WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT: How the Industry Fares in the Age of the Robots

For years now, industry observers and experts across the supply chain have been discussing the future of warehousing, as it relates to automation and robotics. It has been apparent that advances in technology, as well as consumer demand bolstered by e-commerce would eventually lead to autonomous mobile robotics (AMRs) becoming a standard solution. This has caused no shortage of concerns across a variety of issues: job loss, operating expenses, reliability, and more.

Whatever the general mood/opinion regarding AMRs in the warehouse, the fact is that they are no longer a looming inevitability, but a full-blown revolution. Recent investments by shipping giant Amazon have proven able to scale with a solid ROI. The maturity of AMR performance soared in 2017. A labor shortage of warehouse applicants, meanwhile, has only compounded the move towards further automation.

But while big players can afford to invest in this technology on a large scale, AMRs are far too complex and cost prohibitive for small and mid-level competitors. In order to keep apace as best they can, these businesses require different solutions for their storage needs.

This is where third-party logistics (3PL) solutions providers can thrive. When it comes to warehousing and fulfillment needs that are not so out-sized as to require massive investments in AMR technology, these providers can offer competitive rates and industry best practices, while still staying up-to-date, technologically speaking.

A responsible logistics provider will have invested in their own warehouse management system (WMS), thereby offering the highest possible levels of accuracy and accounting, safe handling, and a minimizing of storage costs.

A proper WMS should be easily customizable for the client, and offer full systems integration capabilities to service their accounts. They should also be easily integrated with the logistic provider’s existing e-solutions platform and electronic data interchange (EDI).

A good logistics provider can design a top-notch supply chain that easily folds these solutions into the operations process, in order to provide clients with warehousing and fulfillment services that are just as streamlined and cost-effective as those of any giant conglomerate, no matter how large their army of robots.

Aeronet Worldwide^® provides its clients with customized, cost-effective warehousing options, including flexible contract terms, client-centered operating procedures, and an internal IT support team. Aeronet’s state-of-art WMS works in real-time, with full online visibility available 24/7/365, is fully integrated with their Aerotrac Online^® platform, and is coupled with a monthly physical inventory cycle.

With Aeronet, clients receive the most professional, dedicated, and qualified service available from a single provider.