EXPERT SPEAK
ROBOTICS AND WMS MUST BE INTEGRATED FOR AGILITY
Many global and regional supply chain organisations are realising in order to realise the full potential of robotics , it has to go hand in hand with a cloud-based WMS platform , explains Vishal Minocha at Infor .
According to Gartner 95 % of supply chain organisations have either invested , or plan to invest , in cyber-physical automation , with a significant proportion of those planning in using intralogistics smart robots . Labour availability constraints are the primary driver behind investments in robotics according to 66 %.
Robotics has commanded headlines for its role in manufacturing and final assembly operations , with some of the world ’ s largest manufacturers reporting massive roboticsled ROI in their quest to automate and innovate across the factory floor .
Robots vary significantly in size , functionality , mobility , dexterity , artificial intelligence , and cost . They can be fixed , mobile or fly , in the form of drones , and increasingly , they are programmed to recognise and learn from their surroundings . Their ability to capture information and make decisions independently , means that they can often perform tasks with little to no human intervention .
Here are three ways that robots can transform the modern warehouse .
Vishal Minocha , Vice President Product Management , Infor
# 1 Robotics-as-a-service
Robotics ’ deployment in the warehouse was , until recently , restricted to only the largest of organisations as they typically came in the form of fixed assets with high price tags . The emergence of roboticsas-a-service has , however , changed the game somewhat , bringing robotics-led innovation to warehouses of all different sizes and profiles . Testament to this , is that robotics is expected to see strong growth over the next five years , particularly within supply chain operations that include lower-value , potentially dangerous or highrisk tasks .
The opportunity for ROI is huge , as travel and movement of goods across the warehouse typically commands the most time and money . And against a backdrop of a global labour shortage , organisations are having to look at ever more creative ways to bridge skills gaps , and robotics represents a pivotal solution in this area .
# 2 Increasing complexity , new models
In the wake of a rise in online shopping , and associated SKU proliferation , merchandise has increased in both volume and diversity .
Labour availability constraints are the primary driver behind investments in robotics .
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