FEATURE Supply chain, packaging & logistics
Warehousing and logistics
Warehousing and logistics industry torn about automation
industry torn about automation
ProGlove study of future warehousing and logistics investments shows only half of companies intend to implement automation technology in the next five years
[Image: Jacques Dillies for Unsplash] N
ew research from ProGlove, the smart wearable scanner that nearly a half (45.6%) of
warehouse and logistics managers see years. The discovery comes as some two- thirds have either already implemented or are currently implementing automation. However, this is yet another piece of evidence that full automation is not seen as a cure-all for all the industry’s challenges.
The ProGlove research The research polled over 1,000 managers, directors and C-Suite warehouse and logistics professionals across the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the Nordic countries, and found that over a third (36.1%) are currently using warehouse automation technology. Only 16.3% have successfully introduced warehouse automation over the past two years, showing the early stages of increasing adoption. An additional 30% say they are currently undertaking automation projects. However, over a third (36.9%) are not currently using automation at all. The remaining 27% are considering implementing the technology. Therefore, it is unlikely that automation will completely replace human workers any time soon.
26 April 2024 | Automation
Barriers to implementation In the face of global supply chain challenges up with rising demand. Despite this, many leaders face problems with implementing the technology.
When asked about barriers to implementation within their organisations, the leading issue facing 28.3% of leaders is lack of automation expertise to carry out projects. Almost a quarter (24.5%) noted warehouse environment. In addition, 22% struggle with internal resistance, 21% said support and maintenance is an insurmountable issue, and 22% don’t have time to train people. Finally, 18% claim automation is too complicated to implement across the business. In total, no organisational barriers to automation implementation. “For many organisations, automation will be a necessary step to improve productivity, but it is not a silver bullet,” said Stefan Lampa, CEO of ProGlove. “This research highlights serious blockers, preventing many leaders from rolling out the technology. In any case, it must be of each individual business, rather than automation for its own sake.” The research points to uncertainty
with implementing fully autonomous technology. Some 40.6% of respondents have yet to attempt to introduce automation, whereas 11.8% have delayed projects. In fact, more leaders are certain of investments in semi- or partially-automated (48.4%) and industry wearables (41.9%) than full automation (31.6%). “CollaboMation, or ‘collaborative automation,’ is an option many organisations are looking into. For some operations, full automation simply isn’t the are focusing on technologies that centre around and augment the capabilities of the human worker,” says Lampa.
Other survey findings answers to questions like: • What tools and technologies are being • Which investments will be made within
• Which priorities will technology address • Which process or issue in today’s warehouse operations need an immediate • What are the most-cited current barriers to implementing automation within an
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