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A new interface available to hauliers in European countries is working on tailoring its next-gen model to tap into haulage opportunities in India.
Zeus Labs, a UK-based start-up co-founded by entrepreneurs Jai Kanwar and Clemente Theotokis, is a new digital freight platform designed to cut supply chain costs through increased visibility and efficiency and also address the issue of CO2 emissions.
The model is designed around collaborative working between hauliers and their customers to address the freight and haulage industry’s many requirements. The platform has started with companies in the UK, Netherlands, Hungary, Italy and Germany, with plans to enter the Indian market later this year.
Jai Kanwar said: “We see India as a big opportunity and perfectly placed for Zeus Labs platform. India is a fragmented market and we will adapt the software to suit its needs.
“The platform will help consolidate the haulage opportunities in India. It will particularly benefit small haulage companies which often miss out on getting business.”
The Zeus Labs model allows shippers and hauliers to manage their jobs, track their drivers and reduce the number of empty lorries and spare freight capacity on the roads by using advanced algorithms and manual curation. It also offers a facility called “Circles”, enabling shippers to work with those they trust and engage only those hauliers who are most suited to the job, from a cost or specialist equipment point of view.
Kanwar explains: “From the very outset of Zeus Labs’ inception, we were driven by our desire to build a sustainable business which addresses the issues of inefficiencies and costs in the road transport sector. Furthermore, we wanted to give small haulage companies a chance to work with big shippers, which they couldn’t because of long payment terms. Our instant pay financial capability enables us to finance the haulier immediately, and then we get paid by the shipper.
“Before launching the prototype, we talked and listened to some of the biggest freight companies in the UK to develop a desirable digital option for shippers and hauliers. The platform helps address key supply chain inefficiencies, including wasted capacity, incorrect pricing, and finding the right trucker for the right job. It helps create a fair and sustainable sector.”
The co-founders felt the sector, which is largely run in an old-fashioned way in the UK using emails, phone calls and outdated software, was ripe for a digital transformation.
Their model aims to not only make the management of logistical process more transparent, but also open doors for small companies to attract business by using Zeus Labs’ marketplace. Pointing to “cutting-edge technology and transparent processes”, the company says it has seen double digit growth every operational month since August 2020 and attracted leading logistics operators as users.
Co-Founder Clemente Theotokis said: “We are excited about the potential to drive tangible and positive transformation across the freight and haulage supply chain. Since the introduction of our minimum viable platform (MVP) in 2020, we have grown in strength – both in terms of technology and clients.
“For example, on our mobile app for hauliers, POD’s can be uploaded instantly, and live GPS tracking increases visibility and transparency.”
With the use of a digitised platform, the freight sector can also help reduce congestion on roads, and in turn, help reduce CO2 emissions. The UK transport sector is responsible for one fifth (21 per cent) of UK carbon emissions. By using an intuitive platform such as Zeus Labs, the entrepreneurs believe the freight segment can help reduce congestion on roads and help cut the carbon footprint.
“Both Clemente and I come from families with strong links to the transport and logistics sector, and when we realised how digital transformation could bring about a positive change, we decided to launch Zeus Labs. The world is moving towards a greener agenda, and we, in our own little way, are hoping to contribute to this change,” notes Kanwar.
Founded in 2020 and officially launched recently, Zeus Labs has set its mission as bringing digital transformation to the freight management and haulage industry by combining the skills and experience of haulage industry executives with secure logistics, tracking and payment technology.