People turned to virtual shopping during the lockdown induced by Covid-19 pandemic and businesses which were already virtual based fared better. Businesses in India have been quick to adopt digital transformations post pandemic. And with the heightening of competition, it is going to get only tougher for businesses to thrive if they don't deliver superlative services to customers and be digitally agile.

Warehousing is of pivotal significance in the e-commerce supply chain process and its importance is only going to rise with every passing year. Warehousing might seem to be an extra investment without any valuable returns, yet, the importance of warehousing to the business and the supply chain altogether is paramount.

What exactly is a warehouse varies from business to business. For a home entrepreneur, a warehouse can be a room in her apartment from which she takes out products and sends them for delivery. Likewise, for a manufacturing business or SME, a warehouse may be a 20,000 sq. ft. facility where goods are stocked.

When a brand grows, logistics strategy can become complicated, causing surging costs and eroding profits. At this point, companies could seek to partner with logistical support providers that are experts in end-to-end supply chain management. This could bring functional efficiency and consumer satisfaction in the long run.

AI driven Technology

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in warehouses has become necessary as it decreases reliance on humans and reduces the chances of errors. AI-driven devices ensure considerable efficiency in packaging and managing space and time. The use of IoT sensors and automated tools has become handy in deploying and shipping packages from one location to another within huge warehouses.

Sustainable Inventory Management

Sometimes a company ships an order late because the product is not in stock then. This is a minor error, but errors like these can send the entire business process back by many folds. Satisfactory inventory management amalgamated with an advanced storage strategy is what gives a company business edge over its competitors to thrive. And the proper management or relationship between inventory management and warehousing can build efficient businesses.

Proper Packaging and Picking

One territory where brands can make a good effort is the packaging. Many cite that over-packing is a major reason for the increase in costs. On the other hand, poor packaging not only impedes consumers’ perception of the brand but also leads to higher RTOs, eventually affecting the bottom lines negatively.

Packaging constitutes a major part of branding. It is the first impression of the brand for a buyer. Therefore it should always be tamper-proof so that the commodity reaches the customer safely without harm.

Picking is an activity that requires precision. If not done properly a customer could be sent the incorrect package that can harm the reputation of the brand. When dealing with fragile articles, improper packaging can damage the products. To avoid these blunders, a warehouse that has proper racks and bins with automated software is essential to find products.

Shipping on Time

The warehouse provides the ability to streamline shipping from one location to others. Once the products are stocked, picked, and packed in one place, there is less chaos and one can easily reduce the turnaround time for the first-mile operations. The location of the warehouse plays a big role in the timely delivery of orders. If the warehouse is located close to the customer’s delivery location, the product can be delivered in very less time, lowering the shipping costs, and also minimizing return orders as a result of late deliveries.

Stable Pricing

Warehouse enables in maintaining consistent stock levels and maximizing profits by stocking products for longer periods. Products can be purchased in bulk and sold along depending on the season or location. Often, when government policies change, opportunities for re-pricing of products come. This helps the business gain more profits, as it will not have to repurchase merchandise again and again.

Positive Customer Experience

Once an order is delivered to the customer timely, with damaged and tamper-proof packaging, and without any additional expenses, it makes the customer happy and satisfied. Thus, having a warehouse in place can help attain maximum customer satisfaction and optimize fulfillment processes too.

Delivery and distribution on time not only improves productivity, reduce errors, and optimize the fulfillment process but also provides with best customer satisfaction.

Also Read - Importance of Data Visualization

Conclusion

Warehousing is the spine of any supply chain administration process. It is the area where all the major strategies and workings take place. Emphasizing logistics supervision triggers enormous growth opportunities for D2C brands. The growth of any e-commerce business depends mainly on the expanse of its customer base and the firm's ability to deliver to as many pin codes as feasible. At times, partnering with the correct logistics firms can aid brands to expand their geographical region, opening up more roads for revenue generation. They will be able to deliver fast and free shipping as credible players have proven expertise at storing, packing, shipping and last-mile delivery.