The ‘smart warehouse’ is expected to become a reality in the not too distant future. Some experts are suggesting we could have fully working smart warehouses as soon as 2020 with developments happening in the world of AI each day. But what can we expect from said smart warehouses?
1. Better Productivity
It is expected that a warehouse staffed by robots will be more productive than one staffed by humans. Robots completing repetitive tasks are less likely to make an error when compared to a human carrying out the same task, they are also going to complete the work significantly faster. AI in the warehouse can also aid humans with tasks that robots cannot take over completely – enabling humans to work at a faster pace than ever before.
2. Speedy Connection & Communication
AI in a smart warehouse can use mobile signals to communicate with each other in real time. This is incredibly beneficial in the productiveness of the warehouse. For example, stock levels can be communicated to both a team of robots and humans in a matter of seconds, avoiding problems like overselling on certain items and changes to orders not being made before packing.
3. More Cost Effective
After the initial cost of investing in and installing a smart warehouse, you could expect to see your business costs dramatically reduced. Your annual spend on wages may be lower and the business can potentially save money on human error and mistakes. In theory, you could also manage twice the amount of orders as robotic staff can run throughout the night under the supervision of human management, this is a fantastic opportunity but it is important to remember that twice as many orders, means twice as much stock. Your warehouse may need to have a mezzanine floor or pallet racking / shelving installed to hold stock effectively. These costs will be easily recouped over time as productivity will be doubled.
4. Time Saving
A smart warehouse could allow you to wave goodbye to that pesky time-consuming task known as The Stock Take! AI can monitor stock with incredible accuracy, monitoring stock levels and damages daily, saving your business precious time, energy and money.
5. Working With Your Team
The idea of the smart warehouse is not to remove the human component completely but to enhance the effectiveness of your most valued team players. While it is true that robots can replace repetitive human tasks, they cannot take over entirely from your current staff. Some robots will require human operation to complete certain tasks like gripping delicate items. The technology will also need to be developed with help from a human workforce, the robots will be learning from the people working alongside them. We can expect a reduction in human staff but not a complete replacement.
Smart warehouses are coming, some are even a reality for some businesses. Will you be installing one?