Technology is constantly evolving, and it is now influencing each and every aspect of our daily lives. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace that it has now become difficult to predict what comes next. Advancement of technology is also evident in logistics, transportation, distribution, warehousing, etc. when it comes to trade. If you purchase something, you may be aware that the emergence of smart warehouse technologies is more than just a buzzword now.

The world of warehousing is so difficult to navigate, especially when you consider the rate at which new products and movements of goods are happening. This is the reason we are trying to discuss the most popular technological applications in warehousing. Some of these applications you may have already been into the practice of, and some others are on their way to getting established. Let us explore the major applications of technology in warehousing as below.

Tools for automated picking

Manual picking of warehouse goods is always error-prone, and now warehouses are largely benefiting from perfect picking rates with automation. Picking automation is integrated into the workflow and order flow, which can be done with optimum precision and speed. Various tools are being used for automated picking like robotic order picking, pick-to-light, voice order taking, and so on. All these technologies are now using cutting-edge barcoding and sensors, which are seamlessly integrated with the software and applications for accurate and faster-automated picking.

AGV or automated guided vehicles

For a storage place, in order to ensure fast retrieval, there is no better way than adopting an AGV now. Automated guided vehicles are largely used in warehouses now. AGVs possess structural integrity, and moving forward; these may evolve as an inevitable technology in warehousing and beyond. Even when the models which are available in the market now have proven to be much safer and offer much more precision than manual labor, more and more opportunities are coming up in this sector. The major functions of automated guided vehicles now include a rack, pallet, and other container storage, to name a few. There are many other storage and retrieval functions too, which are now controlled with automated guided vehicles.

Automated inventory control

In order to make the deal more comfortable, the majority of these platforms are built to count the inventory automatically and manage the data for quicker and real-time inventory control. While used in combination with other warehousing technologies, automated inventory control will take up take off a lot of manual labor and guesswork. It can also save a lot of time when compared to traditional inventory control. It can also and ensure remote access of the inventory to handle it from anywhere, anytime.

Complete warehouse management

WMS or warehouse management systems are software applications, which can comprehensively handle all important data and operations from a single platform. The internal admins and the key members of the supply chain will be able to have access to the WMS application to manage it in real-time. WMS enables compartmentalization of data, enabling more speed in terms of reporting, and while used effectively, it will enable more efficient planning. It will help the decision makes to see what is coming next and make the moves accordingly. The use of complete warehouse management systems will complement the other automated element for better management of warehouses. A reliable and real-time database administration support is also essential for WMS to function properly, which can be offered by RemoteDBA.com.

IoT based applications

Internet of Things or IoT is another advanced technological field that covers up the entire spectrum of technological applications. IoT is put into many places already, like smart homes and smart factories; in the same way, I can now enable smart warehouses. In such a setup, IoT is used to control all moving parts both manually and automated. It will help optimize all the processes in a data-driven environment and make things easier to access. IoT applications can also help to optimize warehouse management procedures and labor planning. It will help enhance the overall customer experience with higher fulfillment rates.

Cobots or collaborative robots

Automated warehouse infrastructure is not so easy to adopt as a whole as it incurs a lot of cost and resource requirements. The size of implementation will also be huge, and it may not be affordable for all. This is why the majority of the warehouses are starting with collaborative robots or Cobots at the initial phase. These are autonomous elements, which can work in collaboration with your existing automated technologies in the warehouses to keep track of many of the standard processes. The use of Cobots will also benefit you to optimize the workflow with autonomous elements.

Automated storage and retrieval systems

Automated storage and retrieval have been there for many years. Even though this has improved the throughput and accuracy, it has often been regarded as highly expensive. It also was deemed to be not so flexible. However, with the adoption of the latest warehouse applications, automated storage and retrieving are now becoming sleeker and more cost-effective. It can help to reduce the labor costs significantly and also put forth many more dealer possibilities for quick adoption and increased accuracy.

Along with these, there are also many other applications of warehouse technologies in effective and faster warehouse management. The bigger technology giants like Amazon etc. are investing a huge amount in the research and development of warehouse automation technologies and applications to enable the more accurate and precise performance of warehouse applications.

While trying to adopt warehouse automation technologies, you have to be very clear about your specific use cases in order to ensure the proper adoption and implementation of technology applications. Doing it wrong will not only spoil your investment but also may prove out to be a burden for you in the long run in terms of the return on investment it may offer. It is essential to do groundwork with the help of a warehouse automation specialist in order to understand your exact requirements and develop the application accordingly to ensure optimum output.