ULIP to facilitate India’s logistics sector with data-driven visibility and transparency

National (24/03/2023): Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, as part of the ‘National Logistics Policy (NLP)’ on 17th September, 2022. ULIP has a dedicated portal that makes the process of data request simpler, faster, and transparent and facilitates India’s logistics sector with data-driven visibility and transparency. The portal can be accessed through “https://www.goulip.in”.Since its successful launch, ULIP has been receiving very positive responses from the industry players.

Within 6 months of its launch, it has received registrations from more than 400 companies. 68 companies have already signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with ULIP for getting access to the data sets. More than 30 applications have been developed by the industry players for providing better services to their end users by leveraging ULIP’s API integrations. More than 6.5 Cr. API hits have already been processed in this short span of time. The large enterprises, key service providers of the sector as well as the new-age startups are equally keen to be associated with ULIP.

Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary, Logistics Division, DPIIT, CEO & MD, NICDC, and Chairman, NLDSL said, “With ULIP, we definitely envisage transparency, efficiency and reduced overall logistics cost. ULIP will keep on contributing to the Indian Logistics Sector with a new and innovative approach which will eventually help the fulfilment of the vision of PM GatiShakti through National Logistics Policy (NLP).” She further added that ULIP should now focus on fulfilling data requirements for logistics of specific sectors like coal, cement, fertilizer, food-grain, etc.

Major industry players like Maruti Suzuki, DHL, Safexpress, Ultratech, TCIL, Jindal Stainless, Tata Steel, Yes Bank, BOSCH, Total Group, etc. have been onboarded on ULIP to develop their use-cases which will benefit them and their stakeholders alike.

There is a sound adoption of technology for various operation activities and processes by the industry players. With ULIP’s data services, companies are building innovative solutions/Apps to optimize the utilization of technology.  For example, the end-to-end supply-chain of Ultratech cement requires tens of thousands of carrier vehicles every day across India which are being supplied by the third-party transporters. By integrating with ULIP, Ultratech can now verify the compliance of all the vehicles and drivers instantly. Intugine, a logistics related technology service provider is using ULIP’s FASTag API as the tracking tool for road transportation wherever there is no GPS device or consent available. It has also created a planning tool for first mile/ last mile movement of rail-bound cargo by utilizing ULIP’s Railways cargo tracking API.

Yes Bank, one of the leading banking entities, is using ULIP’s API services for backend risk management activities like IEC code validation, confirmation of actual movement of cargo, etc. Lynkit, a start-up is innovatively using the data for gate and yard automation of the manufacturing entities. TCIL is electronically verifying the customer’s official documents through ULIP’s eKYC backed by DigiLocker system, which is saving time and cost for the company due to minimization of manual effort. Similarly; Cargo Shakti – an insurance settlement agency in the logistics sector is using ULIP’s data as digital evidence which is helping them in getting rid of  the lengthy documentations.

ULIP is enabling the industry players to get secure access to the data related to logistics and resources available with various Ministries. At present 33 systems from seven ministries are integrated through 106 APIs covering more than 1600 data fields for usage by the stakeholders. A dedicated support team is working round the clock to provide support to the industry players for registration on the portal. After the registration, users need to submit their use-cases, which will then be reviewed based on the proposed usage of the requested data.

ULIP users with API based integration can utilize the data for various activities and services like multi-modal track and trace, people and vehicle authentication, document digitization, process automation at yards and gates, discovery services etc. which shall lead to reduction of overall operational cost of logistics and save time.