Category Archives: Warehousing

IndoSpace launched e-bikes in Chakan as part of its sustainability initiatives on Zero Emissions Day. IndoSpace’s next sustainability initiative seeks to provide an actionable solution to emissions arising from commutes at our smart parks. IndoSpace has partnered with Chartered Bike to introduce e-bikes along with charging stations, especially dedicated for its tenants and employees to commute within the industrial park. These e-bikes would offer tenants, their workforce, and all park visitors a quick, convenient, healthy, and zero-emission commute throughout the park. IndoSpace is constantly upgrading and embracing developments to build smart and green parks that assure efficient operations. The move will support our tenants and their workforce embrace healthy, active, and sustainable transport solutions. The e-bikes will be docked at two key locations—the first one will be at the entrance of the park, while the second one will be at a convenient midway point that will make it easy for the customers to access the service by following a few simple steps.

Mahindra Logistics Limited (MLL) announced the strategic collaborations with 10 innovative technology startups during the CATAPULT Premier Day at Bengaluru. The CATAPULT incubator program is one of the most ambitious technology-based initiative of Mahindra Logistics. Six cohorts of CATAPULT 2.0 have been collaborating with MLL over the past nine months and technology MVPs (pilots) were successfully piloted during this period. MVPs were focused towards developing sustainable solutions and enhancing operational efficiencies in the logistics and mobility space. CATAPULT Cohort 2.0 covered wide technology domains such as Vision tech, Advanced analytics, AI-based optimizer, location-based monitoring tech and sustainable LMD solutions. Six startups part of Cohort 2.0 were Accio Robotics, Linkeddots, Constems—AI, SenseGiz, Jidoka Technologies and Aurita Bikes. During the award ceremony, Strategic Collaboration MoUs were signed with eight startups–HiPer, Enmovil, KoiReader, Accio Robotics, Aurita Bikes, Constem–AI, Linkeddots, and Sensegiz. The technology startups will be integrated as part of MLL’s ‘Smart Automation Program’.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the much-awaited National Logistics Policy (NLP) in the national capital on September 17 which, he said, was an important step towards the ‘making of a developed India,’ while adding that the policy has come with a ‘new energy for every sector.’ In his address, PM Modi said, “In the Amrit Kaal, the country has taken an important step towards the making of a developed India. The echo of ‘Make in India’ and ‘India becoming self-reliant’ is everywhere. India is setting big export targets and is also fulfilling them. India is emerging as a manufacturing hub. In such a situation, the National Logistics Policy has brought new energy for all sectors.” The NLP also aims at enhancing competitiveness and seamless movement of goods. At the grand event, Modi also focused on setting up Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), developing infrastructure and enhancing multimodal connectivity. “The government, both at centre and state, would prepare a master plan for logistics that will cover projects planned by different ministries to ensure multi-modality, optimal modal mix and addressing first and last mile connectivity. The policy also makes way for a framework to set up Multi-modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), which will be adopted by states and central ministries. This aims at seamless integration of various modes of transport. A framework will also be put in place for accelerated development of warehousing, which will address key aspects, such as standards, benchmarking and rating, and adoption of technology enabled solutions.”

Warehousing Association of India (WAI) is privileged to be entrusted by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to update and publish the E-Handbook on Warehousing Standards. The E-handbook was officially released at the launch of the National Logistics Policy by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 72nd Birthday. The E-handbook defines the best practices in Warehouse construction & maintenance, Palletisation & Racking Standards, Standards for material Handling, transportation, Product Specific standards as well as trends in Warehouse Automation and Artificial intelligence. This is indeed an excellent e- handbook which will benefit all the stake holders of the industry and go a long way toward standardisation and facilitate the development of world class warehousing infrastructure in India. Modern Warehouses that deploy automation and mechanisation will achieve improved productivity and throughput thereby helping reduce the warehousing and logistics costs. We will continue to update this document annually and it will be our endeavour to include the latest developments, practices and technologies in the Warehousing Industry from time to time.

Ecom Express Limited announced that it has expanded its footprint to over 4 Million sq. ft. across its network to manage the high demands of e-commerce shipping during the festive season. Additionally, the Company has added automation to the majority of its sort center facilities thus increasing its parcel processing capacity to over 6 Million per day. A significant portion of expansion and investments into automation, including enhancement, has been activated in 14 cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Surat, Jaipur, Indore and Bhubaneshwar. This massive capacity augmentation has been done to bring greater supply chain efficiencies to Ecom Express’ already existing pan-India network that serves over 27000 PIN codes using approximately 3000 last mile delivery centers. T.A. Krishnan, Founder & CEO, Ecom Express said, “We are seeing tremendous growth in tier III and beyond markets and these have been at the forefront of e-commerce growth. In the past two years, we have witnessed the demand almost double with 80 per cent of our deliveries happening in tier III and beyond. With rising disposable incomes, growing internet penetration, and emerging D2C brands, there is a huge amount of growth yet to be realized here. We continue to build robust networks and infrastructure that offer smart supply chain solutions, as well as efficient delivery services, to help small businesses unlock new opportunities as the frontiers of e-commerce advance.”

DHL Supply Chain (DHL) announced a EUR 500 million investment in India over the next five years. DHL will own and operate wholly owned large multi-client sites in India because of this transaction, adding twelve million square feet of warehouse space to the Group’s existing portfolio, says official press release. The expanded warehouse capacity is intended to better serve rising industries such as e-commerce, retail, consumer, life sciences, technology, engineering, and manufacturing, and automotive. “Majority of investment will go towards construction of large warehouses and logistics centers. In India, we will have a multiple customers facility, which means we can deploy people across multiple customers or bring in economies of scale,” said Vikas Anand, MD, DHL Supply Chain India.

The much-awaited national logistics policy is likely to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 September to promote seamless movement of goods across the country, said industry officials. The policy is being brought in tandem with GatiShakti National Master Plan that was launched to build robust infrastructure, fill the missing gaps in logistics and draw more investments into the country. It is expected to draw focus on broader policy issues of warehousing, and giving thrust to digitisation, officials said. The policy has been in the works for the last few years. However, it never saw the light of the day due to lack of consensus among other government departments.

Anshul Singhal, MD, WOLP said, “We have plans to develop Grade-A warehouse parks on land parcels in high demand that would be leased for an extended time to tenants with AAA credit ratings from industries such as e-commerce, FMCG, 3PL, pharma, and auto-ancillaries.” He added, “We have plans to extend our portfolio and have a budget of Rs 2,000 crore to build and lease a portfolio of 7-8 million square feet of grade-A warehouse space across India. We have targeted high-growth markets with the intention to negotiate with landowners in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata to acquire land parcels ranging from 40 to 75 acres. To serve as many pin codes as possible, we are concentrating on tier II cities such as Ludhiana, Ghaziabad, Indore, Siliguri, Guwahati, and Visakhapatnam. Our warehouse growth is focused on technology, guided by the 3S principle: smarter, faster, and sustainable. Lastly, we are contributing to a sustainable future by utilizing ecologically friendly alternatives when developing our logistics parks.”

V-Logis, part of V-Trans (India) Ltd, has launched its world-class facility with the state-of-the-art technology called CHEMSTORE. CHEMSTORE is a super-specialized chemical storage solution that provides the best safety standards at the global level. This world-class facility is amongst the top warehouses in the country which is fully compliant with National Building Code (NBC) 2016 and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The facility is a state-of-the-art infrastructure with strict compatibility for storing various chemicals of various hazardous classes. As per the norms, the facility is strategically located away from the Highway, residential, school, and river body at NH-3 Mankoli-Bhiwandi. The facility accommodates a total area of 2,18,350 sq. ft to store precious haz-chems with utmost safety measures. We have partnered with VED Hospital for emergency services at the facility which is at a distance of 12kms. The fire station is located 20km from Chem Store. The chemical industry is engineered with high compliance standards to store all categories of hazardous chemicals comfortably and securely. The facility shelves are built with a heavy-duty racking system in a systematic arrangement to store an optimum quantity of material. The layout of the warehouse is designed with a height of 46 ft at the center efficiently utilizing the space.

Mahindra Logistics has unveiled 1 lakh sq. ft. of warehouse today designed with a sustainable warehousing architecture including multi-client capabilities, renewable energy, resource conservation and green cover. This state-of-art warehouse will be an important part of MLL’s pan-India network of multi-user facilities that support customers inbound to manufacturing and fulfilment operations. The facility will support e-commerce, consumer, and manufacturing & engineering industries. The built-to-suit (BTS) facility is designed in line with MLL’s sustainability standards, including usage of recycled construction material, liquid discharge management, renewable energy and waste management requirements and state-of-the-art automation. The facility has onsite solar power generation capabilities to cater to the entire energy requirements and is equipped for solar charging for cargo vehicles and personal mobility.