CARGOCONNECT JULY2024 - Flipbook - Page 34
COVERSTORY
WAREHOUSING ADVANCES
We offer a plug-and-play
fulfilment model, enabling
brands to establish multiple
warehouse locations without
any initial investment.
Our technology stack is
fully integrated with key
marketplaces and courier/
transportation partners,
providing brands with an endto-end platform for seamless
business operations.
Moreover, we deliver a
comprehensive suite of valueadded services. Our advanced
WMS and real-time tracking
tools significantly enhance
digital connectivity with
our customers. To further
optimise efficiency, we utilise
automation tools such as
conveyor systems and video
management systems, which
reduce dependency on labour
and allow us to monitor
productivity effectively.
Ajay Rao
Founder and CEO, Emiza
34 | CARGOCONNECT JULY 2024
bulk shipments to direct-to-consumer
deliveries, necessitating e昀케cient last-mile
delivery solutions to meet customer
expectations promptly.
* Sophisticated Networks: Retailers are
moving towards more sophisticated
distribution networks, moving away
from centralised inventory management.
These networks optimise inventory
e昀케ciency by managing stock-keeping
units (SKUs) based on velocity and
customer demand.
* Transportation Strategies: Retail
companies and shippers are reassessing
their transport strategies to ensure
timely deliveries and enhance control
over service capabilities. This includes
exploring alternative transportation
modes to effectively meet changing
customer demands.
“Indeed, the warehousing and logistics
sector has evolved from simple storage
facilities to multifunctional hubs that manage
extensive supply chains and continually
expanding inventories,” states Nikhil
Agarwal, President, CJ Darcl Logistics.
He emphasises that companies leveraging new strategies and advanced technologies such as WMS are reaping bene昀椀ts by
monitoring and managing inventory levels
in real time, thereby achieving efficient
distribution and minimising stockouts.
Nikhil further underscores the necessity
for modern e-commerce landscapes to
adopt digital, interconnected supply chains
powered by technologies like AI and ML.
“This transformation enables transparent,
traceable, and personalised omnichannel
experiences,” he says. Therefore, building
an omnichannel supply chain that integrates
various solutions to automate processes and
manage complexities across the value chain
is crucial, he notes, as it alleviates strain
through faster deliveries and optimised
manufacturing. “This shift is also driving
the development of advanced warehouses
capable of optimising storage and inventory
management processes while adhering
to sustainable, transparent, and globally
secure standards,” he mentions.
Highlighting another signi昀椀cant trend,
Nikhil points out how e-commerce is reshaping distribution networks. “Distribution
centres are assuming a central role, serving
as assembly facilities and nodes in the supply
chain that may render traditional retail
stores obsolete or repurpose them into
pickup hubs or showrooms,” he asserts and
emphasises the importance for retailers to
adopt advanced technologies, sustainable
practices, and e昀케cient supply chain strategies
to stay future-oriented and meet customer
demands for fast, e昀케cient, and eco-friendly
delivery services.
Ajay Rao, Founder and CEO, Emiza
underscores the pivotal role of ful昀椀lment
speed in today’s competitive market. “In
today’s competitive market, the speed of
ful昀椀lment is a key factor in determining
the success of sales channels.”
Rao advocates for a shift from traditional inventory management approaches
to multi-location warehousing strategies.
“The traditional approach of maintaining
inventory in a single location is outdated.
Brands now need to implement multi-location
warehousing strategies to keep their products
close to customers, ensuring quicker delivery times and better availability,” he avows
and suggests that ful昀椀lment centres should
transform from mere storage facilities into
dynamic processing hubs. “These centres must
handle both bulk shipments and individual
It’s clear that any manufacturing
business aims to continually enhance
processes and boost efficiency. For
them, integrating systems is crucial
to future-proof their operations.
Likewise, small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) must remain
proactive in embracing emerging
trends and technologies to facilitate
growth, expand their market reach, and
seamlessly integrate new functionalities
into their operational frameworks.
orders for B2C channels, while also providing
value-added services such as quality checks,
kitting, MRP stickering, and refurbishment,
especially for apparel products.”
Furthermore, Rao underscores the
importance of e昀昀ective inventory planning
and forecasting as inventory storage becomes
more distributed. “As inventory storage
becomes more distributed, e昀昀ective inventory
planning and forecasting are crucial,” he notes
and highlights the role of a strong demand
planning team, supported by advanced
statistical tools and AI that can signi昀椀cantly
enhance a brand’s ability to manage inventory e昀케ciently. “This approach ensures that
products are in the right place at the right
time, improving customer satisfaction and
optimising operational e昀케ciency.”
“E-commerce and quick commerce have
revolutionised product storage and distribution strategies,” acknowledges Ajay Rao,
echoing sentiments shared by other experts.
“Each product category necessitates a tailored
approach. For FMCG products, characterised
