The logistics networking problem
A distribution business lives or dies on one number being right everywhere: how much stock is where. The moment there's a second warehouse, that number can drift — head office quotes stock a depot already shipped, two branches both promise the last pallet, the dispatch team works from yesterday's figures. Every one of those is a logistics business losing money or a customer.
The fix is structural: every warehouse, depot, and branch reaching the central ERP in real time, over a connection that's reliable and private. Not high-bandwidth — ERP transactions are tiny — but always-on and trustworthy. That's the logistics networking problem, and it usually has to be solved without an IT department.
What you're connecting
- Warehouse-management systems — each site's WMS reaching the central ERP for stock, orders, and dispatch.
- Barcode scanners and dispatch terminals — pulling order data and confirming picks against the central system.
- Weighbridge and gate computers — recording inbound and outbound loads to the central records.
- Label and document printers — printing consignment notes and labels from central data.
- Branch-office computers — reaching central billing, consignment tracking, and fleet records.
Why it has to be router-based
Look at that list — barcode scanners, dispatch terminals, weighbridge computers, label printers. None of them can run VPN software. They're purpose-built equipment, not general-purpose computers. Any networking approach that requires installing an agent on each device is a non-starter in a warehouse.
That's why logistics connectivity has to be router-based: the tunnel lives on the warehouse router, and every device behind it joins the private network automatically. MeshWG is built exactly this way — which is what makes it fit logistics where per-device VPN products don't.
How MeshWG connects warehouses and depots
MeshWG runs on the router each site already has. Per site: add it in the dashboard, paste the generated configuration into the site's router, and the warehouse or depot joins the operation's private mesh — about two minutes. Every WMS, scanner, terminal, and printer behind that router now reaches the central ERP over the encrypted overlay.
From head office: one private network spanning every site, central policy controlling which devices reach which systems, a single dashboard of every site's link status, and 24/7 support. It works with TP-Link, MikroTik, OpenWrt, and the other router brands warehouses typically run — see the supported router families.
What happens when a site loses internet
Warehouse internet, especially at depots in industrial areas, is not always reliable. MeshWG's behaviour when a site's link drops: the depot's local systems keep running — receiving, picking, and dispatching continue on the local network — and the tunnel to the central ERP simply pauses. When connectivity returns, the tunnel re-establishes automatically (persistent keepalive handles the reconnection) and queued transactions sync. The mesh going down never stops a depot physically operating; it only pauses the central sync until the link is back.
The cost, for a real operation size
| 8-site operation | SD-WAN appliances | MeshWG |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Several lakh | ₹0 (uses existing routers) |
| Monthly cost | Licensing + managed service | ~₹2,100 (8 routers, 2 free) |
| IT staff needed | Typically yes | No; 24/7 support included |
| New depot onboarding | Days | ~2 minutes |
Frequently asked questions
How do distributors connect warehouses to the central ERP?
A distribution business with multiple warehouses or branch depots needs each site to reach the central ERP in real time, so stock levels, dispatch records, and order status are accurate everywhere at once. The right tool is a private network connecting each site's router into one encrypted overlay. MeshWG does this on the routers each warehouse and depot already has — every site reaches the central ERP over a private mesh, no per-device software, no public exposure of the ERP, no SD-WAN appliance to buy.
Why does stock data need a real-time network connection?
Without a live connection, each warehouse runs its own copy of stock reality and they drift apart — head office quotes stock that a depot already shipped, two sites both promise the last unit, dispatch teams work from yesterday's numbers. A private network connecting every site to the central ERP keeps one shared, current picture of inventory and dispatch. The connection doesn't have to be high-bandwidth — ERP transactions are small — it has to be reliable and private, which is exactly what a mesh VPN provides.
Can warehouse scanners and dispatch terminals use a mesh VPN?
Yes, without any software on the devices themselves. Handheld barcode scanners, dispatch terminals, weighbridge computers, and label printers cannot run VPN clients — but they don't need to. MeshWG runs the tunnel on the warehouse router, so every device behind that router reaches the central ERP over the private overlay automatically. This router-based approach is why a mesh VPN fits logistics, where most devices are purpose-built equipment, not general computers.
What does it cost to connect 8 warehouses and depots?
With MeshWG: 8 site routers at ₹349/month each, first 2 free, is about ₹2,100/month — roughly $25 — for the whole operation, using the routers each site already has. The SD-WAN appliance approach for 8 sites runs into lakhs of hardware plus ongoing licensing and a managed-service contract. For a distribution business where IT is not a core function, the mesh-VPN approach makes a real-time multi-site network affordable.
Will a depot keep operating if its internet goes down?
Yes — the depot's local systems keep working. Local warehouse-management software, scanners, and dispatch terminals operate on the local network regardless of the internet link. If the internet drops, the MeshWG tunnel to the central ERP pauses; the depot keeps receiving, picking, and dispatching, and the tunnel re-establishes automatically when connectivity returns, syncing queued transactions. The mesh going down pauses central sync — it never stops a depot from physically operating.
Does MeshWG work for transport companies with branch offices?
Yes. A transport or freight company with regional branch offices has the same shape as a distributor: each branch needs to reach the central system for consignment tracking, billing, and fleet records. MeshWG connects each branch's router into one private mesh exactly as it does for warehouses. Branch staff working remotely can also join the mesh as individual devices using the standard WireGuard app, reaching the central system from the road.
Next steps
Connect head office and your first warehouse free — two routers, no card.