• 42% surge in warehousing transactions in H1 2025 signals unstoppable growth.
• Manufacturing, 3PL & e-commerce driving demand for Grade A, tech-enabled spaces.
• Hygiene has moved from housekeeping to boardroom, now central to ESG and investor trust.
• A single lapse can cost ₹5–25 crore in recalls, fines and lost contracts.
• Robots, IoT & AI are transforming warehouse cleaning and facility management.
• By 2030, hygiene & sustainability credentials will rival delivery speed as the top client demand.
India’s warehousing industry is no longer defined by square footage alone; it is becoming the backbone of modern supply chains, shaped by technology, compliance and sustainability. In just the first half of 2025, transaction volumes climbed by 42%, led by manufacturing, 3PL and e-commerce. Grade A facilities — with their advanced infrastructure and automation — accounted for nearly two-thirds of this demand, setting new benchmarks for hygiene, maintenance and operational excellence.
What is changing most, however, is the lens through which warehousing is viewed. Hygiene has shifted from being a background task to a governance priority, woven into ESG disclosures, investor scrutiny and client contracts. For multinational occupiers, certifications such as ISO 14001 and LEED are now non-negotiable and lapses can carry staggering financial costs. In Pharma or FMCG, a single hygiene failure can mean rejected consignments, regulatory penalties, or recalls running into crores.
At the same time, automation is redefining facility management. Robotic cleaning systems, IoT-enabled monitoring and AI-driven predictive maintenance are no longer “good-to-have” but essential for keeping pace with the complexity of large, tech-enabled warehouses. Amazon’s nearly automated fulfilment centres highlight this direction, where precision cleaning and advanced FM systems are as critical as inventory management. The message is clear: warehousing in India is moving towards a future where growth, hygiene and automation are inseparable. For facility management providers, this is not just an opportunity but a mandate — to evolve from service vendors into strategic partners enabling resilience, compliance and competitiveness in a global market.
