Artificial intelligence has opened numerous possibilities for warehouse leaders by changing how they get work done, meet deadlines and more.
Many decision-makers believe they must apply AI to stay competitive in a challenging business landscape. Doing so can lead to more advanced warehouse operations, making executives better equipped to deal with unexpected circumstances and maintain resilience.
Here are some specific outcomes industry professionals can anticipate after deploying AI in warehouse settings.
Advanced Warehouse Operations Can Support Worker Retention
Trends like the rise in online ordering and the desire for increasingly fast shipping have made warehouse workers more in-demand than ever. However, that reality causes headaches for hiring managers.
A recent warehouse labor survey found 73% of employers reported having trouble finding enough workers. Relatedly, 43% of those polled said the overall volume variability and uncertainty made them interested in pursuing temporary labor.
Artificial intelligence alone can’t fix the labor shortages, but it may reduce the issue. Research published elsewhere indicated 74% of employees would consider getting hired by other companies and earning lower salaries if they could use technology to help them do their jobs.
Workers who participated in the study also mentioned they were physically exhausted from spending large amounts of their workdays walking. They said they’d welcome technology such as robots or other high-tech tools that could provide relief.
However, decision-makers who feel they need to apply AI should recognize that workers aren’t always immediately open to the technology. They may fear it will make them irrelevant and unemployed.
The best approach in such cases is to help workers see the benefits of bringing artificial intelligence to the workplace. For example, doing so may allow more employees to spend their time doing exciting and gratifying tasks rather than monotonous ones.
It’s also helpful if warehouse leaders can make themselves available to workers who have questions or concerns about the deployment of AI. When someone’s available to listen to workers’ fears with empathy, those employees are more likely to feel genuinely heard and respected.
Prioritizing Safe Operations Supports the Need to Apply AI
Warehouses can be dangerous places, even when people receive all the necessary safety gear and training. However, AI can enable more advanced warehouse operations to reduce accident and injury rates.
It’ll take time to determine the best ways to apply the technology, but the payoffs are often well worth the effort. Automation solutions using AI to work can minimize injury risks associated with heavy lifting and repetitive motion. Then, people are less likely to get hurt at work.
Some successful applications of AI for safety improvements involve mounting 360-degree cameras on forklifts. On-board AI algorithms and software take that data and use it to determine what’s happening in the warehouse while people operate forklifts.
Depending on which solution a warehouse manager chooses, the AI may trigger an alarm whenever someone gets within a certain distance of an obstacle or a colleague. Some systems also track all events where forklifts collide with people or equipment. Then, leaders can review what happened and incorporate that information into future driver coaching sessions.
Maintaining advanced warehouse operations also often means being open to using AI in ways that are still relatively new. Some facilities have robotic cleaners that use algorithms to understand how to navigate around spaces without human input.
These have become especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic for helping warehouse managers maintain cleaning regimens more efficiently. When automation can do that, workers may be less likely to contract the virus.
No matter which specific solutions decision-makers choose, they need to apply AI in ways that will get measurable results. That may necessitate looking at past accident records and seeing where the most room for improvement exists. Industry professionals may also need to meet with service providers to learn more about their particular solutions and how those products support safety.
Workers Can Become More Productive With Help From AI
Improved productivity is a common goal pursued by manufacturing and logistics leaders worldwide. That’s a primary reason so many of them decide to invest in technologies that help them achieve advanced warehouse operations. AI is often central to these efforts, including during the order fulfillment process.
Some experts assert that foot travel takes up to 50% of a picker’s total work time. That’s problematic, especially with many e-commerce companies shortening their order fulfillment timeframes to meet customer demand.
However, technology that uses AI algorithms can help pickers do their jobs much faster and more accurately. Some products guide employees to the correct aisles or offer other suggestions to help them make the most of their time and not waste energy.
These solutions are already game-changing for some workers using them. However, there’s still a long way to go before warehouse automation as a whole becomes widespread. One estimate suggested three-quarters of warehouses globally still don’t use it at all.
Artificial intelligence also reduces worker errors, positively affecting output. Solutions exist that give visual indicators when packers move items to the correct pallets. Then, they can instantly see when mistakes happen and fix them before backlogs happen.
Some leaders also find they need to apply AI to reduce machine breakdowns. Those could be catastrophic for many warehouses, especially those managing the distribution of popular or expensive items.
Predictive maintenance algorithms can detect possible issues with equipment days or weeks before failures occur. Such outcomes support productivity by minimizing the chances a vital piece of equipment will be out of commission so long that it disrupts deadlines.
Questions to Consider Before Investing in Warehouse AI
Many industry professionals feel they need to apply AI but find it challenging to narrow down specific potential use cases. However, pondering the following questions can help:
- Which obstacles are in the way of this warehouse meeting its goals and how could AI help?
- How much money and time can the company leaders invest in AI?
- Are there other similar warehouses that have successfully implemented AI?
- What are the indicators that the warehouse’s utilization of AI is paying off?
- Will the warehouse do a small trial first before scaling up the technology?
AI Could Be Vital for Enabling a Future-Proof Warehouse
Warehouse leaders must constantly adapt to stay maximally responsive to changing conditions in the industry. Artificial intelligence can help them set their sights on advanced warehouse operations that meet future needs and current demands. Then, these professionals can anticipate improved readiness for whatever lies ahead.
