Managing warehouses is getting difficult and complicated with each passing day because of several reasons. The names of products are increasing, and the numbers of customers are also growing by the thousands. The end-use destinations are also not the same as they were about one or two decades ago.
Hence, there is a need to have the best technologies as far as warehouse inventory, supply, and dispatch management is concerned. Today, as we read this article, it is quite possible that IoT (Internet of Things) MVC or Multilingual Voice Controls and other such technologies.
Operators who run the show in the warehouses are also using new technologies. These add quite a bit as far as the quality of life for the employees are concerned.
While there are quite a few of them, we will try and have a look at a few that are perhaps considered as path-breaking as far as warehouses, logistics and supply management are concerned.
Real-Time Inventory Tracking
Many warehouse operators are going in for the best of technologies that make it possible to put in place what is referred to as RFID or Radio Frequency Identification. These are tags that are attached to every inventory item.
If you look at reputed service providers like JD Edwards Managed Services, they use such technologies. These tags send across real-time data from and to the warehouse to the various inventory management applications.
It goes a long way in making effective use of mobile devices for tracking inventory the moment it arrives, and till the time it moves out to the end destination.
There are several advantages when you make use of such technologies. It goes a long way in more efficient and scientific management of inventory.
It prevents overstocking or even under-stocking. It brings down the transportation cost of inventories because you can know precisely the list that is required in a specific center based on the order that they have in hand.
New And Advanced Forklifts
Forklifts are very commonly used in warehouses. But so far, they have been operating as individual entities and have never been a part of the overall team or system that is used for inventory management.
They are now becoming more connected than ever before. The use of IoT or Internet of Technologies is becoming quite common because it has excellent benefits and advantages associated with it. It allows the forklift operators in the warehouse to connect with the ERP or enterprise resource planning systems that are in place in the warehouse.
It is considered beneficial because it saves a lot of time and brings in new and increased levels of efficiency.
The new technologies in forklift operations also use alternative sources of fuels, and that also goes a long way in making the entire process more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Increasing Clear Heights
With warehouse costs increasing, both in terms of capital and revenues expenses, there is a need for better utilization of the warehouses. This has resulted in quite a few changes. Even a few years ago, it was common to use 24 to 26-foot ceiling height as the maximum.
However, things are changing today, and it is quite common to come across warehouses that have a ceiling height of around 36 to 40 foot.
This also requires better and improved picking up technology. The technology should be such that it must reach a new height in literal terms. Today we have the best of picking technologies that are fully automated.
They can easily reach shelves that are the situation at altitudes of around 40 feet. The lighting systems are also getting more advanced. The best of technologies are available, and they help in efficient, accurate, and speedy retrieval of stocks, big and small from heights as much as forty feet.
They also help in saving storage costs and as mentioned earlier in the article, help in preventing over-stocking and also under-stocking in no small extent.
The Final Word
To sum up, there is no doubt that the use of new and advanced technologies is becoming a necessity rather than a choice. Under such circumstances, it will not be a bad idea to invest time, money, and effort in the best of connected technologies as far as warehouses are concerned.
It is complicated and time-consuming, but it is worth it because of some obvious reasons. However, it calls for quite a bit of research, and you must ensure that it is done correctly before you hire such service providers.