As your business grows, there may come a time when it is imperative to invest in warehouse automation. But, before you automate your processes, you should determine whether your business will benefit from automation.
This blog post will look at five signs your business could be ready for automation.
Firstly, what is warehouse automation?
Warehouse automation uses technology to streamline operations and improve warehouse efficiency. This could include automating inventory management, sorting, packing, transporting and other repetitive processes.
Many businesses are turning to automation to improve scalability, efficiency and productivity. But how do you know if your business is ready for automation?
Five signs your business could benefit from automation.
Automation eliminates the need to manually perform repetitive tasks. Automating your processes has many benefits, so it is something to consider if you resonate with the following points.
1. Your business is growing rapidly.
A clear sign that your business could use automation is if you are experiencing difficulties keeping up with increasing demand. When all processes are manual, it becomes much more challenging to scale.
Integrating automation in your warehouse is a great way to keep up with increasing demand and complexity. Choosing the right automation solution will streamline picking, packing and shipping, enabling your business to handle larger orders faster.
2. You are experiencing staffing problems.
Manual labour has far-reaching effects on operational efficiency and expenditure. Coupled with the likelihood of errors and accidents, staffing in the current labour market often poses problems.
When there are spikes in demand, relying solely on traditional labour can cause delays and unnecessary costs. Automation can solve your staffing problems because instead of a large group of pickers and packers, you can get the job done with a smaller group of operators qualified to use technology.
3. Your deliveries are delayed.
Due to large retailers and economic changes, customer demand has evolved over the years. Consumers expect faster turnaround, accuracy and reliability from their retailers, which could cause issues. If your business struggles with missed deadlines and longer lead times, automation can help you fix it.
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), automated conveyors or robotic picking arms can streamline workflows and ensure maximum efficiency.
4. You have inventory issues.
Inventory inaccuracy is one of the most common issues faced by warehouses. Mistakes in picking and packing orders lead to customer dissatisfaction and increased costs.
Since warehouse automation systems track inventory in real time, inventory issues can be reduced. These systems minimise human errors, ensuring you always ship the correct orders on time.
5. You struggle with outdated systems.
Outdated systems can significantly impede growing businesses. Handling large quantities of orders using older software can lead to warehouse complications. When outdated processes are in place, it becomes challenging for modern businesses to compete with other companies.
This is why businesses automate digitally, ensuring their warehouses are equipped for growth.
Once you know your business is ready for automation, it is time to explore solutions that best fit your business needs.
Getting started with automation.
By setting clear objectives, you can choose the right type of automation for your operations. Consider the following so you can transition into automation seamlessly.
- Assess your current operations: Knowing your current workflows is essential to automating your warehouse. Without a clear picture of the current warehouse operations, you cannot successfully improve it.
- Define your automation objectives clearly: Before you automate your warehouse, you must clearly define the issues you are trying to solve. Vague goals lead to poorly curated solutions which add little value to your operations.
- Choose solutions that align with your objectives: The automation market is flush with pickers, sorters, conveyors and more. It is important to choose solutions that directly solve your business issues. Ensure it aligns with your budget, too.
- Train your warehouse staff: Training ensures automation is integrated successfully. Keeping your entire team involved from the start can eliminate hesitance or reluctance towards employing automation.
- Continue optimising your automation: Warehouse automation must evolve continuously to ensure long-term benefits. Utilise analytics tools to monitor how the solution functions and identify bottlenecks or delays that could be improved.
It is time to transform your operations.
Automation futureproofs your operations, improving efficiency, scalability, accuracy and more.
Did you know that Toyota Material Handling is the world’s number one provider of innovative material handling solutions? We are always looking for ways to help you get the most out of your warehouse configuration.
We know that choosing the right automation for your business can be daunting. That is why we have curated an assessment to help you determine what type of automation can help your business thrive.
