The past few years have seen a significant rise in digital literacy and access to high-speed internet and smartphones, resulting in a dynamic change in how we shop. With an increased focus on online shopping leading to inventory storage and warehousing across multiple sectors in sales, from perishable goods to textiles and clothes, the attention to warehouse design has increased exponentially. Warehouses play a crucial role in the functioning of the economy by facilitating the storage and distribution of goods. They act as a link between the production of goods and their final delivery to the customer. They also improve the efficiency of supply chains and the competitiveness of businesses.

Due to the direct impact of an efficient warehouse on a company’s sales, there has been a growing interest and innovations in warehouse design and architecture on multiple levels. While warehouses may appear to be simple structures with open plans, the design process involves many interventions and problem-solving solutions to ensure maximum efficiency. Keeping up with the fast-evolving purchasing patterns, the development of warehouses is a vital resource that keeps the modern retail industry moving. Far from being ‘dark stores’, warehouses are the backbone of the effective working of large corporate chains like Amazon and Myntra.

Design and planning have a direct impact on the efficiency and productivity of a warehouse. Smooth functioning and circulation regulate time management while allowing for a more organised storage structure and flow of materials. The crucial aspect that distinguishes the site planning for a warehouse is the need to accommodate shipping trailers as long as 40 feet. Their size determines the area reserved for entry and exit points, turning radii of roads, and the space required for parking. Further, a key consideration of the master plan is the provision of dedicated zones for loading and unloading shipment boxes, alongside which trailers can move smoothly. 

With changing logistics and systems, the space necessities of a warehouse have also changed tremendously. In warehouse infrastructure today, the focus is on efficiency, including tailored circulation plans that come from analysing the functions of the warehouse and implementing innovative design solutions. This approach involves integrating technologically advanced and user-friendly solutions, leading to a highly functional and user-centric warehouse environment. 

The use of cutting-edge technology in both warehouse operations and infrastructure design has transformed the traditional warehouse into a modern, efficient, and user-friendly space. Today, warehouse design requires meticulous data-driven planning and design, contrary to the older ‘box-type’ storage structures considering its impact on the stakeholder company’s sales and, by extension, the national economy.