The most advanced, the most sophisticated warehouse from among the nominations will be put in the scanner for attributes that enhance productivity and empower the workforce. The judges will be on the look for the use of cutting-edge, innovative technologies implemented.

For this desirable category, the jury will consider the service providers with a range of abilities from strategic planners to those who can manage logistics, warehouse, transportation, and related customer services. In short, the nominated companies must demonstrate proven capabilities for a wide range of services.

This especially instituted category will recognize an integrated and comprehensive Logistics Services Provider (LSP) in a free zone ecosystem. Free zones are traditionally considered both the purveyors and consumers of exhaustive logistics services and resources. The jury will examine and put under the lens an operator that is the repository of centralized logistics services under one roof and the provision of all associated requirements.

For this crucial category, the jury panellists will consider a host of business formation packages for the company owners to start a company seamlessly and grow their business under highly favourable conditions. Of particular interest will be incentives, sops, rapid processing of paperwork and the availability of a full suite of logistics services.

Given the intense competition in the transport sector, this category will be a star attraction. Companies that provide and can guarantee impeccable service standards will be shortlisted as the bar is set very high. There are multiple factors on which the quality and extent of services will be evaluated from fleet size to driver experience; fleet composition and use of telematics and technology to warehousing and storage amenities.

The jury panel for this special category will explore a neophyte company with the promise of immense potential. During the past five years and beyond we have witnessed a spurt of greenhorn logistics and supply chain companies by ingenious and ambitious entrepreneurs across the region who have been swift to seize opportunities as they came along.

Warehouse Automation Systems and Warehouse Management Systems are becoming the new mantra and buzzwords in the realm of warehouses and warehouse operations. The exponential growth of e-Commerce has put the spotlight on warehouses which are now being seen to be more than repository of goods and materials. Warehouses are also getting increasingly digital, a sign of the times. The jury will examine the technologies on offer.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability is now well and truly an integral aspect of the corporate philosophy of every responsible corporation. Concern for the ecology, emissions and doing a good deed for the community at large are watchwords that define the social fibre and moral paradigm of a corporate entity. Our jury has been tasked to evaluate the most imaginative CSR initiative –which by any yardstick will be a tough call to make.

In recent times, women have been steadily beating a path in droves to growing opportunities in the logistics and supply chain sector. Now the scenario has radically transformed, and women are making their mark in this field. There are now an increasing number of women in prime positions in the industry—an area which was always considered a male preserve until recently. Companies are trying to re-dress the gender imbalances in the industry and more and more women are joining the logistics and supply chain companies at all levels. The empanelled jury will sieve through the nominations to highlight a winner in the pursuit of addressing the gender imbalance and the role of women in the industry.

As we are all too aware, Covid-19 precipitated the use and transformation of passenger aircraft into freighters. Although passenger ticket sales plummeted sharply, cargo revenues registered a corresponding increase and that to a considerable extent kept airlines buoyant. The fallout is airlines are on the bandwagon of consolidating freight revenues and offering options and propositions that ensure incremental bottom lines.

The jury for this vital game-changing category is tasked with identifying crucial, ground-breaking technology services and solutions for the burgeoning supply chain and logistics industry. This is a very dynamic field and given the advent and indispensability of new technologies, this sector is one to watch. This classification will attract some heavy hitters all eager to seek recognition and improve their popularity rankings.

Given the intensely competitive and high-density space, the jury will be out for long in this toughly fought category. 3PL is the staple for most logistics and supply chain companies, ranging from small to medium to large to mega players. This field will no doubt attract the most nominations and the winner will be required to be well and truly outstanding to fit the bill!

Logistics and Supply Chain operations are no doubt important and inseparable components of the Retail superstructure. As the saying goes—the detail is in retail. Given the expanse and complexity of the retail trade in any geographical constituency—whether local, national, regional, and even international, there are rich pickings and dividends to be reaped for providers of cost-effective retail solutions providers.

Over the recent past the burgeoning e-Commerce sector has been growing exponentially. The onset of Covid-19 provided fresh impetus to the industry which is clearly on the upswing. According to a recent report by Oberlo, the global e-Commerce growth rate for 2022 is forecast at 12.2 percent, with cumulative sales to US$ 5.542 trillion. With so much at stake, our jury has the unenviable task of narrowing the nominations down to the winning candidate. No small feat and one that is fraught with challenges. May the best candidate win!

Sea Ports and maritime hubs are sprouting in the region and the mega investments are gravitating towards the shipping sector. Running of ports and ports operations are a super-sized business globally but the region has more than its fair share of constantly and ever busy large ports and trans-shipment centers and hubs—among the biggest in the world. Furthermore, the concept of integrated trade, logistics and industrial hubs is also rapidly gaining momentum in the region catapulting ports into the front lines of trade and commerce enablement.

Given the growth of ports in the region and infusion of investments and capital, the jury will find this choice a hard nut to crack.

Cold chain logistics govern the storage, transport, and distribution of specific products, such as vitally needed vaccines and other pharmaceutical products, food, perishables, and consumables at the appropriate and optimum temperature to ensure integrity and quality. Due to their complexity, cold chains demand greater investments in infrastructure, technology, and specialization. This implies having customized trucks, warehouses, and tailored containers to safeguard the regular and uninterrupted supply of power required for refrigeration and with temperature control systems. This winner in this category will receive recognition for providing the finest, cost-efficient, and professionally certified, world-class services.

Commercial Vehicles are an overwhelming component of the transportation sector. These streamlined, heavyweight monster carriers trundle the highways and byways of the national transportation network. Commercial vehicles have become more sophisticated, more powerful, more intelligent, more ‘autonomous’ and provide great returns on investment. Our jury will go the extra mile to assess the finest of the breed.

For this category, the selective jury will have a weighty and crucial decision to make. This will be the moment of reckoning, profound respect, and the time for crowning glory for the recipient. The unrivalled breadth of experience and professional expertise of the winner will earn for himself or herself a place of pride for the lofty title, a privileged legacy and high honour.