4 Growth Factors In Logistics That Have Favoured The Growth Of The Indian Manufacturing Sector

The reputation of India’s logistics and supply chain industry was only enhanced during the pandemic, with the significant support and boost it offered to the other sectors, in ensuring a speedy recovery post-COVID. 

For last two years of Covid-19 it threw a slew of challenges at every sector, but few had the pressure to rise up to that challenge like the logistics and supply chain industry did. After all, they had to find a way to initiate and maintain a seamless flow of essential commodities at a time when the whole nation feared they would run out of them. But the Indian logistics industry rose to the challenge and ensured not only a watertight flow of goods but also played a critical role in rolling out the vaccines at a breakneck pace.

The reputation of India’s logistics and supply chain industry was only enhanced during the pandemic, with the significant support and boost it offered to the other sectors, in ensuring a speedy recovery post-COVID. Manufacturing, undoubtedly, was the biggest benefactor of this new, stronger logistics and supply chain sector. Logistics and supply chain networks have always played a pivotal role in the successful operation of the manufacturing sector.

Like the whole country was facing with COVID, the manufacturing sector was also marred with several challenges, like lack of manpower, shutting down of international borders which cut off access to raw materials and reach to international markets. However, during the post-COVID, the sector was recovered not only been good but has also enhanced the potential of growth, all thanks to the now strong and evolved logistics and supply chain infrastructure. Listed here are some key growth factors in Logistics that have favoured the growth of the Indian manufacturing sector: 

Enhanced Reach – The Indian logistics network has expanded its reach in the last decade, covering every corner of the country with at least one route. More importantly, delivery times have improved significantly, thanks to an uptick in infrastructure quality and the introduction of technology in the industry. Also, total warehousing coverage in India has grown astronomically – jumping from 99.9 million sq. ft in 2015 to 252.7 million sq. ft in 2020 – which facilitated the expansion of the supply chain network and brought more manufacturing units and Indian towns under its ambit. 

Pan-Industry Tech Adoption – The last half a decade has witnessed accelerated tech adoption in the industry, and that, arguably, is the #1 factor responsible for revolutionizing the logistics sector. Technology can help the sector counter rising supply chain pressures and accentuate operational efficiency. The Indian logistics industry has already started looking at the Internet of Things, Automation, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, AI and ML, and even Robotics to deliver end-to-end, streamlined logistics solutions, lift service quality, minimize costs and eliminate human errors. Technologies like cloud computing, GPS, and smart sensors have become cheaper and more accessible to even the smaller players in the market, thus enabling them to modernize their systems and improve efficiencies. The World Economic Forum predicts that digital transformation of the logistics sector could translate into a value of US$ 1.5 trillion for the participants and an additional US$ 2.4 trillion worth of societal benefits by 2025. And India is ranked 2nd by the Agility Emerging Market Logistics 2019 suggests that we could reap a large chunk of the benefits of digital transformation predicted by the WEF.