Depot
A warehouse where stock is held and dispatched, typically owned or leased by a brand, C&F, or distributor.
Full definition
A depot is a warehouse from which stock is held and dispatched. The term is used broadly for any mid-level storage node in a distribution network, a plant depot, a C&F depot, a distributor depot, even a large retailer's depot. In a hub-and-spoke network the depot is the hub; in a point-to-point network it is the single shipping origin.
Depot management in Indian distribution involves receiving stock, put-away, FEFO enforcement, picking, loading, dispatch, and returns processing. For perishables, depots must also maintain cold chain with adequate refrigerated storage and generator backup.
Multi-depot visibility is a core capability of modern distribution tracking software, it lets brands route orders to the nearest depot with stock, balancing inventory across the network.
Real-world example
ITC operates a foods depot in Guwahati that serves distributors across Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
Where it applies
Applicable industries
This term is relevant across the following SpireStock-supported industries.
How SpireStock handles it
Related SpireStock features
The concepts described above are implemented end-to-end in these product modules.
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