As India’s supply chains become more complex, businesses are looking beyond standalone transportation or warehousing providers in favour of integrated logistics partners capable of managing the entire fulfilment journey. Recognising this shift, Ekart has opened its nationwide logistics network to businesses, combining warehousing, transportation, fulfilment, returns and technology into a unified offering designed for enterprises, MSMEs and fast-growing D2C brands. Backed by an expanding franchise network, dedicated warehousing infrastructure and AI-driven logistics capabilities, the company is extending enterprise-grade supply chain solutions well beyond metropolitan markets. In this conversation with Mani Bhushan, Chief Business Officer, Ekart, we discuss how integrated logistics is reshaping supply chains, the role of technology in driving efficiency and visibility, and why expanding access to organised logistics could become a key enabler of India’s next phase of commerce growth.
Businesses today are increasingly looking to consolidate multiple logistics functions under a single partner rather than managing separate providers for warehousing, transportation, and last-mile delivery. What is driving this shift towards integrated 3PL solutions, and how does it change the way supply chains are designed and managed?
Businesses today are operating across multiple channels, from marketplaces and D2C websites to offline retail, which has made supply chains more complex. As a result, moving to an integrated 3PL model fundamentally changes supply chain design from being reactive to predictive. According to CBRE’s India Logistics Figures H2 2025, third-party logistics (3PL) players accounted for nearly 44% of total warehousing absorption, making them the largest occupier segment in India’s logistics market. By consolidating functions, businesses gain an end-to-end (E2E) view of their inventory. It allows us to optimise the entire lifecycle of a product, from inbound freight and storage to order dispatch and reverse logistics. This integration reduces transit latency, minimises inventory duplication, and drives down the overall cost of operations while dramatically improving the end-customer experience.
At Ekart, we have seen similar requirements from businesses of all sizes. We have built an integrated offering that combines dedicated warehousing, transportation, fulfilment, doorstep delivery, payments and B2B distribution under one network. Businesses also gain access to the same technology stack that powers one of India’s largest e-commerce ecosystems, including real-time shipment tracking, AI-powered address resolution and demand forecasting. This enables brands to position inventory closer to demand, improve fulfilment efficiency and deliver a more consistent customer experience. Customers leveraging these capabilities have also benefited from 8 – 10% logistics cost savings, demonstrating how integrated supply chain solutions can create both operational and commercial value.
The next wave of consumption growth is coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, but reaching these markets efficiently remains a challenge. How is network expansion, through partner-led models, franchisees, or owned infrastructure, combined with dedicated warehousing, helping improve fulfilment speed, cost efficiency, and service reliability in these emerging markets?
While Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are driving consumption, they are also rapidly emerging as massive hubs for MSMEs and regional D2C brands. The real challenge is seamlessly integrating these localised sellers into a high-speed national network. This is where our partner-led franchise model acts as a powerful engine for first-mile sourcing and shipment aggregation. Instead of regional brands struggling with fragmented dispatch, our franchise partners serve as highly accessible local nodes that consolidate shipments directly from the source.
Through the launch of an asset-light franchisee network with over 300 outlets across Surat, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, we are making our national logistics network more accessible to MSMEs and businesses. Once aggregated, shipments move into Ekart’s fulfilment network, reducing first-mile costs and creating efficient freight corridors. This ensures businesses in emerging markets benefit from the same speed, cost efficiency and service reliability as those in major metros. Additionally, AI-powered forecasting, real-time tracking and fulfilment help businesses improve inventory planning, delivery speed and cost efficiency. Today, Ekart reaches more than 95% of India’s pincodes, providing businesses the scale needed to serve customers across both metro and emerging markets.
Ekart is expanding its integrated logistics ecosystem through a nationwide franchise network to bring enterprise-grade warehousing, fulfilment, transportation, returns and technology closer to businesses beyond the metros. How do you see this model changing access to organised logistics for MSMEs, D2C brands and regional enterprises, and what impact could it have on supply chain efficiency in Tier 2 and Tier 3 India?
Historically, enterprise-grade logistics, advanced warehouse management systems, predictive demand planning, and rapid B2B/B2C express transport were advantages reserved for large retail corporations in major hubs. Our franchise network is democratising this access. We have already launched 300+ franchise outlets across Surat, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, with plans to expand to 1,000 outlets by the end of 2026. This significantly improves access to Ekart’s nationwide logistics network and technology for businesses beyond the metros.
By extending our ecosystem through local channel partners, we are bringing enterprise-grade logistics closer to MSMEs, D2C brands and regional businesses. They can leverage our network without significant investments in logistics infrastructure. Enabling them to scale nationally and reach customers across 15,000+ pincodes, including Tier 2 & 3 regions. Alongside this, we have over 1 million sq. ft. of dedicated warehousing for external customers, with further expansion planned across Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Combined with our integrated fulfilment, transportation and returns capabilities, this enables businesses to position inventory closer to customers, reduce turnaround times and optimise logistics costs.
As supply chains become more complex, visibility and data-driven decision-making are becoming just as important as physical infrastructure. How is Ekart leveraging technologies such as AI, predictive analytics, and real-time tracking to help customers optimise inventory, improve delivery performance, and build more resilient supply chains?
Today, logistics is no longer just about moving shipments efficiently; it’s about helping businesses make faster, data-driven decisions across their supply chains. At Ekart, technology is embedded across every stage of the logistics journey, from warehousing and fulfilment to the last mile.
We leverage AI and predictive analytics heavily in intelligent inventory placement. By analysing historical data and regional demand signals, we help brands position the right SKUs in the regional warehouses before the demand peaks. Through real-time tracking and intelligent route optimisation algorithms, dynamic-route, our fleet of over 14,000 trucks minimises empty miles and mitigates delays caused by weather or traffic. This deep visibility enables our customers to reduce excess stock, lower their working capital, and build resilience against sudden market disruptions.
Looking ahead, we continue to focus across three key areas, such as deep technology integration through AI, automation and IoT; expanding our network and fulfilment infrastructure; and building specialised capabilities for sectors with unique supply chain requirements. As supply chains and demand patterns evolve, technology will be a key enabler of resilience, agility and long-term growth.
Beyond integration, some businesses need channels built entirely around their specific operational needs rather than shared network capacity. For high-growth sectors like D2C, retail, and manufacturing, what does a dedicated logistics solution offer, in terms of guaranteed capacity, custom SLAs, or tailored workflows, that a shared network can’t, and how does that translate into cost and customer experience gains?
While shared networks offer scale and cost efficiency, dedicated 4PL solutions are designed around each customer’s unique supply chain needs. For example, modern retail might require precise appointment-based deliveries for marketplace inwards, secure handling for high-value electronics, or specialised value-recovery protocols like open-box deliveries and on-the-spot quality checks for returns. A dedicated solution guarantees capacity during critical peak sale seasons, ensures compliance with customised SLAs, and provides dedicated account management. This operational certainty translates directly into fewer stock-outs, reduced damage, and a superior brand experience for the end consumer.
At Ekart, we have built our business around this need for customised, end-to-end supply chain solutions. As a 4PL partner, we work closely with brands to design logistics models tailored to their business priorities, whether that’s assured capacity during peak periods, integrated warehousing, B2B transportation, or last-mile fulfilment. Today, we partner with over 1,000 retail and D2C brands through an integrated network comprising Grade A warehousing across 20+ cities and a fleet of more than 14,000 trucks. This scale, combined with AI-powered demand forecasting, intelligent inventory placement and real-time network planning, enables us to help brands improve second-day delivery by nearly 30%, expand zonal coverage by around 40% and reduce logistics costs by up to 10%.
India’s logistics landscape is evolving rapidly with the expansion of digital commerce, manufacturing, and regional consumption hubs. Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for integrated logistics providers, and where do you expect the next phase of innovation and investment to be focused?
As businesses scale across channels and geographies, supply chains are becoming a strategic differentiator rather than just an operational function. A significant opportunity lies in the formalisation of B2B logistics and the integration of multi-modal transport. As manufacturing scales up and digital commerce penetrates deeper, there is a massive appetite for reliable B2B air and surface express solutions that bring consumer-level visibility to commercial freight.
At Ekart, we’re already investing in the capabilities that will define this next phase, such as AI-powered forecasting, intelligent inventory placement and planning systems that enable us to respond faster to changing demand while improving inventory availability and network efficiency. These capabilities have helped reduce planning cycles from 10 days to two days and lower excess inventory by nearly 50%. We are also strengthening our nationwide fulfilment, warehousing and transportation network to help businesses serve customers faster across diverse markets.
Looking ahead, the focus would be on two key areas: deep automation and sustainability. We will continue expanding AI and automation through advanced robotics utilised in fulfilment centres and AI-driven autonomous systems. Simultaneously, our commitment to electric vehicle (EV) fleets and eco-friendly packaging will become increasingly important, ensuring that our growth is both scalable and responsible.
