Logistics Insider on Friday organised a LinkedIn Live event as a part of its first installment of the Supply Chain Triathlon. The event titled “Warehousing India: Rising High Against all Odds’ powered by Mahindra World City brought together an eminent panel of industry experts who delivered knowledgeable insights on the future of warehousing and on opening gates of opportunity for a stable future in the new normal.
The power-packed session which was brilliantly moderated by Mr Karuna Karan, Sr. Director- Industry and Logistics, CBRE India commenced as he welcomed the eminent panellists and the audience and set the discussion in action by introducing the key points of discussion to highlight the importance of the Warehousing Sector that has delivered beyond expectations, while setting the tone of the event.
Investments towards industry, in-city warehousing developments trends and client requirements, major occupiers of space in the market, as well as policies and reforms, were discussed.
Anuj Bindal, Head- BD and Marketing, Mahindra World City Jaipur raised an important point about how with the GST (Goods and Services Tax) coming into place, occupiers are looking at consolidation and moving into larger facilities which is, in turn, creating opportunities for developers to look at investments at those facilities.
While discussing about the likelihood of warehousing investments being the stable future for the new normal, Mr Bindal said, “Logistics and Warehousing kind of integrate with each other. Infrastructure policy development and changing mindset of the occupiers is changing the whole paradigm shift in the warehousing industry.”
While talking about the ecommerce growth, Mr Prakrut Mehta, Director-Leasing, ESR India drew the attention of the audience to the importance of giving equal focus to the B2B side as well, which is getting smarter with people usurping the benefits of technology.
He also adds, “The COVID situation has made most occupiers sit and start question about safety, security and efficiency. Does it make sense to look at logistics and warehousing as a cost centre alone or should it be looked at as a place where serious innovation can happen?
“That’s what is happening and that is where developers like us are working together with occupiers to make that space not only safe and secure from a working standpoint but also more efficient from inventory management, how to improve bottom-line by better management of staff etc.”
While praising the diversity of the panel and stressing on the importance of consensus to bring about policy changes, APR Rao Abhishek Prakash Singh, Group Director, Varuna Group said, “If we all have our views aligned in terms of what is required, I believe that policy changes are not very difficult; it only needs consensus, it needs one voice and that is when you can emerge successfully.”
Lt Col Atul Holkar, CEO, Veprokure Enterprises spoke on the fundamental parameters that define as to how the entire supply chain network between the manufacturer, warehousing consumer is designed and attributes it to Disruptions and Consumer Demand.
He says “Any possibility of disruption of Supply Chain defines where the warehouses will be located. Any changes in the demand of the consumer further dictate where exactly would the warehouse be located. It starts with the consumer, to the inventory requirement, to warehouse placement and overall impacted by the environment, whether it is govt or national driven governs the warehouse location, whether it is going to be in-city or out-city.”
The insightful discussion recorded a viewership of 100+ real-time viewers who spoke in lengths on paving the way towards automated warehousing, Redefining/restructuring warehousing policies and the need for industry status across the nation and beyond.
To watch the complete video, click here.
