Apr 14, 2023 | Blog, Warehouse Management Software, Warehouse Operations
In today’s competitive automation market, managers and COOs are tasked with making decisions that will enable their 3PL to stay ahead of the curve. By leveraging digital twins, warehouses can meet ever-changing customer demands and save time and money. In this blog post, we’ll explore how digital twinning works and examine if it could be the future of automated warehousing for your 3PL.
What are Digital Twins?
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical warehouse that can be as simple or complex as needed. For example, suppose your warehouse workers move a pallet from one area of the warehouse to another. In that case, it shows in real-time on your digital twin software by gathering real-time data from sensors within the facility.
The use of digital twin technology allows for better oversight of the performance of an asset (a warehouse in this case), identification of potential faults, and informed decision-making regarding maintenance and the asset’s lifecycle.
Essentially, digital twins are computer programs that take real-world data and produce simulations or predictions of how a physical object or system will be affected by those inputs.
That way, you can optimize your operations without experimenting in the physical space. Plus, digital twins can act as prototypes for products that don’t even exist yet. They’re a powerful tool for 3PLs who want to stay on the cutting edge of automation technology.
The Importance of Automation
Finding enough skilled workers to keep pace with demand is challenging for most warehouse operations. Fortunately, we’re in the midst of a technological evolution allowing us to automate many of these processes.
Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) breakthroughs, warehouses can now handle changing eCommerce demands. Warehouse automation is now mainstream, and businesses that don’t invest in it risk being left behind.
The Benefits of Digital Twins for Warehouse Automation
Digital twins connect assets with data to create a complete picture of what’s happening. They allow teams to collaborate more effectively and make better decisions by analyzing past and present conditions and predicting future issues. Using simulation and 3D visualization, companies can understand how different scenarios might play out before they even happen. Just look at some of the benefits of digital twins.
- Improved efficiency: Using digital twins can identify inefficiencies in the warehouse operation and suggest improvements, such as optimizing the warehouse layout, reducing worker travel time, and reducing order picking and packing time.
- Predictive maintenance: Monitoring equipment health and predicting when maintenance is required can reduce equipment downtime and extend its lifespan with digital twins.
- Real-time monitoring: Digital twins allow warehouse managers to monitor inventory. Warehouse managers can use digital twins to track inventory levels in real-time and detect any errors in real-time, improving visibility and reducing errors.
- Risk reduction: A digital twin can identify risks and hazards in a warehouse, such as collision risks, allowing managers to mitigate them.
- Cost reduction: Using digital twins, warehouses can improve profitability by optimizing processes and workflows.
Challenges of Digital Twins in Warehouse Automation
One big hurdle is how disruptive the adoption process can be for an organization. Digital twins can transform the way warehouses operate, but getting there involves change that touches many areas of a company. It’s like going through a renovation — the result can be amazing, but the construction process can be pretty disruptive.
- Data quality: To be effective, digital twins require accurate and current data. Simulated results can be inaccurate when the data is incorrect or incomplete.
- Complexity: Developing and maintaining digital twins can take significant time and resources, requiring specialized skills and knowledge.
- Integration: Integrating digital twins can be challenging, requiring careful planning and execution.
- Cost: Implementing digital twins requires the use of hardware, software, and trained staff, all of which can be costly.
The Future of Digital Twins and Warehouse Automation
As eCommerce continues to increase, companies are scrambling to find ways to stay ahead of the competition in the fulfillment game. And that’s where digital twins and warehouse automation come in. They have the potential to revolutionize the way warehouses operate, making them faster and more efficient than ever before.
But the impact of digital twins doesn’t stop there. The technology has already proven itself in industries ranging from healthcare to manufacturing, and even entire cities are starting to leverage it for more intelligent infrastructure. It’s safe to say that the future of digital twins is something to keep an eye on, as it will continue transforming how we live and work.
As we move into this digital age, these virtual counterparts of people, products, equipment, buildings, and cities become increasingly prevalent. From facility management to vehicle customization, digital twins provide a revolutionary path to streamline and optimize warehouse operations. The eagerness for cutting-edge technologies will only propel digital twins’ capabilities further in such endeavors.
Leveraging Digital Twins
Digital twins are a powerful technology that can revolutionize warehouse automation, and it’s no surprise, given all of the advantages they offer. Utilizing digital twins enables warehouses to streamline all aspects of tracking inventory, which, in turn, virtually eliminates human error from the equation. Ultimately, digital twins have the potential to become an industry standard for warehouse automation capabilities quickly.
ShipHero’s WMS is a comprehensive solution that helps retailers leverage comprehensive inventory and order management to reach peak efficiency channel-wide. With its user-friendly interface, deep integrations, and customizations, ShipHero can help you free up your warehouse team’s valuable time so they can work on high-value tasks instead of manual data entry. Click now to learn how to integrate ShipHero’s WMS in your warehouse!
About ShipHero: We make it simple for you to deliver your eCommerce. Our software helps you run your warehouse, and our outsourced shipping solutions eliminate the hassle of getting your products to your customers. With thousands of brands and 3PLs relying on us daily, we’re here to help with all your logistics needs.
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Nov 25, 2022 | Blog
In five years, it won’t just be robots hard at work on the warehouse floor but digital systems and platforms that will run the entire operation. Warehouses of the future will operate with increased efficiency and accuracy, reducing errors and cutting costs. With customer demands continually rising, digitized warehouses will also be able to better meet those requirements by providing faster delivery times. It’s an exciting time for warehouses as they progress toward digitization.
What Does Warehouse Digitization Mean?
Warehouse digitization means automating everything from inventory tracking to order fulfillment, and it’s set to revolutionize the industry. By utilizing intelligent and automated systems, warehouses can make the most efficient use of their equipment and personnel. In fact, warehouse digitization is becoming such an integral part of warehousing that companies who fail to embrace it risk falling behind their competitors.
How Warehouse Digitization is Changing the Way Warehouses Operate
Gone are the days when warehouses were just dusty storage units – today, they’ve evolved into major players in global supply chains. However, many rely on outdated manual processes and technologies and need help to keep up with the demands of higher volume, small orders, and an ever-growing eCommerce market.
This is where warehouse digitization comes in. By integrating modern technology, warehouses can streamline their processes and stay ahead of the game in an industry that will only become more competitive.
How to Prepare your Warehouse for the Future
Thanks to warehouse digitization and increasing automation, warehouses are becoming leaner, more efficient operations that can quickly fulfill orders and provide real-time inventory updates. From robots to mobile devices, technology is changing how warehouses operate. Here are a few types of digital warehousing technology that are on the rise and will eventually become standard practice.
Warehouse Management System (WMS)
The warehouse management system is like a trusty sidekick, always there to help you with inventory organization and optimization. It eliminates guesswork and human error, leading to streamlined operations and increased efficiency.
And why stop there? In addition to inventory management, a warehouse management system can handle order processing and offer insight into potential improvements for maximum productivity. A warehouse management system is the superhero of warehouse technology.
Digital Twins
The digital age has come for warehousing, bringing digital twins with it. These digital replicas of real-world environments bring greater visibility and insights, allowing for proactive decision-making. In the warehousing world, this means knowing where every pallet is in real-time, thanks to a network of sensors and software feeding the digital twin up-to-the-minute updates. And the more comprehensive your network, the higher the fidelity of your digital twin.
Real-Time Inventory Management
Can you imagine a life without real-time inventory management? The days of manually counting inventory every few weeks or months and then finally updating your records to see how much inventory you have on hand. Yikes. Real-time inventory management eliminates all that manual, tedious work and immediately provides up-to-date information. And not only does it save time, but it allows for more efficient supply chain operations. No more overstocking or running out of a particular item unexpectedly.
Real-Time Data Exchange
Shipping is only half the battle – it’s all about what you do with the data collected during the process. Savvy retailers know that by using ShipHero’s measurement and tracking tools, they can turn those numbers into valuable insights and stay ahead of the competition.
With real-time data warehousing, you don’t have to wait for outdated information – you can instantly refresh your data and set up dynamic reports on the fly to make expert business decisions. Don’t let shipping be your weakest link – use it as a weapon in your eCommerce arsenal.
Wearable Technology
The phrase “wearable technology” often conjures images of modern smartwatches and audio-enabled glasses. But in the warehouse industry, wearable technology goes beyond fashion statements. These devices, ranging from wristwear to drones, are quickly becoming essential tools for worker efficiency and improved working conditions. And with the bonus of increased precision and accuracy, these wearable gadgets aren’t just convenient – they’re also highly effective. It just might revolutionize your job (and possibly your wardrobe).
Warehouse Automation
Let’s face it, robots don’t need coffee breaks or sick days and can work around the clock. But there’s more to it than just freeing up employees for other tasks – automation enables precision, accuracy, and consistency in inventory management and order fulfillment. And with less human error comes potential cost savings.
Warehouse automation may seem like a scary step at first, but properly implemented sophisticated technologies can lead to a smoother supply chain operation and a significant boost to your bottom line. Don’t let fear stand in the way of progress – embrace warehouse automation before your competitors snatch up all the robots. We can answer all of your automation questions in our ShipHero blog.
Autonomous Guided Vehicles
The rise of AGVs has some questioning if robots are taking over the workforce, but in reality, they are simply automating tedious and repetitive tasks that humans shouldn’t have to do in the first place. Rather than replacing human workers, AGVs free them to focus on more important or complex tasks within the warehouse or facility. So while they may not be glamorous, AGVs can seriously improve efficiency and productivity in various industries.
The Future of Warehousing is Here
The future is here – warehouse automation and digitization are no longer just a concept; it’s a reality. As the warehousing industry continues to evolve rapidly, one thing remains clear: those who refuse to embrace future technologies and automation will get left behind. But don’t fret – there’s still time to hop on the digitization train and join the future of warehousing.
But where does that leave us as warehouse professionals? Well, for one thing, it means a more efficient operation with improved accuracy and productivity. It also means constantly staying ahead of the game and adapting to new technologies as they emerge.
So, in five years – we may have some new job titles, but rest assured, we’ll still be at the forefront of logistics technology. And who knows? Maybe even alongside some robot co-workers. One thing is for sure – you’ll want to be a part of it, with ShipHero leading the charge in warehouse digitization.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly changing industry, partner with a company that understands warehouse digitization and can help you implement the latest technology into your business. At ShipHero, we are constantly innovating and evolving our technology to meet the needs of our clients. Contact us today to see how we can help you future-proof your warehouse operation.
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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 significant initiatives, 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 impact the lives of employees, customers, partners, and investors.
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