India Less than-Truck-Load (LTL) Market SIZE & SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS & FORECASTS UP TO 2030

List of Tables & Figures

1. Figure 1:  
2. DISTRIBUTION OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) BY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, SHARE %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 2:  
2. GROWTH OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) BY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, CAGR %, INDIA, 2017 – 2022

1. Figure 3:  
2. GROSS MERCHANDISE VALUE (GMV) OF E-COMMERCE INDUSTRY, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2027

1. Figure 4:  
2. SECTORAL SHARE IN E-COMMERCE INDUSTRY GROSS MERCHANDISE VALUE (GMV), SHARE %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 5:  
2. GROSS VALUE ADDED (GVA) OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY (IN CURRENT PRICES), USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 6:  
2. SECTORAL SHARE IN GROSS VALUE ADDED (GVA) OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, SHARE %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 7:  
2. VALUE OF TRANSPORT AND STORAGE SECTOR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP), USD, INDIA, 2017 – 2022

1. Figure 8:  
2. TRANSPORT AND STORAGE SECTOR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP), SHARE % OF GDP, INDIA, 2017-2022

1. Figure 9:  
2. RANK OF LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE, RANK, INDIA, 2010 - 2023

1. Figure 10:  
2. SHARE OF ROAD LENGTH BY SURFACE CATEGORY, %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 11:  
2. SHARE OF ROAD LENGTH BY SURFACE CLASSIFICATION, %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 12:  
2. VALUE OF EXPORTS, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 13:  
2. VALUE OF IMPORTS, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 14:  
2. FUEL PRICE BY TYPE OF FUEL, USD/LITER, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 15:  
2. OPERATIONAL COSTS OF TRUCKING - BREAKDOWN BY OPERATING COST ELEMENT, %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 16:  
2. TRUCKING FLEET SIZE BY TYPE, SHARE %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 17:  
2. MARKET SHARE OF MAJOR TRUCK SUPPLIER BRANDS, SHARE %, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 18:  
2. FREIGHT HANDLED BY ROAD TRANSPORT, TONS, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 19:  
2. PRICE TREND OF ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT SERVICE, USD/TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 20:  
2. MODAL SHARE OF FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, SHARE % BY TON-KM, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 21:  
2. MODAL SHARE OF FREIGHT TRANSPORT SECTOR, SHARE % BY TONS, INDIA, 2022

1. Figure 22:  
2. WHOLESALE PRICE INFLATION RATE, %, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 23:  
2. CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION RATE, %, INDIA, 2017 - 2022

1. Figure 24:  
2. VOLUME OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 25:  
2. VALUE OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 26:  
2. VOLUME OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET BY END USER INDUSTRY, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 27:  
2. VALUE OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET BY END USER INDUSTRY, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 28:  
2. VALUE SHARE OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET BY END USER INDUSTRY, %, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 29:  
2. VOLUME OF AFF INDUSTRY (AGRICULTURE, FISHING, AND FORESTRY) LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 30:  
2. VALUE OF AFF INDUSTRY (AGRICULTURE, FISHING, AND FORESTRY) LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 31:  
2. VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 32:  
2. VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 33:  
2. VOLUME OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 34:  
2. VALUE OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 35:  
2. VOLUME OF EXTRACTION INDUSTRY (OIL AND GAS, MINING AND QUARRYING) LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 36:  
2. VALUE OF EXTRACTION INDUSTRY (OIL AND GAS, MINING AND QUARRYING) LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 37:  
2. VOLUME OF DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE INDUSTRY (WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE) LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 38:  
2. VALUE OF DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE INDUSTRY (WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE) LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 39:  
2. VOLUME OF OTHER END USER INDUSTRIES LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 40:  
2. VALUE OF OTHER END USER INDUSTRIES LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 41:  
2. VOLUME OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET BY DESTINATION, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 42:  
2. VALUE OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET BY DESTINATION, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 43:  
2. VALUE SHARE OF LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET BY DESTINATION, %, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 44:  
2. VOLUME OF DOMESTIC LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 45:  
2. VALUE OF DOMESTIC LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 46:  
2. VOLUME OF INTERNATIONAL LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, TON-KM, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 47:  
2. VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL LESS THAN-TRUCK-LOAD (LTL) ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET, USD, INDIA, 2017 - 2030

1. Figure 48:  
2. MOST ACTIVE COMPANIES BY NUMBER OF STRATEGIC MOVES, COUNT, INDIA, 2017 - 2023

1. Figure 49:  
2. MOST ADOPTED STRATEGIES, COUNT, INDIA, 2017 - 2023

1. Figure 50:  
2. VALUE SHARE OF MAJOR PLAYERS, %, INDIA

Market Definition

• Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry (AFF) - This end user industry segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the AFF industry players on road freight transport service. The end user players considered are the establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, harvesting fish & other animals from their natural habitats and providing related support activities. Herein, across the value chain, Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) play a crucial role in acquisition, storage, handling, transportation, and distribution activities for the optimal & continuous flow of inputs (seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, equipment, and water) from manufacturers or suppliers to the producers and smooth flow of output (produce, agro-goods) to distributors/ consumers. This includes both termperature controlled and non-temperature controlled logistics, as and when required according to the shelf life of goods being transported or stored.
• Construction - This end user industry segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the construction industry players, on road freight transport service. The end user players considered are the establishments primarily engaged in constructing, repairing and renovating residential & commercial buildings, infrastructure, engineering works, subdividing and developing land. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) play a crucial role in increasing profitability of construction projects by maintaing the inventory of raw materials & equipment, time-critical supplies and by providing other value added services for effective project management.
• Containerized Road Freight Transport - The segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the road freight transport service end users on Full-Truck-Load (FTL) services. FTL road freight transport is characterized as a full single load not combined with other shipments. It comprises of shipments (i) devoted to the goods of a single shipper (ii) taken directly from a point of origin to one or more destination points (iii) comprising of bulk mail truck transportation (iv) comprising of both Container (Full Container Load, FCL)/Non-Container trucking services (v)comprsing of goods requiring temperature controlled or non-temperature controlled transportation services (vi) comprising of bulk liquid tankering (vii) invoving trucking of waste (viii) hazardous material trucking. Related value added services (VAS) of sorting, consolidation, deconslidation are included in the other services segment of freight and logistics market.
• Export Trends and Import Trends - Overall logistics performance of an economy is positively and significantly (statistically) correlated to its trade performance (exports and imports). Hence, in this industry trend, total value of trade, major commodities/ commodity groups and the major trade partners, for the studied geography (country or region as per the scope of report) have been analysed alongside the impact of major trade/logistics infrastructure investments & regulatory environment.
• Fluid Goods - The segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the road freight transport service end users for the transport of bulk liquids, that are often used in extraction, manufacturing, food processing, agriculture industries among others. It includes transportation of liquids like (i) Chemicals/ hazardous goods (for instance acids) (ii) Water (potable as well as waste) (iii) Oil and gas (upstream as well as downstream like gasoline, fuel, crude oil, or propane), (iv) Food grade bulk liquids (like milk, or juice), (v) Rubber, (vi) Agrichemical products, among others. These goods are generally transported through tanker trucking.
• Fuel Price - Fuel price spikes can cause delays and diruption for logistics service providers (LSPs), while drops in the same can result in higher short-term profitability and increased market rivalry to offer consumers with the best deals. Hence, the fuel price variations have been studied over the review period and presented along with the causes as well as market impacts.
• Full-Truck-Load (FTL) Road Freight Transport - The segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the road freight transport service end users on Full-Truck-Load (FTL) services. FTL road freight transport is characterized as a full single load not combined with other shipments. It comprises of shipments (i) devoted to the goods of a single shipper (ii) taken directly from a point of origin to one or more destination points (iii) comprising of bulk mail truck transportation (iv) comprising of both Container (Full Container Load, FCL)/Non-Container trucking services (v)comprsing of goods requiring temperature controlled or non-temperature controlled transportation services (vi) comprising of bulk liquid tankering (vii) invoving trucking of waste (viii) hazardous material trucking. Related value added services (VAS) of sorting, consolidation, deconslidation are included in the other services segment of freight and logistics market.
• GDP Distribution by Economic Activity - Nominal Gross Domestic Product and distribution of the same, across major economic sectors in the geography studied (country or region as per scope of the report) have been studied and presented in this industry trend. As GDP is positively related to the profitability and growth of logistics industry, this data has been used in adjunction to the input-output tables/ supply-use tables for analyzing the potential major contributing sectors towards the logistics demand.
• GDP Growth by Economic Activity - Growth of Nominal Gross Domestic Product across major economic sectors, for the geography studied (country or region as per scope of the report) have been presented in this industry trend. This data has been utilized for assessing the growth of logistics demand from all the market end users (economic sectors considered here).
• Inflation - Variations in both Wholesale Price Inflation (YoY change in producer price index) and Consumer Price Inflation have been presented in this industry trend. This data has been used to assess the inflationary environment as it plays a vital role in smooth functioning of the supply chain, directly impacting the logistics operational cost components e.g., pricing of tyres, driver wages & benefits, energy/fuel prices, maintenace costs, toll charges, warehousing rents, custom brokerage, forwarding rates, courier rates etc. hence impacting the overall freight and logistics market.
• Key Industry Trends - The report section named "Key Industry Trends" include all the key variables/parameters studied to better analyze the market size estimates and forecasts. All the trends have been presented in the form of data points (time series or latest available data points) along with analysis of the paramter in the form of concise market relevant commentary, for the geography studied (country or region as per the scope of report).
• Key Strategic Moves - The action taken by a company to differentiate from its competitor or used as a general strategy is referred to as a key strategic move (KSM). This includes (1) Agreements (2) Expansions (3) Financial Restructuring (4) Mergers and Acquisitions (5) Partnerships, and (6) Product Innovations. Key players (Logistics Service Providers, LSPs) in the market have been shortlisted, their KSM have been studied and presented in this section.
• Less than-Truck-Load (LTL) Road Freight Transport - The segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the road freight transport service end users on Less than-Truck-Load (LTL) services. LTL road freight transport is characterized as multiple shipments combined onto a single truck for multiple deliveries within a network. It comprises of establishments (i) primarily engaged in general and specialized freight trucking of less than complete truck-loads, (ii) characterized by the use of terminals to consolidate shipments, generally from several shippers, into a single truck for haulage between a load assembly terminal and a disassembly terminal, where the load is sorted and shipments are re-routed for delivery (iv) Less than-Container-Load (LCL) shipping/ Groupage Shipping in case of trucking services. The activities in scope include (i) local pick-up, (ii) line-haul, and (iii) local delivery. Related value added services (VAS) of sorting, consolidation, deconslidation are included in the other services segment of freight and logistics market.
• Logistics Performance - Logistics Performance and Logistics Costs are the backbone of trade, and influences trade costs, making countries compete globally. Logistics performance is influenced by market wide adopted supply chain management strategies, government services, investments & policies, fuel/ energy costs, inflationary environment etc. Hence, in this industry trend, the logistics performance of the geography studied (country/ region as per the scope of report) has been analysed and presented over the review period.
• Major Truck Suppliers - Market share of truck brands is influenced by factors like geographical preferences, portfolio of truck types, truck prices, local production, truck repair & maintenance service peneteration, customer support, technological innovations (like electric vehicles, digitalization, autonomous trucks), fuel efficiency, financing options, annual maintenance costs, availability of substitutes, marketing startegies etc. Hence, the distribution (share % for base year of the study) of truck sales volume for leading truck brands and commentary on current market scenario & market anticipation over the forecast period have been presented in this industry trend.
• Manufacturing - This end user industry segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the Manufacturing industry players, on road freight transport service. The end user players considered are the establishments primarily engaged in the chemical, mechanical or physical transformation of materials or substances into new products. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) play a crucial role in maintaining a smooth flow of raw materials across the supply chain, enabling timely delivery of finished goods to distributors or end customers and storing & supplying the raw materials to clients for just-in-time manufacturing.
• Modal Share - Freight Modal Share is influenced by factors like modal productivity, government regulations, containerization, distance of shipment, temperature control requirements, type of goods, international trade, terrain, speed of delivery, shipment weight, bulk shipments, etc. Also, modal share by tonnage (tons) and modal share by freight turnover (ton-km) differ as per average distance of shipments, weight of major commodity groups transported in the economy and number of trips. This industry trend represents the distribution of freight transported by mode of transport (tons as well as ton-km), for the study base year.
• Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying - This end user industry segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the extraction industry players, on road freight transport service. The end user players considered are the establishments that extract naturally occurring mineral solids, such as coal and ores; liquid minerals, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gas. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) covers entire phases from upstream to downstream and plays a crucial role in the transportation of machinery, drilling equipments, extracted minerals, crude oil & natural gas and refined/ processed products from one place to another.
• Other End Users - Other end user segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the financial services (BFSI), real estate, educational services, healthcare, and professional services (administrative, waste management, legal, architectural, engineering, design, consulting, scientific R&D), on road freight transport service. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) plays a crucial role in the reliable movement of supplies and documents to/from these industries such as transporting any equipment or resources required, shipping confidential documents and files, movement of medical goods & supplies (surgical supplies and instruments, including gloves, masks, syringes, equipment) to name a few.
• Producer Price Inflation - It indicates inflation from viewpoint of the producers viz. the average selling price received for their output over a period of time. Annual change (YoY) of producer price index is reported as wholesale price inflation in the "Inflation" industry trend. As WPI captures dynamic price movements in most comprehensive way, it is widely used by governments, banks, industry, business circles and is deemed important in formulation of trade, fiscal and other economic policies. The data has been used in adjunction to consumer price inflation for better understanding the inflationary environment.
• Road Freight Pricing Trends - Freight pricing by mode of transport (USD/tonkm), over the review period, has been presented in this industry trend. The data has been used in assessing the inflationary environment, impact on trade, freight turnover (tonkm), road freight transport market demand and hence the road freight transport market size.
• Road Freight Tonnage Trends - Freight tonnage (weight of goods in tons) handled by mode of transport, over the review period, has been presented in this industry trend. The data has been used as one of the parameters apart from average distance per shipment (km), freight volume (tonkm), and freight pricing (USD/tonkm) to assess the freight transport market size.
• Road Freight Transport - Hiring a road freight transport logistics service provider (LSP) or haulier (outsourced logistics), for the transport of commodities constitutes road freight transport market. The scope of study includes (i) road transport of goods reported by hauliers registered in the reporting countries (ii) transport of raw materials or manufactured goods (solids as well as fluids) (iii) transport using commerical motor vehicles (rigid trucks or tractor-trailers, (iv) Full-Truck-Load (FTL) or Less than-Truck-Load (LTL) transport (v) containerized or non-containerized transport (vi) temperature controlled or non-temperature controlled trasnport, (vii) short haul or long haul (Over-the-road, OTR) transport, (viii) used office or household goods transport (movers and packers), (ix) other specialized cargo transport (dangerous goods, oversized cargo) and (x) outsourced first mile/ middle mile/last mile delivery shipments undertaken by road freight transport players. The scope does not include (i) transport undertaken by hauliers registered in other countries (ii) last mile meal delivery market (iii) grocery delivery market (iv) transportation via road network undertaken/ reported by Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) players.
• Road Length - As infrastructure plays a vital role in an economy's logistics performance, variables like length of roads, distribution of road length by surface category (paved v/s unpaved), distribution of road length by road classification (expressways v/s highways v/s other roads), have been analysed and presented in this industry trend.
• Segmental Revenue - Segmental Revenue has been triangulated or computed and presented for all the major players in the market. It refers to the road freight transport market specific revenue earned by the company, over the base year of study, in the geography studied (country or region as per the scope of report). It is computed through the study and analysis of major parameters like financials, service portfolio, employee strength, fleet size, investments, number of countries present in, major economies of concern, etc. that have been reported by the company in its annual reports, webpage. For companies having scarce financial disclosures, paid databases like D&B Hoovers, Dow Jones Factiva have been resorted to and verified through industry/expert interactions.
• Short Haul Road Freight Transport - The segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the road freight transport service end users on local trucking (less than 100 miles). It includes the road transport of goods (i) within a single administrative area and its hinterland, (ii) by smaller trucks and pickup trucks (iii) via containerized as well as dry bulk services (iv) intermodal from ports, container terminals or airports, and (v) outsourced first mile/ last mile delivery shipments undertaken by road freight transport players.
• Transport and Storage Sector GDP - Value and growth of Transport and Storage Sector GDP has a direct relation to the freight and logistics market size, and hence road freight transport market size. Therefore, this variable has been studied and presented over the review period, in value terms (USD) and as share % of total GDP, in this industry trend. The data has been supported by concise and relevant commentary around the investments, developments, and current market scenario.
• Trends in E-Commerce Industry - Enhanced internet connectivity and boom in smartphone penetration, coupled with increasing disposable incomes, has led to a phenomenal growth in the e-commerce market globally. Online shoppers require fast and efficient delivery of their orders leading to an increase in the demand for logistics services especially e-commerce fulfilment services. Hence, the Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), historial and projected growth, breakup of major commodity groups in e-commerce industry for the studied geography (country or region as per scope of the report) have been analysed and presented in this industry trend.
• Trends in Manufacturing Industry - Manufacturing industry involves the transformation of raw materials into finished products, while logistics industry ensures the efficient flow of raw materials to the factory, and the transport of manufactured products to the distributors & consumers. Demand-Supply of both industries are highly cross-linked and critical for a seamless supply chain. Hence, the Gross Value Added (GVA), breakup of GVA into major manufacturing sectors, and growth of manufacturing industry over the review period have been analysed and presented, in this industry trend.
• Trucking Fleet Size By Type - Market share of truck types is influenced by factors like geographical preferences, major end user industries, truck prices, local production, truck repair & maintenance service peneteration, customer support, technological disruptions (like electric vehicles, digitalization, autonomous trucks) etc. Hence, the distribution (share % for base year of study) of truck parc volume by type of truck, market disruptors, truck manufacturing investments, truck specifications, truck use & import regulations, and market anticipation over the forecast period have been presented in this industry trend.
• Trucking Operational Costs - The prime reasons for measuring/ benchmarking logistics performance of any trucking company are to reduce operational costs and increase profitability. On the other hand, measuring operational costs helps to identify whether and where to make operational changes to control expenses and identify areas for improved performance. Hence, in this industry trend, trucking operational costs and the variables involved viz. driver wages & benefits, fuel prices, repairs & maintenance costs, tyre costs etc. have been studied over the base year of study, and presented for the geography studied (country or region as per the scope of report).
• Wholesale and Retail Trade - This end user industry segment captures the external (outsourced) logistics expenditure incurred by the wholesalers and retailers, on road freight transport service. The end user players considered are the establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling or retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) plays a crucial role in the reliable movement of supplies to and finished products from production houses to the distributors and finally to the end customer covering activites like material sourcing, transportation, order fulfillment, warehousing & storage, demand forecasting, inventory management etc.