Before COVID-19, technology adoption, uptake and innovation was a bit slow even in the warehouse business.
In today’s fast-paced world, technological advancements have penetrated every industry, reshaping the way business is conducted. The warehousing sector, often considered the backbone of supply chains, is no exception. Modern warehouse operations now operate in a new era of efficiency, accuracy, flexibility, and scalability as a result of the convergence of cutting-edge technologies.
Faced with the unprecedented challenges of the covid 19, the world shut down and people returned to their houses as a way to help curb the spread of the virus across the globe. Human contact was a huge problem. This is where technology became the greatest friend.
The Transition
Businesses transitioned to digital platforms to keep in touch with their customers who were now spending lots of time on social media and digital platforms learning, connecting with others and entertaining themselves. We also witnessed warehouse businesses change their operation from how they handled the goods in the houses to how they kept track of the goods. Technology such as robots became a huge solution to this problem since contact was one of the ways the coronaviruses were being transmitted.
Use of robots in a warehouse to push goods
Technology involves fewer humans and more machines to do work from organizing, monitoring and packaging to keeping track of the inventories. Less human interaction is needed. Warehouse businesses across the globe are employing more machines and tech in their premises since the devices are fast, don’t tire quickly and need less time and effort put in compared to the human workforce.
Automation
In Kenya for example, businesses had to adopt business process reengineering strategies (BPR). This involves the evaluation of how we do business to stay ahead of the curve. Automation was one of the options available for businesses.
This could be achieved by using modern grade A warehouses which allowed streamlining of many business processes to keep up with the high demand of goods. ALP has been in the Kenyan market since 2017. Its first flagship development, ALP North is a modern Grade A warehouse facility. The 50,000sqm is the first development to be awarded best industrial park in Africa in 2018 and the first Advanced EDGE green building certified in the continent. Businesses operating within this facility witnessed exponential growth due to their already streamlined business processes.
Robotics for Packing and lifting goods in warehouses
I remember the first time I heard of robotics replacing the human workforce in some industries in China and I thought; that’s a huge employment threat. But, is it entirely? The world keeps changing how we operate and innovate so does every business operation.
Kenya has been slow in the adoption of robots not because of the lack of modern grade A warehouses but because labor is readily available and affordable,and high initial cost of implementation. Although robotic systems are on the rise in the agricultural sector, we are yet to see robotic systems adoption in the supply chain sector.
Just imagine a bustling warehouse where shelves are stacked high with products and the staff can’t be able to handle the goods in a quick and accurate manner. That’s where robots come in handy! These machines have proved from time to time that they can be great team players in handling repetitive tasks such as picking, packing and even moving loads with impressive precision and speed.
As someone in a warehouse business, picture this; robots and humans working harmoniously to meet the ever-growing demand in the market where efficiency and productivity are a top priority. It is like having your superhero squad in the warehouse ensuring smoother operations and happier customers!
Warehouse Management System
Businesses within ALP developments are able to streamline their businesses using WMS. A business using WMS benefits its clients by providing faster, accurate order fulfillment, real-time tracking, improved communication and access to data.
Benefits of a WMS with Barcoding:
- Increased Accuracy: Barcoding minimizes errors associated with manual data entry and improves order accuracy.
- Efficient Order Fulfillment: The guided picking process reduces the time it takes to fulfill orders and ensures optimal routing.
- Real-Time Visibility: Real-time inventory updates provide accurate visibility into stock levels, aiding in inventory management.
- Cost Savings: Improved accuracy and efficiency lead to reduced operational costs and minimize stockouts or overstock situations.
- Enhanced Traceability: Barcoding enables tracking each item’s movement from receipt to shipment, enhancing traceability and compliance.
Inventory Tracking
Technology has positively impacted inventory management in warehouses for businesses. The major ways in which the transformation has been effected through:
Automation: Businesses have employed software and systems to automate tasks and procedures such as recording and tracking orders, generating reports and calculating stock levels.
Accuracy in data analysis and reporting: Tools such as Zoho can help businesses collect and analyze large amounts of data such as sales, purchases, stock levels and demand patterns. This data is crucial for insights and data-driven decision-making on adding stock, optimizing the inventory and pricing.
Real-time Inventory visibility: Technology advancement in warehouse business has enabled real-time updates and alerts on inventory levels, enabling managers to quickly respond to changes in demand or supply. This also allows management of inventory from a variety of devices whether or not you are at the office, at home, or anywhere in the world.
Technology and sustainability: Technology has played a significant role in driving the adoption of sustainable methods in the supply chain sector. It has enabled businesses to enhance their environmental and social responsibility efforts, improve transparency, and create a more efficient and resilient supply chain. Through adopting sustainable initiatives, ALP has enabled their tenants to reduce their carbon emissions by building sustainable warehouses that boost features like solar installation to reduce their utility bills, installed water conservation measures and use of less embodied building materials.
Solar panel technology on the roof of ALP Warehouses
Security and Cameras
Warehouses house valuable goods belonging to different businesses and that means security should not be negotiated. A 24-hour security is a must have in a warehouse. This gives the clients confidence that their goods will be secure and well taken of during the time they are there. Security also extends to the staff.
Security also stretches to the available resources, for example, fire extinguishers and access to water in case of a fire outbreak. Additionally, the presence of trained and skilled personnel on security is a priority. With technology, warehouse owners and clients can now monitor the activities in real-time.
E-commerce for warehouse businesses
The digital revolution of businesses has encouraged businesses in all sectors to move online. We have seen warehouse brands build their online presence from websites and social media. Social media has become a social commerce space for businesses to not only connect with their audiences and customers but also sell their products and services.
Warehouse businesses are on social media to build a community of entrepreneurs and business owners who might be needing their services. LinkedIn is one of the greatest platforms to find these business owners and manufacturers in industries in need of warehousing services. Businesses in warehousing are reaching out to these businesses for partnerships through ads and community conversations.
ALP Warehouse LinkedIn page serves as a point of contact with clients and customers
Websites also serve as a point of contact for businesses looking for warehousing businesses. On websites, they can check out the spaces, more information about the warehouse quality, and prices among other specifications. ALP Warehouses has developed a website that allows clients to take a virtual tour of the space, and learn from the testimonials from clients already on the premises and other information under one space.
Chatbots for online customer services
Having customer service is the core of every business. Customer service representatives work directly with customers to provide assistance, resolve complaints, answer questions, and process orders. Technology has led to the innovation of a new set of virtual customer service representatives known as chatbots.
Chatbots on e-commerce sites help customers get real-time answers
Chatbots are software integrated into the social media and website platforms for brands to aid in customer service, engagement and support. They operate 24 hours. They function even when the customer service people are away. Hence, ensuring that every customer is being taken care of no matter the time they ask their questions.
As much as chatbots are a great innovation, there’s a need for human intervention to ensure customers’ and prospects’ questions are responded to accordingly and their problems solved. A warehouse business that employs this makes it easier for tenants asking for the prices to get the responses in real-time.
What is next for any warehouse business?
This is not the only way technology has impacted the warehouse businesses. There are innovations and developments daily. This is a reason why businesses in this industry should be flexible, tap into educational sessions on technology, try the different available innovations to see if they can adopt them into their businesses and actively involve and support their staff to come up with innovations that can not only grow the businesses but also offer sustainability.
Learn more about our technology use at ALP Warehouses.
