Automation is the most trending topic in the 21st century as all industries are embracing the technology to attain multi-fold productivity gains. Automation has been widely used in the manufacturing industry to reduce human efforts and errors. However, other business areas and industries are already looking at automation to be the gamechanger, one such area being warehouse automation. Warehouse automation includes the use of control software and radio data terminals to make simple decisions on storing and indexing items. Additionally, automation can also be used in a warehouse with robots, automated cranes, sorting machines, and
conveyors. So how can warehouse automation benefit the organization?
Benefits of Warehouse Automation
Increase Efficiency
The efficiency of warehouse highly depends on quickly identifying where every product is located. Previously, warehouse staffs relied on manual indexing systems to find where each item is located which took a lot of time. With warehouse automation retailers can instantly locate any of their inventory eliminating all possible human errors. Additionally, centralized data systems keep managers and other personnel connected continuously with real-time access to data on inventory and shipments. Such systems usually use barcodes and RFID to track each SKU’s, their origin, location, and destination.
Eliminate Errors
Mistakes made in the warehouse not only increases waste and reduce efficiency but also decreases the customer satisfaction when wrong products are delivered. Additionally, if the product is lost or misplaced, retailers not only lose the price value of the goods but also potentially lose business with customers. Also, they will have to allocate valuable personnel time to deal with the mistake and compensate for the error. Bar-code and RFID technology can display all information of a package including who, when, and where to deliver. In addition to that, such technologies can be programmed to sort each item automatically based on where they are to be shipped.
Reduce Physical Footprint and Energy Usage
Since RFID technology allows real-time tracking of goods in a warehouse, a company can maintain low levels of inventory efficiently. Additionally, using warehouse automation technology such as AS/RS minimizes storage space and maximizes inventory handling efficiency. Lower warehouse footprint typically requires lower energy to light, heat, and cool the facility. Also, energy use in moving product from point A to point B is also drastically reduced due to smaller distances.
Reduce Staffing Requirements
Adopting warehouse automation eliminates the need to hire too many employees unnecessarily. Since all tasks of checking in products, sorting, and dispatching are automated, fewer employees are sufficient. Firstly, it reduces the chances of work-related injuries as dangerous jobs are taken care by automation. Additionally, it also saves costs and decreases the carbon footprint of the overall operations.
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