Chandranath Dey, Head - Industrial Operations, Business Development, Industrial Consulting & Supply Chain Consulting, JLL India, 0
There is growing preference for Grade-A warehousing spaces in the country. Operational efficiency and better management holds the key for occupiers and companies willing to make it big. Additionally, they are looking at deeper penetration in tier-II & III cities. With rising levels of maturity the industrial and logistics sector is becoming more organised as well as standardised. Grade A space is one of the stepping stones in this process as it provides an ease in time bound supply, customer satisfaction, risk free environment and rationale in working capital requirement.
There has been a quantum leap in demand for Grade-A space over Grade-B in the last year. While in 2017, overall India absorption in Grade-A space was 9.9 million sq.ft. against Grade-B absorption of 9.8 million sq.ft. year 2018 witnessed a significant jump of preference for Grade-A space. In 2018, at a pan India level, Grade-A absorption was 17.66 million sq.ft. against Grade-B absorption of 14.14 million sq.ft. Moreover penetration to tier-II and III cities also remain on the radar of players.
Few advantages that Grade-A warehousing space has:
•Operational Efficiency: Up to 30 percent additional open space up to 30 percent space for internal cargo handling and up to 40percent storage height to enhance traffic & cargo movement use of modern MHEs and maximise storage load.
•WiderCargo Lines:Additional floor load capacity(up to 50 percent) and storage height facilitates heavy/odd dimension cargos and increases pallet position for standardised cargo especially for long term storage.
•Prevention: Improved firefighting system, drainage system, floor height and construction quality provides additional protection from unexpected threats and minimises risk of probable in store damages.
•Operational Time Management:Provision for sufficient parking, material handling and marshalling space optimises operational time and cost not only for vehicles and MHE operation, but also for sorting/identification of products.
•Clientele:Planned storage space, efficient material
handling space safety & security and better access /connectivity are the predominant criteria for the MNC/and the national brands.
Warehouses are the basic foundations for the supply chain of any company that relies on distribution of its products from factories to shops and to end users. For this companies might choose to lease or own spaces depending on the total costs involved.
Grade-A warehouses are labelled on the basis of their superior construction quality location space, amenities and clients, among others. As online retail grows Grade-A warehouses have become a workplace of choice too, for many without a college degree. This is helpful for many from the employment perspective.
However there are challenges high cost of land some times comes as a challenge for investors interested in Grade-A warehouses. Land cost constitutes a major component of a warehousing project investment.
The Incremental CostThis said, what could be the incremental cost to the end user? A JLL Industrial research on comparing Grade-A & Grade-B warehousing cost to end users/occupiers reveals the following: While the above comparison shows the rental premium paid on Grade-A space to be higher, per pallet or per tonnage rental is lower due to operational advantages in Grade-A space. This in turn influences preference among tenants towards Grade-A spaces. Moreover, newer locations are also being looked at with keen interest.
Global Scenario Globally
Grade-A warehouses follow the following criteria:
•Additional height and higher floor load bearing capacity.
•Better infrastructure with access to mechanised MHEs fire detection & prevention systems and clean environment.
•Land use with space for parking heavy vehicles/MHEs movement multimodal connections.
Going Forward
Following the global scenario, in India too, Grade-A absorption share has grown from 50 percent to 56 percent of the total India absorption levels from 2017 to 2018. It is expected to further grow as occupiers look for spaces with higher specification as per requirements. The liquidity infused by global investors is prompting the market to move towards organised and globally accepted warehousing space. We expect technology to be one of the most important aspects to optimise cost in construction. While in operation, a mechanised and automated material handling facility will bring in the much needed efficiency enhancement.
Moreover uniformity of taxation has created the need for consolidation and creation of bigger warehouses. Further, keeping the cost effectiveness in mind, players want to improve the effectiveness of the space.
As a result deeper penetration in tier-II and tier-III cities is also being looked at. A growing economy and a preference for well oiled, organized spaces, along with GST will drive the demand for Grade-A warehousing spaces.
Warehouses are the basic foundations for the supply chain of any company that relies on distribution of its products from factories to shops and to end users. For this companies might choose to lease or own spaces depending on the total costs involved.
Grade-A warehouses are labelled on the basis of their superior construction quality location space, amenities and clients, among others. As online retail grows Grade-A warehouses have become a workplace of choice too, for many without a college degree. This is helpful for many from the employment perspective.
However there are challenges high cost of land some times comes as a challenge for investors interested in Grade-A warehouses. Land cost constitutes a major component of a warehousing project investment.
The Incremental CostThis said, what could be the incremental cost to the end user? A JLL Industrial research on comparing Grade-A & Grade-B warehousing cost to end users/occupiers reveals the following: While the above comparison shows the rental premium paid on Grade-A space to be higher, per pallet or per tonnage rental is lower due to operational advantages in Grade-A space. This in turn influences preference among tenants towards Grade-A spaces. Moreover, newer locations are also being looked at with keen interest.
Global Scenario Globally
Grade-A warehouses follow the following criteria:
•Additional height and higher floor load bearing capacity.
•Better infrastructure with access to mechanised MHEs fire detection & prevention systems and clean environment.
•Land use with space for parking heavy vehicles/MHEs movement multimodal connections.
Going Forward
Following the global scenario, in India too, Grade-A absorption share has grown from 50 percent to 56 percent of the total India absorption levels from 2017 to 2018. It is expected to further grow as occupiers look for spaces with higher specification as per requirements. The liquidity infused by global investors is prompting the market to move towards organised and globally accepted warehousing space. We expect technology to be one of the most important aspects to optimise cost in construction. While in operation, a mechanised and automated material handling facility will bring in the much needed efficiency enhancement.
Moreover uniformity of taxation has created the need for consolidation and creation of bigger warehouses. Further, keeping the cost effectiveness in mind, players want to improve the effectiveness of the space.
As a result deeper penetration in tier-II and tier-III cities is also being looked at. A growing economy and a preference for well oiled, organized spaces, along with GST will drive the demand for Grade-A warehousing spaces.