Just as is the case with every other industry, the world of warehouses and warehouse management has been, is being, and continually will be influenced, adapted, and (in some cases) entirely transformed as new and innovative technologies are created.
Keeping ahead of your industry competitors and staying abreast of the latest industry news often come hand and hand, so with this in mind, here are the top four emerging trends in warehouses and warehouse management.
1. Wearable Technology
First and foremost, one of the most impressive and truly revolutionary additions to the world of warehousing in recent years is also one that is undoubtedly significantly more affordable than you may have previously thought.
Wearable technology—from specially designed devices that track the journey of an individual worker throughout a particular shift, to barcode scanners worn on the wrists or even the fingers—is contributing to providing enough information to managers to find ways of improving efficiency and productivity.
2. Improvements to Forklifts and Other Packing Equipment
Regardless of the products you store, a typical working day in any warehouse without several fully functional and reliable forklifts simply does not bear thinking about.
When it comes to the machinery you choose to introduce into your business, make sure that they are of the highest quality and that they showcase prestigious and established brands such as Komatsu forklift parts. Your industry competitors will be investing in the latest innovations in machinery, which means if you want to stay in the game, so too must you.
3. Cloud Computing
One emerging trend that has quickly caught on across the entire spectrum of industry is cloud computing.
Essentially, cloud computing is especially useful for manufacturing, storage, and distribution companies that engage in international sales and have more of a global supply chain. Such businesses benefit from cloud computing in the following ways, to name just a few:
- Significant improvements in performance and speed
- A higher level of security when it comes to confidential data and information
- A much larger capacity for the storage of said data
- Improved integration and access facilities
- A lower general cost of warehouse ownership
4. Big Data
The fourth and final biggest trend in the world of warehousing is one that you are no doubt more than a little familiar with: big data.
Big data is basically the latest way in which companies can glean as much information as possible from all aspects of their business, from their employees and their customers and clients, to the prediction of profitability in the future.
There are numerous benefits of utilizing this latest warehouse trend in your own manufacturing company, from the optimization of production and performance to the absolute assurance of legal compliance and adherence to regulations throughout the company.
Other fundamental advantages of implementing big data analytics as part of your new and improved warehouse management system include warehouse tool optimization, production preparation, studies of markets and industry rivals, and another important emerging sector for consideration—that of sustainable and eco-friendly development.
