Warehouse tech startups are rapidly stepping up their automation game, driven by a surge in demand from e-commerce, quick commerce and direct-to-consumer (D2C) players. From AI-powered quality checks to autonomous robots and blockchain tracking, these firms are developing cutting-edge tools to meet the speed, scale and accuracy that modern retail requires.
Startups are no longer just offering warehouse space, they are building flexible, tech-enabled ecosystems tailored to each client’s operational model. Leveraging innovations like IoT-based temperature-controlled enclosures and app-enabled hand-held scanners, they are automating routine tasks, reducing training time and drastically improving picking accuracy.
Startups such as NX Logistics are not only building and equipping warehouses but also managing day-to-day operations for clients like quick commerce platform Zepto. Its latest 16,608-square metre facility in Bengaluru is a case in point. Powered by advanced analytics, the warehouse is designed to optimise workflows and enhance supply chain performance.
This surge in warehouse tech adoption has caught the attention of investors. Data from Tracxn shows that India is home to 393 warehouse-focused startups, which have raised a collective $2.4 billion so far. Among them, Leap India recently secured $63 million from KKR to scale up its operations, while Reliance-backed Addverb is at the forefront of robotics innovation. Addverb’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) transport goods without human intervention, prioritising urgent orders using AI-driven systems. These robots integrate with warehouse management systems (WMS) and execution systems (WES) to create a harmonised, data-driven logistics operation.
Addverb’s technology stack extends beyond just movement and tracking. Its upcoming Trakr 2.0 robot is a four-legged system designed for industrial surveillance and hazardous zone inspections. The company claims these innovations have helped it retain marquee clients like Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, HUL and Lenskart, while expanding internationally.
In the agricultural B2B space, startups like Arya are bringing warehouse tech to rural areas. Arya uses AI-powered cameras to monitor grain quality and installs smart sealed containers in regions lacking permanent storage infrastructure. These containers are sensor-equipped to monitor environmental conditions and use blockchain to ensure tamper-proof records of grain movement. The startup works with major clients including HUL, Cargill and Britannia.
Smart logistics startup Hexalog is also capitalising on the warehouse tech wave. From tracking every touchpoint of inventory movement to upgrading manual systems into fully digital operations, the company says it has grown its customer base by 36% in just nine months. For one client, Hexalog enabled a jump from processing 4,500 orders daily to over 30,000 during a sales event by integrating hand-held scanners and an intelligent WMS platform. Its client list includes Urbanic, Home Essentials, and Honor Mobiles.
According to business advisory firm Alvarez & Marsal, over 80% of Indian warehouses will be digitally enabled or automated by 2030. The global trend is already underway, with Amazon recently unveiling robots that mimic human touch and Ikea deploying AI drones in distribution centres.