The Future of Warehouse Technology

Featured Article by Robert Cordray, Independant Technology Author

The benefits of bring a greater degree of automation to a warehouse environment can be considerable, allowing business to reduce costs, improve productivity and create a more streamlined working process. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage of warehouse workers exceeds 18 dollars an hour. Automated working environments can be operated with fewer staff, allowing businesses to create a materials handling process capable of meeting existing and future needs in a more cost-effective manner. Equipment that may reduce the need for manual labors can pay for itself overtime by lowering operational and overhead costs.

Automation Offers Many Solutions

A recent study shows that 70 percent of all warehouses plan to expand their level of automation by 2018. A conventional materials handling process can be difficult to adapt to new demands and changing situations, which may leave businesses struggling to deal with higher volumes of product and inventory should they experience sales growth or enact a plan for expansion. A conventional warehouse can be little more than a liability, especially for businesses seeking a more flexible and efficient materials handling solution. Creating a modern warehouse and updating a conventional working process can allow businesses to streamline efforts, utilize digital inventory and supply management solutions and ensure supply-side solutions are able to keep up with demand.

Decreased Overhead and Operational Costs

The higher costs needed to staff and operate a conventional warehouse can quickly become a financial liability, especially for businesses that are struggling to enjoy a greater degree of profitability. Hiring, training and retaining skilled and dependable workers can be difficult in warehouse environments where high turnover is to be expected. Equipment resources that will allow for a higher degree of automation can help to alleviate the stress of a higher workload, ensuring that remaining personal are able to focus their attention on other issues, such as quality control and assurance.

Investing in the Right Tools and Resources

Not every equipment solution may be able to meet the needs of every environment and poor-quality resources may produce little more than wasted expense. From physical resources such as a conveyor belt scale to digital tools like materials handling system software and applications that can more easily track and sort orders and inventory, it pays to invest in only the best. For businesses interested in enjoying the benefits of an automated and efficient working environment, access to the right resources and a higher quality selection of equipment and tools can be of paramount concern.

Streamlining the Working and Materials Handling Process

Simply investing in the tools that make automation possible will be of limited benefit should they fail to be utilized in an effective manner. Assessing the current workflow and procedures within the warehouse may be necessary in order to discover which steps in the workflow process may be creating bottlenecks or resulting in a loss of efficiency. Belted conveyor systems, heavy lifting equipment that can be operated remotely or that may require no oversight inn order to function are common examples of the resources that will provide a greater degree of efficiency when introduced to most working environments.

Flexible Warehouse Solutions to Fit Changing Needs

Just because a warehouse is able to keep up with current demand and provide businesses with the level of results and efficiency they seek now does not mean they will continue to do so in the days to come. Changing demands can become a big issue for conventional warehouses that may not be able to adapt workflow and operations quickly and easily. Automated warehouses offer a greater degree of flexibility, one which may allow businesses to handle fluctuations in material and inventory volume without issues that may produce a drop in output or efficiency.