Mumbai: Considering the alarming findings of the National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) report, which revealed 46 heat-related deaths and 19,189 suspected heat stroke cases in May 2024 alone, Fast&Up, an electrolyte and energy brand, is proud to announce the launch of The Hydrating Heroes initiative. This ambitious program pledges to provide essential hydration and energy to one million daily heroes during the summer of 2024, addressing the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves and heat stroke cases.
Fast&Up has partnered with organisations such as Hemkunt Foundation, Blue Dart and Robin Hood Army to distribute the popular and trusted electrolyte drink, Fast&Up Reload.
Fast&Up’s commitment extends to a diverse group of heroes, including daily delivery partners, police and postal service members, construction workers, support personnel and essential ground support and maintenance staff in aviation. Fast&Up has this initiative for the past two years and is committed to continuing it in the years to come, ensuring our heroes are always supported. Fast&Up rest assured, no matter the heat, we will be there to provide hydration and energy.
Our everyday heroes work tirelessly to serve our communities, often in challenging summer conditions,” said Fast&Up CEO Vijayaraghvan Venugopal. “With the rising temperatures and heatwaves, it’s crucial to ensure they stay hydrated and energized. The Hydrating Heroes Initiative is our way of giving back and thanking these incredible individuals. We are committed to supporting them with our best-in-class hydration solutions, and we invite everyone to join us in this endeavour. Together, we can make a significant impact and ensure that our heroes are well-equipped to handle their demanding roles, even in the toughest climatic conditions.”
Fast&Up Reload is designed to power up your water with five essential electrolytes, ensuring that individuals feel energized and hydrated within minutes of their first sip. This product hydrates twice as fast as water alone and contains ten times less sugar than other energy drinks, making it a healthier choice for staying refreshed and revitalised during demanding tasks.
These partnerships ensure that Fast&Up’s hydrating and energizing solutions reach those who need them most, especially during the scorching summer months.
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of corporate executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
This week’s session features ThinkInk Communications CEO and founder Radhika Nihalani, who has a proven track record of designing and delivering strategic communication plans and campaigns that have a long-term impact on the brand’s target audience.
Nihalani set up Think Ink Communications to offer effective and engaging PR solutions. With over 15+ years of expansive experience across fields.
Nihalani’s repertoire of work includes corporate communications, media relations, and image management. Prior to founding Think Ink Communications, Nihalani led publicity strategies for personalities like Ronnie Screwvala and Shiamak Davar and brands like Imagine TV, Wizcraft, and Blue Dart, amongst others. In a short span of five years, Radhika has led Think Ink Communications to be recognised as one of the top ten PR agencies in the country that offers the most innovative PR solutions in the business.
Till date, the company has serviced over 100 clients across hospitality, lifestyle, entertainment, and corporate. An avid reader and traveller, Nihalani’s passion also includes fitness and music.
So, without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life
Aim for the stars, and the sky will be yours one day.
A book you are currently reading/plan to read
I haven’t found time to read a book in a while. But I am a huge fan of thrillers and plan to get my hands on the latest Keigo Higashino book soon.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Every day, set aside 30 minutes for yourself to do something you enjoy, such as running, walking, stretching, climbing stairs, or dancing. Intensity is not as important as consistency.
Your comfort food
Pizza, pasta, butter chicken!
When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
There is nothing that can’t be figured out.
Your guilty pleasure
Instagram.
When was the last time you tried something new?
I am a mother of two who owns and operates two businesses; I am constantly trying new things. 🙂
A life lesson you learnt the hard way
Humour helps you sail through the hardest situations.
What gets you excited about life?
The thrill of setting personal and professional goals for myself and seeing them come true!
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Opening many new verticals in my company and buying a vacation home.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Never stop working hard.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Less hate and less judgement.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Thinking of ideas and figuring out solutions. It completely revitalises me!
MUMBAI: South Asia’s express air and integrated transportation & distribution company, Blue Dart, has announced paperless transactions on their new digital portal for all vendor partners.
The online launch event of the paperless technology was a registered event with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to mark the World Environment Day. Under the new sustainability roadmap, Blue Dart has made significant investments in developing future-ready technology to protect the environment and deliver excellence in a sustainable way.
It has executed over 50 per cent of its customer invoices online and is working towards achieving a 100 per cent transition. “Manufacturing paper is energy-intensive; one A4 sheet requires approximately 50 watt-hours. Going paperless will help conserve energy, reduce CO2 emissions, avoid deforestation, protect the natural habitat and strengthen forest-based livelihood opportunities for the surrounding communities,” it said. The group has also planted 1, 11,000 trees annually, in order to offset 22, 20,000 kg of carbon per year upon their maturity.
Blue Dart managing director Balfour Manuel said, “This initiative is our endeavour to inculcate sustainable business practices and at the same time raise the bar on innovation. Blue Dart is a market leader and we believe that if we navigate through our sustainability roadmap, we will be able to contribute to reducing India’s, and in the larger scheme of things, the World’s climate change issue – one step at a time.”
The company said it has committed this decade to its efforts towards ecosystem restoration, while recognising the importance of fighting climate change and is integrating robust Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) mechanisms into this decade of ecosystem restoration.
ESG is the new buzzword among multinational corporations, particularly in Europe, where compliance of these parameters has prompted most companies to adopt it as the prescribed mandatory compliance standard. In India too, the benchmarking is being slowly introduced with a recent advisory issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in March.
Blue Dart chief financial officer, Aneel Gambhir said, “In the journey of being an ESG compliant organisation, we have identified sustainable ways to carry out business operations. We are committed to giving back to the community in which we operate and at the same time, we are doing all that it takes to restore and protect our environment. The pandemic era combined with climate change emphasises the urgent need for organisations to invest in the ecosystem, before it’s too late.”
Blue Dart’s new sustainability roadmap calls for clean operations for climate protection, a great company to work for all, as well as building a highly trusted company. The express logistics provider has launched many initiatives to ensure it is doing its bit to aid the world in the battle against climate change and global warming. The company aims to make all their owned or leased facilities operate at net zero carbon (footprint) by 2025, drive increased efficiency and use cleaner fuels within their fleet of six Boeing 757 freighters, support customers with sustainable and optimized packaging solutions and design greener products and services through comprehensive solutions.
KERALA: At a time when the entire nation is facing the wrath of the Covid-19 pandemic, logistics company Blue Dart has been working round the clock to ensure supply chain continuity. With the #WeMoveSoYourWorldCanMove campaign, the brand ensured quick delivery amid the pandemic scare and ensured that the shipments are moving in perfect conditions.
Indiantelevision.com’s Nirmal Narayanan spoke to Blue Dart CMO and head-business development Ketan Kulkarni to know more about the company’s operations during the pandemic times, and understand how it pivoted during the pandemic to ensure supply chain continuity across the country.
Edited excerpts:
On navigating the Covid pandemic.
The logistics sector is crucial for the business continuity of all industries. It is seldom in the spotlight, but it received due credit for the work done during the pandemic. The resilience of the sector was tested given the restrictions imposed on the mobility of any sort. With the ensuing lockdowns and the fear of contagion rampant, people became increasingly reliant on online services that delivered shipments to and picked up shipments from the customer’s doorstep. This heightened trend, spotted across customer demographics, was enabled by an agile logistics sector.
Blue Dart stepped into action the minute the lockdown was announced, gearing up with its business contingency and continuity plan (BCCP) to aid customers in their time of need. Initially transporting only essentials, we worked with vigour and determination like never before to fulfil our role as the trade facilitator to the nation and continued to do so as the economy ‘unlocked’. We leveraged the power of technology to continue to deliver the premium service quality associated with Blue Dart.
On the challenges faced to deliver shipments on time.
Transport restrictions on the ground put a spoke in our wheel. However, our market differentiating air express service won the day, as we leveraged our Boeing 757-200 freighters to transport essentials across the country as well as to our neighbours internationally as part of the government’s Lifeline Udan initiative. We pioneered the Contact-Less Delivery service that eliminated contact by allowing access to over 14 digital wallets, netbanking, credit and debit cards, UPI, and BHIM. The pandemic helped us understand the resilience of Blue Dart. The success mantra we followed was to tackle challenges head-on with an ‘improvise – adapt – overcome’ perspective and it worked.
On Temperature Controlled Logistics Solutions (TCL) for pharma products.
Blue Dart has been a Temperature Controlled Logistics (TCL) industry expert for a significant period. Our solutions are developed, keeping pharma and life science in mind. It provides a secure and validated supply chain for all temperature-sensitive needs and ensures safe and compliant transport in frozen, chilled, and ambient conditions. Using appropriate cooling mediums, the packaging performance delivers temperature for the range – 20°C, 2°C – 8°C, and 15°C – 25°C for varying distribution times.
We also design customised packaging to meet our customers’ unique requests. We have pharma grade conditioning rooms at strategic locations like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi, and Bangalore. These rooms are close to our Blue Dart Aviation Stations which reduces our turnaround time and aids in the speedy delivery. With our TCL Solutions, we can deliver excellence to 9,000 pin codes within 24 hours and 12,000 pin codes within 72 hours. Additionally, as part of the DPDHL Group, we have access to several additional assets such as reefer vehicles, cold storage trucks as well as a global network spanning 220 countries and territories worldwide.
On the #WeMoveSoYourWorldCanMove campaign.
Blue Dart’s USP is our quick delivery and fast turnaround time, all while ensuring shipments move in the perfect condition. When the pandemic hit, this was only reinforced further as we put in an extra 100 per cent to ensure supply chain continuity. We understand that every shipment, something as small and yet so meaningful as a Rakhi, something as valuable as bank documents, or something as crucial as a vaccine or medicines matters to our customers, and hence, it matters to us. Therefore, the phrase ‘We Move So Your World Can Move’ and ‘If It’s Important, #BlueDartIT’.
On Blue Dart’s first women-led service centre in India.
We value the diversity of our teams as a genuine strength. Our organisation brings together people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds – all with different skills, experiences, and viewpoints. We perceive diversity as something that goes beyond gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected under law. We promote inclusion because an inclusive team leads to happier and more innovative employees. We wanted to take one step ahead to help our nation bridge the gender gap that is widening as we speak. The All-Women Service Centre is a step in the right direction towards achieving this feat. Diversity begins at hiring and in the future we will continue to hire more diverse talent, increasing our Diversity and Inclusivity ratio.
On getting certified as a Great Place to Work for the 11th year.
Blue Dart has always championed a ‘People First’ philosophy. Therefore, we ensure our colleagues and their families are taken care of. ‘A Happy colleague equates to a Happy Customer’ – keeping this as the foundational tool of our business, Blue Dart has launched several initiatives, including several internal campaigns that highlight the outstanding work done by our colleagues.
We have also launched the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to increase mental health awareness. For the outstanding work done during the pandemic, we offered a special Covid-19 appreciation bonus. Additionally, in case a team member falls victim to the virus, special Covid leave and a special medi-claim policy have been put in place to ensure that the individual feels supported in their time of need. Our HR initiatives include the Death Benevolent Fund (DBF) to help resolve the financial crisis of the family rising due to the death of a team member. Upstairs is another program that aims to help children of team members by offering a scholarship program that provides them with Rs 1 lakh per year along with a mentor.
MUMBAI: Blue Dart has roped in Network Advertising as its creative and media partner to showcase the firm’s capability and edge across express logistics.
The agency has launched a series of adverts highlighting how the logistics provider has ensured non-stop service even in the midst of the Covid2019 pandemic.
Blue Dart said it has been working tirelessly to guarantee the continuity of the critical supply chain, making a huge difference in the market, and it was time to reach out to the end consumers and share with them the brand’s value proposition.
Blue Dart CMO & head – business development Ketan Kulkarni said: “We have transported tons of essential shipments since the nation-wide lockdown by working round the clock to assure an uninterrupted supply across domestic and international markets. Our latest ad campaign plays on these strengths and highlights our commitment & resilience.”
Network Advertising chief creative officer Shayondeep Pal said that through impactful campaigns and their expertise, the agency wants to make Blue Dart into a verb, to drive the point that the brand is synonymous with express courier service.
He went on to explain the concept behind the TVCs: “Often, our world comes to a standstill when critical shipments don’t reach us on time. It could be life-saving drugs or a much-awaited visa or a television. The idea, therefore, was to use freeze-frame as a visual metaphor to highlight the stoppage of action at the receiver’s end. As soon as the shipment arrives, the world unfreezes and goes back to normal, thus underlining the idea – ‘We move so your world can move.”
The films were shot under strict Covid protocol in Mumbai. The campaign will take a multimedia approach and will be promoted across various platforms including traditional and digital mediums. The TVCs have been rolled out across multiple business and news channels and are being digitally activated on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & Hotstar as well as new age media such as Inshorts to ensure extensive reach.
Blue Dart Express Ltd. South Asia's premier express air and integrated transportation, distribution and logistics company recently operated its Boeing 757-200 freighter cross border on the Kolkata – Guangzhou, China – Guwahati – Kolkata route to bring critical PPE and COVID-19 related medical supplies. Blue Dart freighters with a carrying capacity of 34 tons are flying on international routes to ensure continuity of essential supply chain in India. Earlier this month, Blue Dart freighters flew on Kolkata – Dhaka – Kolkata route frequently and are scheduled to fly on Delhi – Guangzhou, China – Delhi and Kolkata – Guangzhou, China – Kolkata routes through the month of April 2020.
Blue Dart has been flying its 6 Boeing 757- 200 freighters across major metropolitan cities in India to ensure uninterrupted supply chain continuity of essential shipments like – medical equipment (ventilators & PPE), testing kits, reagents, enzymes, respirators, surgical masks and gloves among other medical and pharmaceutical supplies. The company is working closely with the Government of India, to ensure door-to-door delivery carrying inter-state and international supplies of essential goods through its strong air and ground express network. From a charter load to critical shipments the air express company has transported tons of cargo carrying essential supplies since the nation-wide lockdown began, fulfilling its promise to keep the mission critical supply chain running and help the nation in fighting this war against the global pandemic.
Ketan Kulkarni CMO & Head – Business Development said, “There are several components and ingredients that are coming from different places, whether it’s a drug, medical equipment or PPE. To ensure continuity of the global supply chain and help our nation and companies to adapt their operations during this critical health crisis, Blue Dart is flying Boeing 757-200 freighters round-the-clock to carry medical and other vital supplies in these difficult times and is firmly committed and honoured to be a part of the Government’s ‘Lifeline Udan’ initiative. Since the lockdown began, we have operated numerous cargo flights transporting more than thousands of tons of medical supplies, medicines, medical devices and other essential items for various state governments, medical and pharma companies.”
He further added, “At Blue Dart, we are working on a 2-pronged strategy to prepare the logistics infrastructure for being future ready and ensure both lines operate smoothly – essential supplies to fight COVID-19 and all other non-essential supplies in the pipeline post the lockdown exit.”
In addition to this, Blue Dart is providing support with daily shipments across India for requisitioned items by State Governments, Municipalities, Hospitals and Research Centres during this challenging period. Some of these include special food for paralytic children; medicines for senior citizens residing in another town sent by their children; important and confidential papers for legal agreements; masks for cancer affected children as well as healthcare staff; temperature controlled medicines that need to be maintained at a specific temperature in order to maintain their efficacy among others.
Blue Dart will continue to offer unwavering support during these difficult times to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain across domestic and international markets. Our employees are motivated and eager to contribute to serve the country while keeping health and safety as a paramount.
Blue Dart has listed itself on the dedicated Medical Air Cargo website www.civilaviation.gov.in
MUMBAI: Blue Dart, India’s leading logistics service provider and part of Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), announces the launch of its annual ‘Rakhi Express’ on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan this August. Keeping with tradition, Blue Dart will once again give sisters across India the opportunity to ship rakhis to their brothers within India and internationally with the promise of secure and timely delivery.
Blue Dart’s ‘Rakhi Express’ is a unique opportunity that has been loved by customers for years. Through its widespread Indian domestic network, Blue Dart will deliver rakhis to over 35,000 locations across India and to 220 countries and territories across the globe through DHL’s ‘Express Easy Rakhi’. Customers can avail of a special rate of ₹ 250/- for up to 500gms for domestic shipments (anywhere within India). These offers can be availed at any of the 637 Blue Dart – DHL retail stores across India or by calling 1860 233 1234. Customers can send their rakhis through a specially designed ‘Rakhi Envelope’ and a greeting card for their personalized messages.
Speaking about the initiative, Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head – Business Development, Blue Dart said, “Blue Dart’s Rakhi Express has long been our most endearing offer for siblings in Blue Dart country. We want to give families that live apart, the opportunity of experiencing Raksha Bandhan to the fullest by staying connected across the country and globe. In a world of instant messaging, a carefully packed rakhi and personal note from a sister delivered with care, holds a very special place. At Blue Dart our goal is to help people that have moved away from their families in the pursuit of education or bigger opportunities a simple and quick way to stay connected.”
He further added, “We strive to provide a hassle-free, accurate and timely delivery so that people may enjoy their Raksha Bandhan without any worries.”
While customers register for the Rakhi Service on any of Blue Dart’s conveniently located stores nationwide, they also stand a chance to win exciting prizes by simply filling up a contest slogan form. Forms to participate in the slogan contest are present at the store kiosks and customers can submit them on the spot along with their shipment. The top 5 slogans will win smart phones while the next 10 best will win Titan watches!
