India has emerged as APAC’s most preferred warehousing hub, driven by e-commerce growth, infrastructure push, and rising demand for automation. Yet, challenges like high logistics costs and sustainability pressures remain. Leading this transformation is Khursheed Alam, Founder of Atmos Systems, whose innovations in automation, lithium-ion forklifts, and smart intralogistics are reshaping modern warehouses. In this interview with Machine Edge Global, he shares insights on India’s logistics boom and the future of sustainable, tech-driven warehousing.
The CBRE India Logistics Occupier Survey 2025 highlights India as APAC’s most popular warehouse location. What factors are fueling this rapid growth?
The CBRE India Logistics Occupier Survey 2025 positions India as APAC’s most preferred warehousing destination, driven by a confluence of strong macroeconomic fundamentals, accelerated infrastructure development, and a rapidly evolving occupier ecosystem. Government policy support, technological adoption, and the boom in e-commerce are further fueling this momentum. Occupiers are increasingly prioritizing scalability, efficiency, and sustainability, reflecting the sector’s maturity and long-term growth potential. Notably, over 80% of India-based occupiers (both domestic and global) plan to expand their warehousing portfolios within the next two years, underscoring the high confidence in India’s logistics market.
In your view, what are the biggest challenges Indian warehouses face as they scale up?
As Indian warehouses scale up, they face several key challenges. One of the most pressing is high logistics costs. Government initiatives like the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy aim to bring this down to 8–9%, while technology integration is expected to improve efficiency, speed, and operational cost-effectiveness.
Infrastructure gaps also pose a major hurdle. Connectivity and storage facilities remain inadequate in remote and hard-to-reach regions, with last-mile delivery still facing significant bottlenecks. The logistics market is often fragmented, especially in sectors like cold chain, express logistics, and the agricultural supply chain, which include many small players.
Other challenges include regulatory complexities and security concerns along the supply chain. Leveraging advanced technologies such as AI and ML can enable predictive analytics and make operations more future-ready, while upskilling the workforce is critical to keep pace with these innovations. Additionally, adopting sustainable practices to reduce the carbon footprint of logistics operations will continue to be a central focus as the sector grows.
How are e-commerce and 3PL companies adopting smart warehousing solutions to meet the twin goals of speed and accuracy?
Automation and digital transformation are reshaping intralogistics, the internal movement, storage, and management of goods across sectors including e-commerce, retail, automotive, and FMCG. To meet growing consumer expectations for faster deliveries, e-commerce and 3PL companies in India are deploying technologies such as conveyors, robotics, scanning, sorting and AI-enabled Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). These solutions optimise space, accelerate order fulfilment, and reduce human error. In high-volume e-commerce and retail warehouses, conveyors enables rapid transfer, while in automotive and FMCG facilities, it ensures precise uninterrupted supply to production lines or store shelves.
What role do emerging technologies like IoT, telematics, and AI-driven inventory management play in shaping the next generation of logistics operations?
Playing a transformative role, modern automated intralogistics systems, enhanced by AI, ML, and IoT, can perform repetitive tasks with high precision while streamlining complex workflows. These technologies enable predictive maintenance, real-time process optimisation, and rapid anomaly detection, reducing downtime, improving throughput, and making operations more agile and responsive to market demands.
The integration of IoT, telematics, and smart sensors further allows real-time diagnostics, continuous performance monitoring, and predictive insights, turning warehouse assets and logistics equipment into intelligent, connected systems. This connectivity not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports data-driven decision-making and proactive issue resolution across the supply chain.
Could you share examples of how automation is improving efficiency and safety inside warehouses?
Conveyor automation is transforming warehouses by enabling faster, safer, and more accurate material movement. Telescopic conveyors accelerate truck loading and unloading, cutting down turnaround times. Vertical conveyors allow seamless transfer of goods between floors, eliminating the need for manual lifting in multi-level facilities. Belt conveyors and roller conveyors optimise flow across complex layouts, while pallet and chain conveyors handle heavy or bulky loads with consistency and safety.
Beyond conveyors, automation is further enhanced with scanning and sorting systems that ensure high-speed order accuracy and eliminate manual errors. Robotic integrations—such as robotic pickers and palletisers—reduce cycle times, improve precision, and minimise worker involvement in repetitive or hazardous tasks.
Together, these solutions create safer work environments by reducing manual handling, optimising traffic inside warehouses, and ensuring predictable workflows. At Atmos Systems, we deliver customised conveyor automation combined with smart scanning, sorting, and robotics to help customers achieve efficiency, safety, and long-term reliability.
How is Atmos Systems positioning itself to serve the evolving needs of modern warehousing in India?
Atmos Systems is strategically positioning itself to meet the evolving needs of modern warehousing in India by leveraging advanced technologies and sustainable solutions. The integration of IoT, telematics, and smart sensors enables real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and performance monitoring, transforming equipment into intelligent, connected assets.
Addressing concerns around high-capacity lifting, Atmos has bridged the gap between electric and diesel forklifts. Its lithium-ion battery technology provides higher energy density, rapid charging, and consistent power output for uninterrupted operations. For even heavier workloads, hydrogen fuel cell solutions are being explored in ports and large logistics hubs.
Atmos’ electric forklift brand, BRODE, exemplifies this approach. Built with robust engineering and advanced lithium-ion technology, BRODE forklifts offer superior lifting performance, longer runtime, faster charging, and high reliability—making them ideal for demanding, high-capacity warehousing and logistics applications.
What sets Atmos apart from other MHE and automation solution providers in the market?
What sets Atmos apart from other MHE and automation solution providers is its customer-centric approach, which begins with a deep understanding of each client’s unique operational needs. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Atmos delivers cost-efficient, customised systems designed to optimise productivity. A strong focus on R&D ensures the company stays ahead of global trends, while advanced technologies such as AI, ML, and IoT enhance its material handling equipment with predictive maintenance, real-time process optimisation, and data-driven decision-making.
In the Indian context, Atmos differentiates itself through eco-friendly, zero-emission designs that reduce operating costs, extend equipment lifespan, and provide ergonomic comfort for operators. Reliability is further ensured with genuine spare parts and responsive on-site service teams. By aligning with international benchmarks while adapting to India’s unique infrastructure and market dynamics, Atmos Systems provides intralogistics solutions that are technologically advanced, sustainable, and precisely tailored to customer requirements.
Which upcoming trends in material handling and automation excite you the most?
Some of the most exciting trends we see include:
• AI-powered autonomous material handling – Robots and AGVs that can learn, adapt, and self-optimise routes.
• Green logistics – Wider adoption of lithium-ion, hydrogen fuel cell forklifts, and energy-efficient conveyor systems.
• Digital twins and predictive analytics – Simulating warehouse operations digitally to drive better decision-making and reduce downtime.
• Collaborative automation – Human + machine ecosystems where operators work seamlessly alongside robots.
At Atmos Systems, we believe these trends will define the next decade of Indian warehousing, and we are investing in technologies that make them a reality.