India’s iPhone Engine: Apple’s 45-Company Supply Chain Revealed

Apple has dramatically expanded its supply chain footprint in India, integrating nearly 45 companies as of 2025. This includes large domestic firms, global vendors, and over 20 Indian MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), spanning component manufacturing, subassembly, and equipment supply.

Key Indian Companies in Apple’s Supply Chain

Company Name	Role / Contribution
Tata Electronics	iPhone assembly, precision components
Bharat Forge	Machinery and tooling for electronics
Hindalco	Aluminum casings and materials
Titan Engineering & Automation Ltd	Manufacturing automation systems
Wipro PARI	Robotics and automation
VVDN Technologies	Electronics design and manufacturing
Aequs	Precision engineering and components
Microplastics	Plastic components
ATL (Anand Teknow Aids Ltd)	Battery packs and modules
Motherson Group	Wiring harnesses and connectors
Avary Technologies	Printed circuit boards (PCBs)
SFO Technologies	EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services)
Jyoti CNC Automation	CNC machinery for Apple vendors

Global Suppliers Operating in India

Company Name	Origin	Role in India
Foxconn	Taiwan	Major iPhone assembler in Tamil Nadu
Pegatron	Taiwan	iPhone assembly in Tamil Nadu
Wistron (now Tata)	Taiwan/India	iPhone assembly, now under Tata Group
Jabil	USA	Component manufacturing
Salcomp	Finland	Chargers and power components
Foxlink	Taiwan	Cable assemblies

Geographic Spread

• Assembly hubs: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
• Component ecosystem: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana

Apple’s India strategy is driven by the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and geopolitical shifts, with India now producing one in five iPhones globally.

Tech Mahindra and Shipsy Partner to Build AI-Native Supply Chain Ecosystem Across UK and Europe

Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Shipsy, a Gartner-recognized AI-native transportation management platform, to accelerate AI-led innovation in the UK and Europe’s supply chain sector.

The collaboration aims to address mounting pressures on supply chains—ranging from cost and speed to sustainability and geopolitical uncertainty—by embedding scalable, responsible AI into logistics workflows. This initiative is part of Tech Mahindra’s “AI Delivered Right” strategy, which focuses on delivering transformative, enterprise-grade solutions that enhance visibility, optimize operations, and enable intelligent decision-making.

Our partnership with Shipsy helps customers navigate today’s supply chain challenges by building an AI-native ecosystem that empowers businesses to operate with precision, agility, and resilience, said Harshul Asnani, President and Head – Europe Business, Tech Mahindra.

Shipsy’s platform, recognized in Gartner’s 2024 and 2025 Magic Quadrants for Transportation and Warehouse Management Systems, leverages Agentic AI to drive autonomous logistics transformation for over 150 customers across 30+ countries. The company operates from hubs in London, Amsterdam, Riyadh, Dubai, Singapore, and Sydney, with innovation centers in India.

A key highlight of the partnership is its role in empowering Smiths News, a leading UK distributor of newspapers and magazines, to diversify its early-morning delivery portfolio using AI-driven precision. With the UK ranked as the third-largest e-commerce market globally and projected to reach $927.9 million by 2030, the alliance is expected to deliver significant value to retailers and logistics service providers.

We are delighted to partner with Tech Mahindra to bring AI-native solutions to the European supply chain landscape, said Soham Chokshi, Co-Founder & CEO of Shipsy. This alliance will enable enterprises to scale intelligently, make logistics management autonomous, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

The partnership underscores a broader industry shift toward intelligent, resilient, and customer-centric supply chain operations—driven by AI and digital transformation.

India’s RFID Pioneer i-TEK Marks Silver Jubilee, Launches Panchajanya Experience Centre in Pune

• i-TEK Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence in RFID & IoT; Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari Launches ‘Panchajanya Experience Centre’ at i-TEK Headquarters
• From powering 1 in every 2 vehicles in India with FASTag to securing exports at 105 ports and from tagging and tracing library books to 300 core apparel in retail, i-TEK marks 25 years of innovation
• Launches GarudaVigil, an AI-powered IoT Cloud Platform harnessing the power of IoT for supply chain traceability and inventory count, exemplifying reliability, agility, and unwavering attention.
• i-TEK announces IPO roadmap and global expansion plans at Silver Jubilee event. 
• Shri Nitin Gadkari praises i-TEK’s innovations in RFID container tracking and anti-counterfeiting, calling technology-driven transparency vital for nation-building  

Infotek Software & Systems Pvt. Ltd. (i-TEK), India’s pioneering RFID and IoT solutions company, celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a landmark event at its headquarters in Pune. The occasion was graced by Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, as the Chief Guest and General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Former Chief of Army Staff, as the Guest of Honour. The event was graced by dignitaries from across industry, academia, government and media, joined by i-TEK’s valued customers and partners, all uniting to mark the company’s 25-year journey of innovation and contribution to the nation.

Over the past 25 years, i-TEK has grown from a modest Pune-based startup into one of India’s most trusted names in RFID Systems and Solutions. The company has been central to several national technology transformations, from pioneering the rollout of FASTag, which today powers every second vehicle in India that carries a FASTag manufactured by i-TEK, to introducing RFID-enabled container eSeals that secure exports across 105 ports and Inland Container Depots. Its solutions have also revolutionized retail and warehousing by reducing inventory cycles from months to just days, while enabling the tracking and tracing of over 300 crore objects annually across industries such as logistics, oil & gas, mining, utilities and manufacturing. With its consistent focus on innovation and nation-building, i-TEK has established itself as a true homegrown leader in India’s digital infrastructure journey.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, commended i-TEK’s role in India’s technology-led transformation. In his address, he said, “The introduction of RFID and FASTag has been truly transformative. What was once a frustrating experience of long queues and inefficiency at toll plazas has now become seamless, saving citizens time, money and fuel while also boosting government revenue through transparency. i-TEK and its founder, Ashim Patil, have played a pioneering role in making this possible and their innovations in RFID container tracking and anti-counterfeiting solutions are strengthening India’s logistics, exports and markets. Technology like this is nation-building, it brings transparency, efficiency and fairness, while reducing delays and leakages. I was delighted to inaugurate the Panchajanya Experience Centre today, which showcases world-class solutions developed by Indian engineers and entrepreneurs. With such innovation and talent, I am confident that India will not only lead in digital infrastructure but also become the world’s number one automobile and technology hub in the years ahead. I extend my congratulations to Ashim Patil, Avantika Patil and the entire i-TEK team on their Silver Jubilee and wish them continued success in taking India’s innovations to the world.”

Reflecting on the importance of indigenous innovation, General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Former Chief of Army Staff, said, “It is an honour to be part of i-TEK’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, marking 25 years of innovation and resilience. RFID, which had its origins in military applications during World War II, has today become integral to our daily lives and businesses, revolutionising logistics, supply chains and operational efficiency. The Panchajanya Experience Centre beautifully captures the richness of our country’s scientific legacy while showcasing the transformative power of this technology. With the integration of AI, IoT, cloud and blockchain, RFID is poised to play an even more promising role in the coming decade. The remarkable progress made by i-TEK under the leadership of Ashim and Avantika Patil is a shining example of how vision, perseverance and commitment can create a homegrown technology leader aligned with national priorities. I extend my best wishes to Team i-TEK for continued success in their journey ahead.”

The newly launched Panchajanya Experience Centre embodies i-TEK’s vision for the future. Designed as a first-of-its-kind globally, the Centre allows visitors to experience live applications of RFID and IoT, including FASTag-enabled tolling, inventory and supply chain traceability in Retail, smart fitting rooms, faster checkouts, secure container movements in trade logistics and AI-enabled monitoring of smart warehouses and retail supply chains. It highlights how i-TEK’s innovations are shaping industries across different verticals while contributing to India’s broader digital economy. 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ashim Patil, Managing Director & CEO of i-TEK, expressed his gratitude to employees, partners and customers. He said, “Marking 25 years is a proud milestone for i-TEK and for every individual who has been part of this journey. From pioneering RFID-based tolling and contributing to the FASTag ecosystem, to securing India’s exports and transforming supply chains, our focus has always been on building solutions that deliver real impact. At i-TEK, we are deeply committed to supporting the Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and achieving a $5 trillion economy. As India advances towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, I am confident that i-TEK will continue to play a steady and significant role in strengthening the nation’s digital infrastructure and showcasing Indian innovation on the global stage. With the launch of Panchajanya and the expansion of our GarudaVigil™ platform, we are entering a new era of growth where Indian innovation will not only strengthen our nation’s digital infrastructure but also shape global supply chains. I would especially like to thank Hon. Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji for his vision and constant encouragement, which have created the right policy environment for companies like ours to innovate and scale. Last year, over 54 billion objects were tagged using RFID, representing $1.7 trillion in value and contributing $17 billion in EBITDA for enterprises”. 

He further added, “With the market expected to grow from $4 billion to $10 billion by 2030, i-TEK is poised to ride this wave, delivering world-class traceability solutions through our new RFID platform, Garuda Vigil. As we look ahead to our next phase, including global expansion and an upcoming IPO, our commitment to nation-building through technology remains stronger than ever.”

Mrs. Avantika Patil, Chairperson, i-TEK said, “As i-TEK celebrates its Silver Jubilee, I see this milestone as both a reflection of our journey and a promise of what lies ahead. What began as a small dream 25 years ago has grown into a strong, resilient enterprise that continues to innovate, adapt and serve the nation. Panchajanya is more than an experience centre, it is a symbol of our growth, a space that captures how a homegrown company from Pune has built solutions that touch millions of lives across India. For us, this moment is not only about celebrating the past but also about setting our sights on the future. We aspire to scale i-TEK into a billion-dollar enterprise, expand globally and continue contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, while staying rooted in the values of trust, innovation and service.”

Looking forward, i-TEK is entering a new growth phase. Its GarudaVigil™ cloud-native platform, which integrates RFID, IoT and AI, is poised to become a cornerstone of its future strategy by offering real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and anomaly detection across global supply chains. This shift from project-driven revenues to subscription-based models will create sustainable, recurring growth while also strengthening the company’s international presence. With a strategic investment from Tech Mahindra in 2019 and plans for an IPO within the next three years, i-TEK is preparing to scale globally while consolidating its leadership in India.

Beyond its technological achievements, i-TEK continues to embrace its role as a socially responsible enterprise. Through the Ashim-Avantika Foundation, it actively supports initiatives in child healthcare and the promotion of traditional Indian sports, reflecting its belief that true nation-building extends beyond business and innovation.

As i-TEK marks its Silver Jubilee, the company reflects with pride on 25 years of innovation and impact while looking ahead to an ambitious new chapter of growth. With pioneering solutions, global expansion plans and a deep alignment with India’s national priorities, i-TEK is poised to play an even greater role in strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure and advancing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

About i-TEK

Infotek Software & Systems Pvt. Ltd. (i-TEK) is a Pune-based technology company and one of India’s pioneers in RFID and IoT solutions. Since its founding in 2000, i-TEK has been at the forefront of digital infrastructure innovation, enabling smarter supply chains, secure trade, and seamless mobility across the nation. The company has played a central role in the rollout of FASTag, deployed RFID-enabled eSeals that safeguard India’s exports across 105 ports, and delivered large-scale solutions across industries such as retail, logistics, oil & gas, mining, and utilities.

Website: https://www.infoteksoftware.com/ 

Allcargo Supply Chain Expands Southern Footprint with Launch of Panapakkam Logistics Park Near Chennai

• Panapakkam facility spans 2.75 lakh sq. ft. of Grade-A warehousing space
• Strengthens southern diversification strategy with strong focus on sectors like automobile, e-commerce, and consumer durables.

Allcargo Supply Chain, part of Allcargo Logistics has announced the launch of its state-of-the-art, tech-enabled Logistics Park in Panapakkam, near Chennai. Spread across 2.75 lakh sq. ft. of Grade A warehousing space, the facility marks a significant expansion of the company’s southern network and reinforces its strategy of infrastructure-driven growth.

Strategically located at the intersection of NH 76 and SH 50, the Panapakkam Logistics Park offers smooth access to Red Hills, Chennai Port, Sri City, Sriperumbudur, and Oragadam, positioning it as a vital multi-modal hub for pan-India distribution. The facility also marks a significant step in diversifying Allcargo Supply Chain’s business in the southern zone, with sector focus anchored by around 50% automobile, supported by e-commerce and consumer durables.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ketan Kulkarni, Managing Director – Allcargo Supply Chain Private Limited, said, “The launch of our Panapakkam Logistics Park marks a significant milestone in strengthening our southern network and expanding capacity for customers. Built to global standards, the facility is designed to handle large-scale cargo volumes with efficiency and speed. By integrating world-class infrastructure with sustainable practices, we are creating a future-ready logistics hub that will drive value for businesses and contribute meaningfully to India’s evolving supply chain ecosystem.”

The Panapakkam Logistics Park has been designed to global specifications as a ready-to-go-live facility, offering scalability for both raw material storage and finished goods distribution. It features 32 docks with 16 dock levellers, a centre height supporting G+8 racking for maximum storage efficiency, and a 5,000 sq. ft. mezzanine floor with dedicated client office space. capacity of nearly 60,000 tonnes per month. The Panapakkam park is also expected to create employment opportunities, with around 400 contractual workers engaged monthly, nearly 95% of whom will be blue-collar employees from the region.

Sustainability and safety are integral to the park’s design. The facility incorporates a solar-ready rooftop (10 KW/100K sq. ft.), LED lighting, solar-powered streetlights, rainwater harvesting, STP water recycling, and stormwater drains designed using 80 years of rainfall data. A secure perimeter wall, dock levellers, fire hydrants, and sprinkler systems further strengthen operational safety and efficiency.

With this launch, Allcargo Supply Chain further strengthens its southern pivot, complementing existing facilities in Bengaluru and the upcoming Hyderabad facility, while also expanding its nationwide footprint of modern, automated, and sustainable logistics parks in Farukhnagar (Gurugram), Nagpur, Guwahati, Bhiwandi (Mumbai), Indore, and Vijayawada.

ABOUT ALLCARGO LOGISTICS LIMITED

Allcargo Logistics Limited, part of the Allcargo Group is the global market leader in LCL consolidation business operating under ECU Worldwide network. Allcargo is among the leaders in Express logistics business, which it operates through its subsidiary Allcargo Gati Limited., besides having strong presence in Contract Logistics under Allcargo Supply Chain. Allcargo is recognised for digitising logistics industry, setting highest quality standards, operational excellence, and customer centricity across all businesses. The company is recognised as a great place to work. The company currently operates out of 300 plus offices serving 180 countries. Allcargo today is one of India's largest publicly owned logistics companies, listed on the BSE Limited {Scrip Code- 532749) and The National Stock Exchange of India Limited (Scrip Code-ALLCARGO).

Allcargo Logistics Limited and Allcargo Gati Limited, part of the Allcargo Group has recently announced a composite scheme of arrangement under which the International Supply Chain (ISC) business will be demerged into a separate entity Allcargo worldwide Limited, and the Express and Contract Logistics business will be merged into Allcargo Logistics Limited (post ISC demerger). (The scheme is expected to be implemented in the period of 1-2 months, accounting for regulatory filings, Stock Exchange approval, shareholder approval, NCLT approval and ROC filings.) Allcargo Group will house four listed strategic business undertakings. Allcargo worldwide Limited and Allcargo Logistics Limited post demerger of ISC business, alongside Allcargo Terminals Limited and TransIndia Real Estate Limited, which were created through an earlier scheme of arrangement. All four public companies are well poised for growth on the back of market opportunities and robust management capabilities.

For further information, please visit: allcargologistics.com

Adani Unveils ₹600 Crore Smart Logistics Park in Kochi — A Game-Changer for Kerala’s Industrial Future

In a bold move to reshape Kerala’s logistics landscape, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) has launched a cutting-edge logistics park in Kalamassery, Kochi—an investment exceeding ₹600 crore that signals a new era of smart, sustainable supply chain infrastructure.

Unveiled by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan under the “Invest in Kerala” initiative, the park spans 70+ acres and houses 1.3 million sq. ft. of integrated logistics space. But this isn’t just another industrial facility—it’s a strategic leap toward making Kerala a hub for next-gen logistics.

Built for the Future: Smart, Green, and Sector-Ready

From EV charging stations to zero-touch operations and digital integration, the park is engineered for speed, sustainability, and scale. It’s tailored to serve high-growth sectors like:

• E-commerce
• FMCG/FMCD
• Pharmaceuticals
• Automotive
• Retail

This isn’t just infrastructure—it’s an ecosystem designed to empower businesses and energize Kerala’s industrial ambitions, –said an APSEZ spokesperson.

1,500+ Jobs and a Boost for Local SMEs

The facility is expected to create over 1,500 jobs, with a strong emphasis on local employment and SME empowerment. By offering plug-and-play logistics solutions, Adani aims to help small and medium enterprises scale faster and compete smarter.

Adani’s National Logistics Vision

The Kochi park is part of Adani’s aggressive push to expand its logistics footprint across India. From 3.1 million sq. ft. today to 20 million sq. ft., APSEZ plans to build 30 logistics parks nationwide, transforming from a port-centric player into a fully integrated transport and logistics powerhouse.

Why It Matters

• For Kerala: A strategic boost to industrial growth, job creation, and SME competitiveness
• For India: A step toward smarter, greener logistics infrastructure. 
• For Adani: A bold pivot from ports to pan-India supply chain dominance

Accenture To Enhance PUMA's Supply Chain/ Distribution Network in India

Accenture and PUMA India have teamed up to enhance PUMA's supply chain and distribution network in India. By leveraging Accenture's expertise in digital twin technology, the collaboration aims to drive faster fulfillment and reduce operational costs.

Accenture’s solution, set to be implemented across PUMA India’s eCommerce and offline channels, aims to increase the order speed of delivery by up to 70%, and is expected to reduce supply chain costs by up to 10%.

The solution will redesign PUMA India's supply chain and distribution model, improving material flow and enabling faster dispatches.

The collaboration will also help PUMA India achieve its sustainability goals faster by reducing carbon emissions and implementing sustainable infrastructure in fulfillment centers. This partnership is set to significantly improve PUMA's operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Puma India leverages major e-commerce platforms like Myntra, Amazon, and its own online store to reach a wide audience.

India is the first market globally where Puma launched its shopping app, allowing customers to purchase merchandise directly through the app.

Puma India's revenue grew by 46% in FY22, highlighting the country's importance as a key market.

Puma India employs a multi-channel strategy, combining both online and offline sales to maximize reach and customer satisfaction. It has over 577 stores across the country, the highest among international sports brands.

Commerce Platform Wheelocity Raises $15 Mn in Funding Led by Lightspeed

Funding will accelerate platform expansion to serve India's next 800 million consumers

Wheelocity today announced a $15 million funding round led by existing investor Lightspeed, with participation from Alteria Capital, Anicut Capital and the company’s founder. This investment advances Wheelocity’s mission of bridging the commerce access gap across India’s semi-urban and rural markets, where over 800 million people remain largely under-served by existing commerce platforms.

The opportunity in India's semi-urban and rural markets exceeds $1.1 trillion, driven by the rapid digital adoption through increasing smartphone penetration and improved internet connectivity. However, existing commerce players have overlooked these markets due to three key challenges:

• Fragmented demand resulting in high customer acquisition and last-mile delivery costs
• Complex consumer preferences spanning multiple languages, categories, and brands
• Limited direct market reach, necessitating reliance on distributor and reseller networks

To address these challenges in semi-urban India, Wheelocity has built a platform that delivers:

• High frequency direct access infrastructure, beginning with essential goods (fresh and grocery) as a foundation for expanding into discretionary categories
• A hybrid offline-online model designed for first-time users of organized commerce.
• Cost-effective service delivery at scale through proprietary technology and an innovative supply chain network

In just 6 months, Wheelocity has established its presence in over 3,500 towns and villages, serving one million consumers. The fresh funding will power the company’s expansion to 20,000 towns and villages over the next 12 months, targeting a user base of 10 million consumers. This growth will be supported by investments in Wheelocity’s proprietary technology stack, direct reach network, and teams across category management, operations, product, and engineering.

Selvam VMS, Founder and CEO of Wheelocity shared, "India's growth story is incomplete without the digital inclusion of our semi-urban and rural populations. It remains a very large, profitable and yet untapped opportunity. This funding from Lightspeed and other partners validates our vision of building a commerce ecosystem specifically designed for these markets, taking into account their unique challenges and opportunities."

"The next wave of India's commerce growth will come from beyond the top 200 cities", said Rahul Taneja, Partner at Lightspeed. "Wheelocity's deep understanding of semi-urban markets, combined with their technology-first approach, positions them uniquely to capture this massive opportunity. We're excited to continue to partner with them in this journey."

Wheelocity is building India's largest semi-urban commerce platform, combining the power of technology and deep supply chain innovation for the country's next 800 million consumers. Focused on transforming access and efficiency in semi-urban markets, Wheelocity is redefining commerce for India’s evolving consumer landscape beyond the top 200 cities of India. Through this journey, Wheelocity has created massive social impact by empowering semi-urban communities and providing earnings for 2000+ households. By electrifying 100,000+ kilometers of last mile operations, Wheelocity creates a lasting and positive impact on the environment as well. https://www.wheelocity.com/

About Lightspeed:

Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox, Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Physics Wallah, Razorpay, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Rooms, Ultima Genomics, Zepto and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia.

TVS SCS Partners with Manchester Metropolitan to Lead AI innovation

This partnership is a testament to TVS SCS’ quest for continuous development of its tech capabilities.

TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited (NSE: TVSSCS, BOM: 543965), a global supply chain solutions provider and one of the largest and fastest growing integrated supply chain solutions providers in India, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, TVS SCS UK and Europe are working in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to drive forward the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its business. This partnership focusses on AI governance and how to implement it as a core structure throughout the business.

TVS SCS have been working with the university, initially through the Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) which supports knowledge exchange between higher education providers and industry.

TVS SCS has now applied for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with MMU, which will focus on the technological solutions that may be available to assist with supply chain solutions through the use of AI.

Andrew Jones, CEO at TVS SCS UK and Europe, commented, “This partnership is a significant step forward for TVS SCS as we continue to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our operations. With AI already playing a pivotal role in various aspects of our operations, this collaboration will further strengthen our process capabilities. We were impressed with MMU and their knowledge and expertise in this area and want to further strengthen our relationship with them to explore how we can incorporate AI in delivering sustainable supply chain solutions.”

According to Dr Ashley Williams, Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering at MMU, “We are pleased to be working with TVS SCS on their AI journey and understand that they are keen to keep their AI solutions in-house. As a technology-driven business, they have the capability to deliver in this still developing space, stay ahead of the curve and in line with governance as it evolves.”

TVS SCS supports customers in multiple industry verticals including Automotive, Defence, Industrial, Utilities, E-commerce, and Healthcare. TVS SCS trades on a reputation of being collaborative in its engagement, innovative in its approach and effective in reducing its clients’ operating costs, while improving their performance through the accelerated deployment of leading supply chain solutions. TVS SCS offers a range of supply chain services from Integrated Supply Chain Solutions to Global Forwarding Solutions and Time Critical Final Mile Solutions, all tailored to its customers’ needs.

About TVS Supply Chain Solutions 

Promoted by the erstwhile TVS Group and now part of TVS Mobility Group, TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited (“TVS SCS” or “Company”) is an India-based multinational company, who pioneered the development of the supply chain solutions market in India. For the last 15 years, TVS SCS has managed large and complex supply chains across multiple industries in India and select global markets through customized tech-enabled solutions. The Company’s customers span across numerous industries such as automotive, industrial, consumer, tech and tech infra, rail and utilities, and healthcare.

TVS SCS provides specialized solutions spanning the entire value chain from sourcing to consumption, to reduce complexity in its customers’ supply chains by using technology, data analytics and execution experience. The company’s digital platforms are largely cloud-based, powered by a micro service-based architecture and are highly scalable and reliable, thereby enabling it to implement solutions across multiple geographies in a relatively short time.

Vodafone and Sony Originated Companies To Combine Blockchain & IoT To Combat Supply Chain Frauds

Pairpoint, a blockchain-based trading venture owned by Vodafone and Sumitomo Corporation, has announced a strategic partnership with Sensos, a leading supply chain solution company founded by Sony Semiconductors, to address the growing issue of supply chain fraud. This collaboration aims to leverage Sensos' expertise in smart label technology, which originated from Sony Semiconductor Israel, to enhance the security and transparency of supply chains.

The partnership is expected to integrate Sensos' supply chain management solutions with Pairpoint's Economy of Things (EoT) platform. This will enable logistics companies to securely track their goods at every stage of the supply chain. The use of Sensos' cellular tracking labels and AI-powered control tower, combined with Pairpoint's digital identity, trust, and transactional platform, will allow for the secure and immutable recording of all goods' movements, from port departures to final deliveries.

This initiative is particularly significant as it not only aims to combat fraud but also to improve operational efficiency and cost savings for businesses across multiple industries. The solution is currently being piloted in cooperation with global logistics operator Unilog, part of the ICL Group, at several sites in the US and Europe.

Pairpoint’s secure technology overlays Sensos’ highly reliable, real-time supply chain management solution through the Pairpoint-enabled iSIM and device agent software embedded into a smart label. Every logistic transaction is then verifiable, transparent, and resistant to tampering, effectively combatting fraud, and enhancing trust across the supply chain ecosystem.

The CEOs of both Pairpoint and Sensos have expressed their enthusiasm for the potential impact of this partnership on the supply chain sector, highlighting the importance of intelligent and globally connected cellular labels and the Pairpoint platform.

About Sensos:

Sensos is a real-time supply chain management company with offices in US, Germany and Israel. Sensos’ AI-based solution empowers logistics teams to transition from reactive firefighting to proactive decision making, driving faster shipments, smaller inventories and more efficient production planning- resulting in bottom line savings and more sustainable operations. Learn more about Sensos at: https://sensos.io/

About Pairpoint:

Pairpoint (the brand name of DABCo Limited) is a pioneering blockchain technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the industry with decentrialized solutions. Based in the United Kingdom, with offices in London (UK) and Lisbon (Portugal), it is supported by an investment of 60 million euros from Vodafone Group and Sumitomo Group and employs 50 people with specialist skills and experience in IoT and financial technology. Learn more about Pairpoint at https://pairpoint.io

Accenture To Acquire OnProcess Technology, An AI-led Supply Chain Managed Services Provider

Accenture to Acquire OnProcess Technology to Enhance Supply Chain Operations Capabilities

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has agreed to acquire OnProcess Technology, a provider of supply chain managed services, to help organizations refine processes, improve the way inventory is managed and solve complex service challenges.

With this acquisition, Accenture will enhance its supply chain capabilities, specifically in asset recovery and service supply chain management, making it easier for clients to manage service orders, drive returns, track movement and ensure the appropriate reuse, disposal or recycling of assets.

OnProcess specializes in reverse logistics for every step of the after-sales process, leveraging automation, AI and data-led decision-making to maintain visibility from planning to asset recovery.

Together, Accenture and OnProcess will offer clients supply chain delivery capabilities with integrated after-sales operations. The combined solution will improve operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience, all while supporting a more sustainable supply chain.

Founded in 1998, Boston-headquartered OnProcess has more than 1,500 employees located in the U.S., India, Costa Rica and Bulgaria. With their expertise they serve clients across a diversified portfolio in industries like communications, media and technology, medical devices, logistics and manufacturing.

Melissa Twiningdavis, senior managing director of supply chain operations, Accenture, said, “In recent years, supply chains have risen to one of the most important business functions on the CEO agenda. In today’s environment, the challenge is to drive cost efficiency while continuing to embed and accelerate resiliency. This is why we see the focus on supply chain operations as a vital source of competitive advantage."

“With OnProcess and its highly qualified professionals, we are strengthening our ability to help organizations in their supply chain reinvention efforts, enabling them to leverage domain talent, data and processes, to transform operations successfully," Twiningdavis said.

“OnProcess is trusted by many of the world leading manufacturers and service providers to power their service and aftermarket supply chains. Accenture will provide our people with exciting new opportunities and expand the value we can deliver to our clients with services and capabilities that create end-to-end solutions,” said Oliver Lemanski, CEO of OnProcess. “Together we will help organizations streamline the entire process chain, create predictability, drive transformation and pave the way to a more sustainable future.”

"We wish the team at OnProcess the best in this new leg of their journey," said Padmini Sekhsaria, Principal at the Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office (NSFO), the global investment firm that owns the majority stake in the company. "We are delighted that the OnProcess team will become part of Accenture enabled by a new scale to help serve its customers and collaborate with partners. OnProcess has built what we believe is the industry standard for complex service operations management and Accenture will offer its employees exciting new opportunities to support an expanded customer base."

Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including required antitrust clearances. 

TVS Supply Chain Secures a Deal from the UK based ‘Centrica plc’ to Transform their Supply Chain

TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS), a global supply chain solutions provider with an FY 23 revenue of over $1.2 bn, and one of the largest and fastest growing integrated supply chain solutions providers in India according to the report titled “Logistics and SCS (Supply Chain Solutions) Market in India,” prepared by RedSeer, today announced that it has secured a business deal from the iconic Centrica plc – an FTSE100 company with annual revenues of £34bn and UK’s leading energy services and solutions company that also operates British Gas - for their supply chain transformation. This deal is for a period of 7 years plus option years.

Centrica, after a rigorous evaluation process, found TVS SCS to be the right service partner to manage and transform its supply chain operations. TVS SCS, on its part, will provide its global supply chain expertise and offer a suite of its in-built, state-of-the-art proprietary IT systems – Msys – and automate the supply chain in line with Centrica’s business requirements.

Mr. Ravi Viswanathan

Mr. Ravi Viswanathan, Managing Director, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, says “The trust shown by Centrica (British Gas), on us through this deal, demonstrates our capabilities and expertise in the world of supply chain solutions. I am sure this partnership with Centrica will add value to their energy services and solutions business, British Gas, through our tech enabled supply chain solutions. We look forward to a fruitful and enduring collaboration that will not only benefit both the organisations but also make a positive and lasting impact on the communities we serve.”

Mr. David House, Chief Operating Officer, British Gas, said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with TVS SCS, a renowned leader in their field, as we embark on a transformative journey in our supply chain management. This strategic collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Centrica as we enhance our capabilities to deliver exceptional energy services and solutions to our valued customers. We are confident that TVS SCS’ solutions will enable us to create a seamless customer experience and drive operational efficiency. We look forward to a successful collaboration that will unlock new opportunities and drive growth.”

This transformational deal will enable Centrica to consolidate its logistics footprint through a new Centre of Excellence campus, which will be supported by state-of-the-art automation; digital ordering and fulfillment; end-to-end visibility and planning; and a flexible final mile delivery and returns service.

TVS SCS, through its UK operations, manages circa 3 million items per day for customers across automotive, beverage, defence, healthcare, rail, and utilities sectors. These clients rely on TVS SCS’ ability to create and manage a resilient supply chain that actively mitigates the risk of supply from global disruptions.

It offers a range of solutions that include consultancy, product data management, strategic purchasing, data analytics, inventory management, warehousing, and last mile delivery, among others. TVS SCS operates through 45 locations across the UK with around 3000 employees.

About TVS Supply Chain Solutions

Promoted by the erstwhile TVS Group and now part of TVS Mobility Group, TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited (“TVS SCS” or “Company”) is an India-based multinational company, who pioneered the development of the supply chain solutions market in India. For the last 15 years, TVS SCS has managed large and complex supply chains across multiple industries in India and select global markets through customized tech-enabled solutions. The Company’s global customers include 72 ‘Fortune Global 500 2021’ companies in the six-month period ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s customers span across numerous industries such as automotive, industrial, consumer, tech and tech infra, rail and utilities, and healthcare.

TVS SCS provides specialized solutions spanning the entire value chain from sourcing to consumption, to reduce complexity in its customers’ supply chains by using technology, data analytics and execution experience. The company’s digital platforms are largely cloud-based, powered by a micro service-based architecture and are highly scalable and reliable, thereby enabling it to implement solutions across multiple geographies in a relatively short time.

For more details, please visit https://www.tvsscs.com/

About Centrica:

Centrica is the UK’s leading energy services and solutions company, founded on a 200-year heritage of serving customers in homes and businesses. We supply energy and services to over 10 million residential and business customers, in the UK and Ireland, through brands such as British Gas, Bord Gáis Energy and Centrica Business Solutions. Centrica’s Optimisation business provides commodity risk management on behalf of Centrica Group, trading physical and financial energy commodity products. We connect energy producers, suppliers and off takers in the wholesale energy markets.

Ministry Announces Tomato Grand Challenge Hackathon

Government announces Tomato Grand Challenge Hackathon to generate innovative ideas to enhance Tomato value chain and ensure its availability at affordable prices.

Students, Research Scholars, Faculty Members, Industry, Start-ups, MSMEs, LLPs, and Professionals urged to participate in the Hackathon.

Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) Hackathon has been announced by the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Rohit Kumar Singh, to invite innovative ideas at various levels of the tomato value chain to ensure availability of tomato to the consumers at affordable prices and help tomato farmers get value for the produce.

India is the second largest producer of Tomatoes in the world and studies estimates that about 20-22% of fresh tomatoes and 5% of processed tomatoes are wasted every year. Moreover, Tomatoes are highly susceptible to price volatility as slight disruptions in supply chain or damage due to heavy rains leads to spike in prices.

The prices of tomatoes can be brought back to normal levels by improving storage and processing. To ensure prices remain stable, innovation at the seed level, primary storage, post-harvest and crop information is necessary and this hackathon is announced for the public to share ideas for reducing tomato prices that have currently skyrocketed in several cities across the country.

The Hackathon has been formulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with Ministry of Education (Innovation Cell).

The Grand Challenge invites ideas on comprehensive and focused area interventions in tomato value chain - from cropping and market insights for the farmers, appropriate cultivars (OP varieties or hybrids) with higher shelf-life of the fruits for fresh marker, cultivars specifically suitable for processing, value-addition through interventions that can increase shelf-life, improve transportation of fresh and processing products, innovative packaging and storage.

The entry of participants for the TGC are invited under two tracks, namely —

1. Students, Research Scholars
2. Faculty Members, Industry individuals, Indian start-ups, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Limited Liability Partnership (LLPs), Professionals.

The winning ideas will be evaluated by Experts followed by prototype development and field implementation for ensuring its usability/scalability on a large scale and price of the product.

Interested participants can apply at –https://doca.gov.in/gtc/index.php

Tomato is produced almost in all the states in India, though in varying quantities. Maximum production is in southern and western regions of India, contributing 56%-58% of all India production. Southern and Western regions being surplus states, feed to other markets depending on production seasons.

The production seasons are also different across regions. The peak harvesting season occurred in December to February. The periods during July-August and October-November are the lean production months of tomato. July coinciding with monsoon season, adds to further challenges related to distribution and increased transit losses adding to price rise.

The cycle of planting and harvesting seasons and variation across regions are primarily responsible for price seasonality in Tomato. Apart from the normal price seasonality, temporary supply chain disruptions and crop damage due to adverse weather conditions etc. often led to sudden spikes in prices. Conversely, glut in the production of at local levels have also led to dip in prices causing huge loss to the farmers.

Bizongo Granted Patent for A High Precision Internal Positioning System to Track Movement of Inventory, Equipment and Workforce

Builds moat around automation of warehouse and factories, setting a global benchmark for accuracy tracking of 10cm

Aims to offer higher accuracy and ease of installation to enable Indian manufacturers compete in the global arena of exports.

India's leading supply chain automation platform Bizongo, today announced securing a patent for its innovative technology, InLocate 6.0, a high precision internal positioning system that will transform tracking inventory, machinery and people with an accuracy of 10cm in indoor and outdoor environments. The patent has been recently granted to Clean Slate Technologies, acquired by Bizongo earlier this year, by the Government of India.

The granted patent, InLocate 6.0 will enable live location visibility, process monitoring, deviation alerts and provide data driven insights on inLog, a web based enterprise-ready, real-time locating systems (RTLS) - IIoT platform. Once deployed, the technology will fit seamlessly with Bizongo's vision of equipping 100 factories by 2023 with Internet of Things (IoT) to power Indian manufacturing and supply chain to compete in the global arena of exports.

With the Indian government hoping to have 25% of the economy's output come from manufacturing by 2025, Bizongo’s technology will help manufacturers, including some of the largest factories and warehouses in India optimize production by preventing inventory misplacement, minimizing inventory carrying costs, eliminating incorrect dispatches, increasing fulfillment throughput, improving overall equipment efficiency, and optimizing space utilization.

A bottleneck in the development of indoor positioning has been achieving the high accuracy at a lowered cost. While there are multiple indoor and outdoor positioning systems that work in an accuracy range of 2 to 20 meters, they offer limited efficiency and precision in managing flow of material in a warehouse or factory. Often a factory’s expensive man hours, which could be used to enhance productivity are spent searching the possible location of the goods. Here, Bizongo’s patented technology sets a global benchmark in enabling tracking of any object class with high precision accuracy.

A powerhouse of technology innovation, Bizongo has built a considerable moat in digitizing vendor management, supply chain automation and supply chain finance in the made-to-order or customized goods segment. While it initially started with bringing automation across the packaging industry, over the last three years Bizongo has expanded to several other segments including Textiles & Fashion, FMCG, Metals, Specialty Chemicals, Consumer Durables, Automobile, Healthcare and Construction.

Bizongo Co-founder and CEO, Sachin Agrawal said, "We are proud of our team at Clean Slate Technologies that has put in tremendous effort to build a technology that takes warehouse and factory shop floor management several notches higher in terms of visibility, insights and operations. Bizongo has continuously supported innovation and we are truly humbled to power teams that are building some of the best technologies in supply chain automation anywhere in the world. InLocate 6.0 is our contribution in taking Indian manufacturing right to the center of global trade."

Clean Slate Technologies Co-founder and CEO Siddharth Desai said, "It is a very humbling moment for all of us as the patent is a recognition of the power of home-grown innovation and Indian talent. Several of our large blue chip customers and global partners will benefit from InLocate6.0 to improve throughput, compress order-to-cash cycles, boost productivity, increase efficiency and cut costs."

inLocate 6.0 and inLog sets the foundation for powering digital twins of factories and warehouses which allow for MSMEs to run their factories and warehouses in the most productive and cost-efficient manner.

About Bizongo

Bizongo was founded in 2015 by three IIT graduates Aniket Deb, Sachin Agrawal, and Ankit Tomar, to digitally transform the fragmented and unorganized yet unique and ubiquitous B2B segment of customized goods. Today, the company focuses across made-to-order segments including packaging, textiles, apparel & other contract manufacturing goods as its product portfolio and has a network of over 6,300 partner factories. Through its proprietary digital platforms, such as Procure Live, Partner Hub, and Artwork Flow, Bizongo offers Digital Vendor Management, Supply Chain Automation & Supply Chain Financing as key services to its enterprise customers. The B2B e-commerce platform services 450+ enterprise customers in fashion & lifestyle, pharmaceuticals, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, home & personal care, and e-commerce. For more information on Bizongo, please visit https://www.bizongo.com

Multimodal Supply Chain Visibility Startup Intugine Raises Rs 19 Cr in Pre-Series A

Funds raised to be primarily used for hiring, product development, increasing the network of integrations, and international expansion

Mela Ventures led the investment round

Round also saw participation from Kaleesuwari Group and Innoport along with marquee angels Kanav Hasija, Co-founder InnovAccer, Harsh Shah, Co-founder, Fynd, Anshul Rai, Co-founder Happay and Kashyap Deorah, Co-founder, HyperTrack

Intugine, a real-time multimodal supply chain visibility startup, has raised INR 19 Crores in a pre-series A round led by Mela Ventures and co-financed by Kaleesuwari Group and Innoport. Round also saw participation from marquee investors, including SaaS founders Harsh Shah, Co-founder of Fynd; Anshul Rai, Co-founder and CEO of Happay; and Kashyap Deorah, Founder and CEO of HyperTrack. Existing investor Kanav Hasija, Co-founder of InnovAccer, also participated in this funding round. The funds raised will be deployed to fuel product development, explore global markets and expand its team across Product, Data and GTM functions.

Intugine’s comprehensive multimodal solutions are helping businesses track their shipments across Full Truck Loads, Partial Truck Loads, Ocean and Rail transportation. Today, they track over 10 million shipments on their platform for 75+ global customers across the chemical, automotive, building materials, consumer durables, FMCG, retail and e-commerce industries. Their solutions have enabled companies to reduce excess inventories by more than 30%. In fact, enterprises have seen a 0.5-1% uptick in their top line due to an increase in on-time deliveries, thereby preventing loss of sales.

Harshit Shrivastava, Co-founder and CEO, Intugine, says, "Enterprise supply chains are rapidly evolving to support omnichannel buying and distribution, making operations increasingly complex and cost-intensive. We have built a technology platform that gives enterprises end-to-end visibility of their shipments and greater control over their logistics operations. With improved visibility, enterprises can substantially reduce their operational costs, improve their margins and deliver exceptional customer experience.”

Visibility is one of the fastest-growing segments in supply chain technology globally. Frequent supply chain disruptions, compounded by the pandemic, an increased focus on superior customer experience, and active government participation are the key drivers behind this trend. The Government of India, for instance, has launched ULIP as a part of the National Logistics Policy, with Intugine being one of the few exclusive partners of this initiative.

Krishnakumar Natarajan, Managing Partner, Mela Ventures, says, "The dynamic and evolving logistics landscape has made the need for visibility into supply chain networks a necessity for success. It is high time for brands to invest in sophisticated technology to support their consumers' rapidly changing purchasing behaviour. We are excited to partner with Harshit, Mrinal and Ayush in their quest to digitally transform global supply chains and be an integral part of their growth story."

About Intugine

Intugine is a real-time multimodal supply chain visibility enabler that is helping businesses optimise & digitise their logistics operations since 2017. Founded by IIT Kharagpur dropouts Harshit Shrivastava and Ayush Agrawal and SRCC graduate Mrinal Rai, Intugine is the only multimodal visibility company in India today. Intugine works with 75+ global enterprise names like Titan, Diageo, Ultratech Cement, Flipkart and Mahindra Logistics. For more information, visit https://intugine.com

About Mela Ventures

Mela Ventures Trust is a SEBI-approved AIF Category-2 fund for early-stage companies. With a goal to build next-gen entrepreneurs, the fund focuses on building a portfolio in areas such as AI/ML, AR/VR, IoT, Cloud Migration and Deep Technologies. Mela Ventures was founded by Industry veterans Krishnakumar Natarajan and Parthasarathy NS, who have co-founded Mindtree and taken it from a startup to a multi-billion-dollar market cap enterprise.

For more information, visit https://www.melaventures.in/

WayCool Invests in AllFresh

• Boost sourcing capabilities of Apples & Oranges
• Direct sourcing of Apples from farmers in Himachal Pradesh & Kashmir and Oranges from farmers in Maharashtra
• Leverage post-harvest tech

WayCool Foods, India’s leading food, and agri-tech company, has announced an investment in AllFresh Supply Management Private Limited (AllFresh) as part of its strategy to create a Keiretsu in the global food supply chain.

AllFresh has been pioneering the development of modern supply chains in the apple and citrus spaces, introducing state-of-the-art practices and technology to erode food loss and extend shelf life of these products. With the increase in prosperity, the consumption of premium fruit is expected to grow rapidly in India. As the nation ramps up its acreage under cultivation to meet this growing demand, WayCool will leverage Allfresh’s capabilities, as well as network of apple and citrus growers, and farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, among other locations, connecting their output to WayCool’s extensive network of over 1,25,000 retail clients. The investment will help AllFresh further invest in its capabilities in post-harvest tech to enhance quality and extend shelf life. AllFresh will also benefit from increased access to WayCool’s deep and dense distribution network in India, and the UAE.

Mr. Chinna Pardhasaradhi, Group CFO, WayCool Foods said, “We welcome AllFresh into the WayCool Family. The investment in AllFresh will further strengthen our sourcing of premium apples and citrus from across India. WayCool already brings these products from global sources. Our investment in AllFresh therefore completes our supply chain capability and enables us to deliver fresh fruit year-round.”

Mr. Naresh Jawa, Founder and Promoter, AllFresh said, “I am delighted to be on board with WayCool. AllFresh & WayCool pursue the common objective of formalising the scattered fruit and vegetable industry in India. Our aim is to reduce pre & post-harvest wastage, and realize better value for farmers, using state-of-the-art knowledge and technology. We look forward to extending our acquired expertise in efficient procurement and marketing of Indian Apples & Oranges to a wider basket of premium fruits along with WayCool”

WayCool has been making several effective investments in companies that bring complementary capabilities to its platform, especially those with deep capabilities that are at the cusp of rapid growth. Most recently, it had invested in SV Agri, one of India’s largest independent potato supply chain and solutions companies, which has grown by over 2.5x since its most recent fundraise from WayCool.

About WayCool: WayCool Foods is India’s leading food and agri-tech platform. Focusing on food development and distribution, the company leverages innovative technology to scale and operate a complex supply chain from soil to sale. Through its farmer engagement program - Outgrow, the company works closely with 200k farmers. WayCool operates a full stack, broadline product range across multiple channels and categories such as fresh produce, staples, and dairy, serving over 1,25,000 clients in the general trade, modern trade, and food services space. WayCool’s consumer brands basket consists of Madhuram, Kitchenji, L’exotique, Dezi Fresh and Freshey’s.

About AllFresh: AllFresh is in the business of procuring and supplying fruits to its customers after appropriate post harvest management processes designed to deliver fruit conforming to customer requirements. The major fruits AllFresh deals in are Apples, Citrus fruits (mainly Nagpur Oranges, Kinnow and Sweet lime) and Stone fruits (plums, pears). The fruits are sourced from 1000+ farmers across Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. 150+ customers are served by AllFresh throughout India across general trade and modern trade.

Child Labour in Supply Chains – A Call for Urgent Action by Stakeholders

Making Child Rights and Business Principles (CRBP) a Reality: Creating Child-Labour Free Supply Chains

Centre for Responsible Business' (CRB) annual flagship conference ‘India and Sustainability Standards (ISS): International Dialogues and Conference’ convened international and Indian businesses, policymakers and all stakeholders to dialogue and develop roadmaps across issues and industry sectors – in supporting the momentum towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On day two of the 3-day summit, plenary partner Save the Children hosted an imperative dialogue to address the issue of Child Labour in apparel supply chains.

Co-hosted by UNICEF, the plenary session on Making Child Rights and Business Principles (CRBP) a Reality: Creating Child-Labour Free Supply Chains, was moderated by Anindit Roy Chowdhury, Chief of Programmes, Save the Children India and had esteemed guests like Viraf Mehta, Senior Advisor & Member of the National Voluntary Guidelines for the Economic, Social and Environmental Responsibilities of Business (NVGs) for Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, Ranjeeb Sarma, Head of Compliance, CSR and Plan, Marks and Spencer India, Manoj Bhatt, CEO- Tri-Impact, Geetanjali Master, Partnerships Specialist, UNICEF, Ariz Khan - Child Participant (earlier employed in a garment supply chain in New Delhi) and Sandra Claassen – Director, ARISA – Advocating Rights in South Asia.

The aim of this conference is to advance the best business practices while acknowledging the enormous benefits received by the organizations in the past. Developed by Save the Children, UNICEF, and the UN Global Compact– the Children’s Rights and Business Principles laid out 10 principles to guide companies on the full range of actions they can take in the workplace, marketplace, and community to respect and support children’s rights. However, despite decades of efforts and numerous initiatives to improve labor practices in apparel supply chains, child rights violations (in form of child labour) continue to be rampant in low-cost countries. Increasing pressure from advocacy groups, financial analysts, and the media to address such incidents has led brands, NGOs, and third-party certification bodies to develop a plethora of diverse auditing programs that vary in terms of goals, scope, and commitment.

Introducing Child Rights & Business Principles, Anindit Roy Chowdhury, Chief Programme Officer, Save the Children, India said, “This year is the 10th year anniversary of Child Rights and Business Principles that was created by Save the Children, UNICEF and UN Global Compact (UNGC), but commemorating it is not going to be enough. We need to create functional and equitable collaboratives between businesses, civil society organisations, governments, and children themselves, that promote business practices that value and ensure child rights. It is critical that we all work in partnership in addressing the various nuances of child rights in business supply chains and processes. Also, businesses cannot be looked at as the source of the problem, and therefore making them responsible through dialogue, capacity development and collaboration is the critical way forward.”

Discussions revolved around the objective of making businesses aware and educating them on policies that must be implemented even in the supply chain to abolish child labour practices. With over 160 million children in labour globally, 10.1 million (4.5 million are girls) in India alone. The latest report by National Crime Records Bureau presents one much monumental challenge, which showed 1, 49,404 cases of crime against children last year, a whopping 16% rise, of which 982 cases were registered as formal complaints under the Child Labour Act. Thousands of children are still working silently in hazardous processes due to the burden of inter-generational poverty and acceptance of child labour practice in the community. Despite decades of efforts and numerous initiatives to improve labor practices in apparel supply chains, worker rights violations continue to be rampant in low-cost countries. Increasing pressure from advocacy groups, financial analysts, and the media to address such incidents has led Western brands, NGOs, and third-party certification bodies to develop a plethora of diverse auditing programs that vary in terms of goals, scope, and commitment.

Adding to the dynamics of partnership Viraf Mehta, Senior Advisor CRB, B&HR Expert “Partnership is just not an association, it implies collaboration in which we have a common goal and have shared risks and responsibilities. When you bring businesses and CSOs, there is an assumption that we are working on a rights-based mechanism. The Human rights approach is not about charity, it is about entitlement as a person and that they are actionable and justiciable.”

Geetanjali Master, Partnership Specialist, UNICEF added “How do we as business move towards creating more gender-equal advertising and marketing because those will impact norms in society and when society has more positive norms they’ll be far more sensistive to realizing human and child rights and this partnership obviously when went to the space of creating gender guidelines, self-accessible tools by advertisers and marketers, awards, there also businesses then realising through the journey that there is a lot taking to under CRBP, in the street, and it got demystified for them, they actually start moving towards it and then there is evidence and documentation.”

The esteemed panel recommended the following points to eliminate child labour – 

• Fulfil their responsibility to uphold the rights of children and make a commitment to respect the human rights of children
• Contribute to the abolition of child labour in all commercial endeavors and contractual arrangements
• Give young employees, parents, and caregivers respectable employment
• In all corporate activities and facilities, ensure that children are protected and kept safe.
• Ensure the safety of the goods and services, and strive to uphold the rights of children by using them.
• Utilize marketing and promotion that upholds and supports the rights of children.
• When it comes to environmental protection, property acquisition, and land usage, respect, and support children's rights.
• Children's rights under security arrangements should be respected and supported.
• Ensure the safety of children impacted by emergencies.
• Bolster efforts made by the community and the government to uphold and defend children's rights

Children are among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society. They are rarely given a voice in community development and decision-making, even the ones that impact them directly. However, when given the chance to participate, they can offer crucial alternate ideas and make critical contributions. There are numerous ways in which business operations affect children, either directly or indirectly. This comprises their general business operations, such as their goods and services, marketing strategies, and distribution procedures, as well as their interactions with the federal, state, and local governments and their investments in local communities. It is about time to change our mindsets that rather than getting the work done by the children, working for the children is the long-term investment that creates well-educated communities that play a key role in creating an inclusive and sustainable business environment.

About C4RB

Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) was established in 2011 as a think-tank to pursue its vision, ‘businesses integrate sustainability into their core business practices. Given that sustainability is a multi-dimensional problem, especially in the context of India and other emerging economies, CRB has adopted a model of engaging multiple stakeholders to develop action plans for promoting sustainable/responsible business, across various sectors in India.

About Save the Children India

Save the Children works across 18 states of India and in 120 countries, on issues related to education, health, protection and humanitarian/DRR needs of children, especially for those who are the most deprived and marginalized. Save the Children's association with India is more than 80 years old. Visit www.savethechildren.in for more information.

Supply Chain Solution for Restaurants Supply Port Gets Pre-Seed Funding From Marquee Investors

Supply Port, a B2B brand providing a one-stop supply chain solution for restaurants has raised pre-seed funding of an undisclosed amount from marquee investors. The investors include-Anant Agrawal and Sanjeev Agrawal- Directors of MMG Restaurants Private Limited. The brand was founded by Samarthya Bhargava and Manoj Malhotra with an aim to offer technology-based inventory management, just in time inventory replenishment and a one-stop-shop for restaurant supplies. Currently they are servicing in Delhi NCR, including Gurgaon, Delhi and NOIDA to about 200 restaurants and are planning to expand to over 30,000 restaurants across the top 40 cities in India in the next 3 years.

Mr. Samarthya Bhargava (R) & Mr. Manoj Malhotra (L) 

The business is currently growing 20% month on month and with this round of funding they are planning to double the growth. Through this investment, Supply Port plans to focus on technology upgradation to ensure the most efficient supply chain system specifically designed for the hospitality industry. Expansion plans will require the acquisition of a professional team in order to build an organisation that doesn’t crumble under the burden of exponential growth.

Commenting on the funding, Mr. Anant Agrawal, Director of MMG Restaurants Private Limited said, “We are super excited to partner with Samarthya on their vision to offer tech-based inventory management that solves the major problem of restaurants to maintain the inventory manually. I feel it’s a revolutionary solution to a problem that exists with the majority of restaurants in Pan India. We have extreme confidence in the growth potential of this category and opportunity to build a category-defining brand in the supply chain industry.”

Adding to the vote of confidence, Mr. Sanil Sachar, Founding Partner, Huddle (Huddle being an accelerator to Supply Port) said, “Supplyport is building itself into becoming a central system for the HORECA segment through its seamless support to help their clientele optimize their backend while being able to scale. Supply Chain as a sector has been awaiting a focussed disruption of this nature. Combining the deep knowledge of the product, ops, business acumen and execution skills, Samarthya and his team have created the correct systems to diversify their offerings and presence across geographies. I have full faith in the growth potential of the brand and we’re excited for the journey ahead.”

The organised restaurant market comprises over 1,20,000 restaurants in the top 40 cities of India. Averaging at about 6,000 in tier 1 cities and 1,500 in tier 2 cities. Supply Port is currently servicing 200 restaurants in a city which has roughly 8,000 restaurants granting it 2.5% of the market share in just Delhi NCR. Supply Port is trying to marry technology with the brand with a problem-solving approach. The integration of the mobile application with Supply Port’s backend software will ensure that the stock at the restaurant is always replenished on time and restaurants minimum stock levels are maintained. Through machine learning and AI, the mobile app will learn the ordering pattern of a restaurant and make it more efficient and accurate over time. This will also enable Supply Port to make the purchase and inventory system of the restaurant more efficient and transparent to the owner.

Commenting on the funding and vision of the brand, Samarthya Bhargava, Co-founder of Supply Port said, “Supply Port will focus in easy to use systems that can be comfortably adopted by our customers, and service delivery that will make the supply side of the restaurant business as organised as the front end. With these competitive advantages against the prevailing amorphous systems, we intend to focus on rapid growth across restaurants in India.”

About the Co- Founders:

Mr. Samarthya Bhargava – Founder and CEO of SupplyPort

Samarthya cut his teeth into entrepreneurship while studying Industrial Design in the UK. He undertook several initiatives, including designing a memory bracelet for iPhone; an App for aggregating college students as a marketplace for brands, and dabbling with pop-up events in the bars and restaurants in Bath during his internship. After returning to India, Samarthya was determined to make it as an entrepreneur. He started off with Brainchild, a product design company. Alongside, Samarthya kept on exploring opportunities and partnering with other like-minded people to launch Impawsters - a designer pet accessory brand. Zhic – a designer headphone brand, 25 Limited – a designer t-shirt brand with every design created only 25 pieces, and XOXO – a pop-up event company to promote footfalls in nightclubs and bars, are some of his other ventures.

His enduring interest in the restaurant business led him to invest in a few restaurants in Delhi NCR and Goa. The learnings from this venture show that the back-end of the restaurant business is fraught with problems such as ad-hocism, opacity, unscientific buying, lack of precision in inventory management, and unreliable supply chains. These were the prime motivations for him to launch SMS SupplyPort or SupPort.

Mr. Manoj Malhotra - Co-founder and COO

Manoj Malhotra has had a multi-dimensional career spanning from financial controller to chief administrator responsible for purchase of services for JWT, the organisation he served successfully for over 20 years. He honed his skill in negotiation, vendor management and maintaining service quality across the board.

At an entrepreneurial level, Manoj has investments and operational experience in the HORECA sector, where he ran a 30 room guest house successfully for two decades. He also has extensive operational experience in logistics having run a transport company of his own for a few years as well.

All these skills are now being brought to bear in building SMS Supplyport. He is the reason that Support operations and services are grounded to reality and operate on market truths rather than high flown logic created in glass cabins. As one of the co- founders, he is a key differentiator between SMS SupplyPort and a host of competitors who are jostling for space in this field.

About the Company

The brand defines itself as technology-based inventory management, just-in-time inventory replenishment, and a one-stop shop for restaurant supplies. As we see, inventory management is a manual process in most restaurants in India. SupplyPort acts as a one-stop solution for restaurants and helps them in procuring their supplies with the help of AI and technology. Their services will be available in over 30,000 restaurants across the top 40 cities in India in the next three years. Currently, the brand is enabling 200 restaurants in Delhi NCR.

The goal to increase efficiency in supply chains for the restaurant industry was a total lack of interest in technology investments. Traditional modes of servicing this industry are falling short of rising expectations, and a specialised tech-enabled, efficient, convenient and transparent supply chain system is the definitive future of the hospitality industry.

To know more about us and future associations log onto: https://supplyport.in/

Beams Fintech Fund Invests in Progcap, India’s leading Supply Chain Finance company

Beams Fintech Fund, India’s first Growth Stage Fintech Fund, has invested in the Series C round of Progcap, India's leading supply chain finance company. Beams has invested alongside Google, Creations, Tiger and Sequoia in this round. Other investors in this company include GrowX, CIBIL chairman MV Nair, Freecharge co-founder Sandeep Tandon. 9Unicorns & ZNL Growth Fund also participated in the round along with Beams.

Founded in 2017 by Pallavi Shrivastava and Himanshu Chandra, both richly experienced finance professionals with deep knowledge of supply chain and micro finance. Progcap is revolutionizing the way financial credit is delivered to small and medium retailers of the Indian retail economy.

Having worked at Global organizations such as the World Bank and IFC, Pallavi has a nuanced understanding of how innovative financing structures can be used to propel the growth of underserved businesses and how this can be applied in the Indian context. On the other hand, Himanshu comes with deep experience in supply chain finance, having built the supply chain finance portfolio at Standard Chartered Bank.

Supply chain finance is the need of the hour with many companies facing cash flow crunches and unorganized collections processes, Progcap is bridging the gap between distributors and retailers through specialized finance, payments and technology.

Till date, Progcap has disbursed more than $1 billion in loans, grown 4X annually. It has worked with over 700,000 SMBs.

Beams Fintech Fund’s ecosystem and network of LP's, which includes leading Banks and NBFC’s, will look to cross pollinate with Progcap. Beams value add strategy is to cross-pollinate between its LP’s and portfolio companies. Beams will facilitate access to its banking network and open doors to its group’s portfolio of 250+ startups for partnerships, collaboration, and potential acquisition opportunities for Progcap.

Sagar Agarvwal, Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Beams, said, “We are pleased to have backed Pallavi & Himanshu, building one of the fastest growing and disruptive supply chain finance platforms in the country. Supply chain is a deep problem in India with a credit gap of more than $300 Billion and SME/MSME’s require access to capital through innovative financing solutions. We are excited to work with Pallavi and Himanshu on building the future of supply chain finance and payments in India”.

“We are excited to join hands with Beams team to solve challenges faced by MSMEs/SMEs in their financing requirements. Beams has a built an interesting value add strategy towards companies & we are looking forward to working together with them on problems being solved by Progcap,” said Pallavi Shrivastava, Co-founder, Progcap.

About Beams Fintech Fund

Beams Fintech Fund is a Growth Capital Fintech fund for India offering Ecosystem, Value Add & Capital to support the Fintech founders of tomorrow. Beams is backed by India's first and largest integrated incubator, Venture Catalysts, that also has 9Unicorns, a $100 million early-stage sector-agnostic accelerator fund in its stable. Beams Fintech Fund is focusing on investing in growth stage rounds of financial technology companies run by exceptional entrepreneurs. We aim to create the market leaders of the Fintech revolution in India by supporting entrepreneurs in building enterprise solutions for the financial services industry & disrupting the way banking & financial services are traditionally offered to customers & businesses.

Agro-Biz Startup Greenikk Floats India’s First End-to-end Supply Chain for Bananas

Initiative aims to boost banana exports, farmers to get higher returns

A Kerala-based agro business startup has launched a pioneering venture to build India’s first full-stack supply chain connecting banana cultivators, traders and exporters on a single platform, tapping into the country’s surging exports of the nutrient-rich fruit with the potential for a strong global brand for its value added products.

Greenikk, a startup co-founded by young techies Fariq Naushad and Previn Jacob, will seamlessly connect banana farmers, dealers, wholesalers, and B2B buyers in the country, the world’s largest banana producer.

Greenikk has built Enablement Centres (EC) in the major banana producing agri-belts, in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These ECs provide the farmers with required supports such as finance, seeds, crop advisory, insurance coverage, agri inputs, including weather tips, and market connect, covering the entire gamut of production and marketing both inside the country and outside. Similar ECs are planned in other south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and further scaling across the whole of India.

Also, the platform, an innovative and promising initiative, will help farmers convert stems of the post-harvest banana plants into natural fibre and re-purpose the other leftovers as manure or poultry feed.

Noting that almost 20 crore post-harvest plant stems are being burnt or wasted every year, the Greenikk promoters said their aim is to ensure supplementary income for farmers through value addition of the wasted materials, besides helping curb air pollution.

“While venturing into this uncharted territory, the question that we often confronted was what made us to choose bananas, of all fruits available in the country. Having worked closely with some banana farmers, dealers, and buyers, we realised that it has the maximum potential among the fruits grown in India, if linked to a strong and reliable value chain that would scale up exports,” said Fariq and Previn, who were earlier promoters of an East Africa-based IT software startup.

India accounts for around 25 per cent of the world’s banana production, and the country’s exports of this fruit have grown eight-fold in the last nine years.

The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) has reported that India produced 32.6 million tons of bananas in 2020 with a land area of 9.6 lakh hectares under cultivation. There are more than 10 million stakeholders too. The domestic market size is pegged at around $18 billion.

“Though countries like USA and the UK have just one-third of India’s production, they own most of the popular global brands of value-added banana products. India, with a huge capacity for banana exports, is yet to capture the huge global market for banana-based snacks, health and nutrient supplements. What we are looking at is to place Indian banana on a strong supply chain with global reach, which will ultimately benefit our farmers” the Greenikk founders pointed out.

“The shortcomings in the country’s agro system have prevented the realisation of the enormous export potential of bananas. We have launched this technology-driven platform to remove the inefficiencies in the banana value chain besides addressing the problems of various stakeholders,” they said.

Fariq and Previn, driven by the passion to promote green and clean agro-based products that would replace plastic, successfully came up with the idea of a sustainable alternative to plastic and paper straws – papaya straws made out of waste petioles. This product won them an award at the TATA Social Enterprise Challenge in January 2020, on becoming the first team from Kerala to reach the finals of the challenge.

During the pandemic-induced lockdown, they launched a truck store (Farmy) that delivered fruits and vegetables, directly sourced from farms, at the doorsteps of apartments and various housing societies in the city.