The pandemic served as a wake-up call in the supply chain space, with supply chain leaders quickly coming to the realization that the old ways of doing things simply don’t work anymore. In some cases, companies saw first-hand what happens in the worst-case scenario and began making efforts to be better prepared to prevent those problems from happening again.
But today, companies are no longer facing the same rare and extreme supply chain disruptions they experienced during the height of the pandemic. Now they’re dealing with ongoing, long-term situations like labor shortages and economic uncertainty.
These are common problems that must be addressed in multiple ways. In the case of the labor shortage, it’s not just a matter of recruitment; it’s also a matter of finding ways for work to be done more efficiently so that more can be done, even with fewer hands on deck. This is crucial in the supply chain where delays and errors can be costly, both financially and in terms of customer relations. And with costs soaring across the board, finding ways to save money wherever possible, without sacrificing quality or service, is more important than ever.
Automation is often the answer. Take warehouse automation, for example.
Create a More Efficient Warehouse
As warehouse operations become increasingly more complex, and labor continues to be scarce, warehouse automation can help protect a company’s bottom line on many different levels – from boosting customer service, productivity and employee satisfaction levels to streamlining operations and enabling more accurate data analysis. Automation can also help eliminate inventory management issues that are often the result of human error, like product backorders and unnecessary resupplies.
For companies planning to expand warehouses or distribution centers, proper planning for automated systems can help leverage your space to its full advantage and create more efficient processes across inventory tracking, order picking, packaging and transportation. These solutions can include semi-autonomous collaborative robots that work alongside human workers, automated storage and retrieval systems that automate inventory management, and automated guided vehicles that assist with inventory transportation.
The future of warehouse automation is very promising. Over 75% of companies are serious about implementing automated warehouse solutions and developing strategies to improve data-driven performance. By 2025, it’s estimated that over 50,000 warehouses will be equipped with 4 million commercial warehouse robots.
Build a Strong Strategy
We combine deep industry and supply chain expertise and optimally blend digital, process, technology and operations to empower our customers with supply chains that are smarter, resilient and responsible. We offer digital consulting services and automation solutions to help you build a more efficient supply chain to meet customer expectations and improve the bottom line. The key to making the most of automation is beginning with a strong strategy.
