order processing , fulfillment , and delivery ; and to optimize productivity and return on investment .
Automated picking is three to five times more efficient than manual solutions , as technology systems make fewer errors and provide greater flexibility on the warehouse floor where social-distancing measures would otherwise be a hindrance . Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems ( AS / RS ) have been around in distribution centers and warehouses for several decades . The major differences today are the flexibility , speeds , efficiencies and reliability these technologies can provide .
Due to the global pandemic , many companies have started including a work-from-home strategy in their business continuity plans . Now , with COVID-19 , multiple companies have had to execute that plan for employees whose jobs can be done at home . However , for food and pharmaceutical supply chains , it is a struggle to put this into action because the majority of their workforce simply can ’ t perform their work from home .
The employees that need to show up to work are on manufacturing or processing lines where people stand side-byside and often in close proximity to one another . In order to avoid spreading any bacteria or diseases , we ’ re seeing more plastic or plexiglass shields being put in place , but those operations are still trying to figure out how to adjust their workflow to account for increased protection measures . We are seeing an interesting shift from using the least amount of space to get the most product pushed through to instead increasing space or staggering shifts . Whether this will continue in a post-pandemic era remains to be seen . It will depend on the efficacy of vaccines and the general health of the population . Regardless , permanent shifts in worker safety rules and best practices will likely result .
Warehouse automation can reduce labor costs and allow businesses to design workstations which provide isolation and a contamination free environment versus having aisles of workers who are not safely distanced from one another . The efficiencies of automation , such as an AS / RS , also allows businesses to reduce total number of people required to operate a facility . This makes it easier for social distancing and the ability to keep the best workers , which increases accuracy and productivity .
Organizations also may find themselves pivoting to offer new items and products in light of the pandemic . Likewise , demand for e-grocery services has ramped up during the pandemic , meaning just-in-time delivery for fresh and cold food is of the utmost importance . Companies in the grocery e-commerce supply chain are seeking solutions that are flexible and data-driven to ensure that they will not become obsolete as market conditions evolve .
With a change in the variety of SKUs comes the need for flexibility , and AS / RS solutions are perfect for a rapidly changing world . The “ new normal ” has increased sales volumes resulting in consumers and businesses filling larger orders to minimize their delivery risk . This trend may not last in all consumer sectors , but in food and pharmaceutical supplies it ’ s almost a guarantee that it will .
The solution to this change ? Flexible , high-density automated systems . The ability to implement systems and procedures which are intuitive and simple is now mission critical . Because AS / RS reduce overall labor , you can better utilize your high-performing employees and help eliminate the need for temps and transient help .
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