Hit the ground running, or get left behind — that’s the harsh reality of D2C today. In the era of quick commerce, a D2C brand’s success hinges on its ability to reach consumers quickly. To achieve this, brands must efficiently service the purchasing orders (POs) raised by quick commerce platforms, which offers them unmatched speed and convenience.

However, a single central warehouse might hinder this flexibility. This is where third-party logistics (3PL) players such as Emiza, WareIQ, Pickrr and others come in to provide multi-client warehousing and a slew of other tech-enabled innovative services, from order fulfilment to efficient distribution, hassle-free shipping, swift delivery and fast returns (outbound and inbound activities), effortless inventory management and more.

The aim is to ensure fast deliveries, provide 24×7 operational excellence at competitive costs and unveil a unique brand experience every time to wow customers. In doing so, these 3PL players are becoming more technologically adept and pushing the envelope by exploring the edge of automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning (AI-ML).

India houses more than 5,100 active e–commerce startups and several industry incumbents, which will drive the growth momentum. According to Mordor Intelligence, the country’s ecommerce logistics market size, estimated at nearly $4 Bn in 2024, is expected to hit $7.2 Bn by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 12.7%.

How New-Age Warehouses Unlock Growth For Ecommerce

The proverbial ‘need for speed’ is just one piece of the logistics jigsaw. Too many supporting pieces such as fast order processing, suitable packaging and labelling, trace-and-track feature and ETA (expected time of arrival) accuracy are needed to make that model whole and achieve that grand mission.

The power of agility is the driving force behind the 3PL business. Here is a quick look at what 3PLs deliver.

Best-in-class operations: According to Emiza’s founder-CEO Ajay Rao, the new crop of fulfilment centres has emerged as traditional warehouses are no longer adequate for fast-moving digital retail.

“Brands today look for Grade A warehousing with superior infrastructure, dust-proof environment, advanced fire safety, flexible storage and robust security — complete with legal compliances. All these contribute to smooth operations and ensure speedy deliveries,” he said.

In contrast, Grade B (and C) facilities are older and may have larger stock areas but they are inadequate to meet the required........

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