Warehouses are at the heart of logistics and supply chain management and now they look completely different than they used to a decade ago. The constantly growing demand for rapid shipping, demand forecasting, and smart stock management is increasing the organization’s need for custom software development for logistics.
According to Acumen Research and Consulting, the global warehouse automation market is predicted to grow almost four times by 2030, which is dictated by multiple advantages technology brings to warehouse management.
Let’s have a look at some trends that are currently disrupting the industry.
5 Tech Trends in Warehouse and Inventory Management
# RFID Tagging
RFID tags are capable of storing great amounts of information, communicating it with reader devices. Compared to regular barcodes, they are capable of holding different types of data that can be used without connection to a database. Without scanning and even remotely and simultaneously, RFID tags offer real-time accurate information, for example, when the inventory has entered and left the warehouse. Employees can also save hours of time on pick and pack processes as the technology makes it possible to immediately find the location of any item required.
# Warehouse Management System
WMS can manage all steps of the supply chain management process from moving goods inside the warehouse to controlling excess demand for certain products in the market. Such systems also integrate different types of data analytics so that businesses can optimize their processes based on data-driven reports. Some innovative WMS also include gamification – an emerging industry trend that increases employee engagement and productivity through the gamification of monotonous and repetitive tasks.
The broad capabilities of WMS functions allow entrepreneurs to customize their solutions to the exclusive needs of their organization.
Here are some of the most frequently integrated WMS features:
# Drones
Warehouse drones, often also called UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), are aerial robotics platforms that are used in smart warehouses for inventory management. There is a wide variety of functions performed by them, including stock finding, inventory audit, and cycle counting. Such drones are able to fly without human intervention, identify and count the material stored in the warehouse, comparing it with the data about warehouse stocks. Such functionality enables safe and cost-saving inventory operations. Worth to mention that drones used for warehouse management activities are designed in a way that doesn’t require using GPS for navigation. Another difference from conventional drones might be the fact that warehouse drones do not necessarily need to be compliant with aviation regulation rules, since they are operated indoors.
# Wider Adoption of Data Analytics
Inventory data has big power. Huge amounts of information are automatically gathered through sensors, scanners, and studying different patterns in smart warehouses. With the help of Big Data analytics, companies can monitor the condition of their equipment, find route causes of accidents, ensure the fastest possible flow of goods, predict the most in-demand items to stock the warehouse with, and much more. There are plenty of pioneers of the use of Big Data in their inventory management such as Amazon, Alibaba, Flipkart, and other eCommerce behemoths. In a recent survey, 80% of them confirmed that Big Data is a core competency for having an efficient and profitable supply chain.
Automation in logistics and warehouse management relies on four major types of data analytics, they are:
# Voice Picking
Picking is frequently one of the most costly and time-consuming tasks for warehouses which makes it a primary candidate for automation. Voice picking is commonly used to enhance accuracy and efficiency without increasing employee training time.
Voice-directed solutions don’t require pickers to use their hands or eyes in the process of picking inventory. All they need is headsets and an industrial microphone. This enables employees to focus on selecting the right items so that they can quickly locate items visually and choose the right quantity. Each picking should be verbally confirmed by an employee, decreasing the possibility of picking errors. The solution is much more cost-effective compared to other systems such as pick to light which makes it a perfect solution for both small and large warehouses.
Final Note
While most companies actively invest in automation, a big number still lags behind, losing their competitive edge. Organizations should definitely invest in the development of a solution that will turn headaches into a smart and profitable warehouse.
