It’s never been more important for warehouses to operate at peak efficiency. Today’s consumers demand speed, accuracy, and reliability. Paper and related logistics providers that meet those expectations gain a competitive advantage.
In 2022, an organized warehouse and trained staff are no longer enough to meet the demands of the cutthroat logistics industry. To keep up, facilities are adopting innovative technologies to optimize and automate warehouse operations. The industry 4.0 experts from AICorespot explain a few here.
Maximize Visibility Throughout Warehouse Operations
Efficient warehouse operations start with understanding what’s happening inside your warehouse. Warehouse visibility enables accurate predictions and highlights problem areas in warehouse operations. Essential infrastructure for warehouse visibility includes:
Inventory Management Software
Inventory management software tells you what’s in your warehouse and exactly where it’s located. Inventory software also provides the necessary data for accurate demand forecasting. With real-time inventory data from RFID technology, barcodes, or inventory robots, facilities can respond quickly to changing demand and avoid costs associated with overstocking.
Warehouse Management System
Most warehouses today get inventory management tools as part of a Warehouse Management System. WMS software combines inventory management with work execution and advanced reporting tools. Generix Group notes that combining all three functionalities into one dedicated platform maximizes visibility into warehouse activities.
Universal Fleet Management System
Warehouses utilizing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automated guided carts (AGCs), and other types of warehouse robotics benefit from a universal fleet management system. When integrated with WMS, fleet management software streamlines task allocation, traffic control, and fleet productivity
Technology empowers warehouses, but it also exposes them to risk. Keep cybersecurity at the forefront of your mind when adopting new business technology. Every computer and mobile device represents an endpoint in the network and must be safeguarded with the appropriate cybersecurity measures. For cybersecurity and the other technologies like those listed above, it’s a smart move to look into app development companies to come up with solutions best suited for your business. These companies specialize in customizing apps for all types of industries, and they’re able to handle the most complex projects with speed.
Utilize Warehouse Robotics for Accuracy and Efficiency
Robots increase accuracy, efficiency, and safety in warehouse operations. While warehouses have been using augmentation robots like operator-guided aerial drones for several years, autonomous robots are just beginning to surge in popularity. Autonomous mobile robots learn their environment through a combination of sensors, maps, and machine learning. By assigning redundant tasks to AMRs, facilities improve inventory accuracy and free up human labor for higher-value roles.
Robotics represents a large capital expenditure. Yet due to rising labor costs, automation is an increasingly attractive option. Facilities not prepared to make the leap into purchasing robotic solutions should explore robots as a service. RaaS models side-step the high upfront costs of implementing warehouse robots by providing flexible, scalable robotics systems with built-in monitoring and maintenance.
If you are interested in implementing more robotics into your warehouse, but aren’t sure how, contract with a well-rated robotics company. These companies are well versed in the available robotic options and can help address your production or efficiency needs with appropriate new technologies. Read through each company’s specialities to find the best match for your warehouse and business needs.
Monitor Warehouse Labor with Wearable IoT Devices
Even with the growing use of automation, human labor remains a major part of warehouse operations. Wearable devices make it possible to track individual workers and collect data on employee performance, location, and movement. Wearable Internet of Things devices are also valuable for worker health and safety with biometric data-like heart rate monitoring and fall detection. They’ve proven particularly advantageous during the COVID-19 pandemic to screen employees for early signs of the illness.
Wearable IoT devices for warehouse employees include connected glasses for accurately identifying inventory, wearable scanners for touchless data entry, and fitness trackers and smart garments for monitoring workers, clocking in, and receiving important updates. Wearables can also integrate with voice-picking systems to direct AMR workflows. Food Logistics points out that, by adopting wearable devices instead of mobile or handheld technologies, facilities improve efficiency while creating a seamless employee experience.
Privacy and personal data are a top concern when assigning wearable devices to warehouse staff. Wearables are affordable to implement but doing so without securing employee information exposes facilities to considerable risk and liability. Consider the types of data collected, how long it’s stored and where, and who has access to sensitive employee data. Contracts with third-party providers must be carefully reviewed to ensure collected data is protected against cyberattacks and stored no longer than necessary to mitigate privacy concerns.
Logistics are growing increasingly high-tech. Is your facility keeping up? Explore these solutions for your facilities and start investing in the efficient warehouse operations that today’s competitive environment demands. And when you aren’t sure where to turn, contract out your robotic needs to the experts, and let the industry 4.0 experts from AICorespot keep you up to date on the newest technologies.
3 Innovations for a Highly-Efficient Warehouse in 2022
It’s never been more important for warehouses to operate at peak efficiency. Today’s consumers demand speed, accuracy, and reliability. Paper and related logistics providers that meet those expectations gain a competitive advantage. In 2022, an organized warehouse and trained staff are no longer enough to meet the demands of the cutthroat logistics industry.
On the Line: Understanding and Recruiting the Digital Professionals Who Can Elevate Your Business
If you want to compete in the digital space as a small business owner, you’ll need all the help you can get. Whether you’re refining your website, managing social media campaigns, or trying to streamline payments, it’s important to draw upon the wealth of resources and professionals available online.
How Best to Boost Your Web-Based Projects to Enhance Your Companies Growth
As far as enhancing a website’s project management system goes, a lot of it has to do with using the proper methodologies to streamline projects better. This, of course, should make it easier to achieve your business objectives if all goes well. Furthermore, you’ll need the assistance of a project manager to see it all through from start to finish. But if you’re still stuck in the methodology phase and need help choosing the one that will enhance your company’s
Women in STEM Can Overcome These Career Challenges
Women in STEM have come a long way in recent years, with their contributions being recognized more and more. However, it’s an unfortunate truth that women still struggle to have their voices heard, receive equal pay, and find jobs that meet their skill set. While everyone’s challenges in STEM fields are different, there are some things you can do to offset yours and find the job of your dreams. Staying on top of the latest tech and keeping up with
How to Digitally Transform Your E-Commerce Business
In an increasingly global market, online retailers need to implement the latest IT solutions to reach their target market and increase sales. And integrating digital technologies into all areas of your e-commerce business will help you stay ahead of your competitors. Here, we’ll take a look at five components of this digital transformation:
Top 6 Emerging Technology Trends in Transportation
The rapid emergence and evolution of new technologies in the transportation industry will significantly impact how the industry operates in the future. Despite the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic two years ago, the transportation industry has been a lifeline for many people. For many, the transportation system was a vital part of their lives, as it delivered essential items and healthcare services.
How to integrate digital technology into your e-commerce business
As the owner or manager of an e-commerce business, you likely already know how important technology is in today’s market. The brick-and-mortar stores of yesterday are quickly becoming a thing of the past and more people are shopping online than ever before. On top of that, digital technology can also help your business run smoother and with fewer errors.
Use Early Stopping to halt the training of neural networks at the correct time
A problem with training neural networks is in the selection of the number of training epochs to use. A lot of epochs can cause overfitting of the training dataset, while too few might have the outcome of an underfit problem. Early stopping is a strategy that facilitates you to mention an arbitrary large number of training epochs and stop training after the model performance ceases improving on a hold out validation dataset.
Training-validation-test split and cross-validation performed right
One critical step within machine learning is the selection of model. An apt model with relevant hyperparameter is the foundation to a good forecasting outcome. When we are encountered with a selection between models, how should the decision be made?
An intro to recurrent neural networks and the math that drives it
With regards to sequential or time series data, conventional feedforward networks can’t be leveraged for learning and forecasting/prediction. A mechanism is needed that can retain historical data to predict the future values. Recurrent neural networks or RNNs in short are a variety of the traditional feedforward artificial neural networks that can handle sequential data and can be trained to retain the know-how, from a historical perspective.