This has two key benefits . First , warehouse personnel can now get involved in more fulfilling work using cutting-edge tools . Second , the contingencies generated from this modelling ensure that seasonal or peak demand can be met effectively and sustainably . Both serve to improve working conditions for employees .
Play hard , work hard
Using AI to track parcels moving through a warehouse also helps workers on the ground . Prime Vision ’ s Flow Projector takes package information from the wider warehouse data system and beams a number onto each package that correlates with its intended chute . Instead of having to laboriously read each label , scan it using a sweaty glove and determine the correct chute – employees can quickly and easily take packages to the right destination .
The Flow Projector has proven transformative . At one customer , it was discovered that employees would clock in five minutes early just to ensure they worked at a
Flow Projector equipped chute . Many users gamified their work , choosing to only pick a certain projected number or entering friendly competition with coworkers . It was easier to train new employees too , especially those that spoke other languages . The performance of new starts and employees was also improved , with the customer reporting less mistakes and up to 40 % more parcels processed daily .
The droids we ’ re looking for
Robots have liberated people from the strenuous work of moving parcels around the warehouse . For example , Prime Vision robots can carry up to a 2-metre square parcel weighing more than 30 kg . Fast , accurate , efficient and autonomous , robots have allowed all levels of consumer demand to be met without placing undue strain on warehouse employees . These capabilities have freed up workers to graduate from manual labour and take advantage of new and exciting career opportunities .
Prime Vision operates over 1000 robots across 53 sites in the US , as well as additional fleets in Europe . Other than the efficiency improvements , what is most striking about these facilities is the strong relationships between people and robots . Many customers name their robots , some even immortalising the employee of the month on the chassis . A team at one facility referred to the fleet as their ‘ babies ’.
This affection is because instead of walking kilometres with heavy parcels , warehouse workers are now engaging in the exciting field of managing the robot fleet . Carrying out cleaning , maintenance , planning , battery replacement and changeovers has ensured that employees have developed a duty of care towards them . Inarguably , this illustrates how robotics has enriched warehouse work , and that people are happy about it .
The future is an implementation game
Instead of AI and robotics rendering us obsolete , the future will instead involve coexisting with these technologies for more fulfilling work . The variation of goods and volumes in sectors such as e-commerce means that the dark warehouse is not yet attainable . However , to achieve successful future collaboration means sensitively implementing these technologies into the workplace .
The first step is the safe design of areas where AI , robots and humans can collaborate . This is very much at customer discretion and must be conducted within the boundaries of local legislation . Whether that is to create rules to allow safe intervention by humans , or segregating areas between humans and machines – either is a valid approach to make people feel comfortable . As familiarity grows and the efficiency benefits manifest , employees become more accepting of new technologies .
The future of warehouse logistics is likely be a symphony of autonomous forklifts , robots , drones and computer vision technologies conducted by AI and overseen by humans . Realising this will not be straightforward . Arguably the biggest challenge will be implementing these technologies within brownfield warehouse environments . Here , vendor agnostic automation experts like Prime Vision will be key to widespread adoption , seamlessly integrating solutions with existing sorting infrastructure to smoothen the transition .
Following the recent successes of AI and robotics in improving job satisfaction and staff retention rates , warehouse operators and employees both have reasons to stick around in future .
For more information , visit https :// primevision . com /
Issue 71 PECM 91