Warehouses are the backbone of the booming e-commerce and manufacturing industries. As important as they are, keeping them efficient is often a challenge, especially amid labor shortages and rising pressure for fast shipping. Amid this difficulty, autonomous robots have arisen as a promising solution.
How common are robots in warehouses today?
Today’s warehouses are more heavily automated than ever. More than 70% of logistics organizations have implemented autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or plan on doing so in the coming years.
Self-driving forklifts are the most common kind, but autonomous warehouse systems can take many forms. Amazon uses short, platform-like AMRs to carry carts full of packages to loading bays, where workers place the parcels on trucks. Walmart employs a complex network of robotic arms and conveyors to pick items off shelves and put them on pallets.
Across all types and sizes, these warehouse robots share a few significant commonalities. Unlike many conventional automation systems, AMRs and similar solutions are mobile and often work alongside human employees without barriers. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) let them take over tasks that would otherwise be too unpredictable or dynamic for older robots.
What’s driving the warehouse robotics boom?
The surge in autonomous warehouse robots is a matter of both technological advancement and need. AI functions like machine vision made robotics more viable in warehouses, as they help bots move and avoid running into workers. Similarly, newer robots don’t require complex coding to use, so it’s become easier for companies to deploy them.
These innovations came at an ideal time. Nearly 40% of warehouses today don’t have enough workers to keep up with demand. At the same time, pressure for fast shipping and higher throughput keeps rising. Automation is the ideal solution — labor shortages aren’t as big of an issue when businesses can do more with fewer people.
Autonomous robots offer a few other competitive advantages, too. Material-grabbing systems don’t need as much room to move between shelves as forklifts, so warehouses can shrink their aisles. A reduction of just four feet can result in 20% more storage space, making this a great way to increase capacity. Automating repetitive tasks can also prevent injuries and boost efficiency, especially because manual alternatives are often slow and hazardous.
What’s in store for the future of warehouse robots?
As more warehouses implement robots, their benefits will become increasingly clear. These technologies will also become more capable and affordable over time as research and funding in this area grows. Consequently, the current warehouse robotics boom will continue into the future.
Some experts predict over 75% of businesses will use some kind of automation in their warehouses by 2027. Considering roughly 70% are already experimenting with the technology, the sector is on track to hit that marker.
At the same time, warehouse robotics faces a few challenges. Concerns over job loss and cybersecurity issues may lead to conflict at some organizations. Logistics leaders may need to implement new security controls and provide alternate roles for existing employees to work around these worries.
Automation Is redefining the logistics sector
Autonomous robots have already reshaped industries like manufacturing, and logistics could be next. Warehouse automation is rising by the day, and the trends that led to this point are showing no signs of slowing. Implementing robots in a warehouse is not always an easy task, but those that don’t pursue it may quickly fall behind.
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