“Among the industrial sectors surveyed, the biggest spender on automation over the next five years is set to be retail and consumer goods, with 23 percent from that sector planning to spend more than $500 million”, as per results of McKinsey Global Industrial Robotics Survey from 2022.

During the coronavirus pandemic, warehouses suffered tremendously due to labor shortages, resulting in the rise of robotics in warehousing. Several surveys and reports show in 2022 alone, robotics integration in warehouses has reached 6.1 billion U.S. dollars worldwide. This solely happened to manage labor shortage in warehouses, and it is expected warehouse automation will touch 16 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.

Warehouse Automation Software essentially automates routine chores, lessens manual work, and brings down the time required to do repetitive work. Overall, it enhances supply chain management and makes it a robust operation management system.

Warehousing Robotics Benefits

With ever-growing advancements in technology and increasing technological breakthroughs in AI and machine learning, robotics in warehousing is a natural transition. An integrated system improves efficiency and makes a business sustainable.

Robotics in warehousing streamlines the entire workflow of the warehouse and minimizes chances of error, as human interference decreases. Automated Warehousing Systems opens a myriad of opportunities with real-time inventory tracking. It improves efficiency, reduces labor costs, and brings accuracy to the execution of work. Some tangible benefits of warehouse automation and robotics that can transform business operations are-

• Productivity: With robotics solutions for warehouses, management can scale up productivity as compared with humans, robots can finish the same tasks at a much faster rate, and they can work 24×7. This increases the capacity of work done, larger targets can be achieved at the same time, and resources can be utilized for research and expansion of business.
• Consistent: Robots can be programmed for repetitive work. The same tasks will be done with precision and consistency even for a long period, thus ensuring there is no disruption in manufacturing output.
• Cost-effective: Robotics integration in warehouses is a guarantee to increased production as robots are coded to operate without stopping a repeated cycle. This assists in the recovery of the cost and better return on investments.
• Work in Dangerous Conditions: AI and machine learning aid in working in unsafe conditions which can pose a threat to health as well as security of laborers.
• Quality Control: Even after working in a cycle for long hours and a monotonous situation, quality is assured. There can be a lack of focus, or laborers can get tired which affects the quality of work but robots work with the same dedication and precision to maintain the predetermined quality standards.
• Reduce Wastage and Increase Sustainability: Automation guarantees quality and follows the process as prescribed. This reduces wastage, increases the sustainability of the product, and makes a business eco-friendly.
• Motivates Employees: Warehouse automation frees the employees from routine, tedious work which was time-consuming, tiring, and lacked innovation. Availability of time will motivate the workforce to think, innovate, and channel their talent in enhancing the business model.
• Customer Relationship: It improves overall customer relationship as order completion is faster and is sustainable. Customers prefer those retailers who have adopted environment-friendly ways of manufacturing and operations.

Future Automation Trends in Warehousing

Warehouse Robotics Technology cannot be termed as a new trend, it has been there and aiding in monotonous work. With the advancement of technology and generative AI, it has become comprehensive and a profitable model of work.

As the trend is evolving, the faster a business adopts it, the better the prospects especially for eCommerce which is dependent on the smooth functioning of the warehouse for successful order fulfillment in the shortest possible time. This also helps in building better customer relations.

In fact, as the global warehouse automation market trend is moving, the market is expected to scale up at a CAGR of nearly 15 percent and by 2027, it is expected to become as large as the size of 41 billion U.S. dollars. The growth is continuous and future trends show with an advancement in technology, several types of robotics are being engineered for end-to-end warehouse automation.

Warehouse Robotics Technology is not limited, and it can be customized as per a business requirement. Robotics Technology automates tasks such as packing, picking, sorting, stacking, labelling, inventory management, logistics, transportation, tracing, and tracking with real-time visibility. Robots are designed for specific tasks as AS/RS (automated storage and retrieval systems) is beneficial in storage purposes, then there are automated guided vehicles for transporting items from one location to another, similarly, there are autonomous mobile robots, aerial drones, and more which are personalized for business use.

Automation in Supply Chain reduces errors, improves accuracy, and empowers efficient management of operations. Automated robots can be maneuvered, and they can be moved across the warehouse for the completion of tasks in the shortest possible time.

Warehouse Robotics Technology for Automation

For end-to-end encryption and seamless automation in the Supply Chain, warehouse robotics technology that is used for the automation process is—

• RFID: RFID scanners and bar codes enable easy tracing of items that can be accessed through a single dashboard. Robots are programmed to locate and deliver tasks.
• AI and Machine Learning: AI algorithms are useful in collecting and analyzing data, that are later used for smart decision-making related to inventory management. AI allows understanding of demand in real-time and optimizes operation management for improving return on investments. This even enhances the optimal use of logistics and sustainability.