The global pandemic that raged across the months that have gone by has changed the way we viewed and gauged the world. Certain actions and paradigms made an inroad into the humdrum life of all humans. Fear, disdain, and hopelessness pervaded throughout the world. However, in the all-consuming hollowness of the pandemic, the thing that stayed afloat was the supply chain industry.

Albeit it must be mentioned that the supply chain industry also received a fair share of brickbats in the initial months of the pandemic because of the shutdowns and closures in various parts of the world that came to being with institutional lockdowns being implemented. Owing to this unprecedented situation, shipments did not commute and hence many of the warehouses had to face a conspicuous amount of shortage of goods. On the other end, certain warehouses came to a standstill with good sitting idle.

What added to this woe was the erratic customer behavior. A huge number of consumers worldwide veered towards online buying. And the demand for pharmaceuticals, food products scaled up drastically. With the warehouses getting depleted with lack or excess of inventory due to the breakdown of activities, meeting the consumer demand and keeping life moving became a huge challenge.

Additionally, warehouses being labor-intensive places, posed a huge threat to the resistance of the disease. Managers had to skillfully divide the warehouse into clusters and the working hours into shifts so that one-way traffic in the aisle could have been made possible, without resorting to the harrowing thing called layoff. With a considerable number of workers and their families getting infected, the operations indeed had to be run with less manpower than usual. All this and more became a recipe of a veritable nightmare for the managers. However, as resilient as the sector is, warehouses soon came over the hindrances. With the vaccination drives getting rolled out across the world and the world coming back to wheels gradually, the operations of the distribution centers soon hauled up. However, the pandemic introduced certain norms in the fabric of the warehouses that have stayed back even after the eye of the storm has passed. It is safe to say that all these actions and trends are going to remain a part of the corpus of warehouse operations, just the way wearing masks and maintaining distance would stay back as the inseparable parts of our routine lives for the longest time to come. Let us have a granular view of the means that warehouses have adopted and that are going to control the way warehouses process themselves.

1. Balance between Inventory in Hand and J.I.T: Lean manufacturing was in vogue before the pandemic hit in. Hence, just-in-time delivery of goods gained popularity. Manufacturers received raw materials in the amount that they needed. This efficacious method proved to be ineffective when the business operations slowed down and the manufacturers wallowed due to a shortage of goods. This gave rise to the importance of buffer stock. Warehouses and manufacturers realized how safety stocks are significant in backing up productions in the time of need. Hence, the trend of maintaining inventory in hand shot up. However, the balance between J.I.T and buffer stock should be maintained and the warehouse layout must be adjusted accordingly.
2. Warehouse Automation: Though warehouse automation was slowly making its presence felt throughout, it is the pandemic that has accelerated its growth and has made everyone aware of the effect it can bring to the floor. Several challenges are to be met within the space, namely dealing with the shortage of manpower, increased space for the buffer stock, clustering to ensure little to no human interaction. Automation in the form of automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), carousels, and other equipment are effective solutions to these problems. These tools can optimize the warehouse space to a great degree and can speed up the work to meet the fluctuating customer demands fruitfully.
3. Decentralization: With the surge of e-commerce, modern consumers have taken to the habit of same-day or next-day delivery. Delay or disruption in the process of delivery can be very detrimental to the supply chain and the bond between the customers and the companies. Hence, warehouses have come up with the plan of satellite warehouses. Instead of a centralized warehouse to meet the demands of consumers in the whole region, various warehouses near the customer-intensive areas can work wonders in speedy delivery and tackling disruptions.
4. Near-shoring of Manufacturing: Manufacturers that had off-shored their operations suffered massively during the COVID surge. Their operations stagnated, warehouses got depleted. In order to avoid getting trapped in this vortex all over again, many manufacturers have decided to bring their operations on-shore or near the shore. This not only brings down the operational cost significantly but also greater control can be exercised over the functions. 
5. Social Distancing within the Floor: As mentioned earlier, warehouses are spaces that are susceptible to the transmission of diseases due to their layout. The pandemic has changed the way operations were carried out in a way so that social distancing norms are complied with. Shifts are divided for different operations, sanitizing stations for workers and tools are installed, more space is required for inventory in-hand and automation tools, one-way traffic in the aisles is ensured. All these measures are instrumental in bringing down the footprints within the floor and also in making sure the jobs and the health of the workers are not at stake.
6. Increased Dependence on 3PL Logistics: Due to all the aforementioned issues and the decentralization of operations, there is a glaring need to increase the warehouse capacity. Because of this and the unpredictable pattern of demands, many companies have leaned towards the 3rd party logistics in warehousing. These logistics companies professionally deal with the disruptions that distribution comes across. Such partnerships to upscale the existing infrastructure can prove to be extremely beneficial in the times to come.
7. The Impetus gained by E-commerce: Though e-commerce is a phenomenon that existed way before the pandemic, the impetus it gained during the pandemic is outstanding. The sector has gone a few years ahead, over the past few months due to the jump it made in terms of expenses made on it. With fear raging big on the human minds about going out, e-commerce platforms brought their facility to the doorsteps of the consumers. Consumers felt empowered, omnichannel platforms gained prominence, and prompt delivery and reverse logistics came into vogue. Therefore, many buyers prefer buying online instead of going to brick-and-mortar stores. With this, the profile of orders has changed from being boxes picked for retail stores to individual orders picked for end-users. The complexity of orders has increased, and thus different picking methods are being leveraged to comply with the changed sales velocity.
8. Inventory Visibility: The knowledge of the status of their orders constitutes an integral part of the repository of power that consumers enjoy due to the rise of e-commerce platforms. Add to it, the decentralization of warehouses. Hence, warehouses now need to be completely in command of the location and the status of their goods. There is an increased demand for the visibility of the products and to attain the same, smooth coordination amongst the distribution centers is extremely important. The transparency in operations has become a sine qua non in striking durable customer bonds.
9. Omnichannel Logistics: Omni-channel logistics have come into being as the by-product of the booming e-commerce platforms. Omni-channel distribution strengthens consumers by allowing them to explore any channel; be it online or offline; to buy products and letting them choose any place to deliver their products to. To meet the heightened expectation and sales dynamics rendered by omnichannel logistics, warehouses must rely upon superior techniques, technological solutions and scale up their business.
10. Cold Logistics Gaining Prominence: It has already been mentioned that buyers these days do not wish to visit brick-and-mortar stores to buy goods as e-commerce has brought facilities to their doorsteps. One of the most imperative things to form a major part of the buyers’ buying list is groceries. Because of the increased demand for groceries and food items, talks related to the cold supply chain have also come to the fore. To store perishable goods like food products, we need cold storages, which are expensive spaces and need to be commissioned on prior notice.
11. Warehouse Management Solutions: The pandemic has blatantly pointed out the pitfalls that existed within the gamut of the entire supply chain. One of the major issues has been the lack of interest in technological solutions out of apprehensions. However, if the unpredictable demand patterns are to be met, then warehouses need solutions that are in sync with technological advancements. This includes a warehouse control system to handle materials, inventory, and warehouse management systems so that various picking strategies can be adapted according to the suitability of the demands. Such solutions offer flexibility in the picking speed and are highly scalable as various adjustments can be done via them.

The accursed days of the pandemic are slowly waning. However, the memories of uncertainty about jobs and lives are still fresh. Thus the supply chain verticals and especially warehouses must be prepared to face any kind of disruption that may unpredictably come across its way. With the flexibility offered by warehouse management systems, 3PL must be used to hilts to optimize warehouse capacity. Use RattusWMS, the highly configurable, multi-warehouse SaaS developed by experienced professionals of supply chain and IT sectors to see how operations become seamless in a cost-effective way.

One of the most important positive changes that have come into being in the collective consciousness of people in the 21^st century is the re-awakening of environmental concerns. Riding atop this surge, comes awareness into the ecological hazards and the ramifications of it. While conservation of environment is the onus of every single individual on the surface on the planet, it is the industrial sector and especially the supply chain industry that must rise to the occasion. For a very long period of time, manufacturing industry has been indicted of leaving maximum carbon footprints. It is now their responsibility to bring it down and at the same time strike a balance between burgeoning demand and consequent, seamless supply.

In Shambles…

These are the days of cutting-edge competitiveness when supply chain models have become multi-tier with the multinational giants depending on layers of suppliers in order to get their work done. While these MNCs themselves try to comply with the conservational norms, it becomes extremely difficult for them to keep a tab on their lower-rung suppliers and stakeholders and monitor how they are adhering themselves to the conservational protocols as the network is far too complex and far too spread out. Ironically, the stakeholders are most of the times small entities who do not harbor proper knowledge and guidance pertaining to this grave concern and they breach the environmental protocols in order to meet the deadlines set by their partners in the higher rungs. Thus it is not only the need of the hour to set up a green supply chain but also to give it a form of green supply chain network where the lower-rung stakeholders are given proper guidance by the bigger companies and are monitored and taken care by them and are given incentives for bringing about change.

The Idea Behind

Green supply chain refers to all the techniques, methods, ideas that can be harnessed in order to embed sustainability goals into the entire gamut off supply chain. While the end goal of this venture is to reduce pollution and waste, to encourage usage of eco-friendly products and services and better operational and end-of-life product management, this can prove to be extremely beneficial in terms of profitability. Not only does the environmental metrics of companies give a positive thrust to their images but also with the help of low-cost, reusable, recyclable materials and end-products, the overhead expenses can also be brought down that can result in a staunch customer loyalty and higher profit margins. Thus by integrating sustainable models in supply chain and by judicious selection of design, operation, distribution, suppliers, raw materials and reverse logistics modes, tremendous amount of value is entrusted upon supply chain industry and the whole idea behind it can fizzle out if the processes are not streamlined or supported by each and every player in the game. Environmental principles are applied across the entire order cycle including assemblage, procurement of raw materials, re-engineering tools to suit the requisites etcetera. Moreover, in sync with the idea of reducing fossil fuel depletion, transportation systems are re-modeled to accommodate bio-fuels.

The Fact-of-the-Matter

Green supply chain models have come into existence especially due to the intervention and regulations imposed by the governments. Numerous trade laws have been passed and there are nations where stringent vigilance is kept so as to keep environmental degradation in check. The restrictive measures can go to the extent of banning the production of products that pose threat to the environment in the very manufacturing level. Not only is it the government, but also the customers have also woken up to the fact that harmful impacts on ecology can result in extinction. With the barrage of media coverage, institutional stewardship and mass campaigning, environmental concerns have been indoctrinated into the gentry in such a way that any company that does not follow the norms can face severe brickbats in terms of reputation. It is exactly this pressure from the regulatory bodies and end-users that propelled the supply chain leaders mull over the possibility of revamping the domain end-to-end. Resultantly, they have encouraged their employees to adapt themselves to green practices for not only environmental but their own sustainable business model. This awareness percolates to the chain of suppliers constituting the green supply chain network. It must also be noted here that competitiveness in upholding an organizational image as an envoy of change is also a key factor in implementing the radical change in the system. With the society’s increasing awareness of the impacts of industrial activities, green supply chain and resource planning have come to see the light of the day.

Green Purchasing, Green Management

One of the most important factors embedded deeply in the environmental principles of supply chain is green purchasing. With the noble objective of reducing waste and sensibly utilizing the existing resources to their hilt, green purchasing delves into procurement of raw materials which are reusable and recyclable. Consequently, at the end of the products’ life cycle, with an astute application of end-of-life management the components of the defunct products are leveraged as raw materials. Not only does it help operation performance getting skyrocketed but also curtails the procurement and manufacturing cost and thereby giving impetus to the profitability and productivity.

Coupled with the objectives of green purchasing, green management of manufacturing and marketing also boost efficiency, improve environmental compliance and help in carrying out greater social responsibilities. This can be achieved through a careful process of planning, packaging, producing and promoting products in the most eco-friendly ways and properties possible.

Sensibility in Transportation

The distribution phase of the supply chain is a major adjunct in the whole process. Once the manufacturing is done using green resources, quality is ensured and cost is mitigated, lean logistical models in transportation and warehousing become decisive aspects of cost-controlling and in the goal of strictly complying with the environmental principles. Usage of bio-fuels render tremendous amount of help in preserving biomass and in bringing down carbon emission. Transportation management systems are extremely helpful tools that stop conveyances running extra-mile and regulating the last-mile delivery so that maximum efficacy is extracted with minimum errors and cost.

Green Warehouse

 When it comes to warehousing, it is an oft-neglected cog in the wheel of green logistics. Most often do we get to see how the errors and delays in the warehouses driven by hazardous documentation can result in wastage and non-compliance to ecological norms. The solution lies in implementing a robust warehouse management system that automates the distribution centres and gets rid of the piles of paperwork. With the help of an efficient pick-path management, inventory management and RFID/barcode scanning systems, warehouses can eliminate the extra cost that gets entailed and do their own bit by contributing to the sustainability goals.

Reverse Logistics

Reverse logistics and after-sale services are those functions that can be tapped in very intelligently in order to promote customer association and to procure raw materials at the end of the products’ life cycles. Instead of simply doing away with the products, they can be brought back, can be re-used and value can be added to scraps if reverse logistics is a strong contention of the logistical chain.

In Conclusion…

Green supply chain is not only a generous initiative undertaken by companies that are sensibly awake or are willing to undergo an image overhaul as a part of marketing tactics. The respect that the companies earn and the cost efficiency that they strike have become so imperative in this modern competence-driven market that it is a mission to be undertaken by all and sundry. The question is of sustenance, of nature, of economy, of the industry and eventually and inevitably of the companies themselves. They must yoke the green initiatives with their operational models, do whatsoever is needed to attain that and redo whichever silo they are lagging in because unless there is sustainability within and without, what purpose does ideas serve?