Are More Companies Moving Towards Smart Warehousing in 2022?

Are More Companies Moving Towards Smart Warehousing in 2022?

Having a well-managed warehouse adds efficiency and consistency to your business operations. Keeping your finger on the pulse of our warehouse operations ensures that customers get what they want when they want it.

In a well-managed warehouse, you know exactly what you have in stock—and with this information, you can minimize unnecessary stock, enhance order fulfillment, and speed up cycle times. You can easily keep tabs on all levels of activity in real-time, and thus predict future needs, allocate products effectively, and coordinate human workers with automatic picking robots. Sudden supply chain or compliance requirement issues become manageable. Simply put, a well-managed warehouse moves goods faster.

But how can you ensure your warehouse runs like a finely-tuned machine? Some businesses are turning to actual machines—integrating automated robots into operations with “smart warehousing” strategies.

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Warehouse automation employs artificial intelligence, industrial robots, and other innovations that make the buildings more functional. Warehouse management systems (WMS) can connect with these devices so that the workflow goes smoothly from purchase to delivery. A smart management system solves many of the challenges facing warehouses, giving you a reliable and current awareness of operations.

What Exactly Does “Smart” Warehousing Entail?

Smart warehousing is the application of automation tools such as autonomous picking solutions, kitting and packing robots, and warehouse management systems to enhance operations. Rather than operating as merely a storage facility, a smart warehouse becomes an active part of processes through the magic of technology.

Smart warehousing offers a wide array of operational benefits, including:

• Reduced human error. Software is on hand to catch mistakes before they happen, and robots can eliminate human error from some processes entirely. Rising labor costs already account for a substantial heft of warehouse operational costs. The additional costs resulting from human error present just one more area for improvement.
• Better inventory management. A warehouse management system tracks stock far better than traditional methods. This increases regulation compliance and reduces losses and thefts. Smart warehouse technologies can also calculate which parts are not profitable enough to carry, or the percentage of on-time deliveries. Regularly having in-demand products available earns buyers’ trust and business.
• Cost efficiency. Robots work faster, more accurately, and more consistently, for less money. A smart warehouse, therefore, runs more efficiently, improving profitability.
• Space efficiency. Smart warehouses don’t run into congestion issues, so they can devote less space to aisles and more space to tall racks. Having more usable space increases the return on investment for each warehouse. This again results in lower costs for the business.
• Faster and more efficient order fulfillment process. Instead of having to wait for multiple steps involving slow humans, a streamlined system moves products through the warehouse in far less time. Customers consider shipping time among their main criteria. Be smart and ship as fast as possible!

Is The Time To Be “Smart” Now?

The COVID-driven pressure to handle rapidly increasing eCommerce and other businesses is pushing warehouses to invest in new technology. Now, more than ever before is the time to smarten your warehouse operations.

Globally, the market for smart warehousing is expected to leap from $15 billion to over $25 billion by 2026. Amazon has already deployed over 200,000 warehouse robots. Other businesses large and small are transitioning to smart warehouses, too.

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Warehouse automation also is also forecast to increase at a compound annual rate of 12.5% up through 2026. The sooner a business goes smart, the more competitive their warehouses will be. Artificial intelligence, robots, and other technologies are now becoming mainstream. Millions of industrial robots will join the workforce in the upcoming years. Smart warehouses are the new normal, and those who ignore this trend risk lagging behind

Why You Should Move To Smart Warehousing

Smart warehousing represents the future. Supply chains are becoming more global, modern, and interconnected. Organizations in every industry will need to use smart warehousing to keep pace with the increasingly-expedited economy. Customers now demand fast service that can only be delivered through smart warehouses. Therefore you should shift to automation and robotics solutions to meet this demand.

Additionally, the technology for smart warehousing has never been more accessible. With suppliers like Vicarious offering Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), it’s easy to get in the game without any upfront cost. With an RaaS model, you don’t pay until you start turning a profit.

Modernize Your Warehouses With AI-Integrated Systems

Smart warehousing makes organizations more efficient and profitable. Human warehouse workers are, in fact, only human, and thus are the main cause of fulfillment problems. Technological solutions work more consistently, accurately, and efficiently. Wall picking, product loading and unloading, and other tasks are rapidly becoming the domain of robots. The businesses that buy innovative devices are the businesses that will make better decisions and succeed.

Vicarious robots powered by industry-leading artificial intelligence can automate processes too complex for other technologies. Make your warehouses faster, smarter, and more productive. Contact Vicarious now!