Technological advances in robotics are helping warehouse managers save on operational costs. Automated systems are more efficient, less prone to mistakes and safer to use for some jobs than human employees. They allow employees to spend more time on high-value tasks, reducing overall labor costs while increasing company revenue.
Learn more about how to reduce warehouse costs with solutions like robotic forklifts, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and other automated warehouse management systems. By streamlining repetitive tasks, you can reduce cost, stay efficient and protect employees from accidents.
Process Automation for Labor Cost Reduction
Many people worry about robots replacing people in the material handling industry. However, automated equipment will never replace human ingenuity, curiosity and insight. Instead, robotic equipment is the perfect complement for employees, ideal for reducing costs by taking over repetitive tasks.
Here are some of the top trends for robotics in warehouse management to save costs:
- Robotic process automation (RPA): Automation for digital tasks like order entry, shipment tracking, inventory reconciliation and more. This kind of automation can reduce errors and save employees a lot of time.
- Automated material handling equipment: Machines like AGVs and robotic forklifts can increase warehouse safety and efficiency. They can help with repetitive tasks like picking, sorting and transporting.
- Integrated warehouse management systems (WMS): By integrating equipment with WMS, operators can receive data and insights in real time. Automated updates can improve efficiency and reduce mistakes.
Warehouses are benefiting from robotic machines that optimize repetitive tasks, whether that means taking physical action, analyzing data or communicating between equipment. In the upcoming years, it will be exciting to see how far warehouse robotics can take the industry.
How to Reduce Warehouse Costs With Robotics
Every warehouse can benefit from updating its systems and equipment to use automation in at least some capacity. Warehouse robotics are designed to save time, streamline tasks and make higher efficiency possible. Follow these guidelines to determine which automated equipment is a good choice for your warehouse:
- Evaluate: Look at warehouse systems and processes for repetitive tasks that could be completed more efficiently with automation. Examples include inventory checking, material handling, transportation and pallet shuttle systems.
- Research: Examine companies that sell robotic warehouse solutions. Read reviews to learn more about their track record and how their software and equipment could align with your specific goals.
- Invest: Choose a trustworthy company and invest in the solutions that will have the most impact on your warehouse. Remember that automated equipment is scalable as your business grows.
- Monitor: Assess the impact of robotic equipment through data collection and analysis. Consider how it’s impacted company finances, efficiency, safety and more. You can make adjustments based on this data.
- Repeat: With the funds you’ve saved from robotic equipment, you can continue investing in your business’s future. Choose another automated upgrade or send saved funds to another department to improve the company as a whole.
The right upgrade for your company will depend on the ROI of automated equipment. You can calculate this quickly by comparing the cost of equipment with the revenue savings it will bring over a certain number of years. Don’t forget to include the cost of training and maintenance when you calculate this number.
Benefits of Warehouse Robotics
In addition to saving costs, incorporating robotics into your warehouse can have many other benefits for your company. Here are the top three reasons to consider automated equipment for your warehouse, ranging from costs to operator safety:
Reduce Labor Costs
Automated equipment can significantly reduce labor costs for completing the same or more amount of work. After you train a robot to complete a task, it makes fewer errors and can work quickly without breaks. Robotic equipment doesn’t need much supervision and it never gets distracted.
When you invest in automated equipment, it’s often expensive upfront. However, long-term costs decrease because you don’t have to pay a robot for sick leave, health insurance or vacation time. Maintenance can be planned ahead to reduce downtime and ensure you’re never shorthanded during busy seasons.
Streamline Systems
Another benefit of warehouse robotics is increased efficiency. Robots can increase throughput, identify patterns of inefficiency and overcome them through quick task execution. For example, RPA in warehouses can take care of inventory tracking, eliminating errors and cutting down the time it takes for an employee to manually enter and check information.
Robotic tools for warehouses are also scalable, meaning they can meet increased demands without a significant increase in labor costs or management time. As an example, an RPA system can handle larger amounts of information as your business grows. Automated forklifts and other equipment can work for extended periods of time without needing breaks or taking time to sleep.
Improve Operator Safety
Automated equipment does a great job of completing work in dangerous circumstances, particularly under extended operating hours. Because up to 13% of workplace injuries may be a result of worker fatigue, robotic forklifts and AGVs can protect operator safety.
Automated warnings can enhance employee awareness as they’re navigating the warehouse. Semi-automated material handling equipment comes with safety features like speed checks and sensors to prevent collisions.
Robotic machinery may also have advanced positioning systems, which help it identify and avoid obstacles in the work environment. These systems can protect your employees from danger while still allowing them to get important work done without compromising their safety.
Lower Warehouse Costs With Gregory Poole Lift Systems
We know how hard it is to run a productive warehouse. Carefully strategizing for the best equipment can help you streamline processes, avoid accidents and reduce company costs for day-to-day operations. At Gregory Poole Lift Systems, we offer several robotic solutions that can enhance your warehouse’s efficiency and safety.
When you work with us, we can equip you with:
- Robotic forklifts: We offer Hyster and Yale forklifts, some of which are robotic and can operate autonomously. You can program these forklifts to complete repetitive tasks, freeing up employees for other work and saving on labor costs.
- Automated guided vehicles: Looking for material handling transportation that’s fully automated? Our AGVs can save you time by moving materials without an operator.
- Pallet shuttle systems: We also offer semi-automated pallet systems. They save time, are cost-effective and can help you achieve compact storage in your warehouse.
At Gregory Poole Lift Systems, we’ve been serving businesses with lift systems since 1968. We owe our success to our dedicated employees, our dedication to excellence and our commitment to integrity. You can find our locations across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Contact us today to learn how we can enhance your warehouse efficiency with robotic solutions!
