Automation & Warehouse Management in 2023
In 2022, warehouse and logistics managers were faced with quite a few challenges, especially considering the state of the supply chain, and according to a CNBC survey of 341 managers, more than half “do not expect the supply chain to return to normal until 2024 or after.” Other issues have included impacts related to the pandemic, rising costs, labor shortages and more. Despite all of this, Logistics Management reports that companies are still ready to expand global plans. As they do, automation will likely play a key role.
A Growing Automation Market
With evolving demands, it is important that operators of warehouses remain forward-thinking and flexible at the same time. Automation can help with this. As Anshuman Agarwal writes for Retail Touch Points, “The goal is to build connected, streamlined operations that allow more work to be done in a shorter amount of time.” In the pursuit of this mission, the global warehouse automation market is predicted to reach $30 billion by 2026. When entering this market, it’s important for each organization to account for individual needs and qualities, including inventory etc.
Trends in Warehouse Management Automation
When considering automation methods, there are options such as system automation, mechanized automation, and sophisticated automation. Other trends in warehouse management automation that are expected to increase in popularity are discrete automation as well as predictive analytics. Predictive analytics, specifically, can aid operators with a number of processes, including warehouse design and inventory and labor needs. For instance, it can help identify sought after products, which is useful when prioritizing space, handling busy periods, etc.
Sources
“Most supply chain managers expect problems to continue at least through 2024” - Lori Ann LaRocco, CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/23/supply-chain-managers-expect-problems-continue-2024.html
“2022 Supply Chain Disruptions Study” - Bridget McCrea, Logistics Management
https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/2022_supply_chain_disruptions_study
“Automation: The Driving Force Behind Warehouse Management Growth” - Anshuman Agarwal, Retail Touch Points
“The Biggest Trends in Warehouse Management in 2023” - Ravi Sharma, SupplyChainBrain