Logistics company Blue Dart has won a top award in Singapore for implementing an innovative cash collection system during demonetisation in India.
The subsidiary of DHL eCommerce implemented the payment collection which enables couriers in India to collect cash-on-delivery (COD) payments through mobile Point of Sale devices and 15 different secure digital wallet options instead of physical cash.
The system, which was rolled out when the Indian government demonetised old currency notes of 500 and 1,000, enabled delivery staff to not only continue but significantly increase collection of COD payments, saving them more than 29 man-months between October 2016 and February 2017.
"The digital payment solution enables Blue Dart and DHL to continue providing Indian consumers and merchants with the COD options that they prefer, in a way that minimises many of the security and handling risks associated with cash handling," said Daniel Matthews, General Manager, Systems, Blue Dart.
"Given the significant impact of the demonetisation on COD throughout India, the system's success highlights how merchants can maintain sales and differentiate themselves by bringing traditional delivery processes into the digital era," he said.
"We continue to explore the possibilities of technologies like robotics, electric vehicles, and data analytics for next-generation logistics, developing them into practical applications that businesses can use to improve their performance," Pang Mei Yee, Vice President, Innovation, Solution Delivery & Service Management, Asia Pacific, DHL.
The awards for best innovations, technological solutions were held at Asia Pacific InnovationCentre in Singapore on March 15.
Other highlights of DHL Asia Pacific Innovation Day included keynote sessions on artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and new models for innovation being applied in Asia's cities.
Supply chain optimisation platforms, digital payment and robotics and unmanned aerial solutions were amongst the inventions which took centre stage at the Innovation Day.
It showcased some of the latest trends and technologies shaping the logistics industry, awarding projects that have already applied these ideas to real-world challenges.
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