Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M)
released a detailed report, ‘Building Warehousing Competitiveness: Unlocking
Growth through Intelligent Warehousing’ during a one-day conference organized
by the CII Institute of Logistics. A&M’s
report highlights the evolving trends shaping India’s warehousing landscape and
the forces fueling unprecedented growth in logistics infrastructure.
The evolution of India’s logistics and warehousing sector towards
sophisticated logistics parks is emblematic of its crucial role in driving the
nation’s economic success. As showcased in its report, Alvarez & Marsal
India estimates that the demand for Grade A warehousing stock will grow at a
compounded annual growth rate of 12.5 percent until FY30. At present, up to 70 percent of Grade A demand comes from Delhi NCR,
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune.
India is witnessing an emergence of high-quality warehousing
infrastructure, recognizing warehouses as crucial components in delivering
exceptional customer experiences. Sectors which are primarily driving the
demand are retail, third-party logistics (3PL) and ecommerce. According to the
report, these sectors are projected to contribute approximately 80 percent of
the total demand for Grade A warehousing over the next five years.
To meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market, these warehouses are
equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and are strategically located near
key transport hubs for efficient distribution. With advanced storage solutions
and temperature-controlled environments, these warehouses are well-positioned
to cater to the evolving needs of various industries, contributing to the
overall growth and efficiency of India’s logistics ecosystem.
Manish Saigal, A&M India Managing Director and Business
Transformation Services Practice Co-Leader, has said, “The evolution of warehousing in India from simple ‘godowns’ to
sophisticated logistics hubs signals a new era of efficiency and resilience in
supply chain management. Warehouses no longer serve as a mere storage
facility, but rather as multifunctional logistic hubs integral to the seamless
functioning of the supply chain and a superior choice for businesses aiming to
optimize operations. “Unlocking Growth through Intelligent Warehousing’
highlights three pivotal factors driving the transformation of warehousing
infrastructure along with determining the size, scalability, role evolution,
and ecosystem of warehouses.
These are the: Evolution of
business models and the expansion of product assortments that necessitate
warehouses to adapt capabilities enabling storage of a diverse range of
products; Imperative of balancing faster operations with cost-effectiveness
underscoring the adoption of mechanization, automation, and robotics in
high-grade warehouses, ensuring competitiveness in terms of pricing and delivery
speed and Surge in institutional logistics investments, coupled with challenges
related to land scarcity, propelling the development of larger and more
advanced warehouse facilities forward.