We continue our journey through the world of artificial intelligence and the benefits it can bring to logistics companies. Today, we will focus on innovations in warehouse automation. This is an area where new features and innovations constantly emerge, all thanks to the rapid development that has occurred in robotics in recent years. Autonomous vehicles, standalone sorters, modern automatic storage systems… these are just a snippet of what can currently be found in the most advanced warehouses. Therefore, e-commerce companies are increasingly deciding to outsource their warehouse operations to logistics companies, which will not only do it more efficiently but also more effectively. In the longer term, for such a company, this will not only mean real savings but also better customer service. In the current realities of trade, the better the customer experience, the easier it is to acquire them again.
Modern Solutions for Logistics Companies
As mentioned in the introduction, logistics companies are constantly competing to introduce modern solutions to improve their operations. Below, we present a few innovations that have become increasingly common in the warehouses of logistics companies in recent years.
Autonomous Robots (AGV/AMR)
AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) and AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robots) are used for transporting goods in warehouses. They are equipped with sensors and navigation systems that allow them to move independently around the warehouse, avoiding collisions.
Benefits: Increased efficiency of transport within the warehouse, reduction of human errors, and optimization of storage space.
Automatic Sorters
Automatic sorters are not a discovery of recent years, as they have been used for a long time. However, the current models are much more modern and utilize various technologies, such as conveyor belts, grippers, or pneumatic technology for automatic sorting of packages and products. This significantly speeds up work and reduces the number of mistakes during product packaging.
Benefits: Faster and more precise sorting, reduction of labor costs, and shorter delivery times.
Automatic Warehousing Systems
High-bay automatic storage systems, such as AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems), allow for the automatic storing and retrieving of goods using racks and machines. This optimizes warehouse space, increasing its surface area. Another significant benefit of using an automatic storage system is the shortened access time to goods.
Benefits: Optimization of warehouse space, increased storage capacity, shortened access time to goods.
Pick-and-Place Robots
Pick-and-place robots are programmed to perform the operations of picking and placing goods at the appropriate places in the warehouse. Proper programming allows for quick and precise order fulfillment, but most importantly, it reduces labor costs. It is also important to reduce the number of errors made during order fulfillment.
Benefits: Quick and precise order fulfillment operations, reduction in labor costs and human errors.
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Data Analysis
Advanced Warehouse Management System (WMS) software integrates all warehouse processes and allows for monitoring and optimization based on data. We have already written about this solution several times in the eHopi guide, so if you want to learn more about it, we invite you to read the article: Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Benefits: Better visibility and control over warehouse operations, route optimization, error minimization, and better forecasting of needs.
Process Automation Using Artificial Intelligence
We have also mentioned artificial intelligence several times, including in our last entry: Artificial Intelligence in Logistics – How to Use It? The use of artificial intelligence algorithms helps in warehouse management, route planning, and predicting product demand. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and the number of applications for this solution will continue to increase.
Benefits: More efficient resource allocation, cost minimization, and optimization of logistic processes.
The benefits outlined above represent only a part of what the introduction of technological innovations can offer logistics companies. It’s not just increased operational efficiency, labor cost reduction, shorter delivery times, error minimization, or warehouse space optimization. It is, above all, the ability to better respond to the ever-increasing expectations of customers and even faster order processing. Warehouse automation is the future not only for the e-commerce industry, although, according to eHopi experts, it will reap the most significant benefits.