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Companies in India are adopting a balanced strategy to blend human labour with automation

Dhritiman Chakraborty, Director of Operations at Ingram Micro India, is a seasoned expert in supply chain and logistics with over 22 years of experience. With expertise in advanced intralogistics automation, he leads industry conversations on the integration of AI, IoT, and robotics to drive efficiency and innovation in India's evolving logistics landscape.

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Dhritiman Chakraborty, Director Operations, Ingram Micro India Private Limited.

What are the most significant trends seen shaping the intralogistics automation sector?

The increase of e-commerce and investments in digital infrastructure are driving growth in India's intralogistics automation sector, which is enjoying economic expansion. Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are becoming increasingly popular as means of improving operational efficiency and gaining real-time data insights. Businesses are adopting both Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to expedite warehouse chores and reduce dependency on manual labour. This helps address space restrictions in tightly packed warehouses in India.

Companies like Addverb Technologies and GreyOrange are pioneering in robotics and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), which have become essential for scaling warehouse operations to meet the surging demand. AMRs and AGVs are also increasingly used to streamline material handling, reduce manual labour, and minimise human errors in warehouses. For example, Godrej Korber Supply Chain Ltd has been expanding its solutions to include high-tech battery-operated equipment that can navigate narrow aisles, which is crucial for maximising space in densely packed Indian warehouses.

In addition, there is a strong alignment with sustainability aims, seeing as how businesses are investing in environmentally friendly solutions such as solar-powered warehouses and electric vehicles to lessen their overall carbon footprint.

How are emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics enhancing efficiency, predictive maintenance, and real time decision making in intralogistics automation?

When it comes to changing India's intralogistics business, AI, IoT and robotics play a vital role since they improve forecasting accuracy and enable predictive maintenance. AI-powered technologies assist businesses in predicting demand and adjusting inventory levels, hence reducing the likelihood of stockouts and surplus inventory. Real-time monitoring of commodities is provided by IoT sensors, which is vital for industries that deal with perishable things because these sensors help maintain product integrity while it is in transit. Companies can operate around the clock and enhance their response times to market needs – thanks to robotics – which further boosts productivity by automating repetitive processes such as sorting and packaging.

AI, IoT, and robotics taken together are creating a linked and highly responsive logistics environment in India that lets businesses satisfy customer needs while preserving operational efficiency. Particularly as India works toward its aim of being a worldwide logistics hub, these technologies are expected to keep inspiring industry innovation.

In what ways is the integration between intralogistics and packaging automation evolving? How are these two sectors creating synergies?

In India, industries like e-commerce and pharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly dependent on the use of intralogistics and packaging automation. From storage to dispatch, this synergy makes it possible to automate everything in a smooth frictionless manner. Through the utilisation of sophisticated Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), businesses can synchronise their inventory and packing procedures on a unified platform, which enables them to respond more quickly to significant order quantities.

By allowing speedier and more dependable delivery, this increasing synergy between intralogistics and packaging automation is not only improving operational efficiency but also the general client experience. While maintaining consistency and lowering environmental effects, Indian businesses are better suited to manage big quantities and changing needs as they implement these integrated solutions.

How can automation solutions in packaging and intralogistics drive operational efficiency, support sustainability goals, and help businesses meet evolving regulatory requirements on sustainability?

The reduction of manual interventions and the acceleration of operations such as sorting and dispatching are two of the ways that automation in intralogistics and packaging contributes to increased operational efficiency. Companies in India are implementing automated systems that adapt the proportions of packaging based on the size of the product. This helps to reduce the amount of material wastage and energy consumption. These methods are in accordance with India's sustainability rules, which place an emphasis on minimising carbon footprints and reducing waste. Through the utilisation of the data obtained from these systems, businesses could not only guarantee their adherence to environmental regulations but also acquire insights into their performance in terms of sustainability, which assists in the further refinement of their strategy.

By means of these integrated automation solutions, Indian businesses can improve operational efficiency, lower environmental impacts, and ensure strict adherence to legal requirements, thereby establishing themselves as ethical and forward-looking competitors in the market.

How are companies approaching the need for flexibility and customisation in automated packaging and intralogistics systems, especially in the context of varying consumer demands?

Companies in India are increasingly using modular automation systems that enable flexibility and customisation in order to fulfill the ever-changing demands of both domestic and international customers. The configuration of these systems, which include changeable conveyors and storage structures, can be quickly altered to accommodate seasonal increases or shifts in the types of products being supplied. Furthermore, sophisticated software systems such as Order Management Systems (OMS) integrate with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) to customise the handling and packing procedures for certain products. In industries like pharmaceuticals, where exact packaging and compliance with regulatory standards are of the utmost importance, this technique stands out as particularly important.

By means of these creative solutions, companies in India could better control the demand for adaptability and customisation in their automated systems, therefore ensuring their competitiveness and capacity to provide their clients with premium, customised services.

How is automation in intralogistics and packaging contributing to supply chain resilience in the face of global disruptions?

Automation strengthens the resilience of supply chains by making it possible to quickly adjust to global shocks such as changes in demand or delays in logistics implementation. Companies in India are able to function with minimum manual involvement due to automated technology, which reduces their reliance on people. This is especially important during times of manpower shortages. Monitoring the flow of products and making prompt adjustments, such as rerouting shipments, are both made easier with the assistance of real-time data from IoT-enabled tracking devices.

Indian businesses are creating stronger and more flexible supply chains that can survive worldwide interruptions by including automation into intralogistics and packaging, thereby guaranteeing continuity and stability in the face of uncertain events.

How do automation solutions in intralogistics and packaging differ across various industries, and what industry specific trends are driving their adoption?

Depending on the operational demands of each industry in India, the requirements for automation are different. The pharmaceutical industry places a strong emphasis on precision and compliance through the implementation of automated technologies such as real-time tracking and temperature control for products that are particularly sensitive. The food and beverage sector places a high priority on both speed and cleanliness, and automated sorting and cleaning systems are utilised to maintain compliance with safety regulations. Automation places an emphasis on flexibility in the retail and e-commerce industries, with systems that are able to manage a wide variety of products and high order frequencies.

Based on their operations and difficulties, every industry in India is implementing automation in intralogistics and packaging to create tailored solutions, improving compliance, efficiency, and quality. These sector-specific trends are destined to keep changing as businesses try to satisfy the needs of a diversified and quickly expanding market.

How are companies balancing human labour with automation in intralogistics and packaging, and what role does human machine collaboration play in this transition?

Companies in India are adopting a balanced strategy to blend human labour with automation in intralogistics and packaging. This trend is becoming increasingly prevalent. Automation is responsible for handling repetitive jobs, while human workers concentrate on more complicated roles such as quality control and oversight. The use of collaborative robots, also known as cobots, is gaining popularity because they help human workers perform physically demanding activities, thereby lowering the risk of injury and strain. As businesses make investments in educating their workers with the skills necessary to operate and supervise automated systems, training and upskilling are becoming increasingly important requirements. It is via this partnership that productivity is increased and human expertise in essential areas is preserved.

Dhritiman Chakraborty is a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) with over 22 years of experience in various verticals of Supply Chain. As the Director of Operations at Ingram Micro India Pvt Ltd, he is responsible for overseeing the company's logistics operations and ensuring the smooth functioning of its supply chain in India.

Dhritiman has held several leadership roles in Supply Chain with renowned companies such as Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd, ITC Ltd, Sigma Aldrich Chemicals and Merck Life Science. He has a keen understanding of the intricacies of Supply Chain Management and has successfully implemented various strategies that have helped companies optimise their Logistics and Warehousing Operations.

A Supply Chain alumnus of IIM, Kolkata, Dhritiman is also a Lifetime member of Leader's Excellence at Harvard Square and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He has been a keynote speaker and panel speaker at many Supply Chain Conferences and delivered subject-driven talks in Supply Chain Institutes.

In addition to his professional credentials, Dhritiman is an accomplished Author, Trainer, and Executive Coach.

(The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented) 

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