Intelligent Automation for Warehousing

In the recent past, the e-commerce demand has shot up as the pandemic challenged B2B and B2C distribution centre workforces.

Hence for e-commerce players, warehouse automation has emerged to be the most essential requirement. From inbound transit to storage to outbound transit, there are a number of areas that require adequate focus and advancements in order to make the whole process seamless.

Increasing customer expectations, labour shortages and outdated systems are the few issues that warehouse operators are facing today, and the pandemic has only intensified those challenges.

As per the report by Markets and Markets, “The global Warehouse Management System (WMS) market size is expected to touch $6.1 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 16.7 percent. Emerging economies are mainly contributing to the expansion of the industry. While new manufacturing units are being built in developing nations thanks to the convenience of business norms and policies and cheap labour availability. Above all, rising investments in these countries by multinationals also are a key contributor to the expansion of the WMS market.”

Further, the report adds, “The software segment is expected to hold a major chunk of market share from 2021 to 2026. The key factors boosting the demand for WMS software are increasing awareness among small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), globalisation of supply chain networks, and the growing share of cloud-based WMS software solutions. Further, the booming demand for warehousing infrastructure is predicted to push the expansion of the WMS marketplace for software.”

A fully optimised WMS can enhance business productivity, boost efficiency, and lower costs by digitising its processes. Thus, helping to avoid common mistakes like slow shipments, poor inventory management, or incorrect product details.

Use of respective software assists with an extensive range of day-to-day operations which include inventory management, stock replenishment, order picking, labour management, and shipping. Ultimately, giving an insightful and holistic overview of operations to make decisions.

In another report Verified Market Research stated that every warehouse automation adds value to warehousing operations by automating menial, repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to specialise in more complex tasks. Robots are increasingly becoming a fundamental aspect of warehouses which include Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR), Aerial Drones, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and Automated Storage and Retrieval systems (ASRS). The expansion of the retail industry from physical stores to online service providers has made warehouse management more challenging as the number of deliveries has increased exponentially.

At present, the logistics industry is facing a shortage of labour due to the e-commerce revolution, as the need for more rapid parcel shipments is on a rise. Robotics still being at a nascent stage in logistics and yet to make any significant impact, it is considered as the real option to combat the challenge of labour availability in the industry.