In order to empower India's SMEs, logistics service provider DHL Express India (P) Ltd plans to organise 30 SME clinics, especially in Tier-II and -III cities, by next year. The clinics will act as a knowledge forum that would help address SME clusters' logistics needs as well as other requirements in the areas of human resources, marketing, finance and technology.
The SME sector contributes more than half of DHL Express' revenues and this year it is expecting a 30-40 per cent growth in business from the sector. Across India, the logistics service provider has 37,000 SME clients.
Sandeep Juneja, DHL Express' senior director, national sales, told Business Standard: "SMEs are our prime focus area and we are using different initiatives to help them. One such initiative is SME clinics, which will enable SMEs to get a first-hand glimpse of how to reduce cost and time by sending goods directly to stores instead of routing them via a warehouse, using our network. Our experts at these clinics will address issues related to supply chains, finance and exports."
He added that exports created tremendous opportunities for SMEs, opening up new markets for their products and services, and give them access to international best practices and innovations. "There are clearly still some hurdles that remain for small businesses with global aspirations. As a global logistics company we make this process more efficient, and we will continue to tailor our services and solutions to help SMEs grow and compete globally."
