Warehousing is a major driver of growth for the UK economy, with the latest figures revealing the sector generates £163 billion in Gross Added Value (GVA) annually.
As with all industries, developments for warehouses continue to occur due to technological advancements as well as changing consumer habits. To remain profitable, warehouses must get ahead of the curve to ensure they are running an efficient operation.
Metreel supplies a variety of material handling equipment to a range of industrial sectors in the UK, including warehouses.
In today’s post, we want to highlight some of the top trends and technologies that will impact warehouse operations in the coming years.
Automation Technology
The first place we have to start is of course automation, especially with so much talk about AI (artificial intelligence) across the board.
In warehousing, automated technology holds great potential to speed up processes that can result in costly delays, especially by removing blockages and inefficiencies within workflows.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) & Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
AMRs and AGVs are robotic systems that can perform much of the function of a warehouse in terms of retrieving, moving and picking goods. With the rise in ecommerce especially, the ability to automate the movement of goods between storage and packaging zones can offer significant help in keeping up with time-sensitive orders.
Picking Robots
Order fulfilment can be a labour-intensive process involving repetitive movements. Likewise, there is also a need for precision due to the risk of incorrect orders. Picking robots automate the process of identifying and picking goods so that goods can be shipped faster. Crucially, they work in a way that also reduces the chance of errors. While human supervision is still required, picking robots are a leading tool in warehouses, especially in terms of developing a competitive edge.
Goods-to-Person (GTP) Systems
As the name suggests, a goods-to-person system retrieves items in the warehouse and brings them directly to human personnel. Examples of GTP systems include automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), robotic mobile fulfilment systems (RMFS), conveyor systems and shuttle systems. For high-density storage, goods-to-person systems can ensure better space utilisation and improved accuracy. Another benefit is improved safety as manual lifting tasks are instead performed by the GTP systems.
Drones For Inventory Management
Drones are increasingly being used in lots of outdoor applications, though remain just as useful for industrial tasks which take place inside, including inventory management within a warehouse. Equipped with high definition cameras and smart sensors, drones can perform inventory management checks in warehouses. The benefits of using a drone include improving the data accuracy, as the drones are capable of scanning visible barcodes from the floor up to the highest rack level. Also, the use of a drone removes the reliance on manual processes which also works to improve safety.
Trends In Warehousing
Alongside mentioning some of the technology that will become more commonplace in warehouses, it’s also important to consider the main drivers of such technology.
Ecommerce: According to Statista, ecommerce now holds a 38% share of the total retail sales in the UK, with fashion being the leading segment. As more of us shop online, the demand for warehousing will only continue to grow. Not only does this growth demand more physical space in warehouses, but also the expectation of next day deliveries. Short lead times combined with increased demand will put more pressure on warehouses, meaning having the required space and functionality to be able to keep up will be essential.
Evolving warehouse models: Partly in response to the growing ecommerce sector, warehouses will also adapt their own business model. This will involve the creation of more large distribution centres as well as so-called last mile warehouses. The idea of this dual model approach is to better facilitate bulk storage while improving delivery times, particularly for online orders.
Sustainability: While much of the focus of warehouse trends is on how the sector will grow, there also needs to be consideration of sustainability. Warehouses must conduct sustainability audits to understand their carbon footprint and make changes in response. In the coming years especially, there will be a growing demand for environmental transparency from leading sectors such as warehousing and distribution.
Metreel – Discover Our Material Handling Equipment For Warehouses
Do you own or work on behalf of a warehouse facility in the UK?
Metreel can help make your operations safer and more efficient, while also increasing the output of your business.
Head over to our material handling page to view our full range of equipment including workstation cranes, track systems, monorails and more.
Or, to discuss your warehouse lifting requirements with our team, please give us a call on 0115 932 7010 or fill out our contact form and we’ll be right with you.