Trends in Warehouse Automation

Transportation and logistics companies often offer clients warehousing as one of their services. Warehousing is an important part of the shipping process because storing products for short periods of time may increase overall efficiency when changing modes of transport is required.

Over the years, technology has improved in every sector, and warehousing is no exception. Warehouses are becoming increasingly automated, and in this article we will give you some ideas how that automation works.

Cleanliness

Believe it or not, there is automated equipment that cleans warehouse floors not unlike the little round vacuums that some of us are familiar with at home—except on a larger and more sophisticated scale. There is robotic equipment that will wash warehouse floors all by itself!

Forklift Telemetrics

Forklift telemetrics means having “smart” forklifts that communicate with other computer systems specifying if a forklift is being used as efficiently as possible with its loads and route in and out of the warehouse. The telemetrics increase overall efficiently in movement of product.

Robotic Forklifts

Robotic forklifts can be programmed to do what you want them to do without a human sitting on it and riding it. This increases speed for the client and safety for everyone.

Pallet Racking

Pallet racking systems are important. They determine how efficiently the warehouse uses its storage space. The systems can be configured to meet the demands of the shipping company, and some are even “smart” and communicate loads and locations to further increase warehouse efficiency.

All of the new trends that we are seeing in warehouse automation lend to warehouse efficiency. We mention only a few things here, but the transportation and logistics business benefits from these improvements in technology, and passes those efficiencies and cost savings down to the client.

Automation in warehousing means different things to different companies and the improvements in technology are evolving constantly. If you would like to discuss your warehousing needs and how we make our warehousing efficient, call us in Langley, BC, at (877) 999-8489.

Pacific Coast Distribution, LTD, is a family-owned transportation and logistics company, based in Langley, British Columbia, with 20 years of experience and a fleet of 50 trucks and a 60,000-square-foot warehouse.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your transportation and freight needs, give us a call at (877) 999-8489.