Ravi Khule, Vice President – Operations, ATS Conveyors India Pvt Ltd.

What is the current status of automation in material handling and intralogistics operations in the industry today?

Today, many small and mid-sized industries are increasingly focusing on integrating automation into their operations at various levels. In the Indian context, a significant number of facilities continue to operate with partial automation, complemented by human involvement. This balanced approach is likely to continue, driven by socio-economic considerations and the imperative to sustain employment opportunities.

What are the key challenges companies are currently facing in warehousing and logistics?

The availability of skilled labour and the high capital investment required for automation remain key challenges in the warehousing sector.

Realistically speaking, what are the technologies widely adopted by the industry that have matured and provide a good RoI?

To achieve labour savings and enhance throughput, technologies such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) for inventory control and order tracking, along with pick-to-light and put-to-light systems, are widely adopted across the industry.

How has the post-pandemic era changed customer expectations around warehousing and last-mile logistics?

Post-pandemic, customers have come to expect faster deliveries along with real-time tracking and end-to-end visibility throughout the order fulfillment process.

What are the top emerging technologies or innovations that will shape the future of material handling and warehousing? How is the role of AI and data analytics evolving in this space?

The future of the industry is being shaped by data-driven insights, AI-enabled solutions, and a strong focus on customer needs – steering logistics operations toward greater autonomy, agility, and resilience.

What progress can one expect towards fully autonomous warehouses or ‘dark warehouses’?

While the near future will likely see semi-autonomous warehouses where human oversight continues to play a critical role alongside automation, notable progress toward fully automated 'dark warehouses' is being made by leading players such as Amazon.

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

Ravi Khule, Vice President – Operations at ATS Conveyors India Pvt Ltd, has 18+ years of experience in sales, project execution and operations in the automation and material handling sector. Armed with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he has expertise in executing large scale projects and cross-functional management.