In its mission to empower every person and every organization to achieve more, Microsoft has collaborated with Kale Logistics to enable the digital transformation of Tuticorin Port, the fourth-largest container terminal and a major all-weather port in India. Powered by Microsoft Azure, the digitization of the Tuticorin Port has helped reduce documentation, digitally streamline movement and also considerably reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent, making Tuticorin Port one of the first ports in India to completely digitally transform and automate its operations and processes.
The adoption of CODEX has unlocked multiple industry first benefits for Tuticorn Port which have not been experienced by any other port in India. For instance, the trucks with containers don’t have carry multiple documents to enter the port, which has drastically cut down the time spent by every truck. This enabled them to cut down their fuel consumption from 15 litres to just 8 litres. Every truck which used to enter had to go through as many as 10 different stakeholders, each of which had different documentation processes which would go on to have as many as 40 documents, more than 100 annexure copies, and 120 signatures. CODEX provided a digital gate pass for containers – a single digital document that was mapped to individual containers via a barcode—that was accessible to every stakeholder to view and fill. As a container moved from one checkpoint to the other, a combination of desktop systems, mobile apps and scanners would ensure that the information from the digital gate pass is directly read.
With overwhelming results and feedback from all the stakeholders, Kale Logistics integrated the GST refund system into CODEX. GST refunds filed through CODEX had an accuracy of about 95 percent which made it easier to get approved. Consequently, the returns were processed faster, and funds started flowing in less than a week instead of taking three months or more. Quick IGST refund, live container track and trace mechanism, seamless container movement and high transparency add to the nation’s image in terms of ease of doing business. These are some of the reasons why the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Finance, are considering to replicate CODEX’s success across the country.