Interview: Satvir Singh Kohli, CEO & Co-founder of MTAP Technologies

Satvir Singh Kohli, CEO & Co-founder of MTAP Technologies, a pioneering software company automating transport operations

Satvir Singh Kohli currently serves as the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at MTAP Technologies.

He possesses a wealth of experience in the growing business across industries, spanning close to two decades.

Prior to his tenure at MTAP, Mr. Kohli was building an online leadership portal at ABC Consultants. He began his career with American Express.

During his tenure at MTAP, Mr. Kohli played a pivotal role in the launch of two new products, SafeBus and Autologix, while also spearheading the company’s growth and strategy initiatives.

He was appointed to the board of directors in 2020, and subsequently took over the role of CEO in 2021.

Mr. Kohli has gained a reputation for establishing a purpose-driven culture within the company, and for his unwavering dedication to ensuring customer success.

In his leisure time, Mr. Kohli likes to travel and is a foodie. He likes to spend his free time with his family.

Can you tell us about your background and what led you to co-found MTAP?

Satvir Singh Kohli: Coming from a sales and business background, I was looking for an opportunity where I could build a product and create solutions to solve core customer problems, and that’s when MTAP happened.

We faced major challenges while managing transport-related operations in our other group companies, and that’s when we recognized there is a major gap in the market, in terms of location-based service solutions.

We realized that there is an immense potential in technology to bridge this gap and I stepped up to lead this change.

What inspired you to venture into the software industry, specifically in automating transport operations?

Satvir Singh Kohli: Technology simplifies life and it can solve major complex puzzles of how we as humans function regularly.

Initially, I knew that the location-based services industry would be difficult to crack, considering it is a highly unregulated market.

But I and my team took the challenge to regularize the transport industry with new-age technology and solve a serious problem like safety, especially in a country like India where it has always been a major concern.

Kindly brief us about your company, its specialization, and the services that it offers

Satvir Singh Kohli: MTAP Technologies is a software company that provides cutting-edge SaaS solutions to streamline and transform the fleet management industry.

Through innovative and advanced AI tools and analytics, MTAP offers a centralized platform that leverages IoT principles to automate transportation requests, ensuring complete fleet visibility, enhanced customer satisfaction, safety, and cost-efficient operations.

Our services include Safetrax for employee transport management, SafeBus for school bus management, and Autologix for complete cab rental booking solutions.

MTAP is dedicated to empowering fleet operators and businesses with state-of-the-art SaaS technology that enables data-driven decision-making, increased productivity, and ease of growth.

The company’s mission is to provide tailored software platforms to solve transportation needs while promoting shared mobility so that the world moves towards commitment of sustainable growth.

This concept will surely contribute towards reducing traffic congestion on roads and bringing employees back to their offices.

What is your biggest USP

Satvir Singh Kohli: MTAP Technologies sets itself apart from other companies in the fleet management industry through several key differentiators, providing us with a competitive advantage.

Firstly, our in-depth understanding of fleet management, including the intricacies and complexities, enables us to deliver superior solutions.

Our routing algorithms are best-in-class, ensuring optimal utilization of vehicles and drivers. This optimization leads to significant cost savings for our customers, enhancing their operational efficiency.

Secondly, we offer comprehensive analytics capabilities, encompassing Prescriptive, Descriptive, and Predictive Analytics.

By providing stakeholders with actionable insights, we empower them to make informed decisions regarding their fleet management.

This data-driven approach allows our customers to optimize their operations, improve performance, and drive better outcomes.

Another key strength of MTAP Technologies is the flexibility and ease of use of our products. Our solutions are highly configurable, enabling customers to tailor the features according to their specific needs.

Whether enabling or disabling certain functionalities, our customers have the freedom to customize our offerings, ensuring a seamless fit with their requirements.

Finally, our exceptional customer service sets us apart from the competition. We prioritize building strong relationships with our clients and providing unparalleled support.

The fact that we have a high customer retention rate speaks volumes about the level of service we deliver.

We go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction, building long-term partnerships based on trust and reliability.

Could you walk us through the core features and functionalities of MTAP’s software platform? How does it leverage automation and technology to optimize various aspects of transport operations?

Satvir Singh Kohli: All three of our products – Safetrax, Autologix, and SafeBus streamline end-to-end transport operations with a highly configurable and detailed dashboard and user-friendly applications.

MTAP Technologies has always been an early adopter of various technology stacks and uses a wide range of technologies to enhance its software solutions.

The company believes in failing fast to bring innovation as a core value and has created its own frameworks for rapid application development and cross-cutting concerns.

MTAP’s technology stacks are un-opinionated, which gives the company better control, performance, and flexibility to extend its solutions.

We have also developed cloud-agnostic solutions that can be deployed as both monolithic or microservices based on configuration changes only.

Our products are built considering the requirements of all the industries like IT/ITES, schools, and cab operators. Thus, its core features revolve around ensuring transparency of processes and safety of the commuters.

By leveraging various technologies, MTAP’s SaaS solutions streamline fleet management operations along with ensuring complete fleet visibility, enhanced customer satisfaction and safety, seamless and cost-efficient operations, and hassle-free commuting.

The transport industry is known for its complexity and diverse needs. How does MTAP cater to the specific requirements of different types of transportation, such as logistics, fleet management, or ride-hailing services?

Satvir Singh Kohli: Catering to the specific requirements of different types of transportation is a fundamental aspect of our business.

We understand that the transport industry encompasses various sectors, each with its unique challenges and demands.

To address these diverse needs, we employ a flexible approach and develop tailored solutions for different types of automation needs.

Our automation systems focus on optimizing efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing safety.

MTAP is a highly tech-focused company, and we are best at it. That’s the reason we witness such a high customer retention rate.

The data-driven approach allows organizations to make informed decisions, improve operational efficiency, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Ultimately, our goal as a transport automation company is to leverage cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive business growth across diverse transportation sectors.

We strive to be adaptable and responsive, ensuring that our solutions cater to the specific requirements of each industry segment we serve.

What was the inspiration behind turning an entrepreneur

Satvir Singh Kohli: The high that I get after winning a new customer is my main inspiration. Also, the passion for building a product that solves major yet unique problems is what drives me.

It is the immense satisfaction that you get from building an idea from scratch into a tangible reality that holds the potential to bring a change that ignites the entrepreneurial spirit in me.

Your product, your legacy is what stays and how one can solve problems like transport for people. Moreover, wearing multiple hats is a blessing and responsibility that an entrepreneur embraces.

What sets MTAP apart from other software companies in the transport automation space? Are there any unique features or approaches that differentiate your solution from competitors?

Satvir Singh Kohli: MTAP sets itself apart from its competitors on the grounds of being a tech-focused technology partner. We not only offer transport-related services but also act as auditors for organizations and offer better transparency into fleet management.

Another important aspect that sets us apart from our competitors is the flexibility and customization options that we offer with our products.

Our customers can tailor the functionalities of the software solutions, by either enabling or disabling them according to their requirements.

Additionally, our exceptional customer service is one of the main reasons why we are renowned in this industry.

Over time, we have built strong relationships with our clients and continue to offer them unparalleled support.

What trends or developments do you foresee in the field of transport automation and software solutions in the coming years? How is MTAP preparing to stay ahead of these changes and provide innovative solutions?

Satvir Singh Kohli: Technology is moving in the direction of automation, and that is what I see as a major trend and a scope as well.

In fact, small transport businesses and fleet operators that were reluctant to adopt technology have started to realize its potential and how it can help them scale.

I foresee that the unregulated transport industry is soon to see a similar boom that came in the eCommerce industry.

People will be moving towards adopting sustainable solutions for commuting and adapting to the concept of sustainable & shared mobility. This will not only reduce vehicles on the road, but also solve major environment-related issues.

What advice would you give to companies in the transport industry who are considering implementing automation in their operations?

Satvir Singh Kohli: Indeed, implementing automation in operations will prove to be a great decision for companies.

My only advice would be that don’t consider technology to be a roadblock for your company, rather take it as an opportunity and build greater businesses leveraging it.

Embrace technology and you will be amazed to see how it can help you grow exponentially. It will help you explore more growth opportunities, in terms of hiring and retaining better talent from the market as well.

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