Warehousing has undergone resurgence since e-commerce has boomed. Not so long ago, warehouses were frequently languishing part filled, or even empty. Now, warehouses are frequently full to bursting, and it’s difficult to know what to do with a warehouse which doesn’t quite seem fit for purpose any more. Read more
Customer expectations are shifting perhaps more regularly than at any other time in the history of supply chains. Technology fuels this. Businesses haven’t got any choice but to rise to the challenge and work out how they can meet customer expectations in a way that still enables them to thrive and grow. This means matching the availability of technology and its affordability with customer expectations, particularly in the arena of warehousing. Read more
The average media consumer is now highly aware of smart warehousing technology thanks to the likes of Amazon and Ocado. The media has succeeded in making a typically dull topic – warehousing – something exciting and intriguing. Who isn’t intrigued by the futuristic ideas of robots and drones, working in blissful harmony to deliver our goods speedily from A to B? This futuristic smart warehouse, with tracking and gizmos, is a million miles away from the classic warehouse format of shelves upon shelves complete with a fleet of forklift trucks. Read more
The UK now conducts over a fifth of retail transactions online which is a five-fold increase in the last 10 years and there is no sign, and no obvious reason, why this trend won’t continue to grow. Amazon recognised this 20 years ago but some of our best-known retail brands didn’t. Consequently, Amazon’s share price is soaring whilst many high-profile retail brands are facing administration. The traditional model of retail on high streets is in rapid decline and e-commerce is where the battleground is now, starting in the warehouse. Read more
Automation in warehouses has been with us for a while, with material handling and storage equipment such as shuttle racking and conveyor systems. However, new robotics technology is introducing more intelligence in the automation of material movement in warehouses. Traditionally automation relied on fixed physical infrastructure such as tracks, but what we’re now seeing is flexibility for robots to carry products freely across the floor based on non-physical tracks determined by software algorithms. Read more
Efficient warehouse design is a key element of ensuring that material flow through the supply chain is achieved as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. Gone are the days of ‘stores’ that simply had stock, and lots of it, piled high with limited thought to expense. Modern warehouses need to be super-efficient machines, handling the material throughput with speed and accuracy. To achieve this, detailed consideration needs to be given to every aspect of warehouse design, so in this article we give 5 tips for success. Read more