How would future of warehouse, fulfilment and distribution look like?

Hello, readers! I'm Mathews currently pursuing 2nd year MBA at Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore.   Here's my new blog post!

    Ever wondered how warehousing and distribution would look like in coming years? Warehousing and logistics transformations are happening than ever before. Businesses like Amazon are investing huge amounts on smart warehousing facilities as it could improvise supply chain activities. Following are the latest technologies in warehousing and it's benefits.

Managing critical information

Radio-frequency identification tracking (RFID) and temperature sensors can be used to manage critical information on a real time basis. Using real-time sensing technology helps the warehouse managers to attain better operational visibility.  Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) beacons can be used to report and enforce proximity events thereby enabling contact tracing of employees and verification of outbound shipments automatically. To track high value assets, Ultra-wideband (UWB) which is a short-range wireless communication protocol can be used.

These technologies help to maximize better visibility into warehouse assets, improve inventory management, locate items easier and faster and reduce loss of shipments. RFID and RTLS solutions integrated with temperature sensors can help to closely monitor temperature requirements of perishable goods such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals etc. It also alerts workers when temperature thresholds are reached and improves thier health and safety.

Help workers complete tasks with augmented reality

Combining mobility with augmented reality (AR) could elevate warehousing efficiency levels. Imagine a worker walking down a warehouse aisle with an enterprise heads-up display. With the help of AR, the area lights up with the product’s picture, providing the worker with informarmation regarding the quantity to pick and where to place it on the cart. It could further help the worker with smartest way to reach next item location. It can also be installed on vehicle windshields such as on forklift trucks to perform the same function.

Optimize workflow by combining workers and AMRs

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can work side-by-side with people and lead to increased productivity by reducing idle and travel time associated with movement of items.

Improvising operations with AI, machine learning and automation

With the help of IOT,Artificial intelligence and Machine learning can be integrated for intelligent automation. 

Examples of potential developments are:

*Use of self-driving vehicles in warehouses for shuttle services.

*Use of machine vision for inspections could increase returns management efficiency 

*Use of AI and automation for faster put-away and accessibility of high-turnover goods by streamlining warehouse operational workflows.

Future technologies open a realm of possibilities in warehouse automation which would improvise supply chain operational efficiency.