eCommerce
March 7, 2022

How To Build A Smart Warehouse?


Does your warehouse feel like a dark and dusty hole where you can't seem to find anything? Are you overwhelmed by the thought of trying to make it more efficient? Never fear, help is here! In this post, we'll give you tips on how to build a smart warehouse. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is A Smart Warehouse? 

A smart warehouse has numerous aspects of warehousing operations that have been automated warehouse technology to increase productivity, efficiency, and accuracy. As more organizations employ intelligent solutions to minimize costs, enhance operations, and improve overall supply chain efficiency, warehousing is undergoing a tech-driven revolution.


An intelligent warehouse is one in which numerous warehousing operations are automated warehouse technology to increase production, efficiency, and accuracy. The warehouse processes and its staff get more flexibility and capability due to this. For example, workers go about a manual warehouse with lists, picking products, loading them into carts, and then delivering them to the shipping docks. In a smart warehouse, however, every task is automated:


  • Orders are automatically received.
  • The system confirms whether the products are in stock.
  • Pick-up lists are sent to robot carts that place the ordered products into containers.
  • The products are finally delivered to workers for the next step.


Key Features Of Smart Warehouse Systems 

Smart warehouse systems result from the collaboration of several networked warehousing technologies. They provide a technology environment where commodities are automatically received, identified, sorted, organized, and pulled for shipping. When using innovative warehousing, consider some characteristics that distinguish an excellent smart warehouse system. Some of these characteristics include:


1. Agile Warehouse Management 

Smart warehouses must quickly adapt to manage the rapidly changing variables in today's world as warehousing operations get more complicated. The intelligent warehouse system should try to optimize product movement from storage to shipment at all times. Sensible warehouse operations should also search for temporary storage options and third-party logistics (3PL) suppliers in a temporary stock overflow. Agility is also essential in the many software technologies that make up an intelligent warehouse. This means that all systems must communicate with various platforms, sales systems, and other warehousing features. Software as a service (SaaS) solutions can be used, commonly considered standard in many businesses.



 2. Warehouse Scalability

With an eye on the future, intelligent warehouses must be scalable. They will be able to accept massive product influxes and new product releases at any time this way. This takes us to another important property of SaaS solutions: the ability to scale. Adding new capabilities to innovative warehousing systems can be challenging if you have an on-premise cloud solution. The entire procedure may need to be shut down while upgrades are made. This can cause a significant bottleneck in the warehouse. A SaaS solution does not have this limitation because updates can be made on the fly, adding new features without affecting efficiency.


 3. Warehouse Visibility

Data visibility has become a must-have feature for most applications related to supply chain tasks as technology advances. This is important in today's world. Software solutions should update and store data rapidly as supply chains and warehousing activities become increasingly complicated. Customers and stakeholders want to use the smart warehousing system's real-time data to see where their goods are right now. As a result, smart warehouses should enable interested parties to locate what they require promptly. Not only is data visibility vital when it comes to client retention, but it also gives the operation a lot of helpful information. 


Operators may get a bird's eye perspective of the entire warehouse and how its various divisions are operating using real-time data. This can aid in identifying inconsistencies in inventory or delivery timeliness and a better understanding of where they occur. Smart warehouse operators will intervene before things get out of hand.


Building A Smart Warehouse In 2022

A smart warehouse comprises several interconnected components that work together to achieve a shared purpose. Every piece of this puzzle works together to guarantee the warehouse runs smoothly. To construct a smart warehouse, it must ensure that those components communicate effectively. The following is a list of critical elements that should be included.


 1. Automated Warehouse Technology Guided Vehicles (AGVS)

Material handling and cargo transfer are aided by automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which frequently replace forklifts. Aside from that, the picking and packing of goods are handled by warehousing robots. They've automated more maneuverable pallet jacks. As a result, they travel faster than people, transport more stuff at once, and even figure out the best route for picking up the required items. According to reports, Amazon's warehouse network now contains more than 200,000 mobile robots. This group of robots assists the corporation in meeting its warehouse needs by working alongside human personnel. As a result, this technology saves time and money while removing the inherent dangers of human labor in transporting products.


2. Artificial Intelligence 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely used in all industries, not just warehousing. The key reason is AI's capacity to increase efficiency while reducing errors. Consider how artificial intelligence may assist warehousing robots in determining the most effective method for picking merchandise. It can also choose which box type is ideal for shipping depending on its kind, number, size, and weight. Some warehouses have even adopted product-packing devices that employ artificial intelligence to pack products in the most space-efficient way possible.


 You can effectively use computer vision and machine learning algorithms for business inventory management and route optimization. These capabilities are assisting warehouse operations in dramatically lowering their operating expenses. Following the COVID-19 epidemic, AI is only expected to positively impact the supply chain management business. AI in the supply chain market is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 45.3 percent from 2019 to 2027, reaching $21.8 billion by 2027, according to a 2019 analysis by Meticulous Research.


3. Drones And Cobots

Drones are being used to provide safe and quick access to remote and difficult-to-reach areas within a warehouse. Drones are equipped with cameras, sensors, RFID technology, or barcode scanners, making them faster and more precise than manual operations. Other inventory chores are used to locate goods, execute stock takes and cycle counts.


Cobots (or robots) operate alongside people to automate heavy or repetitive operations such as machine feeding, material handling, and assembly. In July 2018, Amazon won a grant for their patent 'Aerial Fulfillment Centers' for improved drone delivery, which might assist in constructing future floating warehouses and encourage drones in warehouses.


4. The Internet Of Things

IoT refers to a network of internet-connected devices that communicate and share data. This means that robots in smart warehouse systems can communicate with all of the tech systems they require, including a warehouse management system (WMS). A warehouse, for example, receives a product. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner scans the tags when the shipment is unloaded, informing the warehouse management system (WMS) of how many items were received. RFID is used to assist in managing and controlling inventory in this situation. The WMS then communicates with robots, telling them the best storage location for those items on the warehouse floor. All of this happens automatically and without a hitch, with no essential data being lost in the process. 


ithout the Internet of Things, a human worker would have to finish each procedure step manually. This is prone to error, especially given the massive amount of product information that passes through these systems. However, thanks to the Internet of Things, humans are almost entirely removed from the equation, speeding up the process and decreasing errors. According to a report published in 2019, the global IoT in Warehouse Market is estimated to reach USD 17.93 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 21.21 percent.



5. Mobile Devices-Based Warehouse Mobility

Automation now has 'data' on its radar as desktop PCs become outmoded. Mobile devices and apps boost productivity by allowing employees to work on the go while also accessing data. Employees are no longer confined to their desks thanks to smartphones. They're adding new functionalities and computational capacity to warehouse systems for speedier commodities handling. Video conferencing, image and video imaging, cloud integration, voice, and facial recognition are just a few of the technologies that offer significant benefits. Images can aid in the recovery of misplaced objects. A video conference call, for example, can be used to conduct quality inspections and approvals. Employees can use cloud integration to track shipments while on the warehouse floor.


 6. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) 

The usage of a warehouse management system (WMS) is the icing on the cake for smart warehouse technology. A warehouse management system (WMS) allows you to keep track of how efficient your warehouse's day-to-day operations are and if there are any areas where you can improve. Because most WMS solutions can collect real-time data and generate visual reports, they can assist in identifying any flaws in warehouse processes. After seeing a WMS report, you can take the necessary steps to correct any problems and get your operations back on track.


Conclusion

Creating a smart warehouse doesn't have to be daunting. With the right tools and advice, you can have your warehouse running like a well-oiled machine in no time! If you're looking for help getting started, Conveyr is here to assist you. We have years of experience creating efficient warehouse systems that will save you time and money. Contact us today to get started on building your dream warehouse!


Our newsletter

Get great curated articles every week.

Combine sections from Ollie's vast component library and create beautiful, detailed pages.