Michael Howes’ blog post discusses the ongoing warehouse automation revolution, a process of using technology, software, and robotics to improve efficiency in warehouses. This revolution is driven by changing consumer expectations, a new tech-savvy workforce, and a global pandemic that has accelerated the need for real-time, dynamic, and efficient warehouse operations. A few trends shaping the future of warehouse automation include increased use of robots, cloud-based warehouse management systems, customizable software solutions, and innovative technology from recent university graduates. The blog post emphasizes that to keep up with this rapidly evolving field, businesses must be able to quickly implement and adapt new technologies, following a “fail-fast” and “fail early” principle in order to make informed decisions with less risk.

Introduction

By Michael Howes

“Warehouse automation” is a concept that’s self-explanatory at face value. The process of using technology software, material handling equipment, and robotics to pick, pack, and ship goods to end-users. Simple, right?

But once you start to unpack it, suddenly it blooms into a variety of different challenges. The world is changing – currently accelerated by a global pandemic – and consumer buying patterns are evolving along with it. It is becoming more real-time, more dynamic, more demanding, and, let’s face it, more critically important.

Changing Consumer Expectations

Amazon, for example, with next-day and even same-day delivery, has set the customer expectations bar quite high. The fact is this kind of pace can’t be achieved with human labor alone — if at all at this point. It’s not physically possible or financially feasible, nor is it conscionable during a pandemic.

The New Workforce

Along with an ambitious marketplace is the emergence of a new workforce. As the “traditional” workforce ages, the next generation has a unique perspective on the modern career landscape; they can’t recall a time when technology wasn’t front and center in their lives. Their expectations around the work environment and their desire for a dynamic and flexible work culture are just some of the challenges. Consequently, their success in the workplace often revolves around the latest innovations of the technology era, which they’re incredibly adept at defining.

That is likely translating into a shallower labor pool for repetitive warehouse functions, yet those tasks still need to be done.

The Evolution of Warehouse Automation

Robotics and automation in the warehousing industry have seen many changes in recent years. Complexity, demand, and consumer expectations are all going up. As consumer buying patterns shift and COVID continues to transform sourcing and manufacturing processes, distribution becomes even more critical.

4 Automation Trends Shaping the Future

  • More Robots— While the more traditional automation equipment – conveyors, shuttles, and cranes – are still prevalent as the heavy lifters of warehouse material handling, there’s been a huge push in recent years for innovative and interactive robotic technologies. Robotic picking arms that didn’t exist ten years ago are currently used everywhere. AGVs have been around for a while, but now intelligent and self-driving AMRs are utilized across warehouse and manufacturing facilities.
  • Cloud Trends — Many warehouse management systems (WMS) and even some robotics hardware solutions are migrating to the cloud. Besides putting all your information in one central location, cloud storage promotes flexibility in resource utilization, cost reduction, risk management, improved data integrity and security, agility, and collaboration. Moreover, cloud-based solutions can scale without overburdening your IT staff.
  • Open Plug-n-Play Solutions— The landscape for big integrator companies is starting to change. System integrators are being asked to expand their capabilities through software solutions that value and foster interconnectivity over proprietary “walled gardens.” To that end, robotics platforms will continue to become more agnostic, allowing a bumper crop of third-party software integrations to come to market. Need your picking arm to make a new maneuver? There will be an app for that.
  • Fresh from University— The influx of new automation technology and the arrival of technically savvy college graduates building next-generation robotics is a fortuitous juncture. The alignment between their modern cultural values and the robots they can work with symbiotically has led to automation solutions that are more interactive, and therefore more intuitive, allowing the new workforce to operate in a more technological and innovative way.

Keeping up with the Speed of Need

For many companies, the adoption of new technology will often place additional stress and complexity onto an already burdened situation. When the decision is made, for example, to introduce an automated solution or system – usually a conveyor or some other type of classic material handling – it will typically take upwards of a year or more and cost several million dollars to analyze, purchase, install, and deploy.

The SOFTBOT™ Revolution – Automate Easier Than you Think

So how do you accelerate the speed of thought and innovation to match the speed of rapidly evolving technology offerings, business models, and trends? You must be able to implement quickly and deploy in modest ways, so you can then build to completion – in an iterative sort of way – your automation solution. In software engineering, this is called the “fail-fast” principle, and I like to add “fail early” as well. Understanding the stakes are different, the principle remains the same. To effect change – and keep up with the speed of need – businesses must be able to try, learn, change, and try again. That doesn’t necessarily mean failure, but rather making informed decisions with less risk.

Question & Answer

What is warehouse automation and why is it important?

Warehouse automation involves using technology, software, and robotics to improve efficiency in warehouses by automating tasks such as picking, packing, and shipping goods. It is important due to changing consumer expectations, the need for real-time operations, and the demand for efficiency.

What are some trends shaping the future of warehouse automation?

Some trends shaping the future of warehouse automation include increased use of robots, cloud-based warehouse management systems, customizable software solutions, and innovative technology from recent university graduates.

How are robots changing the landscape of warehouse automation?

Robots are becoming more prevalent in warehouse automation, with advancements in robotic technologies such as picking arms and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that are making operations more efficient and dynamic.

Why is the “fail-fast” and “fail early” principle important in implementing new technologies?

The “fail-fast” and “fail early” principle is important in implementing new technologies because it allows businesses to make informed decisions with less risk. By trying, learning, and adapting quickly, companies can keep up with the rapidly evolving field of warehouse automation.