With plans to blend logistics and e-commerce, Podrones envisions revolutionising the logistics sector. Founder Aniruddha Gupte told EFY’s Yashasvini Razdan all about the startup’s intelligent storage unit for multiple parcels.
Q. How did you come across this idea of starting Podrones?
A. I was exploring various startup ideas and identified inefficiencies in the logistics space, particularly for e-commerce and person-to-person logistics. I began by partially developing some products, including basic drone delivery technology and associated software. I followed a lean startup approach, focusing on creating only the essential components beyond the minimum viable product (MVP), such as marketing materials or product descriptions to show potential customers. One of the products I started developing in 2016 is called a PodBank, a central storage unit for multiple parcels. The PodBank streamlines delivery processes, saving logistics companies’ time and money. I showed it to Bluedart, and they signed up for it in six months, by which time I had developed the product.
Q. Why do you call yourself Podrones if the main product is PodBank?
A. We are not a locker manufacturing company; we are a logistics company, and PodBank is one of our solutions. Drones are another solution where we are working on, and we also provide delivery services to the pod family. We are working on the licensing issues in the drone project.
Q. Where did you get this idea to build this thing?
A. It is a synthesis of existing concepts. Lockers and electronic locker formats already existed, like those used in European airports where you input numbers or scan a card to access your locker. That served as part of the inspiration. Initially, I started with a single home pod made of wood with built-in IoT capabilities. We used 3D modelling to create a primary interface to show to the client to get their interest but then expanded it to include multiple pods and the concept of PodBank.
Q. Can you detail the technology?
A. The initial prototype I constructed was quite basic, featuring door handles and a series of relays controlled by a single-board computer serving as the interface. While it functioned similarly to connecting a phone, the interface was too small, so I affixed a large screen beside it, which was installed in a client’s building. Although functional, the setup appeared rudimentary, so I integrated this screen into the PodBank, which includes the relays. The idea is to enable simple instructions through a phone app to open and close the pod. The electronics are housed inside, above a shelf, and there is a manual door at the back in case of power loss. Each colourful block is an individual locker.
You log in, enter your phone number, and press ‘deliver’. If pre-booked, the delivery appears, and you select a locker on-screen. Marking a specific area on the touchscreen represents the locker. Clicking it triggers the correct relay, opening the door. The user interface is simple, but the backend is complex.
Q. How do you determine the size of each locker?
A. The initial metal model was shaped by parcel size distribution data provided by Amazon. I used Excel to lay out the locker’s design and used colours to make it more understandable. It started to look like a Mondrian painting, which was the inspiration for the current design. Amazon’s interest as a customer provided valuable insights, guiding the design process. Incorporating colours into the UI/UX enhances remote support, with blinking lockers on-screen for instant visibility.
Q. Are you designing and manufacturing them by yourself?
A. We outsource the sheet metal fabrication and design our relay board, which serves as our controller. This includes a relay board. We send the design online for manufacturing. There is a facility that prints PCBs, and once printed, we populate it with various components.
Q. Who was funding the development?
A. It was self-funded.
Q. Who are your partners in this venture?
A. Before seeking angel investors, we initially received investments from family and friends. Recently, we were part of the TiE and IIT Startups accelerators. We are open to partnerships to expand or scale our offerings, whether with logistics companies—big or small—or with technology developers, as not all aspects can be handled in-house.
Q. What sizes are the PodBank currently available in?
A. We have many different models. They range from the smallest, which are almost 4.5 by 4.5 metres by 13.7 metres (15 feet by 15 feet by 45 feet), to larger sizes, like approximately 13.7 by 9.1 metres by 13.7 metres (45 feet by 30 feet by 45 feet). We combine these to create various models. For example, thinner pods are used in banks’ ATM lobbies. Customers can access their items 24/7 without waiting in line by entering their OTP or phone number. The exact process in reverse applies to delivery personnel.
Q. Where have you deployed this product?
A. Currently, we are deployed in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, as well as various locations such as post offices, banks, tech parks, residential societies, and even at a petrol pump. We have a partnership with India Post for locker usage. Companies like Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, and Bluedart are actively utilising our product. We are working with a partner to potentially deploy them across thousands of petrol pumps in India, as it is a high-traffic area, and they wish to utilise the available space.
Q. Are there any future product enhancements in the works?
A. We are planning many things, such as heating and cooling these lockers, enabling food deliveries and storage, and even offering e-commerce services, allowing users to purchase basic groceries and daily needs directly from the PodBank.
Q. What vision do you hold for developing the technology?
A. We intend to make it a hub for various activities, seamlessly blending e-commerce and logistics and developing our own delivery network.
Q. How many people are employed by you who work on this project?
A. Currently, we have only four full-time team members. We previously managed a much larger team before the lockdown, but once the technology was developed, we found that a more minor team sufficed. However, now that we are expanding, we seek individuals to join us in business development roles.
Q. What kind of profile of you know candidates would you be looking for?
A. We are seeking individuals who are not just accustomed to corporate environments but are also adaptable to startup culture. They must be versatile and willing to engage in various operations, including client interaction, maintenance assistance, and customer service.
Q. Regarding drones, when do we see that happening?
A. So far, we have focused mainly on software development in recent years, but I am still pursuing that avenue. It might change depending on whether we secure an excellent hardware partner for the drones. Our current interest lies more in the futuristic technology involved in drone delivery. We already have two issued/granted patents on precision delivery technology, which is currently lacking drones. More are in the works. Presently, the average accuracy of drone deliveries hovers around 8 to 10 metres. This technology should allow the drone to open the PodBank, place the package with millimetre accuracy, and close automatically.
