As one of the world’s leading technology enterprises in optics and optoelectronics, ZEISS operates across highly specialized sectors ranging from medical technology and vision care to industrial quality solutions and research microscopy. In India, the company is not only witnessing strong growth across business units but is also expanding its manufacturing footprint and strengthening its operational backbone to support future demand.
In this exclusive interaction with Logistics Insider, Amartyaa Kumaar Guha, Head of Operations, Carl Zeiss India, discusses the company’s approach to infrastructure expansion, supply chain optimization, digitalization, resilience, and India’s growing role in ZEISS’ global roadmap. He also shares his perspective on the capabilities future supply chain leaders will need to thrive in increasingly technology-driven environments.
What are the key priorities for ZEISS India’s growth in terms of assets?
As ZEISS India continues to grow across Vision Care, Medical Technology, Industrial Quality Solutions (IQS), and Research Microscopy Solutions (RMS), we are making significant investments in building scalable infrastructure to support this growth.
A key focus is creating a multispeed supply chain ecosystem: while Vision Care requires highvolume, fast-turnaround fulfillment, Medical, IQS, and RMS demand specialized handling, secure storage, and white-glove delivery for high-value systems. We are also expanding our warehousing and Tariq Ahmed 42 Logistics distribution footprint and evaluating strategically located regional hubs near major economic and healthcare clusters to improve service levels and reduce lead times.
Beyond supply chain infrastructure, we are expanding our overall operational footprint. This includes scaling our Global Capability Center (GCC) to a 1,000-seater facility, recently opening a new office in Eastern India, strengthening regional offices across the country, and relocating our headquarters to a larger, future-ready space. Together with our investments in manufacturing, these initiatives reflect our confidence in India’s growing role within the global ZEISS network.
How is ZEISS India looking at value chain optimization from a supply chain perspective in the future?
To build future-ready capabilities, ZEISS India is focused on the right combination of people, infrastructure, and technology.
From a talent perspective, we are strengthening our teams with specialized training programs for warehouse personnel and field service engineers aligned to global standards. We are also bringing in young MBA talent, experienced e-commerce professionals, procurement specialists, analytics experts, supply chain designers, and network planning professionals to build a diverse and high-performing operations organization.
On the infrastructure side, we are evaluating advanced warehousing concepts, including high-density storage solutions and automation technologies that optimize space utilization, improve productivity, and enhance accuracy.
From a technology standpoint, our focus is on greater end-to-end visibility and data-driven decision-making. Leveraging digital tools, IoTenabled tracking, and advanced analytics will help us monitor critical shipments, improve operational control, and ensure the safe movement of high value products across the network.
As ZEISS continues to grow, speed and customer experience will be key differentiators. Customer experience metrics are becoming increasingly critical, making enhancements in both mid-mile and last-mile logistics a strategic priority. Investments in real-time visibility, route optimization, shipment tracking, and digital logistics platforms will help us reduce lead times, improve delivery predictability, and create a faster, smarter, and more agile supply chain that consistently exceeds customer expectations.
Is ZEISS India prioritizing global sourcing & fulfillment across diverse geographies?
ZEISS procurement operates with a mix of local and global sourcing. Our indirect spend is spread across 500+ vendors in India, covering diverse portfolios such as logistics, warehousing, real estate, marketing & communications, and insurance.
In addition, raw materials are sourced from multiple countries across the world. ZEISS currently operates a few plants in India for lens manufacturing and is also setting up a new plant at Devanahalli.
This is an abridged version of the interview published in the June edition of the Logistics Insider Magazine. To read the full interview, click here.
