Table of content:
- Understanding 3PL Companies in Kolkata
- Why Kolkata Is A Strategic 3PL Hub In Eastern India?
- Key Services Offered By 3PL Companies In Kolkata
- How To Choose The Best 3PL Company In Kolkata?
- Benefits Of Working With a 3PL Company in Kolkata
- Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Selecting a 3PL Company in Kolkata
- Top 10 3PL Companies in Kolkata
- Final Words
- Frequently Asked Questions — 3PL Companies in Kolkata
The Indian third-party logistics market is valued to be USD 36 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 48 -73 billion by 2030. The growth is mainly because of the rise in product-based and e-commerce companies in the market. Kolkata is one of the strategic 3PL hubs in eastern India, thanks to its major ports and strong connectivity to various states.
3PL companies in Kolkata offer various services like warehouse and storage, inventory management, order fulfillment, and many more. The warehousing costs are even lower compared to metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Understanding 3PL Companies in Kolkata
3PL Companies manage storage, inventory management, order fulfillment, and logistics for a business. These 3PL companies in Kolkata provide value-added services such as bundling, kitting, and custom packaging for the industry, thereby enhancing brand reputation in the market.
A business can handle the storage and fulfillment process solely during startup. But when the company grows, it becomes challenging to handle transportation and delivery on time. Businesses may not have enough space to store bulk products. Again, a delay in product delivery can hurt business. So today, most of the small and medium enterprises do business with a 3PL company in Kolkata. They handle all the supply chain and logistics processes of a business. A 3PL company in Kolkata frees up a business's time, enabling it to focus on core activities such as product development and exploring new markets.
How 3PL Differs From Freight Forwarders And C& F Agents?
- A 3PL company manages end-to-end logistics processes, including storage, inventory management, order fulfilment, and delivery. It works almost daily and delivers orders on time.Â
- A freight forwarder arranges the transportation of goods from one place to another. It does not handle orders daily.
- C & F agents handle customs clearance, coordinate wth carriers, and manage essential documentation and good delivery. But they do not leverage advanced technologies as 3PL companies do.
Why Kolkata Is A Strategic 3PL Hub In Eastern India?
Kolkata is a strategic 3PL hub in eastern India because of the following reasons.
1. Access To Ports
The two major ports, Kolkata Port and Haldia Port, facilitate easy import and export of goods. It even reduces the transit time of international shipments. This is why 3PL companies prefer to manage businesses' inventory in Kolkata.
2. Connectivity To Various States
Kolkata serves as a gateway to eastern and Northeastern India due to its excellent road connectivity. For example, NH-16 and NH-19 connect Kolkata directly to states such as Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. This enables 3PL companies in Kolkata to deliver goods faster to the customers, especially in these regions.
3. Rising E-commerce penetration
Today, eastern India, particularly Kolkata, is witnessing rapid growth in online shopping, driven by increased smartphone usage and affordable internet access. Most customers want their products to reach them as quickly and efficiently as possible. So today, most of the e-commerce businesses depend on a 3PL Company in Kolkata for quick and efficient delivery.
4. Growth Of Dankuni & Uluberia As Warehousing Spots
Dankuni and Ulubera in Kolkata are the leading warehouse and logistics corridors. These regions offer low rental rates and excellent connectivity to major highways such as NH-16 and NH-19.
5. Lower Warehousing Costs VS NCR, Mumbai
Every business needs enough space to store its inventory. The warehousing costs in Kolkata are lower compared to warehouses in NCR, Mumbai, or other metropolitan cities.
Key Services Offered By 3PL Companies In Kolkata
3PL companies in Kolkata offer various services. They are in the list below.
1. Warehousing & Storage
3PL companies in Kolkata offer secure warehousing and storage solutions for businesses across eastern India. The warehouses have racking systems, fire safety systems, and CCTV surveillance. They even have advanced technology for tracking inventory in real time and avoiding overstocking and understocking.
2. Transportation & Distribution
3PL companies in Kolkata offer transportation & distribution services to ensure the timely delivery of goods. They even use advanced technology and choose the most efficient route for goods delivery.
3. Order Fulfillment For E-commerce
3PL companies in Kolkata offer order fulfillment services such as picking, packaging, and shipping. For example, when a customer orders a product, the staff at the 3PL company in Kolkata pick it up from the warehouse, thoroughly package it, and hand it to the shipper. The shipper finally delivers the product to the customer.
4. Value Added Services
Many 3PL companies in Kolkata offer value-added services such as kitting, bundling, and quality inspection. This improves supply chain efficiency and enhances customer satisfaction.
How To Choose The Best 3PL Company In Kolkata?
There are various 3PL companies in Kolkata. But none of them provide the same services. A business needs to consider a few factors before choosing a 3PL company in Kolkata.
1. Storage Needs
A business needs to assess its storage requirements and then choose the 3PL company in Kolkata. For example, if it involves pharmaceutical or perishable products, it should search for a 3PL in Kolkata that offers temperature-controlled storage.
2. Transportation Capabilities
A business needs to check fleet variety and geographical coverage while choosing a 3PL company in Kolkata. It should also assess its last-mile capabilities before entering into a partnership with any third-party logistics company.
3. Technology Stack
The 3PL company should use advanced technology, such as a WMS and a transport management system, to select the most efficient route for goods transport. It should even use an inventory management system to avoid stockouts and overstocking.
4. Cost Structure
The 3PL company should provide a transparent cost structure for storage, value-added services, or inventory management. There should not be any hidden fees.
5. Industry Experience
The business needs to choose a 3PL company in Kolkata that has experience in its product category. It should also have good reviews and testimonials.
Benefits Of Working With a 3PL Company in Kolkata
There are various benefits of working with a 3PL company in Kolkata. Some of them are in the list below.
1. Reduces Logistics Costs
A 3PL company in Kolkata used advanced technology and chose the efficient route for transporting goods. Thus, it reduces the business's logistics costs.
2. Faster Delivery To East & North East India
The strategic location of the top 3PL company in Kolkata ensures quick delivery to customers across various states, including Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. This enhances customer satisfaction and improves the brand's market reputation.
3. Lower Inventory Carrying Cost
Overstocking inventories can lead to high carrying costs. Some products may become obsolete over time. A 3PL company in Kolkata uses advanced technology and maintains optimal inventory levels in the warehouse. This lowers the business's inventory carrying costs.
4. Operational Scalability
The top 3PL company in Kolkata offers scalable warehouse solutions. It means it can accommodate products when the business expands in the future or has high product demand in particular seasons or holidays.
Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Selecting a 3PL Company in Kolkata
There are a few mistakes that most businesses make while selecting a 3PL company in Kolkata. Some of them are in the list below.
1. Choosing Only Based On Price
Many businesses choose a 3PL company in Kolkata based on price. They usually choose 3PL companies that offer services at extremely low costs. But the 3PL company, which offers lower costs, indicates that it does not have enough resources or leverage technology to manage inventory. This can lead to late product delivery and out-of-stock issues.
2. Not Checking Tech Capability
If a business chooses a 3PL company in Kolkata that does not use advanced technology like AI, machine learning, or an inventory management system, then it can lead to poor visibility of products or overstocking problems.
3. Failing To Audit
Most businesses do partnership with a 3PL provider in Kolkata without visiting the warehouse. But visiting the warehouse facility can help to assess the hygiene, safety, equipment, and many other aspects.
Top 10 3PL Companies in Kolkata
The top 10 3PL companies in Kolkata are as follows.
1. AAJ SCM
AAJ SCM started its logistics journey in 2005 and now has Pan-India warehouses in India, including Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, and more. The warehouse in Kolkata is over 43,000 square feet and has 24-hour CCTV surveillance. The company launched AAJ Swift, a revolutionary part-truckload B2B transport service for SMES grappling with transportation issues.
2. Mahindra Logistics
Mahindra Logistics is one of the next top 3PL companies in Kolkata. It manages 22 million square feet of warehousing space all over the country. All the warehouses, including Kolkata, provide value-added services to businesses such as repackaging, reboxing, labelling, sorting, reverse logistics, and more. Simultaneously, the Company provides last-mile delivery and cross-border logistics to the businesses.
3. D2DC Supply Chain
D2DC's supply chain has 10,000 locations worldwide. It receives orders through integrated systems or manual upload. The staff pick up the inventory from the warehouse and do a thorough packaging using approved materials and hand it over to the shipper. The Company even provides reverse logistics solutions to businesses.
4. DHL Supply Chain
DHL supply chain offers end-to-end supply chain solutions like warehousing, transportation, e-commerce fulfillment, and value-added services. The Company serves various industries like FMCG, healthcare, automotive, and manufacturing.
5. Safexpress
Safexpress is one of the trusted 3PL company in Kolkata. The company ensures safe, fast deliveries across more than 31,000 PIN codes in India. It uses robust technology and GPS-enabled fleets to transport goods from one location to another.
6. FM Logistics
FM Logistics India is a top 3PL Company in Kolkata. The Company has 9 warehouses in India. It runs more than 100 vehicles for goods transport to various destinations. All the Company's warehouses, including Kolkata, use advanced technology to avoid overstocking and understocking.
7. Prozo
Prozo has 45 fulfilment centres spread across more than 2.5 million square feet of warehousing space. It has various storage categories like ambient storage, cold storage, and refrigerated storage. There are even various warehousing models, such as shared, dedicated, on-demand, and managed warehousing. The Company even handles return processes efficiently.
8. Emiza
Emiza provides warehousing and fulfillment services to more than 150 DRC and B2B brands. The Company has 17 fulfillment centers, and it runs across 10 cities in India. Each fulfillment center handles more than 10,000 orders per day.
9. WareIQ
WareIQ has fulfillment centers not only in Kolkata but also in other states such as Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and more. All the fulfillment centers provide same-day or next-day delivery across various regions of India, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction.
10. Ekart
Ekart has more than 70 fulfillment centers in various locations of the country, and it transports 15000+ pincodes in the country. The company utilises more than 7000 trucks daily. Ekart even provides last-mile delivery, parcel return services, overnight courier, and cargo services.
Final Words
A third-party logistics Company in Kolkata manages storage, inventory management, order fulfillment, transportation, and delivery. Most of the reputed 3PL companies in Kolkata have warehouses that are well-connected with rail, road, and air. This facilitates easy, efficient transport not only within Kolkata but also to various other states, such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and others. But businesses need to keep a few things in mind, such as visiting the warehouse and checking its storage facilities and technology access before entering into a partnership with any 3PL Company in Kolkata.
