With more & more people switching to online shopping & their ever-increasing expectations of fast & secured online shopping, it is becoming all the more important for eCommerce businesses to up their game. eCommerce has made it easier for consumers to get any product at the tip of their fingerprints within a day or two. It has made people addicted to online shopping. But do you know how it is possible to develop such a smooth online e-commerce setup? Warehouse Automation: It plays a crucial role! But the question is…
What is Warehouse Automation?
Warehouse Automation is automating warehouse procedures such as inventory management, Warehouse organization, Order fulfillment, Monitoring & Reporting, etc., with minimal human assistance.
What are the Benefits of Warehouse Automation?
Enhanced Speed
Due to warehouse automation, it has been possible for eCommerce businesses to fast-track the delivery process by speeding up & streamlining the entire warehouse management.
Enhanced Accuracy & Waste Reduction
Automated systems are far accurate than humans leading to reduced errors & increased efficiency. It thus reduces waste & saves time & cost.
Increased Flexibility
It can adapt to changes in each business cycle stage, be it business peak time or depression time. It can adapt to all the uncertainties of business with the same efficiency.
Scalability
One can easily scale up the business & quickly respond to change in consumer demand through warehouse automation technologies.
Reduced Risk of Accidents
Warehouse Automation reduces the risk of on-site accidents due to the absence of on-site human labo
24*7 Operational Efficiency
Warehouse Automation promotes operational efficiency 24*7, leading to smooth operation day & night.
Real-time Inventory Management Tracking
It empowers real-time inventory tracking with batch numbers to check where the product is during each stage of its journey through the supply chain.
ROI
The cost incurred in warehouse automation might look expensive at face value but is more profitable in the long run. It gives promising results by reducing labor cost, optimizing performance, minimizing inventory errors, eliminating risks of mishandling and product loss, etc., thereby multiplying profits immensely. Here’s a list of a few beneficial Warehouse Automation Machines & Software to automate your Warehouse processes:
Warehouse Automation Machines:
Warehouse Robotics
It refers to automated systems & robots to perform various tasks and automate warehouse processes.
Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems are made of computer-controlled systems that automatically place and retrieve loads from set storage locations in a facility with precision & speed.
Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
This class of mechanized automation has minimal onboard computing power. These vehicles use magnetic strips, wires, or sensors to navigate a fixed path through the warehouse. These are suitable for simple warehouse environments designed with this navigation layout.
Sortation Systems
Sortation is the process of identifying items on a conveyor system and diverting products to specific destinations using a variety of categories and system methods. Various sorting methods apply to different applications depending upon the product type you are dealing with & the required sorting rate.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things helps strengthen the security of warehouses, trace the location of goods, detect the warning indications of weather changes and equipment malfunctions, streamline internal operations and update customers efficiently.
Warehouse Automation Software :
Purchase & Inventory Management Software
It is used for:
- Keeping a balance between too much and too little inventory.
- Tracking inventory during transportation.
- Receiving items into a warehouse.
- Picking, Packing, and Shipping Items.
- Keeping track of product sales and inventory levels.
- Cutting down on product obsolescence and spoilage.
- Avoiding missing out on sales due to out-of-stock situations.
- Automated alert for re-order for inventory.
- Barcoding Management.
- Labels Printing.
Purchasing & Inventory Management Software ensures that all of the goods, supplies, and inventory needed to operate the business are ordered and kept in stock. It is used for tracking inventory levels, purchasing,packing, and deliveries. Inventory Management Software is used to avoid product overstock and outages. It is a tool for organizing inventory data that is stored in hard-copy form or spreadsheets generally.
Warehouse Management Mobile Apps
Real-time Mobile Applications are extremely useful to streamline warehouse automation processes. It is useful in various aspects such as:
- Real-time Inventory management
- Dispatch operations
- Inspections and monitoring
- Shipment Tracking
- Warehouse Theft Prevention
- Staff Productivity Tracking, etc.
Product/Item Automation
Product/Item Automation Software reads files in any data format CSV, EDI, XML, etc. & creates your item database.
Purchase Bill Automation
One needs to upload a scanned copy or pdf of the bill & the system will automatically create the purchase order from the same.
ERP Integrations
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) refers to a type of software that uses a centralized database to manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, project management, inventory management, supply chain operations, etc. It streamlines and automates processes, creating a more precise and efficient operation for any entity.
Conclusion
Warehouse Automation has enormous potential and is crucial to the development of advanced Warehouse Management. Moving products from one place to another with as little human contact as possible helps create supply chains capable of prompt & seamless order fulfillment.Investing in Warehouse Automation will help eCommerce companies satisfy customer expectations that seem to be growing day by day & increase ROI tremendously.So, why are you waiting? Let us help you with your Warehouse Management System transformation!