India’s positive decisions and diplomatic efforts will attract investment and trade. The growth I see in my companies confirms this. Facilitating trade and reducing barriers is crucial for the logistics industry's development globally and in India.MOVIN Express: Quick DeliveriesLaunch: May 26, 2022, as a joint venture between UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises.Rapid Expansion: Within seven months of its launch, the company expanded its presence to 35 cities, covering over 3,000 pin codes.Air and Ground Hubs: Established 16 strategically located air and ground hubs across major commercial centres like Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi NCR.Customer Base: Serving over 2,500 customers through seamless logistics solutions.Sustainability Initiatives: Deploys over 20 EVs for first and last-mile deliveries in major metros, reducing 17 tons of CO2 emissions annually.Facility Space: MOVIN now operates with a total facility space of nearly 300,000 sq. ft., enabling efficient handling and distribution of goods.Integration with UPS: Has synergistic joint facilities with UPS in Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata, enhancing their operational capabilities.Technology Commitment: Invested significantly in developing a robust technology stack to support its logistics operations.Service Focus: Guarantees reliable, time-definite deliveries with a money-back guarantee if commitments are not met.Employee Growth: Grown its workforce to nearly 500 people across its offices and hubs in India.Source: Company, IT Research