A few decades ago, warehouse workers were mostly assumed to be at either the beginning or the end of their careers, says Mark Fralick, chief technology of cer with Softeon, a supply chain solutions provider. Recently, however, these roles have become more professional, with better pay and greater opportunities for advancement. “Training workers who are on the oor to become managers and leaders— that has been a big change,” Fralick says. Even as these roles became more professional, companies did not pay much attention to tools that could improve the actual jobs of warehouse workers. That’s changing as the labor landscape has grown more competitive. To attract and retain warehouse employees, supply chain organizations are taking steps to make these jobs safer, less physically taxing, and more productive and enjoyable.
which leverages AI-driven wearables. That drives up hiring and training costs. Newer employees also tend to be less productive, as well as at greater risk of injury as they learn their jobs. Technology for Workers Technology can help supply chain organizations support their warehouse employees. Tools include pick-to- light systems that enhance worker productivity, wearables that can make jobs safer, gami cation apps that can boost morale, and cobots that can make their jobs easier. Many warehouse workers spend about 60% of their time picking, says Adam Kline, senior director of product management with Manhattan, a provider of supply chain solutions. On top of this, about 40% of each pick is non-value-added work that typically includes traveling. “Technology provides a huge
Warehouse employees have always been important both to supply chain performance and to their companies overall. More recently, their signi cance has increased, due in part to the growing “urgency of ful llment” as consumers become accustomed to rapid, accurate deliveries, says Akash Gupta, co-founder and CEO of GreyOrange, a provider of warehouse ful llment solutions. The location of many newer warehouses also comes into play. “We put the warehouses a lot closer to where the consumer is,” says Andre Luecht, global strategy lead for transportation, logistics, and warehouse with Zebra Technologies Corporation. That typically means facilities located in suburbia rather than the generally less- expensive exurbs. Another factor is the turnover rate for many warehouse workers, which can approach 200%, says Matthew Hart, founder and CEO of Soter Analytics,
Software such as Korber’s Slotting Solution optimizes inventory placements in warehouse storage areas to increase order picking and replenishment eciency. Benefits include improved sta productivity, higher order throughput and more ecient use of storage space.
34 Inbound Logistics • May 2024
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