W arehouses are the crossroads where sales , distribution
and logistics work as one . They ’ re also the place where human error can have significant ripple effects . To scale efficiency as they grow , modern warehouses increasingly rely on automation for accuracy and speed . That reliance has sparked considerable innovation . Achieving the balance between artificial intelligence and human intelligence takes some doing . However , the bigger the business , the more time , effort and resources today ’ s warehouses have devoted to achieving just that .
What Is Warehouse Automation ?
Automation isn ’ t — yet — an all-or-nothing game . It can refer to massive warehouses that prominently feature robotic helpers or pickers , or smaller warehouses using technology such as RFID shelf tags to guide warehouse workers in a logistical version of Marco Polo .
In a nutshell , warehouse automation is the practice of delegating one or more repetitive , data-focused tasks to a machine or network of machines . In a warehouse , these machines may be highly visible , such as automated storage and retrieval systems ( AS / RS ) that pinpoint product location and bring it forward — or more subtle , such as automation built into lift vehicle floor tracks to prevent collisions .
What Can Warehouse Automation Do for My Company ?
Companies are rightly skeptical about the newest-biggest-best “ thing ” to happen to warehousing , but warehouse automation is a longstanding improvement technique , not a fad . It ’ s a smart approach to processing and moving more data and stock than even the most integrated teams can handle .
With a well-researched , professionally maintained warehouse automation system in place , you can solve a wide range of common warehousing problems , including :
• Better ROI on your warehouse teams — determining the ideal team size
• Better reporting on important metrics — out of stock , low stock , damages , etc .
• Smarter ordering cycles as you leverage those metrics — better understanding of triggers
• Less waste , mispacks and returns as order accuracy increases
• Better cooperation and efficiency with your team
• Fewer injuries , fatigue or struggles to “ just get the orders out ”
• Potential integration with your supply chain and 3PL partners via automated linkups
Why Is Warehouse Automation Important ?
Even the best human workers have an upper limit mentally and physically — they can only pull so many orders in a day . Further , working too hard can deliver diminishing returns . Rather than being “ replaced ” by machines ( a common misconception with warehouse automation ), people can work more efficiently alongside them .
Warehouse automation can greatly improve quality of work life for human team members .
In fact :
• It can prevent repetitive stress injuries . By delegating part of their physical workflows to robotic helpers in the warehouse , team members can spare shoulders , wrists and backs .
• It can also work smarter . Innovations such as floor or scan gun robotics illuminate the shortest , most direct path to a new item in the racks .
• It ’ ll be able to pivot where necessary . If an order changes or drops mid-pick , the automated system can execute the change rather than finishing an incorrect order and finding out its work was wasted .
• There ’ s built-in “ set it and forget it ” convenience . Automation can start the workday ’ s tasks before the team even arrives .
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