Benefits of Automating Your Warehouse

Here are some of the benefits when you automate your warehouse:

1. Reduction in processing time

Warehouse automation makes processes faster and reduces the time spent on handling tasks. 

With warehouse automation systems, measuring packages becomes quicker and more precise, as they can capture dimensions, weight, and images of a package within seconds. This saves a significant amount of time, especially when dealing with a large number of parcels.

2. Enhanced warehouse productivity

Robots are much faster and more precise than humans, but humans bring unique cognitive abilities that robots cannot replicate. When humans and robots work together, it creates a powerful combination for warehouse automation.

Many tasks in a warehouse are repetitive and take up a lot of time. Automation can help reduce unnecessary steps and inefficient processes throughout the warehouse.

With warehouse automation systems, the location of items in an order can be identified almost instantly. This means workers spend less time physically moving goods and redoing picking tasks.

3. Improved employee efficiency

Automation does not mean replacing workers with robots. Its purpose is to eliminate monotonous and repetitive tasks. 

Warehouse automation can enhance employee satisfaction, enable faster and improved work completion, and enable employees to concentrate on tasks that add value. 

In essence, warehouse automation simplifies supply chain processes and prevents unnecessary resource wastage.

4. Improved customer satisfaction

In a highly competitive industry, it is crucial to provide customers with a satisfying shopping experience to stand out. Companies need to be proactive and deliver goods faster than customers expect.

By using an automated warehouse, the time taken to prepare and ship orders is reduced, and the chances of making mistakes are nearly eliminated. Additionally, if a customer is not happy with a product, the process of managing returns is also automated.

5. Decrease operational costs

It is true that investing in warehouse automation can be costly, complex, and carry some risks. However, have you considered the expenses associated with an inefficient warehouse? 

Initially, they may not seem significant, but in the long run, the hidden costs of having insufficient stock, low service levels, and dissatisfied customers can seriously harm your business.

While it is undeniable that warehouse automation projects come with a price tag, they often provide a quick return on investment (ROI). 

The reason for this swift ROI is that warehouse automation brings about various cost-saving opportunities. 

For instance, it reduces expenses related to staff administration and training, optimizes product handling and storage costs, minimizes inventory errors, and eliminates the risks of mishandling and product loss.

Best Practices in Warehouse Automation

1. Invest in scalable technologies

The technology you choose should be able to grow along with your business. It should be capable of accommodating the addition of more warehouses, employees, equipment, and new partnerships in the supply chain, such as third-party logistics (3PLs) or drop shippers.

2. Automate data collection

No matter what kind of warehouse automation you are thinking about for the long term, it is a good idea to begin with a solution that automates data collection, transfer, and storage.

By using cloud-based systems along with handheld barcode scanners, you can take a low-cost and low-risk approach to automation. 

This combination will help you reduce mistakes made by humans, gather important data about your warehouse’s performance and inventory, and store it all in a centralized cloud database for later analysis.

3. Conduct cycle counts

Cycle counts are used to check if the actual inventory matches the recorded inventory data, and they are an important part of warehouse management systems (WMS). 

When you have automated systems for collecting data in your warehouse, you can also automate continuous cycle counts using handheld barcode scanners or RFID sensors. 

This allows you to easily identify any differences between the actual inventory and the recorded inventory by using dashboards or visual displays.

4. Train and make your employees involved

You should provide adequate training to employees who will work with the automated systems. 

Involve them in the implementation process and communicate the benefits and impact of automation on their roles. Employees’ insights and feedback can contribute to the success of the automation project.

Warehouse Automation Software

1. Oracle Warehouse Management

Oracle Warehouse Management is a software solution that provides real-time visibility and control over warehouse operations, helping businesses optimize inventory management, order fulfillment, and labor utilization.

2. SAP Extended Warehouse Management

SAP Extended Warehouse Management is a warehouse automation software offered by SAP that integrates with other SAP business solutions. It offers features such as inventory management, order fulfillment, labor management, and advanced analytics for efficient warehouse operations.

3. Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder is a warehouse automation software that helps businesses optimize their warehouse operations through advanced analytics, machine learning, and robotic process automation.

4. Snapfulfil

Snapfulfil is a cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS) that offers features such as inventory control, order processing, and labor management. It helps businesses optimize their warehouse operations and improve overall efficiency.

5. Swisslog

Swisslog provides warehouse automation solutions that incorporate robotic systems, software, and material handling equipment to optimize warehouse processes and improve productivity.