admin The company wants to be transparent with its customers and provide the most efficient services in the most economical terms.
Ajai Joseph, CEO.
The most important industry for any country in boosting their economy is freight and logistics. The importing and exporting of good from one place to the other generates capital for the nation.
In our global economy, consumers are used to seeing products from every corner of the world in their local stores and retail shops. These overseas products—or imports—provide more choices to consumers.
Placing the clients’ preferences first and solving all shipping difficulties is Consolidated Shipping Line.
Anchoring the Shipping Line
Consolidated Shipping Line was established in the 90s and ever since then they have offered efficient freight forwarding services globally in and out of India. They have a wide range of shipping and logistics solutions to its customers irrespective of how big or small they are from anywhere to everywhere.
Based in India at the moment, the team aims to be as close as possible to its clients to understand them better. It tries aligning its freight forwarding services that suit the customer requirements for the goods to reach their destination in time with the most economical costs.
The company has more than 200 direct employees. The company is headquartered in Cochin, Kerala, and has branch offices in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Tuticorin, Coimbatore, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Vizag (Visakhapatnam).
Customers are the heart of any business and Consolidated Shipping line is aware, along with the fact that all of their customers come to the company by choice. They offer undivided attention to all customers. They keep the relationship with their customers no matter whether from a small or big vendor professional. Once the company accepts a customer through its KYC program, it renders professional and sincere efforts to keep them satisfied with its services. It is all about going that extra mile for the same money. The firm’s philosophy is to do business to make a reasonable profit for the company.
The Growth of the Leader
Ajai Joseph, the CEO, started consolidated Shipping services, famously known as CSS, in Dubai, in the year 1995, and in 1996 the team entered India by acquiring Anchorage Shipping Kochi. He expanded the business in the Middle East and built a state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution centre in Jebel Ali.
In the year 2001, the team of Consolidated entered the Americas with an office in New York and soon in Vancouver. By 2004 it was operating over 35 offices worldwide, employing around 1200 people. Since 2005 Ajai’s focus was on India and seeing the potential, he started many verticals related to shipping and logistics, including domestic express courier services.
Joseph started his career when he was in his early twenties. At that age, traveling to different countries, meeting people, experiencing life was of great interest, and logistics was only a reason. During his travel, a lot of fascinating things that he experienced pulled him towards the industry of logistics.
To mention a few, visiting the huge Air France Cargo Facility at Paris operated by six men and the robotic pallets, a truck with 48 wheels operating with remote control where the driver standing outside the truck, manoeuvring it using a joystick, a visit to the 10,000 Teu ship (the biggest during those days) were all interesting aspects of the trade from a youngster’s point of view. However, being in the trade and learning matured him. Further, he fell in love with the trade as he could learn new things, technology, machines, AI integrated systems.
Shipping Progress
The company provides Ocean freight, Airfreight, Land transportation, Sea-Air, Project Forwarding, Customs Clearances. It provides value-added services such as Free consultancy and survey for all shipping needs, Licensed House customs clearance (CHB), Cargo Insurance, and domestic services in India using the India rail network, road, and air connectivity.
Overcoming the Storms
Joseph has immense experience in establishing companies in different parts of the world. Some of these places being, Dubai, the Middle East, the US, and India. He has mentioned that establishing a company in Dubai are much easier to own and operate, whereas New York was a bit challenging. In India he has experienced the most difficulty because in every state and city that he wanted to start the shipping line there would be a completely different set of rules and regulations.
Joseph also mentions that the team needs to travel a lot, attend many conferences, and have the right kind of staff to offer what they promise. In India, people are from different backgrounds and cultures, so finding the right set of people to work with a common culture is challenging.
I am not averse to any technology that helps us serve the customer better.
Ajai Joseph, CEO.
Rocketing Sales During the Pandemic
Every industry was in troubling waters during the pandemic, in a way the shipping and logistics industry was disturbed too. But Consolidated Shipping Services made the best of their difficulties.
Though the shipping and logistics industry is classified under essential services, India was in a lockdown. Many of the cops who were managing the lockdown and people movement did not know what logistics is. The company had difficult times convincing them to let its skeleton staff come to the office and attend urgent shipments and customs clearances.
Most of the company’s staff was supportive, and they took the risk by coming to office of all odds against them and fighting the pandemic. Others who were not required to be physically present were managing work from home efficiently. Since the team is handling many Pharma customers, it was satisfying for Ajai and his employees to be a part of India’s fight against COVID.
Soaring in the Future of Consolidated Shipping Service
CSL is not interested in making quick money. Joseph stated that, “The company wants to be transparent with its customers and provide the most efficient services in the most economical terms.” The team has its USPs, and they create new verticals so that it can serve its customers as a one-stop shop.
In the technological aspect of logistics and freight, AI and drones are taking their place whereas the company utilizes technologies to improve itself, but he still believes the human interface is crucial to the trade.
“I am not a big fan of waiting for 15-20 minutes to get a response from a human, but I am not averse to any technology that helps us serve the customer better.” says Ajai.
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