Warehouses: The backbone of super-fast e-commerce deliveries
Warehouses are transforming into tech-driven fulfilment hubs, reshaping India's logistics sector with speed and efficiency.
From the moment a customer clicks "Buy Now" on an e-commerce platform to the final delivery at their doorstep, an intricate logistics network operates behind the scenes. At the core of this network lies the modern warehouse, no longer just a storage space but a dynamic fulfilment centre that plays a crucial role in India’s booming economy.
Warehousing in India has undergone a transformation over the last decade. Traditionally, warehouses served as mere stockrooms where brands stored goods until they were dispatched. However, in the era of rapid e-commerce growth, they have evolved into tech-driven fulfilment centres, integrating automation, robotics, and data analytics to ensure faster and more efficient deliveries. This shift is particularly significant as India moves towards its ambitious $5.5 trillion GDP target by 2027, with logistics contributing around 13-14% to the economy and employing over 22 million people.
The role and function of modern warehouses
The primary function of a warehouse extends beyond storage. Today, warehouses facilitate inventory management, order processing, packing, and even value-added services such as branding and customised packaging. These fulfilment centres help businesses reduce their supply chain costs, streamline operations, and enhance customer satisfaction by enabling same-day and next-day deliveries.
Ajay Rao, Founder & CEO of Emiza, explains, “By providing value-added services like logo embossing, butter-paper wrapping, packing, and boxing under one roof, fulfilment centres can reduce time-to-market, lower supply chain costs, and improve sustainability.” This efficiency not only benefits businesses but also contributes to reducing carbon footprints by optimising supply chain movements.
During the tour of Emiza warehouse in Bhiwandi, near Mumbai, in Maharashtra, Rao showed us the function of a warehouse for a shoe brand - Inc.5, and explained the entire process from receiving the product from the brand till it gets dispatched for the last-mile delivery. He even explained to us the return logistics of a fashion brand and the function of the fulfilment centre in the entire supply chain. “The core function of a fulfilment centre is to fulfil inventories,” added Rao. Emiza handles brands like Inc.5, and The Souled Store among others.
The rise of smart warehousing
Technology is playing a crucial role in redefining warehousing operations. Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), AI-driven inventory tracking, and robotics-powered sorting have significantly improved warehouse efficiency. Additionally, sustainability is becoming a focal point, with companies investing in renewable energy solutions such as solar panels on warehouse rooftops to generate surplus energy.
Another key aspect is the management of returns, a growing challenge in e-commerce logistics. Efficient fulfilment centres are integrating advanced tracking systems and streamlined return policies to handle reverse logistics effectively, reducing losses for brands and minimising environmental impact.
The future of warehousing in India
As India’s e-commerce and retail sectors expand, the demand for strategically located, high-tech fulfilment centres will continue to rise. The shift towards regional and city-based warehouses is already enabling faster deliveries and optimising last-mile logistics.
As Rao mentioned, after they raised Rs. 100 crore in a recent Series C funding, they are looking towards expanding to more tier II and tier III cities, implementing new technologies and hiring senior leadership people to make their fulfilment centres even better. The company is looking to experiment with building on dark stores and enabling superfast deliveries from brands directly to customers.
In fact, warehouses are no longer just storage facilities—it is the backbone of modern logistics, ensuring seamless operations from manufacturer to consumer. As the industry continues to innovate, smart and sustainable warehousing will be at the heart of India’s supply chain evolution, driving efficiency, reducing costs, and supporting economic growth.
