Regardless of the industry in which a company operates, it will not survive long on the market without implementing technological innovations. From smartphones and tablets to mobile applications and cloud computing environments, IT technologies are constantly moving forward. Maintaining a company’s competitiveness requires not only staying up to date with new solutions but also properly utilizing their capabilities.
We are currently in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution. In the coming years, thanks to new technologies, we will witness a dramatic transformation of the world around us.
– The way we run businesses, sell products, communicate with each other, and introduce innovations will change. This change will certainly also apply to technological solutions used in warehouses – says Izabela Górecka-Olejniczak, Senior Business Consultant at Exact Software Polska.
7 most important mobile technology trends in warehouse management:
• Wearable technologies – in the future, mobile devices worn by the user will become more common, both in private and professional life. Manufacturers such as Google, Microsoft, and Samsung are already fighting for the position of market leader today. Wearable solutions will also play an increasingly important role in warehouses, especially when it comes to easy access to information about stock levels and the optimization of delivery and distribution processes.
• Augmented Reality – smart glasses – the advantages of this solution boil down to optimizing the process of providing guidelines to the employee, especially if augmented reality technology is also used. Thanks to these solutions, all information is always in front of the user’s eyes, while their hands remain free, which increases work efficiency. This technology also informs the employee about potential obstacles and hazards located in the warehouse space.
• Real-time access to information – obtaining specific, precise data about stored goods must become easier and faster. Scanning data sheet files no longer meets these requirements, and access to information gathered in real-time will soon be considered a basic condition for effective warehouse management.
• 3D screens in smartphones and tablets – 3D screens will be used more and more often not only in televisions but also as standard equipment for smartphones or tablets. Although this trend is still in its infancy, we can expect that in the future it will also find its way into warehouses, where three-dimensional simulations with data visualizations will help plan picking routes and replenishment deliveries.
• RFID – (Radio Frequency Identification). Using radio tags for identification, searching, and tracking enables remote identification of specific warehouse items. RFID tags placed on boxes can, for example, be read on a conveyor belt, facilitating the receipt of goods. Other applications of RFID technology include: counting items, eliminating errors in truck loading and unloading, and avoiding losses of reusable materials (such as pallets, trolleys, plastic containers, etc.).
• Voice-picking and Pick-by-Light technologies – voice picking systems are another example of new technologies increasingly used in warehouse management. Like smart glasses, they enable hands-free work. Pick-by-light technology (digital information display) enables hands-free work, effectively increasing both productivity and accuracy during order fulfillment.
• Barcode – this is still the cheapest and fastest solution available. In recent years, further improvements to this technology have appeared, such as improved readers, new interfaces, and more efficient batteries. New scanners worn on the wrist, for example, have also been created, which, thanks to their limited screen size, allow for hands-free work.
The ever-increasing pace of change
Warehouses are changing before our eyes. Innovative technologies provide more and more possibilities, and available devices allow for an increasing number of business applications, enabling the choice of those solutions that will bring the greatest benefits to the end customer.
– The growing pace of innovation over the last 2-3 years gives us an increasingly clear insight into what the warehouse of the future will look like. New trends are emerging, especially when it comes to technologies that allow for real-time access to information. New technologies bring with them many promises that will make work in the warehouse not only more efficient but also more pleasant for the employee – adds Izabela Górecka-Olejniczak.