The days of a predictable supply chain are a thing of the past, and maintaining a flexible fulfillment center is now a key strategy. The ability to adapt and overcome shipping challenges is at the core of a successful eCommerce business in today’s environment.
Unexpected problems are bound to arise, so you’ll want to make sure your warehouse is equipped to handle a fluid and ever evolving shipping situation. The adaptations are made much easier with the help of customizable automation in the warehouse.
What is Customizable Automation?
Customizable warehouse automation refers to the wide selection of shipping tools that use data capture technology to enhance the efficiency of a fulfillment center. In addition to software technologies that can be tailored to fit a specific user’s workflow, these tools can include physical machines like robots and smart conveyor systems.
Examples of Customizable Automation
Let’s take a look at some common examples of customizable automation and see how they make life in the warehouse much easier.
Sortation Systems
Finding the most efficient layout for a warehouse can be a daunting task. Once everything’s up and running, moving SKUs around can become much more complicated.
However, the right shipping software can easily identify opportunities for more efficient sorting. By scanning items as they enter a conveyor system, for example, your items can be automatically diverted to the optimal location in the facility. This your staff from having to walk across the entire warehouse to fulfill orders for popular items.
Collaborative Robotics
Warehouse robotics seem like they’d be expensive, but on a smaller scale, these machines can offer automation that increases the speed and accuracy of your fulfillment center.
More and more eCommerce warehouses have begun to install robotics that can sort and bag equipment, automate label printing and utilize wearable technology that boosts staff productivity while shrinking the workload.
As one of the more popular options, collaborative robots are built to shrink the shipping timeline inside a warehouse. By taking over the process of identifying an order, moving to its storage location, picking it from the shelf and returning it to the packing station, collaborative robots work alongside your staff to make the work easier. They’re also customizable and can are built to fit your fulfillment center’s specific needs.
With this new warehouse technology taking over the picking, labeling and shipping aspects of fulfillment, your staff will be ready to handle the increased demand for accuracy that comes with Q4.
Inventory Optimization
Based on the data collected by these machines, you can start optimizing your warehouse in the way that best fits your brand’s needs. Inventory management has been a large concern for online retailers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. One way of overcoming this challenge is leveraging an automated warehouse.
Conclusion
The benefits of even small amounts of automation cannot be underestimated. Efficiencies that save time, money and labor can be achieved with just a bit of automation. It’s worth investigating how your facility might benefit from some of the tactics above.
Talk to our software experts today and learn more about how our warehouse software is built to help eCommerce brands automate and optimize their facilities for the modern supply chain.
Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO
ShipHero
About the author: Aaron Rubin is the Founder & CEO of ShipHero. He is responsible for planning and executing the overall vision and strategy of the organization. Rubin’s greatest strengths are leadership, change management, strategic planning and a passion for progression. He is known for having his finger on the pulse of ShipHero’s major initiatives, his entrepreneurial spirit, and keen business acumen. His leadership of ShipHero is grounded in providing excellent customer service that drives improved business operations. His passion for ShipHero comes from the culture and his ability to have an impact on the lives of employees, customers, partners, and investors.
