CWC Digital Transformation 2.0: Driving Operational Excellence in Warehousing & Logistics – Central Warehousing Corporation
CWC Digital Transformation 2.0: Driving Operational Excellence in Warehousing & Logistics
Problem
- Operations were spread across more than 45 legacy e-tools functioning as isolated silos, resulting in fragmented data and lack of a unified operational view.
- Critical warehouse transaction points such as gates, weighbridges, yards, and godowns relied heavily on manual entries, increasing risk of errors, manipulation, and pilferage.
- Limited real-time visibility across geographically dispersed warehouses led to inconsistent SOP compliance and delayed decision-making.
- Absence of integrated analytics prevented predictive insights for capacity planning, loss prevention, and operational optimisation.
- Governance and compliance monitoring, especially for scientific storage practices, was periodic rather than evidence-based and real time.
Solution
- Implementation of an AI-powered SAP S/4HANA ERP platform with 41 integrated modules to establish a single source of truth.
- Consolidation of 45+ legacy e-tools into a unified ERP ecosystem with over 35 integrations covering finance, HR, warehousing, engineering, and administration.
- Deployment of Smart Warehousing systems using AI, IoT, and automation to eliminate manual intervention at operational choke points.
- Introduction of FASTag/ANPR-enabled gate and weighbridge automation, smart locks, AI-based bag counting, and sensor-driven monitoring.
- Establishment of centralized dashboards and the Depot Darpan portal for real-time governance and compliance visibility.
Outcomes
- Unified digital ecosystem operational across 750+ warehouses nationwide, covering the entire spectrum of CWC operations.
- Turnaround time reduced by approximately 30 percent through automation and process re-engineering.
- Storage space and throughput optimized by around 20 percent, improving asset utilisation.
- Enhanced transparency and control through automated, audit-ready records and 24×7 monitoring.
- Strengthened national food security and logistics efficiency by reducing pilferage, losses, and overall logistics costs.
SKOCH Award Nominee
Category: Digital Transformation
Sub-Category: Business Process Transformation
Project: CWC Digital Transformation 2.0: Driving Operational Excellence in Warehousing & Logistics
Start Date: 4-08-2025
Organisation: Central Warehousing Corporation
Respondent: Anil Manik Rao
https://cewacor.nic.in/home
Level: DX – 1
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Case Study
CWC Digital Transformation 2.0: Driving Operational Excellence in Warehousing & Logistics – Central Warehousing Corporation
CWC Digital Transformation 2.0 was launched to address the structural limitations of earlier digitisation efforts, which, despite introducing over 45 electronic tools, resulted in fragmented datasets and manual bottlenecks. Commencing on April 8, 2025, with an evaluation phase in late 2025, the project aimed to unify data silos and embed Industry 4.0 principles across a massive network of over 750 warehouses. This shift was essential for enhancing national food security and operational transparency by moving beyond simple digitisation toward intelligent, enterprise-wide visibility.
At the heart of this transformation was the deployment of an AI-powered SAP S/4HANA ERP system. This single, cloud-hosted platform integrated warehousing, finance, HR, and engineering, supported by over 35 national system integrations, including GST, ICEGATE, and ULIP. Alongside the ERP, Smart Warehousing systems introduced automation at every touchpoint. Technologies like FASTag-based vehicle validation, AI-driven bag counting, and IoT sensors for environmental monitoring eliminated manual errors and tampering, while Digital Twin technology optimised yard management for EXIM operations.
The implementation faced significant hurdles, such as migrating legacy data and synchronising parallel technology rollouts across a vast geographic footprint. CWC addressed these through rigorous data cleansing, phased deployments, and extensive workforce training to help staff adapt to re-engineered procedures. These efforts ensured that the transition remained controlled and supported by 24/7 technical assistance, despite the fast-track schedule.
The results have been transformative, providing real-time dashboards for evidence-based governance across all administrative levels. By standardising processes and automating workflows, the initiative has significantly reduced losses and improved the ease of doing business for logistics stakeholders. Ultimately, CWC Digital Transformation 2.0 serves as a benchmark for public sector modernisation, aligning with national missions like Gatishakti and Digital India to create an intelligent, AI-driven logistics backbone for the country.
For more information, please contact:
Anil Manik Rao at ggmsystem@cewacor.nic.in
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