MAHINDRA LOGISTICS & 1BRIDGE PARTNER FOR

 MAHINDRA LOGISTICS & 1BRIDGE PARTNER FOR LAST-MILE DELIVERY IN RURAL INDIA

With post-Covid tailwinds in rural markets, the partnership will cater to the rapidly growing consumption in India’s villages by delivering better quality consumer experience

 

Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), one of India's leading third-party logistics (3PL) solutions providers, recently signed an MoU with 1Bridge, a Bengaluru-based social enterprise and one of India’s largest village commerce networks, to work together on last-mile delivery & distribution of products in rural India.

While Mahindra Logistics specializes in supply chain management and serves customers across various industries including Consumer Goods and E-commerce across India, 1Bridge is a bridge that connects the supply side of the value chain, i.e., industry stakeholders within the Consumer Goods, E-commerce, Fintech, etc. to the demand side of the chain – i.e., the rural consumer at the village level through its village entrepreneurs and a technology platform.

Signing this significant partnership with 1Bridge, Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & CEO, Mahindra Logistics, said, “This collaboration will complement MLL’s logistical expertise, pan-India network and a wide customer base with 1Bridge’s deep presence across villages in rural India through its network of local business associates and district-level stations. We look forward to working collaboratively towards a strengthened supply chain network in rural India.”

Madan Padaki, CEO, 1Bridge, said “We are delighted to partner with a leader like Mahindra Logistics, as this will enable a start-up like us to learn faster and deliver better consumer experience to the village consumers.”

So far, 1Bridge has its operations spread across 6000+ villages across 65 districts in 6 states in India, viz. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu and Odisha. Through its strong village network of 6,000+ local entrepreneurs, known as 1Bridge Advisors, who advise and execute various transactions like product origination, digital services and local deliveries to their local communities - 1Bridge has enabled 25M+ deliveries to the doorsteps of local consumers and over 5M+ digital transactions. This model has also substantially facilitated rural employment & income generation resulting in substantial earnings for these local entrepreneurs.

To begin this partnership, Mahindra Logistics and 1Bridge have begun pilot projects in Karnataka, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu on deliveries of consumer/home appliances and groceries. Over the next 3 years, the partners intend to build an efficient last-mile delivery capability covering over 100,000 villages in India.

Mahindra logistics adds 10,000+ seasonal jobs

 Mahindra logistics adds 10,000+ seasonal jobs
ahead of festive season

 ~Actively employing from LGBTQ+ community, People with Disabilities and Armed Forces~

Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), one of India’s largest Third-Party Logistics (3PL) solution providers is likely to inject the much-needed cheer back into job openings ahead of the upcoming festive season. While MLL has already employed 10,100 people on a seasonal basis, a significant number of these employees will be retained in various operations. In addition to this, the company takes pride to add 40% staff to its third-party workforce during the pandemic.

Keeping true to its five-year roadmap, the company is actively employing differently abled persons, ex-servicemen from the armed forces and bridging the gender diversity gap by hiring more women from various backgrounds and experience. In FY21, MLL aims to hire over 500 persons with disabilities both on its rolls and the rolls of its business partners.

Gender diversity remains a challenge, specifically in the logistics sector. To bridge the gap, Mahindra Logistics is one of the sector leaders to initiate a special initiative called – ‘Udaan’ – a second careers (comeback) program and second career internship program for women at all levels, functions and divisions. The company has already started hiring women under Udaan program and the plan is to take this number to 50 by 2021. MLL has recently started hiring associates from transgender community at their warehouse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra.

                                                                                   

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Logistics Limited, said, “We encourage and value diversity amongst our employees, associates, business partners, customers and communities. It is therefore imperative to make MLL attractive for millennials, provide equal opportunity to women as well as persons with disabilities, recruit employees from diverse backgrounds like armed forces, and LGBTQIA workforce. We remain committed to our larger RISE purpose, by empowering these associates with skills which enables their long-term career development & employment” he adds.

MLL strongly believes that skill development is sacrosanct for a sustainable and independent workforce. In the last 2 years, the company has trained around 20,000 personnel (including drivers and warehouse operators) under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme of the Government of India. 

Mahindra Logistics launches

Mahindra Logistics launches HOPE

~ To provide relief fund for drivers impacted by the lockdown~

Mahindra Logistics Limited (MLL), one of India’s largest 3PL solutions providers has launched HOPE (Helping Our People during Emergencies), an initiative to support drivers financially to aid the battle against the COVID-19 lockdown. The company has partnered with Samhita Social Ventures - a social enterprise and SuperMoney - a financial lending tech platform to reach out to the beneficiaries within ecosystem. This move will create an ecosystem to channelise CSR funds of other companies to provide economic support and recovery to workers.

 The national lockdown announced by the government and with state borders shut, has impacted a large number of drivers. Whether they are drivers ferrying goods between the states as well across the country, or those who drive taxis and for ride-sharing companies. These drivers mostly stranded and are struggling to make ends meet for themselves and their families.

As a part of the initiative, Mahindra Logistics will be providing immediate relief by transferring INR 3,000/- to each driver’s bank account, to buy essential commodities. This will be followed by other support provided to these drivers like health insurance cover, leveraging government schemes and loan guaranteeing model.  In addition to this, Mahindra Logistics would strengthen healthcare professionals’ abilities to respond and provide support to affected families using digital channels.

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & CEO, Mahindra Logistics Limited said: “With over 30% of commercial vehicles stranded on roads across the country, drivers need urgent support. Truck drivers and their families are in immediate need of cash for food and other basic facilities. We have launched several programs to support the driver community along with our business partners. Through this initiative, of short term financial relief and hope we aim to help these drivers and their families until the situation in the country is restored.”

Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Priya Naik, Founder and CEO, Samhita Social Ventures says, “Through our India Workers' Alliance, we are delighted to partner with Mahindra Logistics, to support India's blue collar and gig economy workers whose lives and livelihoods have been severely impacted. Our single objective is to help them survive this crisis and enable them to get back on their feet. We talk to our workers and experts constantly to ensure that our solutions are quick, effective and responsive to changing needs on the ground”.

In addition to this, Mahindra Logistics (MLL) also announced that its enterprise mobility business, Alyte will provide emergency cab services for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This free service has begun in Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai, with more cities being added every day.