The document discusses the evolving landscape of warehouse technology, highlighting the integration of automation and robotics to enhance efficiency and productivity. Key technologies mentioned include drones, robots, and warehouse management systems (WMS), which significantly impact operational costs and workflows. The future of warehousing relies on continued investments in technology while maintaining the need for human workers alongside automation.

1. The Current State of Warehouse
Technology
Cathy Morrow
Roberson
Emily Murphy
With: Moderated by:
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2. Fetch Robotics provides the market’s only cloud-driven Autonomous
Mobile Robot (AMR) solution that addresses material handling and
data collection for warehousing and intralogistics environments.
Fetch Robotics’ AMRs reduce costs and improve throughput,
efficiency, and productivity, while working alongside people.

3. Click on the Questions panel to
interact with the presenters
https://www.supplychainbrief.com/frs/11201614/the-current-state-of-warehouse-technology
https://www.logisticsbrief.com/frs/11201614/the-current-state-of-warehouse-technology

4. About Cathy Morrow Roberson
Based in Atlanta, Logistics Trends & Insights aims to cut through the content noise and provide
customized logistics research and consulting services. Founder and Head Analyst Cathy Morrow
Roberson has more than 15 years of experience in the logistics market, including 10 years with
UPS Supply Chain and several years with specialized consulting firms. In addition to being quoted
in numerous publications, Roberson has published numerous articles in various business and
logistics publications.
About Emily Murphy
Emily earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, for her major in Film
and Digital Media and minor in Literature. With experience in writing, publication, and teaching, she
continued her work after college as a research writer and an online blog contributor. She has now
joined the Aggregage team and is the Editor for several sites in our network, including Supply Chain
Brief, Logistics Brief, and B2B Marketing Zone.

5. 5
The warehouse is undergoing a vast transformation thanks to technology.
With several new technologies being introduced, the idea of the Next
Generation Warehouse and what that consists of, is often debated.
Efficiency and speed are pressuring organizations to step up their
warehousing capabilities. How are they doing this and what role is
technology playing?
The Current State Of Warehouse TechnologyThe Current State of Warehousing Technology

6. 6
• Overview
• Costs
• Technologies in the Warehouse
• Conclusion
The Current State OfAgendaTechnology

7. 7
• Warehousing dates back to the days of graneries to store food for drought
and famine and for purchase in the conditions of emergency, famine,
drought.
• As explorers began to discover new shipping trade routes, the importance
of warehouses grew for the storage of products and commodities which
were brought from far way places.
• As civilization developed, local warehouses were introduced. totored for drought and
famine and this food was available for purchase in the conditions of emergency, famine, drought red for drought and famine and this
food was available for purchase in the conditions of emergency, famine, drought
Warehousing – An Overview

8. 8
Warehousing Costs

9. 9
Survey Question 1
Can technology replace warehouse workers?

10. 10
Yes and No
• According to a Brookings Institution report, 36 million Americans hold jobs with “high
exposure” to automation — meaning at least 70 percent of their tasks could soon be
performed by machines using current technology. Among those most likely to be affected are
cooks, waiters and others in food services; short-haul truck drivers; and clerical office
workers.
• Other analysts believe automation can create economic growth, reduce prices and
increase demand while also creating new jobs that make up for those that disappear.
• Earlier this year, Reuters reported that Amazon is installing machines that box items before
delivery at some of its fulfillment centers. The plan might be to install two such machines at
"dozens" of warehouses, effectively replacing at least 24 human jobs at each warehouse –
Potentially impacting 1,300 workers in total.

11. 11
Survey Question 2
What warehouse technology has made the biggest impact on
efficiency gains?

12. 12
What Warehouse Technology has Made the Biggest
Impact on Efficiency Gains?
Drones – 9%
Vision Picking – 14%
Robots – 27%
WMS – 50%
(Based on an informal Twitter survey, August 2019. 22
responses)

13. 13
Drones
• According to analysts, 90% of a company's
inventory is stationary in the warehouse and
many companies carry excess inventory because
they don't know what they have or where it's
located. Solving that problem could allow
companies to cut their inventory carrying costs by
billions of dollars.
• In 2016, Walmart began testing aerial
inventory technology at its warehouses.
• Limitations such as the view of inventory is limited
to what the drone can see from beside or above a
rack.

14. 14
Vision Picking
• By using augmented reality technology, this
technology displays the information at the exact
location and time required via a See-Through-
Display. There is no need for additional input
devices.
• Optical picking instructions replace paper,
visual (lights) or voice-based directions
• Fully automatic tracking of lots and serial
numbers
• 100% error-free picking improves quality
control
• User position can be detected through-out
warehouse

15. 15
Robots
• Robots already assist with loading, unloading,
sorting, picking, transportation, storage, delivery
and audits. Robots helping with these tasks come
in all shapes and sizes.
• Amazon has more than 100,000 robots in its
warehouses.
• Walmart plans to soon add more than 3,900
robots to stores across the U.S. The robots
will perform tasks such as scanning products,
sorting shipments, cleaning floors, and
readying online purchases for pickup.
• At its Shanghai fulfillment center, JD.com can
organize, pack and ship 200,000 orders a
day. It employs four people , all of whom
service the robots.

16. 16
WMS
• WMS optimizes the daily planning, organizing,
staffing, directing, and controlling the utilization
of available resources, to move and store
materials into, within, and out of a warehouse,
while supporting staff in the performance of
material movement and storage in and around a
warehouse.
• According to a 2018 WERC survey, WMS
adoption rate is about 70%
• 30% more facilities have implemented a WMS
than in 2008. Almost 35% are still not using one
to manage the warehouse, relying instead on
manual means such as Excel and disparate
modules to run individual functions.

17. 17
Survey Question 3
What’s next for warehousing technology?

18. 18

19. 19
Summary
• Investments in warehouse technologies continues as final customers expect goods faster
• Technologies continue to evolve. Drones, Robots, Vision Picking and WMS are just the tips of
the iceberg. Stay focused and keep up to date with the latest offerings through networking,
conferences, webinars and publications.
• While making up over 50% of inventory costs, workers will still be needed for the foreseeable
future. Competitive pay, good working environment and training opportunities are important for
retention.

20. Q&A
Emily Murphy
With: Moderated by:
Founder and Head Analyst at Logistics Trends &
Insights, LLC.
Linkedin page: /in/cathy-morrow-roberson-lti/
Twitter ID: @cmroberson06
@LogisticsTI
Website: logisticsTI.com
Email: croberson@logisticsTI.com
Cathy Morrow
Roberson
Editor, Aggregage
Linkedin page: /in/Emily-millard-murphy/
Twitter ID: @scbrief
Website: supplychainbrief.com
https://www.supplychainbrief.com/frs/11201614/the-current-state-of-warehouse-technology
https://www.logisticsbrief.com/frs/11201614/the-current-state-of-warehouse-technology