AI, automation, and multimodal networks are transforming India’s festive logistics. Kunal Maheshwari and Aayush Anand reveal how tech-driven visibility, robotics, and cross-border coordination ensure millions of orders reach homes on time.
Multimodal networks are essential to handle India’s massive festive logistics surge.
India’s festive season is the ultimate test for supply chains. Millions of orders must flow seamlessly from megacities to remote towns, all under tight deadlines. Aayush Anand, Co-founder & CEO of ShipGlobal, highlights the larger orchestration: “Rail corridors handle bulk freight, roads provide regional flexibility, air cargo serves high-velocity SKUs, and waterways free up truck capacity. Only a dynamic blend of these modes withstands the festive tidal wave.”
International and domestic surge
Festive logistics isn’t just domestic. Anand explains, “Global sellers catering to India and Indian exporters shipping abroad require bonded warehouses, streamlined customs, and fast port handling.” Automated sortation and near-port mega-warehouses push consignments into circulation within hours, ensuring on-time delivery across borders.
The festive season is the ultimate exam for supply chains
Cold chain and perishables
Temperature-sensitive goods receive extra attention. “Cold chain operators scale hub cool rooms, add reefer fleets, and enforce stringent quality controls to protect cultural essentials,” Anand notes. Regulatory oversight by FSSAI ensures traceability and compliance, turning every delivery hub into a mini-cold room safeguarding celebrations.
Innovation testbed
The festive season acts as a national laboratory. Quick commerce, micro-fulfilment centres, bonded warehouses, and hyperlocal forecasting are stress-tested under peak pressure, then adopted year-round. Anand concludes, “What begins as a temporary festive fix often becomes a permanent operational advantage, advancing India’s logistics capabilities both domestically and internationally.”
Predictive power
AI and predictive analytics are central to operational excellence. Kunal Maheshwari, Chief Growth Officer at Softlink Global, explains, “Brand owners are deploying AI-powered systems that analyse real-time data, from point-of-sale systems and social media sentiment to economic indicators, optimising inventory, warehouse operations, and logistics.” By integrating these systems across manufacturing, supply chain, marketing, and lab processes, companies build a resilient, responsive network capable of handling massive festive volumes.
Warehouse automation
Peak season demands both speed and accuracy. Maheshwari notes, “Automated storage systems, high-speed sortation, and collaborative robots allow warehouses to process three to four times more orders while freeing human workers for value-added tasks.” He envisions a future where AI orchestrates repetitive tasks while humans focus on exceptions, creating a scalable and agile warehouse ecosystem.
Transparent deliveries
Consumers increasingly demand visibility. “Everyone wants to know, ‘Where is my order?’ Real-time tracking through IoT devices, live dashboards, and automated alerts ensures confidence and quick corrective action,” says Maheshwari. Softlink Global’s Logi-Sys and TradeCHAIN platforms integrate with airlines, ports, and customs to provide accurate, up-to-date delivery information, ensuring festive consignments reach homes reliably.
