How this SaaS platform helping delivery-based businesses grow

Roadcast, which was started in 2015 with the idea of creating a real-time tracking app, now, offers the most advanced vehicle telematics and delivery automation SaaS platform. The company helps delivery-based businesses by providing them with a robust, scalable and cost-effective solution to automate operations with end-to-end solutions for logistics management automation. Rahul Mehra, Co-founder, Roadcast in an interview with Bizz Buzz, says: "Our delivery and order management software offers enterprises a reliable platform with information such as pick-up and delivery scheduling, image recognition, auto-route optimization, audio/video surveillance, distance to the recipient, estimated time of arrival and more and we make sure that our logistics tech is ahead of tech curve offering the latest tech-based solutions"

How has the company evolved over the years?

The company started with the idea of creating a real-time tracking app in 2015. The product was intended for B2C as a social platform but when the tech was ready, we saw a larger use case in the logistics sector in India and hence the product evolved into an enterprise logistics management platform.

Now, we offer optimization, visibility and connectivity. We provide solutions of coordination from a single point or centralized location and are perfectly connected to the entire place. We help delivery-based businesses by providing them with a robust, scalable and cost-effective solution to automate operations with end-to-end solutions for logistics management automation.

Our delivery and order management software offers enterprises a reliable platform with information such as pick-up and delivery scheduling, image recognition, auto-route optimization, audio/video surveillance, distance to the recipient, estimated time of arrival and more and we make sure that our logistics tech is ahead of tech curve offering the latest tech-based solutions.

How is the Roadcast product unique in the market place?

Roadcast is one of the only technology enterprises that provide a highly comprehensive platform that combines the power of IoT for vehicle tracking and a seamlessly connected driver application for delivery uberization. We are the people who are giving optimization, visibility and connectivity. The pandemic has created variables that change the market every single day and the only way to combat such uncertainty is to focus on data and visibility.

Today, to scale a business across multiple cities, the use of a tech platform is inevitable. The only way to run a profitable delivery business is through tech enablement and automation. To keep manual assignment and coordination minimum, tools such as chatbots, auto-assignment, route optimiser, etc are critical to run operations smoothly.

We help established and upcoming companies digitize their operations. Be it the automobile sector, food delivery industry, Q-commerce, or logistics, as new players enter the market, we help them compete and strengthen their foothold, by furnishing them with relevant tech-enabled solutions that are also cost-effective. Even as the pandemic ushered in a shift in consumer behaviour and the demand for hyperlocal deliveries skyrocketed, we offered a unique combination of a driver application and IoT connectivity to provide end-to-end visibility including the need for a quick shift to multi-point pickup.

What has been the financial growth and any plans to go global?

We are aiming to go public in the next five years and become one of the largest logistics providers in the country. We want to build an ecosystem for the logistics sector and then further incubate and accelerate visionary startups. We plan to expand internationally across the Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia and Europe in the next 2-3 years by forming strategic partnerships with local players and businesses.

The past year and this year as wells been about achieving technological advancements and we are happy to say that we have now developed advanced image recognition capabilities. We have a strong presence across six countries with GCC being a key target market. Besides this, our inclination towards sustainability is also a driving factor for us to do better and we have a leader in India for EV-based telematics solutions to promote EVs and a greener planet. We now have the entire Delhi waste management operation running on our platform and we are telematics partners with over 10 OEMs.

In the previous financial year, we have seen revenue of Rs 12 crore, which is a huge jump from the last financial year. Our team has grown and we are a strong organization of 55 now and we are still hiring actively. We are now looking to further our international expansion across EU, GCC, MENA and SEA. In the tech field, we are looking at R&D into upcoming AI & ML-based technologies and setting up a major data analytics infrastructure to further strengthen our model. We will be looking at tie-up with tech consultancies, resellers and system aggregators for the international market for various geographies. We aim to generate $5 million revenue with a strong customer pipeline. The goal is to become a leading SaaS provider for hyperlocal and e-commerce in India and other countries.

What major trends will help shape logistics sector management in India in the year 2023?

Hyperlocal is all about convenience and this convenience heavily depends on optimized shipping. In hyperlocal, there are multiple modes of transportation involved now. E-bikes have almost completely replaced fuel-powered two-wheelers. The EVs not only provide a cost-effective solution for logistics but also vehicle connectivity. E-commerce is now using three-wheelers for the first mile and mid-mile. These EVs are helping companies ace the rapid inter-city movement of goods, making logistics more efficient and sustainable. These connected vehicles allow for a handshake model of delivery wherein the three-wheelers bring a majority of goods to a sorting centre/micro warehouse and from there e-bikes complete the last-mile delivery. Besides this, focus on driver safety will also be a crucial space for evolution. Installing IoT which monitor driver behaviour, video surveillance etc. to ensure transparency.

Which AI technologies trends will boost hyperlocal delivery and the logistics module?

Logistics as an industry has undergone a tremendous transformation, especially in the past two years. From a purely operational vertical to now becoming the backbone of commerce, logistics is now about automation and shaving off even seconds from the delivery timeline to stay ahead of the competition. In the coming future, technology and digitization will lead the innovation and evolution of logistics to strengthen supply chain models. AI-based solutions like visibility, preventive measures, robotics, automation, and inventory management will alter the traditional ways of working.

AI interfaces allow for enhanced route planning to optimize cargo movement be it hyperlocal, domestic or international. Considering and calculating factors such as border restrictions, permits, port availability, cargo space availability, traffic, rider availability, time etc, AI-based automation and digitization have augmented real-time tracking of cargo at any given point in time.

How will next-stage automation like big data and connectivity create more resilient supply chains?

It will help take more informed decisions as most outcomes can be pre determined. Planning will be highly advanced and eventually supply chains will be more resilient.

How will sustainability in the supply chain be an integral part of its management?

The logistics sector needs to take a holistic approach. Sustainability is crucial to making an impact in the industry as this will not only help win the customers' preference but also optimise cost and help the planet. The sector needs to look at improving the livelihood of delivery executives, the overall growth of the eco-system, impact on the environment and sustainable growth.

How will logistics 4.0 starts a new era of digitization of logistics?

Logistics 4.0 will see a lot of disruption and rapidly scaling systems. Technology is being developed at a pace that is faster than ever. Drones, autonomous vehicles, blockchain etc, will completely transform the existing ecosystem.

How will human-machine collaboration, automated planning improve overall transportation efficiency?

Most of the operations will be autonomous, however human effort will be required to make these systems more robust and smarter. In cases where physical presence is difficult, humans can use remote access to operate machinery and save travel time.