To achieve the goals of labor savings, space savings, throughput and flexibility gains, and reduced maintenance and supervision, many companies are expecting to move forward with automation. In this article, we will talk about five of the warehouse automation best practices.

In recent years, COVID-19 has caused a booming online marketplace. Warehouse operations are one of the most important parts of the business for large and small e-commerce companies. To achieve the goals of labor savings, space savings, throughput and flexibility gains, and reduced maintenance and supervision, many companies are expecting to move forward with automation. Steps in the picking, packing, and shipping process can all be automated. Warehouse automation also reduces the chance of an error occurring and lets workers focus their attention on other areas. (Learn More: 12 Benefits of Warehouse Automation )

In this article, we will talk about five of the warehouse operations best practices .

five warehouse automation best practices

Use the right WMS ( Warehouse Management System ) to speed up processes and automate data collection

Regardless of which type of business you are doing, every company needs to know what is suitable for them and equip their business with the right tools. Warehouse Management System (WMS) is one such tool. WMS is a software that helps companies to manage and control the warehouse operations, such as in and outgoing inventory, picking/packing/shipping, and inventory replenishment. Companies that need to keep track of what’s going on in warehouses and want to speed up processes can benefit from using a warehouse management system (WMS). WMS can collect real-time data from the automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), regardless of the location. WMS often has real-time inventory tracking capabilities, which help staff know what’s in stock and where it’s located. Staff can see that a new order needs to be placed and do so in time to replenish inventory. Moreover, most warehouse agv automation systems can integrate with other software and automate manual tasks across the different supply chains for increased efficiency and productivity.

Use AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) to reduce warehouse workers' travel time

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), known as self-guided and without an onboard driver, moves items around warehouse facilities using marked long lines or wires on the floor, or magnets, lasers, or vision cameras for navigation. AGV uses software programs to determine the vehicle’s location, position, and movement within a warehouse. It can operate inbound and outbound handling, raw materials transportation, and some work-in-progress applications. Warehouse workers may travel above 10-20km (6-12 miles) per shift, but this condition can be eliminated by using Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV). With the use of AGVs, warehouse managers can remove workers from heavy-duty tasks and put them into more high-value activities.

Use AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) to enhance safety for workers

An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is a type of robot that can move through its environment independently without a human directly controlling it. Many organizations use AMRs for tasks that would be harmful to or not possible for human workers. For example, they may be used to carry heavy loads in industrial environments, work in extremely cold storage warehouses, or where humans cannot be working. AMRs are able to autonomously navigate around obstacles and people on their path while setting up the best route to get to their destination. Using AMR to transport pallets or goods, without human interaction, can avoid collisions.