Zipaworld Startup Story - The Logistics E-Mall of India
Zipaworld - Our Story: India's First Logistics E-Mall Built on One Digital Platform
The Indian logistics market is among the significant global logistics and supply chain markets, valued at a trillion dollars. The logistics and supply chain sector is remarkable, accounting for more than 14% of India's GDP. Zipaworld is a logistics engine, or can be called a marketplace or an e-Mall, that specifically meets the logistics service demands of the marketplace and consumers. Zipaworld is one of Munich's electronic logistics systems; booking and other transactions can be done for air cargo, ocean freight, and surface products, all from a single system.
Zipaworld has already brought multimodal transport and logistics, such as air freight, ocean freight, and road freight, onto one platform in just 9 months since its launch in September 2020. Over the past few months, it has grown organically through collaborations and partnerships with numerous vendors and other players in India, the Gulf countries, Europe, and the U.S.A. It has associates in over 35 countries worldwide, supplying logistics services.
StartupTalky spoke with the core team at Zipaworld to understand the Startup Tale and the organization’s roadmap. Get insights on just how Zipaworld began, its company & revenue model, founder, parent firm, what Zipaworld does, its growth/expansion plans, and more.
Zipaworld - Company Highlights
STARTUP NAME - ZIPAWORLD
Founders - Dr. Ambrish Kumar
Founded - September 2020
Headquarters - Noida
Industry - Logistics and Supply Chain
Parent Organization - AAA 2 Innovate Pvt Ltd.
Website - zipaworld.com, aaa2innovate.com
Zipaworld - About Us
Zipaworld is a logistics company, but it uses an electronic method, or a digital logistics system. The group calls Zipaworld - The Logistics E-mall. The concept of E-mall is applied here: a single-window portal that displays numerous products or suppliers offering their products or services. The concept is to provide a single-window option for consumers who would otherwise have to go from pillar to post to address their demands.
In the logistics arena, there has been a dire need for centralizing procedures and single-window sources, as clients currently need to visit numerous suppliers and providers. The concept of e-Mall for logistics was coined by the founder, Dr. Ambrish Kumar, and called Zipaworld. As the name suggests, Zipaworld provides logistics services to various zip codes worldwide. This includes multimodal transportation and other product-forwarding solutions via air, sea, rail, road, and other elements of the supply chain.
Zipaworld is an online system that provides automated solutions for residential and global messenger services, air cargo, sea freight, road/rail products, door-to-door solutions, first-/last-mile pickups and shipments, express solutions, warehousing solutions, custom broker-agent services, and other logistics services. Zipaworld offers a seamless digital experience with features such as freight query management, product rate comparisons, online booking, on-time product forwarding, automated freight paperwork, live monitoring, immediate invoicing, online payment portals, e-dockets for storing and archiving e-documents, and more.
The vision for the next few months is to integrate more than 25,000 zip codes in India into the system and connect them with worldwide zip codes, attaching them via various modes of freight transportation. The concept is to offer a smooth benefit to the end customers, like makers, distributors, exporters, importers, and traders, to avail transparent logistics solutions at their own convenience without much disturbance from the numerous intermediaries. The principle of supplying anything and everything will be achieved by the end of this year. The company plans to expand globally on a large scale in the coming couple of years and become a worldwide player with a virtual presence in more than 150 trading nations. It plans to build a large network across the supply chain, involving all stakeholders to ensure the smooth flow of trade.
The long-term vision of Zipaworld is to leverage the latest technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT, to automate the entire logistics process and introduce blockchain technology into logistics and supply chain. The concept is to transform the supply chain tables, increasing exposure, mitigating threats, narrowing the demand-supply gap, and, as a result, lowering logistics expenses, which are presently very high.
Zipaworld - Logistics & Supply Chain Industry
The logistics and supply chain industry in India is the second-fastest-growing industry after shopping. The field’s development is remarkable, accounting for more than 14% of the GDP. The industry’s value stands at USD 170 billion and is expected to reach USD 250 billion at a CAGR of 10.5% over the next 5 years. This was the prediction pre-COVID; however, the forecast has not changed much post-COVID either. As global trade is growing and interdependence among countries is increasing, logistics is a market that is benefiting. The Indian logistics market is among the largest in the global logistics and supply chain market, valued at $4.3 trillion.
Likewise, India is set to become an international financial investment hub for manufacturing and warehousing, as well as a potential transshipment center and gateway for trade migration from nearby countries. The supply chain and logistics market in India is also one of the largest employment sectors, with more than 8 million individuals employed across the country. Nonetheless, several disadvantages keep logistics costs at 14% of GDP.
The major reason is the messy, fragmented processes and multiple players across the entire supply chain ecosystem. Only 15% of the players actually have an organized and integrated design. Other reasons include underdeveloped port infrastructure, weak cargo terminals, inefficient road and rail networks, uneven warehouse distribution, delays in cold-chain facilities, lack of multimodal transport, challenges in first and last-mile connectivity, decentralized customs processes, and the absence of centralized single-window logistics systems.
Zipaworld - Founders and Team
AAA 2 Innovate Pvt Ltd, the parent startup business, and Zipaworld were founded by Dr. Ambrish Kumar. The core group comprises his co-partners from his previous business, specialists in supply chain & technology fields, fresh young minds aspiring to kick-start a career in logistics and supply chain, IT, and those seeking to grow with the startup. The core team taking the idea forward comprises employees from shipping lines, airlines, ports and terminals, freight forwarding, and modern technology.
About Dr. Ambrish Kumar | Founder of Zipaworld
Dr. Ambrish Kumar is a prominent name in the logistics and supply chain fraternity. He has been the mind behind the acclaimed Indian startup LogYcode, which changed the air cargo logistics ecosystem several years ago. The concept, coined and implemented by Dr. Ambrish Kumar, was among the first movers to launch a mobile application for logistics solutions. Dr. Ambrish has over 16 years of experience in varied roles across domains such as logistics, freight forwarding, CFS, operations, supply chain administration, warehousing & examining new project motions.
He has held senior management positions at reputed organizations such as APM Terminals India Pvt. Ltd. and Eastern Cargo Carriers India Pvt. Ltd, Group CEO of SA Consultants and Forwarders Pvt Ltd (SA Team) and LogYcode Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd (Owner).
He has a distinguished academic background, having earned a Ph.D. in Economics with a thesis titled ‘Industrial Plan and Industrial Growth’. Additionally, his qualifications include an M.A. in Economics and an MBA in International Business, and he is also SAP-certified. There is advancement involved in every activity of Dr. Ambrish and his group, whether it is creating the office of the startup or designing a digital gateway to revolutionize the logistics sector.
Team and Work Culture
The startup is slowly growing, which started with a team of 6 core members and now has a team of more than 30 members on the direct payroll. On top of that, the startup has also acquired a stake in a residential transportation firm, Glowing X-Ways Logistic Pvt Ltd, which has offices in more than 40 locations across India.
The startup has created a dynamic work culture, and the workplace exudes an aura that every employee eagerly anticipates each day. The startup adheres to a round hierarchy rather than the typical vertical structure, where any team member can approach any other member or senior without hurdles or barriers.
There are only mentors and no reporting managers. The company promotes working from home because its procedures are fully digitized.
Any person can use the office whenever, with complete flexibility in timing.
There are no strict office hours to adhere to, as the firm has aligned its work partners with its vision, and everyone feels accountable for their roles.
The workplace encourages recreation and enjoyment with an in-house chill-out and chatter area featuring sofas, bean bags, and recliners, reading nooks, table tennis, and other activities to keep its people engaged with more than just their jobs.
The startup focuses on the joy index of its workforce, with plans and standards in place to support this element.
The startup has done its best to support its staff and their families during the situation and the pandemic.
Hiring and Head-hunting
While head-hunting, the company searches for partners in growth, not employees. The applicants who want to be an essential part of the team take responsibility and grow with the business. The startup is extremely active in university recruitments, providing internships to top students and then offering them opportunities for a career at the company itself.
Zipaworld's Ideation Journey - How it Started
The founder of Zipaworld, Dr. Ambrish Kumar, is a hardcore logistics specialist who has grown from the ground up and held senior-level positions across the supply chain, including ports and terminals, shipping lines, freight forwarders, and so on. He is additionally SAP-certified and consistently focused on technological advancement, artificial intelligence, systems, and human development. As he has experienced numerous loopholes in conventional logistics procedures, with manual workflows and heavy paperwork, he understood that automation and integration are the requirements of the hour.
He, in addition to a team of logistics and IT specialists, had created a logistics platform prototype at his previous company, where he served as chief executive officer. Nevertheless, since the firm was focused solely on product forwarding, the electronic platform’s scope was limited to B2B and could not expand to the broader supply chain. So, he prepared to begin his own endeavor, AAA 2 Innovate Pvt Ltd, which was launched during the pandemic in July 2020.
While the market and most services were hesitant to take on any new risks throughout the pandemic, Dr. Ambrish and his team saw it as an opportunity to drive an electronic transformation, which was the demand of the hour. During the unexpected and long-term lockdowns, numerous standard logistics operations were disrupted due to their reliance on manual labor, and organizations were severely affected. Zipaworld was launched in a record 3 months in September 2020, beginning with automated processes for air cargo deals. This turned out to be an advantage to several exporters and importers, traders of drugs, and also to small product forwarding enterprises, as they can perform their logistics transactions like checking competitive rate options, booking shipments, obtaining automated freight documents, paying online, tracking shipments, getting offers and discounts, and much more, all day and night at their convenience.
Within a month, it had more than 20 customers and 30 suppliers on board the platform. There are a few other reasons that motivated Dr. Ambrish Kumar and his enthusiastic group to establish Zipaworld. The rising logistics and supply chain costs, which are nearly 14.5% in India, have compelled the digitization and standardization of procedures, providing single-window options. Another significant reason is the enhancement of government policies and initiatives to encourage the logistics sector and attract global professionals and financial investment.
Zipaworld - Products/Services & USP
Zipaworld is a logistics engine, or can be called a marketplace or an e-Mall, that specifically caters to the logistics service demands of the market and customers. Zipaworld is one of the most unique digital logistics platforms, where e-bookings and other transactions related to air cargo, ocean freight, and surface freight can be handled from a single system. Not just that, Zipaworld can be used to book both international and domestic air freight. The system integrates multimodal transport. The client can enter their postal code for the beginning and destination, and Zipaworld provides an end-to-end solution and scheduling options. Zipaworld has also reached the doorsteps of people across India by adopting a B2C approach with its newly launched domestic and international courier service, which offers front-door pickup from more than 2000 pin codes.
For this reason, the customer does not need to go to numerous suppliers for various solutions such as transportation, warehousing, product forwarding, custom broker agents, and more. The portal eliminates standard delays caused by time zone differences, as the pricing and procedures are fully automated and available 24/7.
Moreover, the whole process relies on a basic ‘Previous-Next’ model, which helps the user understand the flow quickly. The portal logs and documents stage-wise updates and sends push messages and notifications to the consumer, thereby maintaining the utmost transparency of transactions.
Zipaworld is designed with the customer or nonprofessional in mind. The interface of Zipaworld and its flow are easily understandable to even a layperson. The site streamlines logistics and provides a very easy gateway to booking cargo, just like scheduling a trip or a getaway. While the platform provides end-to-end logistics solutions, such as door-to-door logistics, it does not use complex terms like Incoterms or confusing document names. The system uses simple, understandable terms that anyone can use without training or demonstration. Moreover, the platform provides a single invoice for multiple services availed for a single delivery. Various analytics and reporting are available to help users evaluate trends and anticipate seasonal variations based on historical data.
Zipaworld is a web and cloud-based platform that makes it convenient for anyone with a smart device or laptop to use. It is designed so that people in remote locations can also handle their logistics and supply chain transactions through a single portal, without having to navigate otherwise complex processes and paperwork.
While talking about the pain points that Zipaworld has actually resolved, allow us first to highlight the pain points of the customers looking for logistics services -
The logistics sector is largely fragmented and disintegrated. This causes the end consumer, or the owner of a consignment, to suffer the most.
Currently, not just in India but globally, there are very few single window portals that offer all logistics and multimodal transportation solutions from a single point of entry.
Hence, the end client must go to various fragmented suppliers for different services, such as warehousing, transport, freight forwarding, and more.
In addition, the consumer must handle pricing, invoicing, and payments independently for each vendor.
This leads to waste of time, heavy documentation, multiple approvals, and higher costs due to multiple intermediaries.
In a nutshell, the uniquely designed Zipaworld portal addresses pain points and enhances cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, and service efficiency.
Zipaworld
The name ‘Zipaworld’ refers to the different postal codes around the globe. As Zipaworld is a centralized system involved in 3PL/4PL services, the name represents a solution portfolio incorporating all logistics services from origin postal code to destination postal code from a single window across the globe.