New Delhi, Nov 18 (NationPress) - The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, has introduced a range of digital initiatives aimed at transforming warehousing, optimizing supply chains, and enhancing transparency within the Public Distribution System, according to a report released on Tuesday.

These initiatives are aligned with the Union government's objective of lowering logistics costs and reducing turnaround times, as stated by the Union Minister in an official announcement.

The highlight of these digital initiatives is the new ERP platform, Bhandaran 360, developed by the Central Warehousing Corporation. This platform is based on SAP S/4HANA and integrates 41 modules that encompass HR, finance, marketing, warehouse management, contract management, project monitoring, and various other core functions, as detailed in the statement.

Bhandaran 360 is also connected to 35 external systems, including ICEGATE, port systems, FCI, NAFED, NCCF, and WDRA, facilitating smooth digital integration throughout the food storage and distribution network.

This platform features enhanced security measures such as single sign-on, role-based access, end-to-end encryption, audit trails, and real-time dashboards to minimize manual dependencies and provide operation visibility from the warehouse to the corporate level.

In addition, Bhandaran 360 employs automated workflows through chatbots and robotic process automation to accelerate turnaround times, according to the statement.

Furthermore, the upgraded platform incorporates new functionalities, including a lead and marketing management module, integrated HRMS, project planning, SAP FICO, smart material management, biometric and geo-tagged attendance, a mobile app for measurement books, and enhanced contract monitoring.

These advancements standardize operations across all CWC warehouses, facilitating quicker expansion, improved service quality, and greater accountability.

This initiative aims to simplify the business environment and enhance the quality of life for farmers, FPOs, cooperatives, traders, MSMEs, and large enterprises, including e-commerce companies.

Additionally, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has unveiled ANNA DARPAN, a new microservices-based platform designed to replace the existing Depot Online System.

ANNA DARPAN integrates essential functions such as procurement, storage, movement, sales, quality checks, labor management, and contract monitoring into one cohesive system.