Fast-Tracking Warehouse Automation

COVID-19 is
demonstrating the vital role that logistics plays in modern societies.
Increasing customer demands and expectations are calling for flexible, 24-hour
distribution solutions from all supply chains.

Labor market
challenges and slow adoption of digital technologies are preventing companies
from achieving the speed and agility they need to be competitive in this
market. As a direct touchpoint in the customer experience, logistics operations
need to accelerate innovation and build agility to emerge from the present
crisis more resilient and future-ready—and they’re turning to automation as
part of the solution.

Advantages
of fast-tracking:

  1. Early Project Delivery
  2. Bringing project back on schedule
  3. Free up project resources early.
  • It is a badge of honor for you to
    implement your project earlier than originally expected. In fact, as a project
    manager, you could be ranked as one of the top project managers in the field if
    you have a track record of delivering your projects early.
  • Tracking projects has experienced
    several delays causing you to push back your project delivery date;
    fast-tracking your project steps one of the two-step project compression
    techniques that will help you bring your project back on schedule.
  • When you deliver your project
    early, this means your project resources could work on other projects, which
    will allow more projects to be delivered during your department’s calendar
    year.

Additionally,
companies are adopting mobility solutions using augmented reality/virtual
reality, radio-frequency identification, and increasing their use of robotics.
By leveraging these technologies, companies can fulfill customized orders and
handle diverse inventories quickly and with minimal human intervention.

Some key actions
companies can take now to scale warehouse automation capabilities:

  1. Build a comprehensive roadmap by
    looking at key business challenges and needs to understand where robotics and
    automation will have the biggest impact on operations.
  2. Choose solutions that generate the
    most value, it sounds like a no-brainer, sometimes the best solutions are not
    shiny new solutions.
  3. Monitor progress as the
    comprehensive roadmap needs to include a focus on monitoring and updating to
    ensure that the solutions implemented are delivering the most value.