The benefits and applications of smart warehousing

Why should you consider Smart Warehousing? Take Amazon, for example: The online retailer processes hundreds of orders per second, and its warehouses are stocked with robots.

Read on to learn more about smart warehousing systems and how they can improve warehouse efficiency.

Smart Warehousing: What is it?

Through the use of the Internet of Things, warehouse management software and other technologies, Smart Warehousing automates workflows and improves efficiency. Machines, computing devices, and objects are connected in this way to form one single network. In this network, data can be transferred and analyzed for your benefit.

While most retail, manufacturing, and transportation organizations stillamr robotics use traditional methods to manage the sale, storage, picking, and supply of goods, intelligent warehouse management systems can improve this process.

The benefits of smart warehousing

Productivity can be increased by automating decisions and processes

Is smart warehousing capable of automating decisions? What if there is a system error?

Here's an example of how an intelligent warehouse management system can calculate the frequency and quantity of each item ordered. Based on this, it can distribute incoming items between warehouse shelves to ensure easy and fast access to the most needed items. Once someone has ordered an item, the warehouse management system can send an alert for a robot to pick out the desired quantity and bring it to the packing platform.

Online grocery retailer Ocado has done just that. It uses artificial intelligence to predict future demand for each specific item and then, using warehouse management software and robots, places the most ordered items at the top, while lower demand items fall below. The automated decision-making process allows Ocado to create and process 65,000 orders per week.

What can we do to improve the efficiency of warehousing?

The traditional warehouse involves a lot of manual work and manpower, and this increases the risk of errors. With smart warehousing, manual work is reduced. Employees can prevent loss or damage caused by repetitive tasks by delegating them to intelligent machines.

The key here is not to replace employees, but to add value to their work by doing more in less time. According to the survey, 93 percent believe automation is improving the way they work. Instead of walking from shelf to shelf to find items, they can simply locate them via connected sensors and have robots move them. The process speeds up order processing and allows employees to focus on other important tasks.