logo
Dibyanshu Tripathi  CEO and Co-founder

Dibyanshu Tripathi CEO and Co-founder

Fibre2Fashion7 hours ago

Our team understands the nuances of textile classification
In a global trade environment where complexity often outweighs clarity, Hexalog is emerging as a transformative force. Founded in February 2024 and headquartered in Gurugram, Hexalog is a digital-first, full-stack EXIM enabler that aims to streamline international logistics through tech-driven services and intelligent supply chain orchestration.
Built by co-founders Dibyanshu Tripathi, Utkarsh Tripathi, and Vineet Malik, the company offers a unified platform integrating Customs Clearance as a Service (CaaS) and Freight Forwarding as a Service (FFaaS) alongside warehousing, multimodal freight, and last-mile delivery solutions. Hexalog's AI-led orchestration model is redefining how businesses manage their cross-border operations—offering visibility, compliance, and efficiency at every stage.
In this exclusive interaction with Fibre2Fashion, CEO and Co-founder Dibyanshu Tripathi delves into the genesis of Hexalog, the innovation behind its unified logistics experience, its commitment to compliance in the textile sector, and the company's ambitious roadmap across Asia and the Middle East.
What are some of the biggest compliance challenges that textile exporters face when entering new international markets?
The biggest challenge that Indian textile exporters face when entering new international markets revolves around the hefty and complex set of compliance requirements necessary for market entry. These include country-specific labelling regulations—such as labels in multiple languages, details regarding fabric composition, care instructions, and country of origin. Some countries enforce strict rules concerning the chemicals used in textile production, requiring products to be free from harmful substances and compliant with environmental safety standards.
Transparency in manufacturing is critical, particularly regarding child labour, forced labour, or unsafe working conditions. Violations in these areas can damage a brand's reputation and result in trade restrictions. Additionally, accurate paperwork is essential, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, and correct tariff codes (HS codes). Some countries also require certificates of approval from specific authorised agencies.
There is also a risk of unintentionally infringing on existing trademarks, patterns, or designs in foreign markets. To avoid legal issues, businesses should conduct thorough checks before launching products internationally.
Moreover, reports on managing environmental impacts, labour rights, and ethical sourcing are vital for building long-term partnerships. Compliance laws are not static; they continually evolve in response to new trade policies, political shifts, and environmental goals. Continuous monitoring and adaptability are key to remaining compliant and competitive.
How is digital transformation reshaping global supply chains, especially in the context of export-import (EXIM) trade?
Digital transformation is fundamentally redefining global supply chains by bringing much-needed transparency, speed, and resilience—especially in the EXIM trade landscape, which has long been burdened by fragmentation and paperwork-heavy processes. Technologies like AI, API-driven integrations, real-time tracking, digital customs clearance, and compliance automation are reducing manual dependencies and improving decision-making across borders. Businesses now have end-to-end visibility, enabling them to proactively manage risks, reduce transit delays, and respond quickly to market demands. For emerging markets like India, digital platforms are acting as equalisers—allowing even MSMEs to participate in global trade by offering plug-and-play logistics, automated documentation, and cost-effective multi-modal options. The shift is also pushing traditional stakeholders—freight forwarders, customs brokers, and carriers—to modernise and collaborate via digital ecosystems.
Digital transformation is not just optimising logistics—it is creating a new standard of trade where efficiency, compliance, and scalability are built into the foundation of every cross-border transaction.
How important is multimodal logistics infrastructure in supporting agile and responsive cross-border trade operations?
In an era where global supply chains are expected to move faster and with more precision than ever before, the role of multimodal logistics has become foundational to cross-border trade. By combining different modes of transportation—road, rail, air, and sea—under one coordinated network, businesses gain a sharper edge in handling international shipments with greater speed, flexibility, and clarity.
One of the core strengths of multimodal logistics lies in its ability to simplify movement across borders. With a single set of documentation covering the entire journey, it minimises delays related to customs and compliance, reducing friction in high-volume trade environments. For businesses, this translates to more predictable delivery timelines and fewer procedural hurdles.
From a performance standpoint, multimodal setups have shown a clear ability to enhance service levels. Companies report significant improvements in meeting order deadlines, responding to urgent demand shifts, and maintaining product availability across markets—all key drivers of a positive customer experience.
Another critical advantage is the cost optimisation it offers. By enabling goods to move closer to consumption centres via efficient routing, it reduces the need for holding excess stock in distant warehouses. This not only cuts storage costs but also trims lead times, improving overall operational agility.
In today's politically and economically volatile climate, supply chain resilience is no longer optional. Trade restrictions, sudden policy shifts, or global disruptions can halt progress in a single corridor. Multimodal logistics helps mitigate these risks by offering alternate transport routes and flexible modal combinations, keeping goods moving even when disruptions occur.
How are evolving trade routes—especially in Asia—impacting the strategies of freight forwarders and EXIM service providers?
With the growing global appetite for Indian goods and the increasing influence of the Indian diaspora in international trade, the Asian continent is witnessing the emergence of new, high-potential trade corridors.
India's economic upswing, backed by strong foreign investment and rising export volumes, is playing a pivotal role in creating and redefining trade routes in the region. This momentum is pushing logistics players to move beyond traditional lanes and explore untapped markets like Vietnam, Thailand, and the broader Middle East-Asia belt.
As a response, freight forwarders are reconfiguring their networks to build agile, responsive supply chains that can cater to the dynamic demand patterns of these regions. Strengthening local supplier relationships, establishing regional warehousing hubs, and aligning with country-specific regulatory frameworks have become core to their strategy.
For EXIM service providers, this shift also presents an opportunity to offer more integrated and customised solutions—bridging gaps between exporters and emerging markets with greater efficiency and visibility. The focus is now on building ecosystem partnerships that not only enable smoother trade flows but also support India's broader export ambitions across Asia.
In essence, the rise of new trade lanes is not just changing where business is done, but also how it is done—demanding more localised, tech-enabled, and partnership-driven approaches across the board.
What inspired the launch of Hexalog, and how are you reimagining logistics for EXIM trade through your unified experience framework?
Hexalog was not born out of a traditional 'eureka' moment, but rather as a discovery that emerged organically. While my co-founders and I were deep in discussions around a broader business idea in the trade and logistics domain, we began drafting a white paper to validate our hypothesis. That is when we uncovered a significant and persistent gap in the cross-border supply chain landscape—particularly in EXIM logistics, which remains highly fragmented and digitally underpenetrated.
This realisation shifted our direction entirely. As we dug deeper, it became clear that the inefficiencies and lack of unified experiences in this space were not only real but also presented a massive opportunity to build something meaningful. That is how Hexalog was born—out of an intent to solve a genuine problem rather than force-fit an idea.
At Hexalog, we are building a unified experience framework that blends digital-first tools with deep logistics expertise—offering seamless, end-to-end solutions for global trade. From digital customs clearance to multimodal freight aggregation, we are creating a platform where transparency, efficiency, and simplicity are at the core—empowering businesses of all sizes to move goods across borders without the usual friction.
Could you explain the Hexa-Service Model and how it is helping brands streamline logistics by offering an entire spectrum of services under one digital platform?
The Hexa-Service Model is Hexalog's AI-led 4PL orchestration framework designed to simplify cross-border logistics by offering a full-stack solution through a single digital platform. It enables end-to-end management of the supply chain—including first mile and last mile integration, customs clearance, freight forwarding, workflow automation, compliance management, and value-added services at both origin and destination. Using our Origin × Destination Dynamic Routing (OXD Framework), we intelligently assign service providers based on the specific lane and cargo type, making our solution truly plug-and-play across any global trade route connected by sea or air. This unified approach helps brands eliminate fragmentation, improve visibility, and scale efficiently—whether they are navigating exports, imports, or global e-commerce fulfilment—all while managing everything through one seamless platform.
How does Hexalog ensure smart compliance in international textile trade, especially when it comes to documentation accuracy and risk mitigation?
At Hexalog, ensuring compliance in international textile trade starts with deep domain expertise and a hands-on, detail-oriented approach. We rely on our highly trained and experienced team members who understand the nuances of textile classification, export-import documentation, and the regulatory frameworks of multiple countries.
Textile shipments often come with layered requirements—such as fibre composition disclosures, country-of-origin declarations, trade agreement qualifications, and restricted material screenings. Our team meticulously reviews all documentation, ensuring accuracy in tariff codes, valuations, and product descriptions before customs submission.
To mitigate compliance-related risks, we conduct pre-shipment audits and maintain close coordination with suppliers and buyers, eliminating potential discrepancies that could lead to shipment holds or penalties. Our proactive communication with port authorities and regulatory agencies further helps in addressing issues before they escalate.
We also keep a constant eye on evolving trade regulations and documentation standards in key textile markets. This allows us to quickly adapt our practices and advise our clients accordingly, ensuring they stay compliant and confident in every shipment.
By combining regulatory knowledge with operational diligence, Hexalog provides a trusted compliance backbone that supports seamless textile trade across borders.
How is predictive analytics used within your platform to manage seasonal demand patterns, especially in fast fashion and home furnishings?
In the world of EXIM trade, shipment predictability is fundamental—not just for operational planning, but for sustaining customer satisfaction. Seasonal surges such as Black Friday, Diwali, or end-of-year clearance periods often expose vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Common disruptions include surging freight rates, overbooked vessels, port congestion, and delayed customs clearances—all of which can result in stockouts, SLA breaches, and customer dissatisfaction, especially in time-sensitive sectors like apparel and furniture.
As a 4PL logistics partner, Hexalog plays a critical role in helping clients navigate these peaks. We are developing a model which will leverage predictive analytics and early warning systems, to provide actionable insights into potential disruptions well in advance. This includes forecasting freight rate trends, alerting clients to space constraints, and tracking congestion at key global ports. These insights will empower businesses to plan procurement cycles, inventory allocation, and shipment scheduling with greater precision.
Take the example of the Black Friday sale, where demand spikes drastically in Western markets. Retailers depending on delayed bookings or ad-hoc freight planning often face delivery delays, missed sales windows, and reputational setbacks. At Hexalog, our proactive approach will ensure that clients—especially those in high-turnover verticals like fashion and furniture—are equipped with data-backed foresight to avoid last-minute panic and maintain service consistency.
What operational benefits have your clients observed through Hexalog's integrated value-added services (VAS) like warehousing and last-mile delivery?
The main operational benefits of our integrated VAS are increased efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer satisfaction. In the current market scenario for e-commerce businesses, the market is very competitive, and it is the finer details that makes them stand out in their field. Having a 4PL partner offering value-added services helps businesses streamline their operations, allowing them to focus on core competencies without being burdened by operational challenges. Instead of constantly firefighting, companies gain valuable resources like time and staff to concentrate on innovation and maintaining competitiveness.
With our end-to-end services, the customers have found a one-stop shop for their entire inventory management and order fulfilment flow, which has proven to improve communication and efficiency, while reducing the number of partners that their customers must be handed over to.
Additionally, many new services were open to our customers that their current resources, staff and infrastructure could not support.
With our expertise help in custom clearance, import/export regulations and security protocols, our customers have been compliant with the relevant laws and regulations and have done their business with ease reducing their labour costs, overhead expenses, and other miscellaneous costs.
What has been your approach to building trust with sector-specific clients like Urbanic and Home Essentials, and what unique needs do these partnerships reveal?
Building trust with clients in niche sectors such as fashion and home lifestyle begins with genuinely listening to their needs. In our experience, a customer's voice—whether it is feedback, concerns, or operational challenges—is the most reliable guide in shaping a successful partnership. Our approach has consistently been customer-centric, rooted in understanding the unique nuances of each brand's supply chain.
With clients like Urbanic and Home Essentials, we do not apply a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we co-create a tailored logistics framework that aligns with their category-specific demands—be it high inventory turnover in fast fashion, or the handling sensitivities required for homeware products.
This bespoke model has allowed us to deliver both efficiency and responsiveness, while fostering long-term reliability. These partnerships also highlight the importance of agility, transparent communication, and seamless integration across systems—factors that are non-negotiable in today's consumer-driven market. Ultimately, trust is earned when clients see that their operational needs are not just met but anticipated.
With a strong presence on the China–India lane, what insights have you gained about trade dynamics, and how do you plan to replicate this success in other regions?
Our experience on the China–India trade lane has reinforced a vital lesson—every market operates within its own cultural and commercial context. Success in cross-border trade is not just about logistics efficiency; it is about understanding how people do business, what they value, and how trust is built locally.
We have found that investing time in understanding regional practices, aligning with local expectations, and forging strong supplier partnerships has a direct impact on the success of trade operations. These close-knit relationships help streamline communication, reduce friction, and increase reliability—especially when navigating regulatory environments or fluctuating demand cycles.
As we expand into new geographies, this localised, partnership-driven approach remains central to our strategy. We do not believe in standardising markets; we believe in customising our operations to suit them. By adapting to the unique trade patterns and cultural nuances of each region, we not only build stronger relationships but also eliminate the uncertainty that often arises when dealing with foreign entities.
Replicating our success in other regions means staying agile, being culturally attuned, and prioritising collaboration over transaction. That is how we turn new markets into sustainable trade lanes.
Looking ahead to your planned expansions into Vietnam, Thailand, and the Middle East, what markets or trade behaviours are shaping your roadmap?
With our deep-rooted expertise in the Indian trade ecosystem, our expansion into key lanes across Asia and the Middle East is a natural extension of our vision to support India's rising export momentum. The evolving geopolitical landscape, combined with India's accelerating economic growth, is paving the way for stronger trade ties with emerging markets like Vietnam, Thailand, and strategic partners in the Middle East.
What shapes our roadmap most is the increasing regional demand for Indian goods and the shift towards diversified sourcing and distribution networks. These markets are not just growing—they are becoming more integrated with India through favourable trade agreements, improving infrastructure, and a mutual push towards supply chain resilience.
Our approach remains grounded in leveraging regional knowledge, building local partnerships, and offering tailored logistics solutions that suit the specific trade behaviours of each region. Whether it is the speed-driven retail demand in the Gulf or the manufacturing-linked supply flows in Southeast Asia, our goal is to enable seamless, end-to-end cross-border connectivity that aligns with India's export ambitions.
In essence, our expansion is driven by a commitment to empowering Indian exporters with efficient access to high-potential markets, while navigating them through the complexities of regional trade with agility and insight.
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘With <1% women being entrepreneurs, India far below global trendline'
‘With <1% women being entrepreneurs, India far below global trendline'

Time of India

time40 minutes ago

  • Time of India

‘With <1% women being entrepreneurs, India far below global trendline'

NEW DELHI: Less than 1% of Indian women are entrepreneurs, placing India far below the global trendline, a research paper focussed on gender gaps in entrepreneurship in India has highlighted. On the other hand, India aligns with the global pattern for men, with around 3% of working-age men (15–64 years) being entrepreneurs, which is in line with expectations given its income levels. The research draws upon data from the World Bank covering 186 countries in 2022 and points out that India is one of the most significant outliers in terms of low female entrepreneurship, given its stage of economic development. Using nationally representative data, the research paper, presented at NCAER's India Policy Forum on Friday, showed that female labour force participation explained much of the gender gap in self-employment, but not in entrepreneurship, where women remain under-represented. It found large, persistent barriers to firm growth for women, even in richer states—highlighting the need for multidimensional, state-specific policy solutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo Among various data sources, the authors, Gaurav Chiplunkar from University of Virginia and Pinelopi K. Goldberg from Yale University, drew upon data on working-age population -- (21-65 years) in the 2023 round of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). 'Overall, 64% of individuals participate in labour but this masks differences across gender: 91% of men participate in labour as compared to only 39% of women, implying that for every 10 men there are only 4.2 women in the labour force,' the paper stated. Furthermore, 35% of men and 12% of women operate own-account enterprises, which makes them self-employed individuals without hired labour.

A Sari State of Affairs
A Sari State of Affairs

New Indian Express

time42 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

A Sari State of Affairs

Aradhana Anand always loved Indian textiles. While furnishing her apartment, she experimented with mixing and matching silk saris to upholster a wingback chair. A combination of cotton ikat saris made for perfect fabric blinds. The result—limón, the Delhi-based custom-design studio for furniture and furnishings. The store a sari sight: five standard chairs—the wingchair, accent, club chair and low slipper chair upholstered mainly with saris. limón purveys sari cushion covers, sari-centric art frames, and sari lamp shades too. Each piece takes 4-10 weeks to create by using combinations of saris, sourced from state operated handloom emporiums and co-ops that support weavers, and sometimes directly from the weavers. A recent limited-edition collection called Rasa was made in collaboration with artist Shweta Malhotra that focuses on motifs of Indian spices, screen printed by hand on cotton canvas. 'We educate our clients about what they can do with fabric and saris they no longer wear,' Anand says.

Prada Looks to Put Best (Kolhapuri) Foot Forward
Prada Looks to Put Best (Kolhapuri) Foot Forward

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Prada Looks to Put Best (Kolhapuri) Foot Forward

Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Epaper Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Prada could well partner with Indian artisans if it were to decide to produce and commercialise its Kolhapuri chappal-inspired line of men's sandals, the Italian luxury house said. A spokesperson for Prada Group said it 'is already in the process of setting up next steps with the relevant parties and supply chain in the event the sandals were to be commercialised. In fact, the entire collection is currently at an early stage of design development and none of the pieces are confirmed to be produced.'Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, said a team is being appointed by the global brand to interact with local artisans in India. 'We're working toward an outcome where the brand commercialises the product with the involvement of these artisans,' he said. 'Now that they have acknowledged this is our craftsmanship, they've also stated they will discuss the next steps with us before proceeding with commercialisation.'Prada has formally acknowledged that sandals featured at its recent Men's Spring-Summer 2026 fashion show were inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, as ET reported on Saturday. Group corporate social responsibility head Lorenzo Bertelli had written to Gandhi for this.'We are committed to responsible design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for a meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities, as we have done in other collections to ensure the rightful recognition of their craft,' he wrote. 'Prada strives to pay homage and recognise the value of such specialised craftspeople that represent an unrivalled standard of excellence and heritage.'The letter was in response to Gandhi's midweek communication calling for acknowledgment and ethical collaboration over the use of traditional Kolhapuri slipper designs. ET has seen a copy of these had showcased leather sandals bearing a strong resemblance to the iconic Kolhapuris, sparking widespread backlash in India and reigniting conversations on cultural appropriation in global Sant Rohidas Leather Industries & Charmakar Development Corporation (LIDCOM) jointly holds the geographical indication (GI) rights to Kolhapuri slippers with Karnataka's is evaluating legal options following Prada's use.A senior LIDCOM official said that the development body has written to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, which is expected to take the issue to the ministry of commerce and industry.'Whoever used the Kolhapuri chappal should seek our permission. This is a reputational loss for us,' the official to intellectual property rights lawyer Priyanka Khimani, Prada's acknowledgement of being inspired by 'Indian handcrafted footwear,' and its intent to collaborate with and pay homage to our craftsmen—should it commercially exploit the sandals in the future—was a positive Indian GI laws protect the name and implied origin of registered products, they do not cover design mimicry.'Unless Prada markets or sells these sandals using the word 'Kolhapuri,' or suggests a link to Kolhapur's craftsmanship, there is no legal recourse,' Khimani further legal protection is currently not available for GI tags. Proprietors can increase protection by registering the name or logo as a trademark in other Kolhapuri chappal received GI status in 2018. Yet only 95 artisans have registered as authorised users, owing to low awareness of GI benefits among craftsmen.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store