CARGOCONNECT-MARCH2024 - Flipbook - Page 12
PURPOSEFUL
FROM OPAQUENESS
TO TRANSPARENCY
– ULIP REDEFINING
INDIA’S LOGISTICS
LANDSCAPE
T
he Unified Logistics
Interface Platform
(ULIP) was launched
on September 17, 2022
as part of the National Logistics
Policy (NLP). More than one year
since its roll-out, the data and
single-window platform is helping
streamline operations on the
ground for the logistics sector,
aided by better road infrastructure and technology.
The NLP is deemed a game
changer as it aims to bring
down India’s cost of logistics
operations from 13-14 per cent
of GDP to single digit by 2030.
Within the scope of this objective,
ULIP is acting as a key facilitator
as it enables logistics users to
monitor cargo movement, track
consignments, manage inventory as well as establish secure
access to information related to
logistics and resources available
with various ministries. ULIP is
a brainchild of the NITI Aayog
and was developed under the
PM Gati Shakti National Master
Plan (PMGS-NMP). Currently,
36 systems of eight different
ministries and government
bodies are integrated through
more than 114 APIs covering
more than 1800 data 昀椀elds. They
include MoPSW, MoCA, MoRTH,
MeitY, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Ministry of Railways,
Ministry of Finance, Ministry
of Consumer A昀昀airs, Food and
Public Distribution, and National
Industrial Corridor Development
Corporation (NICDC).
The government of India
launched the NLP to break
the current inefficiencies and
promise ease of doing business
12 | CARGOCONNECT MARCH 2024
The government of India launched the
NLP to break the current inefficiencies
and promise ease of doing business in
the logistics sector. The policy introduced
ULIP to establish a single-windowlogistics market and develop a more
interconnected, tech-enabled framework
for the logistics sector of India.
According to the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry, ULIP users with API-based
integration can utilise the data for various
activities and services like multimodal
track and trace, people and vehicle
authentication, document digitisation,
process automation, among others.
in the logistics sector. The policy
introduced ULIP to establish a
single-window-logistics market
and develop a more interconnected, tech-enabled framework
for the logistics sector of India.
ULIP, as many of you may
know, is a digital gateway for
enabling industry players to access
logistics-related datasets from
various government systems
through request and responsebased application programming
interface (API) integration. In
simple words, industry players
get secure access to information
related to logistics and resources
available with various ministries.
ULIP has a dedicated portal that
makes the process of data requests
simpler, faster and transparent.
A support team works roundthe-clock to provide support to
the industry players and helps
with the registration process on
the portal. After the registration,
users need to submit their use
cases, which is then reviewed
based on the proposed usage of
the requested data. After the successful review, users requesting
data sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). With the signing of
the NDAs, industry players can
develop APIs for integration with
ULIP. After the system security
check and thorough testing of
the integration, users can fetch
authentic data through ULIP from
various government sources.
ULIP gives direct and
indirect bene昀椀ts to all logistics
stakeholders, such as veri昀椀cation
of drivers and vehicles details
in a single click, tracking and
tracing of consignments, route
optimisation planning, timely
updates on the destination of
the consignment, visibility of
empty carriers and containers,
better inventory management,
and reduced paper works.
By reducing regulatory,
documentary and other delays,
ULIP enables structured planning
by helping in decision-making
on the optimum use of modes of
logistics thereby saving cost and
time. With the democratisation of
information, ULIP equips industry players to create a market for
revenue generation as well as
the abolition of monopoly and
un-levelled advantage.
According to the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, ULIP
users with API-based integration
can utilise the data for various
activities and services like multimodal track and trace, people and
vehicle authentication, document
digitisation, process automation,
among others.
As per December 2023 data
of the Commerce and Industry
Ministry, “Around 700 companies
have been registered on ULIP.
“Over 125 private companies have
signed an NDA, and this will
enhance supply chain visibility
and boost trade. Over 65 applications have been made live. GST
data is being integrated with ULIP
to provide end-to-end multimodal
tracking of cargo and demandsupply mapping for trade.”
