As inventory management becomes more complex, it is of the utmost importance to have all data managed in one place and situational awareness of the entire building. It is extremely interesting to follow the development of warehouse management and how location data – as detailed as it is – gives the opportunity to specifically manage the whole, making warehouse operations more efficient.
The raw materials for complex inventory management
Distribution centers have complex tasks to perform in order to get the necessary inventory out the right door at the right time. Enormous decisions have to be made based on the scattered information of the distribution center. Planners and administrative staff use all information available in the distribution center to manage shipping, receiving, docking schedules, and inventory management. The raw material for this information can be obtained from indoor positioning data.
Warehouses and distribution centers need advanced technology such as real-time location data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to meet the growing needs of today’s WMS. Indoor positioning complements existing WMS or ERP systems by creating real-time location information for goods, production equipment and forklifts.
Real-time location information with the help of WMS accelerators
Tools called WMS accelerators combine information from the sometimes-fragmented operations of the entire warehouse and optimize the work done there and make the operations of the warehouse more efficient. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and positioning powered digital twin technology, can be applied to determine what needs to be done to meet schedules and create optimal plans. The real-time location information of the forklifts enables the optimization of the collection routes and the reduction of driver errors.
WMS accelerators adapt and balance operations based on what is happening in the warehouse in near real time. They can use real-time location data and zone alerts to schedule replenishments, review labor needs, and ensure shipments arrive on time and in full. Employees’ real-time location information improves work safety and helps predict the need for labor accurately. Positioning helps to avoid accidents at work, such as collisions with forklifts. The reduction of work accidents has a direct effect on both job satisfaction and work efficiency. When talking about work efficiency, one should not forget the unnecessary time spent searching for goods, equipment and colleagues, which can be reduced with the help of location information.
Warehouse resource planning is successful when situational awareness of the entire building is achieved
According to Gartner’s report “Top Technology Trends Transforming Warehousing Over the Next 5 Years: Part 2, Handling Volatility and Complexity” dated January 13, 2022, ” Warehouse resource planning will help drive higher degrees of warehouse labor and equipment utilization, helping reduce labor costs and increasing order fulfillment rates. This will come by optimizing work allocation while considering warehouse constraints.”
As inventory management becomes more complex, it is of the utmost importance to have all data managed in one place and situational awareness of the entire building. It is extremely interesting to follow the development of warehouse management and how location data – as detailed as it is – gives the opportunity to specifically manage the whole, making warehouse operations more efficient.
This text was inspired by the article “Why Companies Need Intelligent Warehouse Orchestration“. You can read the original inspiring text here.
