LOGISTICS

IN
BLUE DART

LOGISTICS IN BLUE DART

The Information Technology industry is, perhaps, typical of the changing

and escalating logistic demands of various industries today, irrespective of their

category as 'old' or 'new' economy. In the IT industry, the difference between
success and failure is closely linked to the supply/value chain integration, of which
there

are

two

distinct

processes:

1. The delivery of goods to the customer in the most reliable transit period (and
preferably the shortest) possible. 'Reliable' alludes to a certain guaranteed transit
time for packages to reach customers or the response that organisations need in the
event of any exceptions.
2. The reverse flow of acknowledged signed delivery records without which, in
many cases, recovery of bills are virtually impossible. Especially so in the case of
companies placing multi-location orders that could cover hundreds of cities. The
task for the supplier is staggering - plan logistics for deliveries to all these
locations, and hope for 100% of the delivery records to be returned before bills can
be submitted to the customer. In most IT companies, the role of 'logistics' or
'fulfillment' is key.
With organisations moving towards close to perfect standards like Six
Sigma, interaction with logistics suppliers has taken on a critical role moving up
sometimes to the level of the CEO of the organization.
Blue Dart Express Limited applied and found solutions to these critical
demands much before other players could even recognize their need. Through its
exceptional people processes, superior technology, and stress on quality systems
over the last, almost two decades now, Blue Dart was quick to fulfill these needs:
The country's most reliable air and surface network offer a pre-determined
delivery schedule with close to 100% accuracy. The IT industry could plan its
production with precision and avoid expensive inventory build-up.

Blue Dart offers the country's most comprehensive communications

technology. Much before the internet was prevalent; Blue Dart customers could
dial into the network through Power Dart 2000 and track their packages. As an
added option, Fax dart could fax a copy of the delivery record the minute the Blue
Dart system was updated.
The country's only express airline with a fleet of three Boeing 737s ensured
that packages were flown to their destinations overnight. Another tremendous
advantage was that the individual size of packages that could be carried multiplied
manifold.
Retrieval of signed delivery records posed the industry's most intriguing
problem. Blue Dart was quick to understand this requirement and put in place a
100% retrieval system.
Blue Dart not only handles large volumes and oversize packages overnight it also provides the industry with status of their shipments and retrieves such
records as are necessary for billing. The entire cycle has been considerably
shortened, enabling the industry to achieve healthy bottom-line.

Logistics software solutions

Vendo
r

Solution

Features
Application program offered to Blue Dart offices and its

SENTOR (Status
Blue

Entry Offline for

Dart

Regional Service
participants)

channel partners in remote areas via the Internet. Users

receive detailed information on inbound packages for
delivery. Upon delivery, proof of delivery details are
entered offline and updated on Blue Dart's Web server
within three hours. The earlier time lag was 24 to 48
hours.
A PC-based solution aimed specifically at SMBs. It

TNT

ExpressShipper (to
be launched)

improves the business efficiency of customers by helping

them send more than fifteen consignments a day.
Customers can track consignments and obtain price
quotations directly from their PCs.

Online consultancy on customs-related paperwork for

FedEx

Global Trade
Manager

SMBs that helps determine which customs documents

should accompany their (customer's) international
shipments. Lets customers print and fill them up thereby
helping them save time on potential border delays.

E-COMMERCE

INITIATIVE

E-commerce Initiatives

E-vision:To enable global connectivity to Blue Dart's present and future interactive
technology

strengths,

for

value

added

solutions.

To facilitate seamless integrated transportation, distribution and supply

chain management, from, to and within the region, thereby increasing value
to

our

customers

and

shareholders.

As a technology leader in the business of supply-chain management

in the country, Blue Dart Express Limited recognized the far-reaching scope
of the internet in 1996, and has been exploring web-based solutions to
extend the range of services available to its customers and integrate them
into

its

core

products.

It

has

evolved

an

e-strategy.

This e-strategy encompasses E-Solutions to deliver additional process

efficiencies to business by allowing them access to Blue Darts e-shipping
tools and integration with its e-business tools. An individual solution is
available for each business, big or small, transacting off the internet or on
the internet, and ranging from a stand-alone to a fully integrated one

The basic tracking solution will enable Blue Dart's

customers number. A mail-based solution will allow
the customers to query status of to track their
shipments, through single or multiple waybills, online. Customers can check the status of their

 E-Shipping Tools:Blue Dart provides some convenient tools to aids to its customers shipping
management processes.

Web Based Tools

TrackDartTM
MailDartTM
Location Finder
Transit Time Finder
Price Finder
Billing
Schedule a pickup
Image Dart
Waybill Generation

Stand-alone Tools

 COSMAT II
(Computerised On-line System for Management, Accounting and Tracking)

SMART
(Space Management Allocation Reservation and Tracking),

CaressTM
(Complaint Appreciation, Resolution and Evaluation to Satisfaction System),

ShieldTM
ShipDartTM
Customised Solutions

E-Business Tools:-

Blue Dart has been the only Indian

Air Express Company that has invested extensively
in Technology infrastructure to create differentiated
delivery

capabilities,

quality

services

and

customized solutions for the customer.

These tools may be efficiently integrated with the customers systems to
provide him with a convenient and cost-effective solution to his shipping
requirements.
Some of the technology-based business offerings are as follows:-

InternetDartTM
Track on-line the status update of your shipments sent over the last 45 days.
You may track by a range of dates, origin, destination, delivered or
undelivered shipments or service used, on-line. You may generate a series of
reports, at a pre-determined frequency, and sort the results on-line.

ShopTrackTM
ShopTrack TM is an API (Applications Program Interface)
designed specifically to support and enhance the services provided by a portal

or

any

e-business.

PackTrackTM
PackTrackTM is an API (Applications Program Interface) designed for any
client involved in logistics, distribution and inventory control. PackTrack TM
can be integrated into the client's systems and enables him to keep track of
the entire distribution status of all his customers.

MobileDartTM
MobileDartTM - WAP works on any mobile phone or device which supports
Wireless Application Protocol. Using MobileDart-WAP, the customer can
check the current status of his shipments on-line by entering the waybill
number.