Blue Dart, South Asia’s, particularly India’s, premier express air and integrated transportation, distribution, and logistics company, offers secure and reliable delivery of consignments to over 35,000 locations in India. As part of the DPDHL Group (DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding & DHL Supply Chain) and E-commerce solutions, Blue Dart accesses the largest and most comprehensive express and logistics network worldwide, covering over 220 countries and territories offering an entire spectrum of distribution services including air express, freight forwarding supply chain solutions and customs clearance services across the globe.
Blue Dart’s integrated air support and the ground network include 7 aviation hubs and bonded warehouses, 12 express hubs, 85 domestic warehouses, and dedicated air services with a fleet of 3 Boeing 737 freighters and 4 Boeing 757 freighters operating each night to the 7 main metros in India, i.e., Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Blue Dart caters to various sectors like pharmaceuticals, automobiles, banking, and financial, and to millions of retail customers through 390+ One Retail stores.
History
The company was started as a partnership firm in 1983 under the name Blue Dart Courier Service and finally, the company was registered as a private limited company with the new name Blue Dart Express Pvt Ltd in 1990. The company was incorporated on April 05, 1991, and it became a public limited company in 1994.
The company is the global service participant of Federal Express International US with exclusive rights for pick-up and delivery services in India. The Federal Express which has an extensive service network in around 220 countries is recognized all over the world for its innovation in the air-express business.
The famous hub-and-spoke system of distribution which is widely followed by almost every airline in the world today was pioneered by Federal Express. Under the agreement between Blue Dart and Federal Express, all international shipments of Blue Dart are distributed through the Federal Express system and Federal Express’s inbound shipments to India are delivered through Blue Dart’s network.
Products and Services
In the domestic sector, the company has a number of products which includes – a domestic priority for the movement of domestic documents, and packages to 237 locations across the country, Dart Apex – a special multi-modal distribution service for medium and heavy shipments; and Dart Surface line – a door-to-door express surface product.
Its range of products includes Voice Dart, Power Dart, Dart Collect, Dart Apex, etc.
Blue Dart has the largest private e-mail in India.
It tracks all its domestic shipments through its tracking system COSMAT and is linked with COSMOS – the Federal Express satellite communication system for tracking international shipments. The company has started an aircraft leasing business & leased to its wholly-owned subsidiary Blue Dart Aviation. It has acquired on lease its third aircraft (Boeing737-200) in addition to its existing fleet of two Boeing Aircrafts.
In March 2001, in order to provide value-added service and maintain its market share, Blue Dart Express has launched a new web-tool MobileDart -the first wireless initiative developed and launched by a domestic express company.
In 2007 Blue Dart launched its fortified Ground Express Service – Dart Surface line with time bound deliveries and features like DOD (Demand Draft on Delivery), FOD (Freight on Delivery), and FOV (Freight on Value) – Insurance Arrangement.
Also Read: FedEx Logistics- The Success Story And Branding Strategies
Growth through Partnerships
The company has signed an agreement with French Express, a leading courier in South India. The agreement covers the domestic priority and APEX (AirPackages Express) services of the company. With this, the company has added over 1000 locations to its existing network in the southern region.
Further, it also signed an agreement with Crown Couriers, a leading courier company in North India. With this, the company has added an additional 74 locations to its existing network in North India.
Focus on Technology and eCommerce
During the year 2001, the company upgraded India’s first interactive logistics and e-Business Solutions site www.bluedart.com. The website gives customers complete and valuable information on the company’s operations, products, and services and provides contact and communication capabilities for all its 13880 locations serviced.
During 2002-03, the company has been re-certified as one amongst a handful of Indian companies to the new global ISO 9001-2000 standards for ‘Design management‘ and operations of countrywide express transportation and distribution services within the Indian sub-continent and to international destinations serviced through multinational express companies.
In 2011, Blue Dart launched Smart Truck technology designed to provide solutions to urban logistic challenges such as traffic restrictions density and clogging while ensuring environmental protection and fulfilling customer needs for on-time delivery.
Blue Dart has also launched GOGREEN Carbon Neutral Service, which helps consumers to neutralize their carbon footprint by paying marginal compensation over and above their shipping rates. Carbon emissions from consumer shipments are offset by reinvestment in environmental protection programs checked by SGS (Societe Generale de Surveillance), a United Nations independent auditor.
