Inventory Visibility and Transportation Within a Warehouse Technology promises to play an increasing role in inventory visibility. “We’re seeing big improvements,” Scriven says. For example, autonomous mobile robots can travel through a warehouse and capture image and barcode data on inventory levels, reducing the need for cycle counting. AMRs and AGVs can handle transportation tasks within warehouses without requiring fixed paths, so they’re often well-suited for operations that need to adapt to changing volumes, layouts, or workflows, Musson says. They also can be deployed incrementally and expanded over time, so companies can scale as their needs evolve. Packaging While packaging automation and solutions have always been in demand, their popularity likely will grow as parcel shipping becomes more expensive, and more scrutiny is placed on shipment size, Calahan says. When choosing a solution, multiple considerations come into play. One is the importance of true, three- dimensional right-sizing. Not all machines right-size in three dimensions, and those that do typically are more expensive and take up more space, so most facilities will have fewer of them. The packing process then needs to be designed to keep the machines fully used at all times.
11 WAYS TO LEVERAGE AUTOMATION
The following guidelines can help supply chain organizations gain greater value from their automation solutions. 1. Start with solid software and processes. Installing automation solutions atop outdated software likely will lead to bottlenecks, because the software isn’t able to support the automation. 2. Ensure data quality. Artificial intelligence relies heavily on data and data quality. A lack of clean, unified data makes it difficult for AI to synthesize the information and make recommendations. 3. Map the changes needed. Just because a system is automated doesn’t mean it will produce great efficiencies. The changes need to be mapped, tested, and adjusted as needed. 4. Implement cybersecurity measures. Security risks can increase when using solutions that incorporate AI or automation. Controlling who can access the data and ensuring proper governance, among other steps, can mitigate these risks. 5. Consider support requirements. These are sometimes underestimated, especially with complex systems. For example, if a system that controls several dozen AMRs suddenly crashes, it could shut down an entire location. The maintenance and support program should factor in this risk. 6. Think through how solutions will work together. Automation needs to work seamlessly with existing systems without causing downtime, particularly in brownfield environments. Along with the physical integration, consider how different technologies can be orchestrated to work together. Without coordination between equipment, workflows, and decision-making, automation can create new silos, instead of eliminating them. 7. Consider older technologies. Something as simple as barcoding can add value, especially when deployed within an operation that was using paper-based, manual processes. 8. Ask how to access your data once it’s in the system. This isn’t always easy to determine upfront. For instance, is it necessary to call the vendor and initiate an expensive project? Or, can you get to it through an API or other technology? 9. Weigh the costs and benefits of flexibility. It may cost more to design scalability and flexibility into a solution, but these may be needed to meet business requirements. For instance, if a supply chain works with both cylindrical and square items, a robotic arm that can only pick up one or the other probably will fail to provide the value needed to justify the investment. 10. Recognize no silver bullets exist. Few supply chain processes can be addressed with a single piece of automation. Instead, multiple technologies often need to work together. 11. Get your staff’s opinion. It’s not unusual to find employees ignoring a new technology solution when it fails to truly boost efficiency. According to Derek Holst, senior vice president of Circle Logistics, “You’ll know the technology is right when your staff demands that you keep it.”
Include the warehouse staff in automation decisions because new technology only works when it genuinely improves employees’ day- to-day efficiency.
February 2026 • Inbound Logistics 27
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