Exploring new levels of flexibility in warehousing

Scalability and flexibility have always been critical to reliable, end-to-end supply chain solutions. And today, as e-commerce booms and delivery timelines reduce to next day and same day, the need for innovative, robust warehousing has increased even further. For established market players like Avvashya CCI, the contract logistics division of leading integrated logistics services provider Allcargo Logistics, the time is just right to explore new offerings backed by excellence and ingenuity.

According to recent reports, India’s warehousing market was valued at INR 1050 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow to INR 2028 billion by 2025. However, the country still grapples with a shortage of warehousing facilities and demand for world-class, technologically-equipped warehouses that can be made operational within short timelines continues to rise.

On-demand, plug-and-play warehousing

“In this new normal where change is the only constant, being agile enough to adapt to dynamic situations is a key driver of sustainable growth and success. Essentially, this is what we are giving our customers with the new flexible warehousing offering. Already, a number of digital platforms and applications are transforming shipping and logistics into an ‘on-demand’ experience. Introducing a flexible warehousing offering that can be made available to customers in a ‘plug-and-play’ format, is a logical and vital complement to this transition”, says Anoop Chauhan, Chief Operating Officer – Supply Chain, Avvashya CCI.

What this means is that an existing warehouse equipped with standard fixtures and amenities common for all customers is already constructed and ready. Based on customers’ requirements, the partial area they need can be partitioned and segregated for them as well as customized with any specific needs that they might have.

As it’s a plug-and-play model, customers have the flexibility of opting for such warehousing services for limited or pre-determined durations, aligned to evolutions and fluctuations in their respective domestic and global supply chains.

Unmatched turnaround time

One of the biggest benefits of such a flexible, plug-and-play warehousing product is that the turnaround time to go live is significantly reduced. The process of identifying the location, planning the requirements, carrying out the customizations and making the facility live that would normally take anything from 30 to 45 days gets done much faster, thus helping customers save time and optimize their operations and productivity.

While this flexible solution opens up the possibilities of streamlining the entire supply chain to a number of industries and sectors, it is of particular benefit for sectors like e-commerce, fashion and retail, consumer goods and durables, electronics, etc. where consumption patterns tend to shift in response to expected or unprecedented changes in the environment.

Location and technology advantage

For customers who want to leverage the benefits of a flexible, plug-and-play warehousing product, it is important that the facilities be located in close proximity or have good connectivity to both – industrial clusters as well as key consumption centres.

In keeping with this key factor, Avvashya CCI is looking ahead to offering flexible warehousing across its vast facility of over 400,000 sq. ft. at Farukh Nagar, in Jhajjar, Haryana – a strategic hub for logistics parks and ideal for customers across various sectors.

A significant advantage of partnering with a contract logistics and 3PL leader like Avvashya CCI is their existing experience, capabilities and technology. With Warehouse Management Systems that can be integrated with those of customers, expert professionals to design and execute customized, end-to-end supply chain solutions and an approach of going the extra mile, result-oriented performance in 3PL for various sectors like e-commerce, auto, food, pharmaceutical and chemicals, etc. Avvashya CCI has already proved its commitment to excellence and customer-centric services. It is this same reliability that it brings to its flexible warehousing offering.

The promise of quality, safety and care

For businesses that aim to enhance productivity and build resilience into their supply chains by diversifying them, a flexible warehousing product can be the right way ahead.

Additionally, teaming up with an industry leader like Avvashya CCI translates into the most stringent levels of safety maintained at every stage – especially in current times when COVID-19 precautions and protocols like sanitization, use of masks and social distancing are a must. At Avvashya CCI, along with staff members, safety measures also extend to drivers, equipment operators, handlers, labourers, visitors to the facilities and all stakeholders.

Looking ahead to the digital transformation

With the logistics sector moving towards digitalization at a really fast pace, new offerings like flexible warehousing also need to implement sophisticated, new-age technology solutions.

Along with hand-held devices, RFID and bar codes, technology like voice picking and ring scanners can help strike the right balance between automation and enhancing the human capital.

Bolstering existing Warehouse Management System with omni-channel technologies that can help communicate with multiple systems and aid actionable data and information exchange is likely to add to the success of new and innovative offerings like flexible warehousing.