Santosh Kumar Sahu: Cultivating Warehousing Success & Trust In Logistics Leadership
Santosh Kumar Sahu
Director, CEO & Co-Founder
With an innate ability to connect banks, financial institutions, and farmers, he envisions a future where agricultural dreams flourish. As a leader to watch, Santosh embodies the spirit of change, contributing significantly to the evolution of the business landscape in India.
In an insightful dialogue with CEO Insights magazine, Santosh delves into his journey, leadership philosophy, and the visionary outlook he holds for the future of ware housing. Let's hear it from him.
Can you share insights from your 21 years of experience and highlight the principles that led to your success?
Coming from a middle-class background in Odisha, my journey has been shaped by a blend of agricultural and IT exposure. After graduating from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, I pursued a degree in Information and Communication Technology at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute.
Over 21 years, I delved into various facets of agriculture, from agri-food value chains to logistics. Identifying a trust deficit in the industry, my vision for Go Green Warehouses was born. Starting with a single warehouse in Gujarat, we've expanded to 24 states, managing 600 locations and over 1200 team members.
The success mantra involves unwavering focus, understanding long-term goals, patience, and a problem-solving mindset. Adapting to challenges, staying motivated, and continual self-organization have been key principles guiding my journey.
What's your leadership approach?
Share the key principles or methodologies you follow as a leader.
In leading our operational business, where most of our team operates in remote areas, fostering a sense of ownership and symmetry at every level has been pivotal. In this hands-on field, where white-collar norms don't apply, people management becomes a core driver. Motivating the team daily is crucial, given the repetitive nature of tasks and the need to satisfy a multitude of clients in a low-margin, bulk business. Customer delight is a constant focus, recognizing that their satisfaction is the cornerstone of our growth.
Additionally, IT enablement is woven into our business fabric, ensuring transparency and trust among customers, employees, and stakeholders. Creating leaders at all levels and incorporating external perspectives as we grow financially are part of our ongoing strategy.
Could you provide insights into the specific techno-logical advance- ments and initiatives you plan to implement to elevate the overall customer satisfaction within your organization?
In our commitment to enhancing customer experience, technology plays a pivotal role through comprehensive IT enablement. We are diligently working on creating transparency and trust in our system by leveraging ERP and various technologies. A prime example is our ongoing implementa-tion of software that digitizes the entire process, ensuring meticulous monitoring from dress codes to warehouse operations, integrating QR-coded assets for efficient tracking.
For quality control, we're integrating IoT devices and digital testing tools to expedite the testing process from 24-48 hours to mere minutes, facilitating quicker financial transactions. Cloud-based camera surveillance in our ware-houses adds an extra layer of security. We're making significant strides, covering 20-30 percent, and anticipate full implementation in the next two to three years, aligning technology with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience.
How do you stay updated on industry trends, and how does it inform your strategy for the future of your organization?
In leading our operational business, where most of our team operates in remote areas, fostering a sense of ownership and symmetry at every level has been pivotal. In this hands-on field, where white-collar norms don't apply, people management becomes a core driver. Motivating the team daily is crucial, given the repetitive nature of tasks and the need to satisfy a multitude of clients in a low-margin, bulk business. Customer delight is a constant focus, recognizing that their satisfaction is the cornerstone of our growth.
Additionally, IT enablement is woven into our business fabric, ensuring transparency and trust among customers, employees, and stakeholders. Creating leaders at all levels and incorporating external perspectives as we grow financially are part of our ongoing strategy.
At Go Green Ware-houses, we trans-form spaces into hubs for gro-wth, fostering trust & laying the founda-tion for safe warehousing
Could you provide insights into the specific techno-logical advance- ments and initiatives you plan to implement to elevate the overall customer satisfaction within your organization?
In our commitment to enhancing customer experience, technology plays a pivotal role through comprehensive IT enablement. We are diligently working on creating transparency and trust in our system by leveraging ERP and various technologies. A prime example is our ongoing implementa-tion of software that digitizes the entire process, ensuring meticulous monitoring from dress codes to warehouse operations, integrating QR-coded assets for efficient tracking.
For quality control, we're integrating IoT devices and digital testing tools to expedite the testing process from 24-48 hours to mere minutes, facilitating quicker financial transactions. Cloud-based camera surveillance in our ware-houses adds an extra layer of security. We're making significant strides, covering 20-30 percent, and anticipate full implementation in the next two to three years, aligning technology with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience.
How do you stay updated on industry trends, and how does it inform your strategy for the future of your organization?
Embracing the Learn by Doing methodology sets us apart in staying attuned to industry trends. Rather than adopting a policing approach, we've empowered auditors and quality teams to train ground-level personnel, issuing certificates upon expertise. This ensures real-time examination and educates teams on evolving quality standards, trans-forming auditors into educators. Additionally, we cultivate well-rounded leaders by rotating managers across departments, exposing them to diverse facets of our operations. This dynamic approach not only minimizes risks but also fosters a comprehensive understanding of our entire warehousing ecosystem. It's this hands-on, educational strategy that keeps us agile, informed, and poised to navigate industry trends, shaping a robust strategy for the future of our organization.
With your industry experience, what advice do you have for emerging leaders looking to make an impact?
In navigating the uncertainties our industry faces, such as governmental interventions, my advice to emerging leaders is rooted in adaptability, foresight, and patience. It's crucial to maintain an open mind, embracing a mindset that accommodates Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C. Being goal-oriented, under-standing the industry's growth potential, and steadfastly adhering to fundamentals will pave the way for success amid uncer-tainties.
Santosh Kumar Sahu, Director, CEO & Co-Foun-der, Go Green Ware-houses
Santosh Kumar Sahu is a distinguished professional with a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, complemented by an MBA and an MS in Information Technology in Agriculture. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades, Santosh excels in profit center operations, strategic planning, product positioning, and collateral management. Serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of Go Green Warehouses, his strategic vision seamlessly connects banks, financial institutions, farmers, and Agri-value chain partners. His outstanding leadership has garnered accolades, including the Brand of the Year 2022, Company of the Year 2022, and recognition as a Top 10 CEO in India, establishing him as a trailblazer in the Warehousing and Logistics Industry.
•Favorite Hobbies: Travelling, Spending time with my family, Attending Workshops
•Favorite Cuisine: South Indian
•Favorite Book: Books by Robin Sharma
•Favorite Travel Destination:
Anywhere in India
With your industry experience, what advice do you have for emerging leaders looking to make an impact?
In navigating the uncertainties our industry faces, such as governmental interventions, my advice to emerging leaders is rooted in adaptability, foresight, and patience. It's crucial to maintain an open mind, embracing a mindset that accommodates Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C. Being goal-oriented, under-standing the industry's growth potential, and steadfastly adhering to fundamentals will pave the way for success amid uncer-tainties.
Santosh Kumar Sahu, Director, CEO & Co-Foun-der, Go Green Ware-houses
Santosh Kumar Sahu is a distinguished professional with a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, complemented by an MBA and an MS in Information Technology in Agriculture. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades, Santosh excels in profit center operations, strategic planning, product positioning, and collateral management. Serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of Go Green Warehouses, his strategic vision seamlessly connects banks, financial institutions, farmers, and Agri-value chain partners. His outstanding leadership has garnered accolades, including the Brand of the Year 2022, Company of the Year 2022, and recognition as a Top 10 CEO in India, establishing him as a trailblazer in the Warehousing and Logistics Industry.
•Favorite Hobbies: Travelling, Spending time with my family, Attending Workshops
•Favorite Cuisine: South Indian
•Favorite Book: Books by Robin Sharma
•Favorite Travel Destination:
Anywhere in India