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6 ways logistics technology is influencing warehousing

By October 17, 2022 No Comments

Logistic technology

The need to generate a competitive advantage and boost delivery speed has led to several logistics technology innovations. Warehouses, essential hubs in the supply chain, are under pressure to keep up with technological advances to keep pace with demand.

Today, we will analyze six of the major logistics technologies that are driving Warehousing and Distribution Services trends and capabilities improvements:

 Here’s how these logistics technologies and trends are transforming the warehouse sector.

Drone deliveries are boosting last-minute delivery possibilities

Retailers and e-commerce businesses continue to fight for market share with two-day, next-day, and same-day delivery offers. Demand for speedy delivery has led to an increasing interest in using drones for last-mile delivery. Consequently, warehouses face even more pressure to deliver orders quickly and with higher precision to stay up with demand.

The desire for speedy delivery has also led to a surge in 3rd-party partnerships that may assist organizations in enabling rapid delivery. One much-discussed example is Amazon’s collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service, which delivers deliveries for Amazon on Sundays – the one day of the week the postal service generally does not work.

RFID tags are boosting inventory visibility

With the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), the concept that “everything is connected” is becoming a reality. The IoT is a godsend for Third Party Warehousing and Distribution, enabling real-time, precise insight into inventory conditions, location, and the supply chain as a whole.

Recently, active and passive RFID tags have enhanced the quantity of product data that can be retrieved remotely for every specific item. This technology lets Warehousing Services managers know where their inventory is and where it’s moving in real-time. This sophisticated position monitoring may substantially increase the pace of order processing as it delivers a new degree of dependability in planning.

GPS capabilities provide real-time shipment tracking

Linking RFID tags with GPS makes it possible to monitor goods in real-time (and with better accuracy) throughout transit. These developments in GPS-based fleet management give a consistent, end-to-end picture of the logistics delivery channel. Better visibility promotes greater communication between merchants, distribution centers, and end customers by enabling any sections of the distribution chain to view the current location of orders at any given moment.

Artificial Intelligence technology is enhancing pick efficiency and accuracy

Using collaborative mobile robots adds AI to the warehouse, enhancing picking efficiency and accuracy. These mobile warehouse robot systems use AI to identify the optimum picking paths while reducing lengthy or needless journeys in the warehouse. Chuck directs colleagues to the next job to keep warehouse associates on an efficient route and focused on the next most critical activity.

Automation-as-a-Service is enabling processes to grow as demand changes

Balancing supply and demand is as crucial as ever, but doing so demands flexibility. The popularity of Automation-as-a-Service technology is increasing, enabling warehouses to rapidly scale resources up or down to match fluctuations in demand. These solutions might give additional flexibility when controlling expenses, priority delivery, and distribution networks.

On-demand warehousing is improving industrial space usage

Beyond the usual usage of Third Party Warehousing and Distribution providers (3PLs) is the advent of on-demand warehousing, which enables organizations to obtain extra warehouse space when and only when needed. Like Automation-as-a-Service, on-demand warehousing reduces the need to invest in permanent warehouse space that isn’t frequently required. Simultaneously, it allows warehouses constructed for peak capacity to use excess space during slower times.

Developments in logistics technology will continue to have a major influence on the whole supply chain environment long into the future. Warehouse operators who are competent and ready to embrace new and effective warehouse capabilities will offer themselves an advantage in a challenging environment.

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