By choosing to invest in cutting edge intralogistics technology, businesses give themselves the best chance of meeting the rapidly evolving demands of tomorrow’s commercial environment, says Rob Fisher, IMHX Group Director.
With the return on a company’s investment in intralogistics technology more easily identifiable than ever, more and more logistics operators are introducing state-of-the-art systems and processes within their warehouses or distribution centres to ensure that they keep pace with the complex needs of increasingly sophisticated and demanding clients.
Implement the wrong – or inferior - warehouse, transportation or supply chain management equipment and the results could be critical: misplaced stock, incorrect picking, lost orders, delayed deliveries and other waste. It is not surprising that the task of identifying and adopting the most effective technology is now accepted as integral to any logistics company’s business strategy.
Recent years have seen extensive uptake across the industry of a range of solutions, from RFID to parcel sorting machines and storage and retrieval systems, but there is no doubt that the spotlight is now firmly set on automation and warehouse robotics.
There are a number of factors prompting logistics operators to adopt automated handling technology or robotics in some form, but arguably the two most significant drivers are the rapid expansion of e-commerce and the requirement to reduce dependency on human operatives.
The logistics industry’s difficulty in attracting personnel at both operational and more senior levels has been a well-documented problem for a number of years. With Brexit restricting access to the pool of migrant workers who make up a significant percentage of warehouse operatives at many distribution centres across the country, the situation is only expected to become more difficult.
Meanwhile, online retailing – which, of course, had already shaken-up the nation’s shopping habits prior to the onset of Covid-19 – exploded during lockdown: according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics, online sales as a proportion of all retailing hit an all-time high of 30.7% this April. With those consumers who tried internet shopping for the first time during the pandemic considered likely to stick with it once the virus threat has passed, many warehouses need an urgent upgrade if they are to effectively combine the storage and picking of small consumer online orders with large store replenishment orders in a safe and space-efficient way. Put simply: today’s digitally enabled consumers demand faster, more efficient service and increasingly expect goods delivered the same day or next day, so retail logistics operations, in particular, need advanced warehousing technology.
With the marketplace for intralogistics products and services continuously growing and diversifying, next year’s International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX 2021, NEC, Sept 14 -16 2021) stands out as a valuable event for operators looking to see the latest developments. With a focus on automated handling and robotics technology, visitors to IMHX will be able to assess and evaluate the products that are reshaping the way modern supply chains function and enabling operators to rise to the challenge of the omni-channel retail landscape.
Intelligent mobile robots are expected to be a prominent feature across next year’s event. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are fast becoming a familiar sight within warehouse applications around the world. They do not require external infrastructure to navigate a site. Instead, they use integral sensors and cameras. With costs for this level of navigation technology declining and becoming more accessible, combined with an increasing number of customers seeking solutions offering greater flexibility, global tech market advisory firm ABI Research forecasts that total shipments of AMRs will reach 2.9 million by 2030.
While the economic outlook might still look uncertain, the growing list of consumer demands expecting faster and more flexible fulfilment shows no sign of easing. It is clear that by rolling out cutting-edge technology such as automation and warehouse robotics, forward-looking businesses will give themselves the best chance of satisfying tomorrow’s customer.
