Theme: Integrated Logistics
Industry Adoption: ⚫ ⚫ ⚪ ⚪ Early Adopters
Impact: ⚫ ⚫ ⚪ Significant

Decentralised warehouse management reimagines supply chains by positioning inventory hubs closer to end consumers. This strategy improves delivery speeds, builds resilience against disruptions, and offers greater adaptability in today’s volatile global market.

Decentralised warehousing is gradually gaining traction. By the end of 2025, an estimated 962 micro-fulfilment centres are projected to be operational globally, highlighting promising early adoption within the retail sector . There are currently fewer than 80 patents and around 30 publications, offering potential for future growth. Notably, C-Suite mentions remained stable at 5 in both 2022 and 2024, indicating a cautious yet consistent level of engagement. Overall, the trend remains in early adoption, poised for further expansion.

What are the challenges?

Challenges of decentralised warehouse management include high operational costs associated with maintaining multiple hubs, increased inventory carrying expenses, and financial risks tied to long-term commitments. Additionally, balancing economies of scale with the flexibility offered by decentralised models remains complex.

What are the opportunities?

Decentralised warehouses create opportunities for faster deliveries and greater customer satisfaction by enhancing supply chain resilience. Businesses can reduce last-mile logistics costs and handle returns more efficiently while ensuring continuity during unforeseen disruptions.

Sources:

• Statista (2021).
• Survey among 500+ global logistics decision makers across various industries, conducted by Statista for Maersk (Q4 2024).
• In-depth interviews with global industry experts, academia, and futurists.
• Unstructured web sources with more than 10,000 search term permutations using AI.
• Curated data from startup databases, patent databases, and analysis tools, as well as Semantic Scholar.