FEATURE Supply chain, packaging & logistics
The trends shaping tomorrow’s logistics
By Mehul Patel, Chief Technology Officer, Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions L
ogistics is the backbone of the modern economy. As such, it’s constantly adapting and responding to market changes – from the introduction of new
technologies, to booms in product demand and declines in labour availability. Therefore, being aware of the trends that are shaping up in this business is a must.
Space is a premium
Low availability and high demand are prompting warehouse operators to make each part of their warehouse as effi cient as possible, allowing them to derive better value per square foot of real estate. Ergonomic workstations, vertical storage and retrieval systems and dynamic picking equipment are a handful of the technologies being applied to tackle pressing industry issues. These technologies will only become more prominent – not only due to the competitiveness of the warehouse real estate market, but also because of the move toward smaller, last-mile or local warehouse units to meet emerging quick- commerce demand.
Use, reuse, optimise The logistics sector is widely recognised as one of the biggest sources of carbon and greenhouse gas emissions globally. Systems and equipment designed for energy effi ciency and lower carbon operations are therefore becoming more prominent. For some technologies, improvements in energy effi ciency come from designs featuring components with reduced power consumption. For others, systems include energy-recovery mechanisms to reduce net energy consumption by reusing energy generated in the system, such as kinetic energy from an automated material- handling system to power a simple pick-and- place process.
Sustainability also emerges as a benefi cial
by-product of other developments. As more warehouse operators embrace dynamic material- handling solutions as an alternative to certain fi xed systems, the lighter weights can provide reduced power consumption. There is also potential for reduced space needs and less cooling, heating and lighting requirements because of fewer people on the premises.
Advanced scanning technology The ability to track assets through the supply
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chain and accurately monitor stock levels is invaluable for warehouse operators and brands alike. For example, radio frequency identifi cation (RFID) technology enhances stock visibility, improving risk management and operational costs. RFID tracks packages throughout the warehouse and the wider supply chain. Effi ciently bringing RFID into warehousing and logistics operations requires consideration of the scanning technology’s capabilities. RFID scanners off er higher tag read rates and greater read ranges; for example, accurate reading from fi ve or six metres away are ideally suited to fast-paced environments. Ergonomic handheld designs also help warehouse workers to scan packages easily and quickly without aff ecting the workfl ow. Warehouse operators are also adopting more
effi cient means of scanning and decoding various types of tags, including barcodes. Systems off ering continuous scanning and batch- scan functionality can help operators read all the necessary asset data quickly and effi ciently.
Supporting the workforce is a priority It’s worth considering that a warehouse is only as effi cient as its workforce, which is why we’re seeing some signifi cant developments in productivity technologies for workers, such as wearable and handheld computing devices, voice-enabled systems and digital technologies that span the entire distribution centre. Even with an abundance of automation systems in place, staff are still required to complete several tasks whilst on the warehouse fl oor. Wearable scanners, for example, allow staff to carry objects whilst on the move and only scan when needed. These devices need to be ruggedised, have low-latency connectivity and include advanced scanning technology that can quickly process data from all barcodes – even when damaged or incomplete.
These newer devices use modern technologies such as voice and speech recognition and 5G connectivity, with greater processing power than ever before, all of which help staff . And this will only become more important as a means of eff ectively managing workfl ows in increasingly digitised warehouse operations. Each of these trends unite by an underlying need for greater effi ciency in warehousing and logistics operations.
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