Can you brief us about Bobba Group and its market operations? What are the recent expansions done by the company?
The Bobba group has been a pioneer in aviation, airport cargo and ground handling services for over 30 years. With a team of over 500 employees, Bobba Group has been built on its core values of efficiency, honesty, trust, and commitment. The group has interests in aviation, airport cargo terminal handling, ground ramp and passenger handling, warehousing and logistics. We have recently launched Bobba Logistics, a 360° warehousing solution for fast cargo transportation at multiple locations. This new 75,000 sq ft facility has completed provisions to manage end-to-end supply chain needs. We offer value-added services such as sorting, reverse packaging, grading, pre-cooling, and multi-commodity capability, among others.

The Bobba Logistics warehouse is a tech-enabled facility that will help companies reduce their transportation costs and improve their delivery time. The warehouse is strategically located near the city centre to ensure quick deliveries to multiple locations. It also has a dedicated Cold Zone with a 452-pallet capacity. It is a robust cold chain management solution, complete with packaging and processing technology and value-added services. This warehouse facility can be used as a distribution centre as it is located closer to the market. It will be a boon as this facility will allow both fast pick-up and faster delivery.

What are the recent technological trends taking place in warehouses and the MHE industry?
The pandemic has bought to the fore the importance of cargo for airlines and the challenges of operating in an environment that is highly manual. Ground handlers continue to face challenges in hiring and training personnel to manage the complex processes that work towards ensuring cargo is built up and carried safely on flights. Automation is one answer to this problem. The entire concept of seamless integration is reliant on technology. As a result, we focused not only on our own needs but also on the needs of the end user and how to meet those needs in an efficient manner. We received their own customised seamless data logging solutions in order to keep track of real-time data such as temperature, humidity, and how long the cargo has been exposed to outdoor temperatures. They are committed to documenting every step of the 3PL process.

For instance, we are trying to incorporate AI-launching technologies that can decrease transport time, dwell time, the kinds of gaps they see, certain aspects of transport taking longer routes, burning more fuel, and real-time access giving shorter delays in order to track GPS coordinates, how much energy was used during that commute from the factory to their location, and perhaps further improve that. Real-time tracking for clients is also something we are exploring. We fully support giving customers control over their products, so they can monitor where their products are kept, how temperatures are managed and have immediate access to all of that information. Real-time access will be available in a few weeks when we start operations; for now, we are testing and debugging.

In February 2023, Bobba Group opens a 75,000-square-foot tech-enabled warehouse. What is the rationale for such initiatives & their features with respect to advanced technologies?
If the warehouse is closer to the city, distribution and delivery become faster and easier and that's the reason we have come up with Bobba Logistics. It is a micro fulfilment and micro warehousing solution that differs from normal godowns, which are a lakh or two lakh square feet. Because for that kind of a model, you have to go to the outskirts of the city and these days, many of the cities are becoming more congested with traffic. The concept of having warehouses close to the city, just in time for the town is more important not just to ensure timely deliveries, but also to save on transportation costs and ensure shorter turnaround time. Bobba Logistics warehouse is very much in proximity to the national highway and the city and all industrial hubs.

What is the importance of advanced MHE in modern warehouses & logistics operations?
The adoption of various solutions in our operations has a twofold effect. One is that they improve our efficiency and productivity. At the same time, reducing dwell time by completing the operational process. Two, with improved efficiency, we are able to provide fast and clean delivery of products to our customers. This in turn helps them better plan their supply chain schedules along with reduced lead times. And thereby, indirectly reducing their cost.

How is Bobba Group utilising advanced MHE to improve efficiency in its operations?
Warehouses are generally considered to be godowns. But the traditional ways of a godown have to get upgraded with appropriate processes, technology, and other amenities if one wants to be considered a serious player in the market. Manpower for such setups is always required. It all depends on the training given to the staff and how they are educated on managing and handling such warehouses. Grade A warehouse should have the following attributes. Semi-automated to fully automated, faster delivery with lesser manpower, good location, better inventory management, efficient reverse logistics management, seamless distribution of goods and this is what Bobba Logistics is all poised to deliver to clients.

What are the growth plans of the company in the coming years?
The vision is to take Bobba Logistics Pan-India, beginning with the key southern markets, and going forward, ensuring the best in industry service across the network. We started in the south but would like to travel east and then north. Hence, we will eventually go pan-India. The goal of Bobba Logistics is to have the same level of quality and service across the country. The aim, however, is to establish the standard first and then replicate it across the country. The name Bobba resonates with service excellence and industry-leading quality in all aspects.