80% of Indian warehouses to incorporate automation by 2030, report

16 Oct 2023 CW Team

Grade A warehouses represent cutting-edge infrastructure equipped with high-quality storage, assembly, and distribution facilities. The surge in e-commerce, marked by increased consumer demand for swift deliveries and rising land prices, underscores the necessity for warehouse automation. The report categorises automation maturity on a scale from Level 0 (manual operations) to Level 4 (end-to-end automation). Currently, most warehouses in India fall within Levels 0 to 2, indicating varying degrees of automation implementation.

According to Manish Saigal, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, adopting automation technologies requires a careful assessment of associated costs and benefits to ensure economic viability. While automation enhances efficiency and minimises errors and theft, organisations must align their chosen technologies with strategic goals and operational needs.

However, the adoption of automation in the Indian warehousing sector presents challenges. India's labour-intensive market necessitates time and investment in developing a robust automation ecosystem, including local service providers, cost-effective technology tools, competitive differentiation, and on-going maintenance and technical support. The financial feasibility of certain automation technologies is also limited by the existing size of warehouses in India. Additionally, long payback periods for automation solutions clash with the shorter lease terms typically offered by third-party logistics providers, creating financial obstacles for potential adopters.

The move towards automation aligns with the National Logistics Policy's objectives, which aim to reduce the country's logistics costs from 13-14% of the GDP to single digits. Ultimately, the integration of automation in the warehousing sector is a crucial step toward enhancing efficiency and meeting the evolving demands of the modern market.

As the demand for warehouse facilities in the country continues to rise, there is a growing trend towards automation in the infrastructure sector, driven by the need to enhance efficiency and reduce logistics costs. A report from business advisory firm Alvarez & Marsal reveals that over 80% of Indian warehouses are expected to incorporate some level of automation by 2030. This shift is particularly evident in Grade A warehouses, which are anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%, reaching approximately 324 million square feet by 2027-28. Grade A warehouses represent cutting-edge infrastructure equipped with high-quality storage, assembly, and distribution facilities. The surge in e-commerce, marked by increased consumer demand for swift deliveries and rising land prices, underscores the necessity for warehouse automation. The report categorises automation maturity on a scale from Level 0 (manual operations) to Level 4 (end-to-end automation). Currently, most warehouses in India fall within Levels 0 to 2, indicating varying degrees of automation implementation. According to Manish Saigal, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, adopting automation technologies requires a careful assessment of associated costs and benefits to ensure economic viability. While automation enhances efficiency and minimises errors and theft, organisations must align their chosen technologies with strategic goals and operational needs. However, the adoption of automation in the Indian warehousing sector presents challenges. India's labour-intensive market necessitates time and investment in developing a robust automation ecosystem, including local service providers, cost-effective technology tools, competitive differentiation, and on-going maintenance and technical support. The financial feasibility of certain automation technologies is also limited by the existing size of warehouses in India. Additionally, long payback periods for automation solutions clash with the shorter lease terms typically offered by third-party logistics providers, creating financial obstacles for potential adopters. The move towards automation aligns with the National Logistics Policy's objectives, which aim to reduce the country's logistics costs from 13-14% of the GDP to single digits. Ultimately, the integration of automation in the warehousing sector is a crucial step toward enhancing efficiency and meeting the evolving demands of the modern market.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..