In this exclusive interview, Mr. Anil Lingayat, Executive Vice President & Business Head, Material Handling business of Godrej & Boyce, a part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, provides valuable insights into how the company is leading the way in innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence within the material handling and logistics sector.  Under his leadership, Material Handling business of Godrej & Boyce, a part of Godrej Enterprises Group has embraced cutting edge technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and IoT enabled systems, revolutionizing training, efficiency, and customer service. Anil discusses the company's green initiatives, including electric forklifts and lithium-ion powered solutions, as well as how Godrej is responding to the booming e-commerce industry with tailored, high-performance products. As the company continues to align with India's "Make in India" vision, Anil shares how Godrej is shaping the future of supply chain management with sustainable and scalable solutions designed for both local and global markets.

How has the integration of new technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) impacted your training programs and operational efficiency?

The integration of new technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) has significantly transformed the way industries approach training and operational efficiency. In the material handling sector, AR and VR are revolutionizing how employees are trained, enabling immersive and realistic simulations. These technologies help workers understand complex machinery operations, troubleshoot in real-time, and improve their skills in a safe, controlled environment. At Material Handling, a business of Godrej Enterprises Group we are leveraging these technologies to enhance our training programs, ensuring that our workforce is equipped with the latest skills. Through LMS, we are enhancing skills for both our and channel partner teams and it also reduces training time and costs.

Sustainability continues to be a major focus. How has the business expanded its eco-friendly initiatives in recent months, and what are some of the latest sustainable technologies you’ve incorporated?

Overall, at Godrej Enterprises Group, we are deeply passionate about sustainability. That’s why overall we have set ourselves a target to increase revenue coming from green products to 50% by 2032. At Material Handling, sustainability has been core to our operations. In recent months, we've strengthened our green initiatives through several key developments. Our newly launched electric forklift series, designed and manufactured in India, reduces carbon emissions significantly. Our latest lithium-ion powered equipment range offers rapid charging capabilities, longer operational hours, and zero emissions, making them ideal for industries with stringent environmental requirements. Our eco-friendly solutions are helping various industries across India reduce their environmental impact while maintaining high operational efficiency, proving that Indian manufacturing can lead the way in sustainable industrial solutions. We are aligned to the overall company objective and aim to deliver a strong value proposition to customers that is sustainable and affordable without compromising on aesthetics. We have reduced our energy consumption by 42% in last 5 years. The material handling industry is at a crucial point in time where sustainability has evolved from being a choice to becoming a business imperative. Globally, the sector is witnessing a significant shift towards electric and alternative fuel technologies, with a growing emphasis on reducing carbon footprint across the entire value chain.

With the ongoing growth in the e-commerce sector, how has the business adjusted its product offerings and solutions to cater to the specific demands of this rapidly expanding market?

As India is poised to become the third largest global economy, we see an aspirational boom in various industries and sectors of economy. E-commerce is one of them, which also acts as a purveyor of growth, facilitating and democratising manufacturing. A recent report by Deloitte projects India's e-commerce CAGR to be 21 percent, and it is expected to reach $325 billion by 2030. This rapid expansion has fundamentally transformed material handling requirements, demanding solutions that offer higher throughput, greater automation, and enhanced flexibility to manage varying load profiles and seasonal peaks.

We've responded to this evolution by developing specialized solutions that address the unique challenges of e-commerce operations. Our indigenously developed very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks are specifically designed for the high-density storage needs of e-commerce warehouses, enabling better space utilization and faster order processing. We've also introduced our new series of electric reach trucks with higher lifting heights and precision controls, essential for the multi-level racking systems common in e-commerce facilities. Q-commerce is expected to grow at rapid pace which has different needs at their DCs and dark stores. We are serving to all major Q-comm companies in the country and are aligned to their needs and expectations.

In terms of automation and robotics, what new capabilities or innovations has Material Handling Solutions introduced to enhance its clients' operational productivity and efficiency?

Our manufacturing processes utilize articulated robots for key operations such as welding and pick-and-place applications. These advanced automation solutions ensure consistent quality, reliability, and a “first-time-right” approach, driving operational excellence and product reliability. It has helped us enhance consistency, precision, increased throughput, scalability, safety and predictive maintenance requirement.

How do you envision the future of supply chain management evolving, and what role will you play in shaping this future?

The supply chain landscape is undergoing an essential transformation driven by several key trends. We're seeing the emergence of smart, connected supply chains that leverage AI and IoT for real-time visibility and decision-making. Sustainability is becoming increasingly central to supply chain strategies, while the need for agility and resilience has been highlighted by recent global disruptions. Looking ahead, we envision supply chains becoming more sustainable, and digitally integrated. We anticipate greater adoption of green technologies and circular economy principles becoming standard practice.

At Material Handling, we are actively shaping the future of supply chain management through innovation. By developing indigenous solutions, we leverage India's technological expertise and our deep understanding of local supply chain challenges. What truly differentiates our approach is our commitment to creating solutions that are not only cutting-edge but also tailored to the unique needs of India.

One of our recent innovations is the launch of lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts, featuring an indigenously developed Battery Management System (BMS). This marks the first offering of its kind from an Indian manufacturer. Our solution addresses a critical gap in the Indian material handling sector by providing a self-sufficient and secure Li-Ion battery system. We are confident that the future of supply chain management in India lies in solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and aligned with the Make in India vision.

As a leader in the material handling industry, what role does data analytics play in optimizing operations, and how do you ensure that your customers are fully leveraging these insights?

Data analytics has become a cornerstone of modern material handling operations, transforming how businesses make decisions and optimize their processes.

a. Front-End Digitization: Connected, IoT-Enabled Forklifts This year, we are set to launch state-of-the-art connected forklifts, powered by IoT technology, to revolutionize operations. These forklifts provide real-time visibility into critical parameters such as temperature, fuel capacity, and service logs, enabling enhanced operational efficiency and proactive maintenance that can help the customers with requisite data and increase efficiency.

b. Spare Parts inventory plan based on data analytics with layer of AI AI based analytical tool analyses probability of winning the order of a specific part from a specific customer across the country based on quotes given by our channel partners. This helps us to manage our spare parts inventory to ensure parts are delivered to the end customers to enhance product uptime.

c. Back-End Digitization: Production Monitoring and Track-and-Trace

We have initiated discussions on implementing production monitoring and track-and-trace systems across our factories. This will enable us to track machine and work center performance, monitor utilization and productivity, and derive actionable insights. These data-driven insights empower us to make informed decisions, improving overall manufacturing efficiency. By harnessing the power of data, we can provide real-time insights into equipment performance, operational efficiency, and supply chain dynamics. This allows us to identify inefficiencies, predict maintenance needs, and enhance decision-making processes, ultimately driving productivity and reducing costs.

Looking forward, what are the next strategic priorities for the business, and how do you plan to continue driving innovation and growth in the material handling and logistics sector?

The material handling and logistics sector is witnessing significant transformation, driven by the increasing demand for automation, digitalization, and sustainability. Industries are focusing on smarter, more efficient supply chains, and material handling solutions that optimize productivity while reducing environmental impact. The rise of e-commerce and global supply chains is also increasing the need for advanced, scalable solutions.

We are committed to "Make in India" and "Innovate for India" by developing products and solutions that meet the evolving needs of domestic industries. We aim to continue enhancing our offerings by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as automation, AI, and IoT. Sustainability remains at the heart of our strategy, as we focus on energy-efficient solutions, eco-friendly designs, and reducing carbon footprints across our product range.

We are also committed to ensuring that Indian manufacturers meet or exceed global standards. By aligning with global best practices, we aim to empower industries across sectors, ensuring that they have access to world-class material handling solutions, and continue to drive growth and innovation within the Indian manufacturing ecosystem.

What message do you hope to convey to attendees at LogiMAT India about the future of automation in logistics? As businesses face increasing pressure to meet growing customer demands while maintaining operational efficiency, automation will play a pivotal role in transforming the logistics landscape. The integration of robotics, AI, IoT, and data analytics is revolutionizing the material handling sector, making processes faster, safer, and more accurate. We are at the forefront of this change, offering solutions that help businesses streamline their supply chains and optimize performance. We are committed to developing innovations tailored to the Indian market.

Could you share any new advancements or product innovations that you will be showcasing at LogiMAT India?

We will be showcasing One of our recent innovations is the launch of lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts, featuring an indigenously developed Battery Management System (BMS). This marks the first offering of its kind from an Indian manufacturer. This year, we will also showcase our upcoming state-of-the-art connected forklifts – the first-ever IoT enabled forklift in India. The Very Narrow Aisle truck – Articulated forklift which can go up to height of 12.5 m and can work in less than 2m aisle. This product is a boon for retail industry as this increases pallet locations by 4X compared to any conventional material handling equipment. We export this product across the globe. Reach truck, Godrej is the only Indian manufacturer who has designed this product which is designed to provide operator comfort, safety features and maximum productivity with higher capacity batteries. This is increasingly finding its application in factory led warehouses.