Temperature-Controlled Storage - AC, Refrigerated & Frozen Facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature tiers does Prozo offer for cold-chain storage?

Prozo operates three temperature tiers. Air Conditioned (18-25°C) is suited for cosmetics, nutraceuticals, supplements, and precision electronic components that degrade in high ambient heat. Refrigerated (0-10°C) serves perishables, dairy products, fresh produce, and pharmaceutical products requiring cold-chain compliance. Cold/Frozen (-30 to 0°C) handles frozen food, ice cream, biologicals, and any product that must remain below freezing throughout storage and transit.

How does ProWMS enforce shelf-life compliance in cold storage?

ProWMS tracks manufacturing date, expiry date, and batch/lot number for every SKU at the bin level. Picking is enforced using FEFO (First Expiry First Out) logic - the system will not allow an associate to pick a newer batch while an older one remains in stock. Shelf-life alerts notify the operations team when products approach their expiry threshold, enabling proactive markdown, return-to-vendor, or disposal workflows before any product expires on the shelf.

Does Prozo provide temperature monitoring and compliance documentation?

Yes. Every cold-chain facility is equipped with continuous temperature and humidity monitoring sensors. Real-time data feeds into Control Tower dashboards, and automated alerts trigger when readings deviate from the permissible range. For pharma and regulated products, Prozo provides temperature logs, excursion reports, and compliance certificates that satisfy GDP (Good Distribution Practice) and FSSAI audit requirements.

What product categories require temperature-controlled storage?

Temperature-controlled storage is required for perishable foods (dairy, fresh produce, frozen meals), pharmaceuticals and vaccines, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, cosmetics and personal care products with active ingredients, biologicals and diagnostic kits, chocolate and confectionery, and certain electronic components sensitive to heat. Prozo's three temperature tiers - AC, refrigerated, and frozen - cover the full spectrum of cold-chain requirements across these categories.

How does Prozo handle cold-chain packaging for last-mile delivery?

Cold-chain packaging for last-mile delivery is selected based on the product's temperature sensitivity and estimated transit time. Options include insulated boxes with gel packs for refrigerated products, dry ice packaging for frozen goods, and thermal liners for AC-range products shipping in warm climates. ProWMS assigns the correct packaging configuration based on SKU attributes and destination, ensuring products maintain required temperatures throughout the delivery journey.

Can Prozo store both ambient and temperature-controlled products in the same facility?

Yes. Many Prozo fulfilment centres feature multi-temperature zones within the same facility - ambient areas for general merchandise alongside AC, refrigerated, and frozen zones for temperature-sensitive products. ProWMS manages inventory and order processing across all zones, and orders containing both ambient and cold-chain products are consolidated at the packing station with appropriate packaging for each temperature requirement.

What happens during a temperature excursion in the cold-chain facility?

When monitoring sensors detect a temperature excursion beyond the permissible range, Control Tower immediately triggers an automated alert to the facility manager and brand operations team. The affected zone is isolated, backup refrigeration systems are activated, and a root-cause investigation begins. Products exposed to the excursion are quarantined pending quality assessment. Excursion reports with timestamps, duration, and corrective actions are generated for regulatory compliance and brand records.

Does Prozo support FSSAI and pharmaceutical cold-chain compliance?

Yes. Prozo's temperature-controlled facilities comply with FSSAI food safety standards and GDP (Good Distribution Practice) requirements for pharmaceutical storage. This includes documented temperature logs, calibrated monitoring equipment, trained staff with hygiene certifications, pest-control protocols, and standard operating procedures for handling temperature-sensitive products. Compliance certificates and audit-ready documentation are provided to brands on request.

How does Prozo manage cold-chain logistics for quick commerce platforms?

For quick commerce cold-chain, Prozo positions temperature-sensitive inventory at mother warehouses with cold storage zones and manages automated replenishment to dark stores equipped with refrigeration. PTL movements from mother warehouse to dark store use refrigerated vehicles coordinated by ProSHIP. At the dark store level, ProWMS ensures FEFO rotation and expiry management. This enables brands to sell perishables on Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart with full cold-chain integrity.

What is the cost difference between ambient and temperature-controlled storage?

Temperature-controlled storage costs more than ambient storage due to the energy, infrastructure, and specialized equipment required. AC storage (18-25°C) typically costs 20-30% more than ambient, refrigerated (0-10°C) costs 50-80% more, and frozen (-30 to 0°C) costs 2-3x more than ambient rates. Prozo offers transparent per-pallet or per-unit pricing for each temperature tier, allowing brands to calculate the exact cold-chain cost impact on their product margins before committing.