Companies across every industry rely on technology in order to function and prosper. This is especially true when it comes to warehouses. Any advancements in technology are always welcomed with open arms as a way to reduce the workload and improve efficiency. This year is bringing even more technological advancements onto the work floor of the warehouse. Here are some of the most important pieces of tech you can use to improve efficiency in the warehouse.
Automation
Some of the greatest innovations that have hit warehouses were usually related to automation. Technology is steadily improving and introducing more ways for machines to replace humans in the material handling industry. Human error is one of the more common reasons for accidents in the warehouse. Reducing this factor would increase safety standards by quite a bit.
Safety isn’t the only benefit you get from automation. Incorporating autonomous processes on your work floor will allow you to save quite a bit of money. The initial investment in purchasing automated equipment might be large, but the amount of money you save in the long run makes it well worth it. You only have to pay for the occasional maintenance of the machine, instead of constantly paying a salary. It can also leave room for your people to handle more complex tasks, leaving the mundane workload over to the machines.
Paperless warehouses
Paper has always been the most efficient way to log information. With the advancements being made in digital technology, this is likely to change. More and more warehouses are opting for a paper-free environment. Paper has quite a few disadvantages. For one, you have to find places to store it around the warehouse. This can create quite a bit of clutter and sorting through these boxes of files would take up too much of your time. Worse yet, in the event of a fire, these could end up becoming additional fuel
A paperless environment allows you more flexibility in terms of storage. Every document and report you’ve ever written could fit on a single USB drive. You could have it organized in a much more efficient way. If you needed any necessary information, getting it would be as simple as letting your computer search for it instead of you.
What happens when you lose an important file or legal document? In the event of a paper storage system, you won’t be getting it back without significant effort. And of course, if a fire or flood occurred, you won’t be getting it back at all. All you can do is hope that it wasn’t anything you will need in the future. When it comes to digital storage, you can always download a copy of it from your cloud storage server.
The basics are just…better
Another amazing part of technology changing modern warehouses is the improvement of standard gear. Even if you’re not buying specialized, extra green, or automated machinery, you can expect that a simple lift, a platform trolley, hand trucks, basically all everyday materials handling equipment is going to be better. Because of advanced machine processes and manufacturing systems, these will all be more durable, stronger, and tougher. You will notice just how easy and smooth they are to use when compared to old models.
Furthermore, just by looking at the product portfolio of companies that specialize in manufacturing of this type of equipment, you will notice new products and systems. Things like improved versions of standard equipment, better design with more functionality, just things being easier and more efficient to use is something you can expect with the advent of technology. There were certain aspects of production and manufacture that were simply not viable, ideas that could not have been implemented before. Now, with new machinery and technology, the sky is the limit.
Greener machines
It’s no secret that a lot of industrial machinery is bad for the environment. They are usually powered by diesel and their fumes aren’t exactly healthy. This might be poised to change in the coming years. Many different pieces of equipment that used to run on fuel are slowly being phased out and replaced by environmentally friendly alternatives.
Recently warehouse managers have moved to use electric alternatives. It’s not uncommon to see warehouses use eco-friendly forklifts in everyday transportation. You have various options to choose from. A lot of the equipment that used to run on gas and diesel can now be powered through electricity and batteries. However, there are still some important pieces of equipment that require fuel. Batteries haven’t yet reached the point that they could power a crane, for example. Still, technology is always advancing and you could see warehouses become eco-friendly in the next few decades.
Better tracking of shipments
Coordinated tracking of your shipments is an important part of the warehouse business. You have to know where a shipment is located in order to prepare for its arrival and further distribution. Improvements in technology have made this aspect of warehouse management as easy as baking a cake. There are various methods you can use to find out where a shipment is located.
Distributors can communicate amongst themselves within seconds using the internet. Another distributor or client could tell you that they sent a package within seconds. If the shipment is particularly important, you could make use of even more advanced technology to help you. Ultimately, you could slap a tracking device on the inside of the box and constantly know where it is. GPS technology is dirt cheap nowadays and you would be missing out if you didn’t take advantage of it.
Conclusion
Technology has always been a great asset to the material handling industry. Any improvements are quickly adapted into the work environment in order to get the most out of them. When your job relies on moving literal tons of equipment and parts around all day, you’re going to want the best machines by your side. If you apply some of these new technological advancements to your warehouse, you’re going to find that it will drastically improve your bottom line.
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