Smart technologies are increasingly infiltrating our daily lives, they automate tasks and offer new functionalities. This infiltration has accelerated in recent years and looks set to increase even further in the near future. Innovation and development in devices, sensors, and cloud-based technology is helping to drive the smart revolution, which is impacting all sectors, including warehouse management. Here, we look at the current top three smart warehouse technologies companies should be implementing in order to gain the greatest benefit.
Automated picking tools
Automated picking tools can transform warehouse processes, from the traditional reliance on humans moving around the warehouse with pick lists locating items manually, to an efficient and streamlined system that leverages a variety of connected technologies to improve the picking process. Such tools include automated order picking, pick-to-light, and robotic order picking. These tools leverage cutting-edge barcoding technologies that are easily integrated within warehouses and connected to warehouse management systems.
Warehouses that implement automated picking tools can benefit from increased accuracy in picking rates, and a reduction in human error. Overall, automated picking tools have the impact of enhancing this segment of the supply chain, helping to improve the flow from order generation to shipping.
Automated guided vehicles
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are an incredibly useful technology for warehouses. They can increase the efficiency of a warehouse’s storage and retrieval process, as well as enhance stocktake processes. AGVs can be implemented into a warehouse’s current processes fairly seamlessly, without the need for a drastic re-design of the warehouse’s layout. These vehicles leverage artificial intelligence (AI), sensor technology, and cloud technology to automatically navigate around the warehouse to retrieve and deliver required items. AGVs simply follow digital paths laid out around the warehouse to allow them to load and unload pallets and boxes as well as pull items from storage. There are numerous benefits for warehouses that adopt AGVs into their processes, including a reduction in labor costs, risk of accidents, utility costs, and human error, as well as an increase in inventory efficiency, and workplace safety.
Automated inventory control platforms
In 2018, Motorola reported that 41% of warehouses were still using manual cycle-counting processes (e.g. pen and paper). Unfortunately, this method is vulnerable to human errors in data, transcription, and consistency, therefore, it can lead to significant disruption of warehouse processes and ultimately costs time and revenue.
The implementation of an inventory control platform can overcome the limitations of manual systems. Often used in conjunction with a variety of other smart technologies, inventory control platforms are effective in taking out the guesswork of inventory taking, reducing human error, and improving the efficiency of warehouse processes. Additionally, most inventory control platforms can be accessed remotely, allowing reports to be obtained whenever necessary.
The simple adoption of smart technologies
Smart technologies can vastly improve efficiency in warehouse management, it can also reduce the reliance on human workers, the incidence of accidents and injuries, and overheads. Companies do not have to overhaul their processes in order to benefit from smart warehouse technologies, most can be adopted alongside current infrastructure, fitting seamlessly into the warehouse’s current processes.
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