CARGOCONNECT JULY2024 - Flipbook - Page 35
COVERSTORY
WAREHOUSING ADVANCES
by fewer SKUs and high sales velocity, inventory replication across multiple locations is
crucial. Brands can leverage marketplace
warehouses for fast-moving SKUs while
utilising a 3PL network for slower-moving
items and bulk orders destined for quick
commerce and modern trade.”
“Conversely, managing apparel inventory through marketplace warehouses
poses challenges due to potential inventory
fragmentation and complexities in handling
returns and refurbishments,” Rao explains.
“Apparel brands often prefer 3PL warehouses
that provide specialised services to maintain
control over the ful昀椀lment process.”
Rao also highlights two prominent trends
shaping distribution logistics. “Firstly, there is
a growing trend towards establishing multiple
stocking points nationwide to facilitate quick
ful昀椀lment and replenishment. Secondly, there
is an increased adoption of 3PL services to
manage intricate and dispersed operations.
These trends are poised to significantly
enhance distribution e昀케ciency and responsiveness to market demands.”
3PLs Epitomising Enhanced
Distribution and Delivery
It’s clear that any manufacturing business
aims to continually enhance processes and
boost e昀케ciency. 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.
In particular, retailers today require
bespoke solutions that o昀昀er 昀氀exibility and
the bene昀椀ts of shared resources like space,
labour, equipment, and transportation.
They seek consistently high operational
Leveraging vertical space
is crucial, and our 3D AS/
RS robotics system, NEO,
is designed to address this
need. NEO is a completely
modular system with a
scalable structure that allows
businesses to maximise their
vertical space. It can be easily
scaled up or down in response
to demand fluctuations,
ensuring that space is
used optimally regardless
of changing conditions. As
demand and supply rise and
fall sharply, NEO’s modularity
provides the flexibility needed
to adapt quickly. This agility
ensures that operations
remain efficient and costeffective even during periods
of high or low demand. When
demand is lower, the reduced
usage of robots leads to lower
maintenance and system
running costs, contributing
to overall cost and energy
efficiency.
Sandeep Bansal
Chief Business Officer,
Falcon Autotech
standards supported by robust IT capabilities.
Technology, particularly scalable automation,
is driving signi昀椀cant changes in distribution
and ful昀椀lment operations. Automation not
only supplements labour but also expands
market opportunities due to its scalability.
3PLs with expertise and scale are pivotal
in this landscape. They bring advanced
technology and best practices that optimise
warehousing and distribution logistics,
providing retailers with unparalleled operational 昀氀exibility and superior distribution
control. This capability allows retailers to
better serve their customers, positioning
these 3PLs as leaders in their clients’ eyes.
Rathi emphasises the importance of
customised solutions for retailers seeking
昀氀exibility and resource sharing, supported
by advanced IT capabilities. On distribution
front, Rathi informs, Allcargo Gati operates
an extensive network of strategically located
mega hubs in Farukhnagar, Nagpur, Mumbai,
Bangalore, and Guwahati. “Each hub spans
100,000 sq ft, o昀昀ering economies of scale,
improved Turnaround Time (TAT), and
enhanced manpower e昀케ciency to ensure
quick and reliable services.”
Rathi mentions, the Nagpur hub, centrally positioned, handles approximately 300
tonnes per day across various sectors with
e昀케cient loading and unloading utilising up to
68 bays. Further, Rathi re昀氀ects on Allcargo
Gati’s continuous enhancement of its line
haul and feeder services through automation,
advanced load planning, and infrastructural upgrades for optimal performance.
“Signi昀椀cant cost optimisations are achieved
in the middle-mile and 昀椀rst- to- last-mile
operations through initiatives such as the
introduction of 46 FT trailers and vehicle
load optimisation and resizing.”
Additionally, Allcargo provides a nationwide network of shared warehouses, o昀昀ering
昀氀exible storage solutions to retailers. “The
integration of warehousing and distribution
services under one roof delivers substantial
advantages to their customers,” Rathi notes.
Rathi highlights Allcargo’s leadership
in integrating scalable automation and
advanced technology to innovate distribution
and ful昀椀lment processes. “Our approach
focusses on enhancing operational e昀케ciency,
fostering digital connectivity with customers, and leveraging data-driven insights
for continuous improvement. Our techenabled system, Gems, integrates processes
through high-level automation, which helps
us achieve e昀케ciency and accuracy during
our operations. Our online platforms for
customers have the capability of enabling
live tracking, easy communication, as well
as data visibility.”
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