5G is coming to the market and with it, come huge benefits to warehouse connectivity.
It seems 4G has had it’s time and 5G, the fifth generation wireless system will employ 30 GHz to 300 GHz frequency signal ranges to support faster data transfer with less interference and interruption.
This is a huge leap in speed and performance compared to 4G and will improve computing and a digital structure that will support mass adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) as well as reduce latency. The 5G bandwidth will accommodate up to a million sensors within a square kilometer at speeds over 10 times greater than anything else available and will improve the performance of everything from robotics and sensors to cloud based solutions – the introduction of 5G will enhance the functionality of real time 3D modelling and augmented reality.
New technological advances are great and all businesses want to embrace the improvements that can come with the advance of technology, but, even with many warehouses keen to adopt the Internet of Things (IoT) there is quite often a lack if infrastructure to support it. Recent figures released in a study by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network found that 50% of executives at large enterprises said the IoT would have a significant impact on their businesses within 3 years but less than 2% have a clear implementation vision underway. The main issues with progress? Cost and complexity.
Marie Hogan, Head of Broadband and IoT, Business Area Networks for Ericsson, is quoted as saying, ”This is the ideal time for companies to really assess the value of 5G not only as a technology enabler but for its potential in all parts of the supply chain.”
Especially as many warehouses currently using automation are reliant on wired systems and different ranges of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections that are not very well co-ordinated and lack sufficient security. This lack of flexibility limits the warehouse design and increases costs, maintenance and system complexity.
Unlike homes and offices, warehouses struggle with a standard WiFi connection due to the sheer size of the environment and the hundreds, potentially thousands, of devices that need to be connected to the WiFi to communicate efficiently and effectively. Warehouse businesses have reported signaling problems with 4G and the hope is that 5G will solve many of the problems previously reported.
“5G could provide ubiquitous coverage for a large warehouse rather than dealing with seven different short-range wireless standards. It can cover a very large warehouse area with one single wireless access medium, which is secure and handles all of those privacy issues,” says Serhad Doken, executive of emerging technology incubation and innovation, 5G Ecosystems at Verizon.
It is thought that 5G will help close the gap on disparate systems to create supply chains with complete real-time visibility from manufacturer to store shelves – potentially cutting costs as there will be less need for hardwiring, making IoT faster and easier to install for businesses running warehouses.
Additional benefits of 5G:
- Ability for warehouses to have centrally controlled networks meaning more precise data can be moved faster, enabling warehouses to reduce costs and complexity of connectivity
- Video analytics capability – allowing real-time video to capture products being shipped, through cloud-based applications.
- Clearer, less granular video imagery.
- Improved performance for warehouse robots give precise positioning enabled by 5G, and will enable the robots to operate more easily and significantly improve robotic platforms and make them faster and safer.
