The e–commerce boom has hit warehouses hard in recent years, with the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in exponential growth for the warehousing and logistics industries. E-commerce outfits have had to diversify to survive and cater to the increasing demands.
The need for personalization is changing how e-commerce facilities do things. New technology is providing a lifeline for businesses looking to provide a personalized service that’s known for low prices, great quality and fast delivery.
The use of AMRs in e-commerce has exploded to help warehouses and logistics centers rise to current challenges, but how are AMRs used in these settings and what advantages can be realized by those looking to unlock the capabilities of autonomous mobile robots in e-commerce supply chains?
Autonomous Mobile Robots in the Warehouse
AMRs have a special place in e–commerce warehouses. An increasing variety of mobile robots is being introduced and integrated into warehouse operations to improve performance and production throughput.
In the e-commerce and logistics sectors, AMRs are replacing traditional tools and techniques to increase picking efficiency and productivity. Picking processes, including zone and goods-to-person operations, are becoming more targeted yet flexible, paving the way for the speed and accuracy consumers demand from modern day e-commerce services.
Along with AMRs in e-commerce, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are being continually used to handle and process pallets, with self-driving forklifts capable of detecting pallet jack openings with safety and precision.
(our forklift named HULK working in the warehouse)
The deployment of autonomous mobile robots in e-commerce is ridding operations of more cumbersome, inefficient manual methods, thereby decreasing labor costs, reducing errors, and minimizing downtime. With AMRs in e-commerce used at every turn, warehouses of all sizes are optimizing their processes (from sortation and picking to packing and returns handling) to tackle the efficiency.
The use of autonomous mobile robots in e-commerce warehouses has been shown to increase order picking performance by two or three times, with AMRs able to pick more orders per hour than manual workers, with less staff required. As a result, warehouses have been able to reduce labor costs, deliver a higher standard of service, lower order errors, and avoid penalties.
AMRs are for SMEs
It’s not just global players that benefit from the integration of AMRs in e-commerce. Smaller e-commerce operations can now use this technology to reap their own rewards and successfully level the playing field.
By embracing AMRs in e-commerce, small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can enjoy the advantages of warehouse automation first-hand to bridge the gap and tackle issues like staff shortages. For SMEs however, an investment in AMRs in e-commerce poses a lot of questions. Potential stumbling blocks to overcome include the initial purchase cost and payback time of automated solutions. Despite the challenges, any business that has a warehouse (even a small-scale e-commerce operation) should consider automation.
(our AMR named FLASH working in the warehouse)
By introducing AMRs in e-commerce, SMEs can not only reduce the labor required for menial tasks but improve retention and safety for its existing workforce. The automation of repetitive tasks means staff can focus on value-added work that has the potential to boost creativity and aid wider business growth. By reallocating human workers and letting AMRs get on with the dull, dirty or dangerous jobs, you can make your SME a safe and productive place to work.
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