The realm of modern warehousing is dynamic and demanding. The significance of efficient and seamless storage seems to be kicking in fast, with technology taking its place in the modern warehousing.
Boltless shelving has been a long way coming. For the selected warehouses that were privileged to incorporate boltless technology earlier on, the reviews were rave. The ever-increasing demands of the warehousing industry has necessitated the proprietors to adopt boltless shelving.
There is need for a seamless integration when adopting boltless shelving systems. From the look of things, it is difficult to plan for any shelving and racking without finding the right technology to back it up.
This article will try and touch on the few technologies that are reshaping how warehouses store things.
Automation Integration
As indicated earlier, every warehouse owner wants to automate their facility. The rise in e-commerce has made it necessary to position oneself for quick order fulfillment. In some cases, fast order fulfilment means adopting robots and artificial intelligence to manage inventory and ease order picking.
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are now common in most warehouses. Computers control the ASRS in order to retrieve the inventory automatically. Most high-volume warehouses have adopted ASRS.
Robotics are now finding their way to most warehouses, with the aim of automating cumbersome tasks such as picking, packing, and even palletizing. Robots can work 24/7, handling a wide variety of tasks continuously.
Then there is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Most warehouses want to optimize their efficiency and productivity, and AI algorithms that predict demands are now in use. Interesting, right?
Automation is assisting warehouses to increase efficiency while reducing labor overheads. The inventory management has also gone a notch higher, all credit to proper warehouse automation.
Regardless of how much automation seems to have taken over, rest assured that this is just the beginning. More technology will kick in, leaving room for even more sophisticated automation.
IoT and Smart Shelving
The Internet of Things (IoT) is disrupting most industries, and the warehousing space has not been left out. Since IoT is seamlessly integrating with shelving systems, operational efficiency is becoming eminent.
Boltless shelving systems are making the integration process even more achievable. It is easier to equip boltless shelves with sensors and other communication devices in order to continuously monitor the inventory levels. Real-time data is conversely transmitted to the central management platform where every inventory movement is tracked.
The ability to get real-time inventory movement is key to managers’ decision-making, as they can control stockouts and overstocking easily. The smart shelves automatically detect when an item is added or removed, protecting the management from unusual errors occurring as a result of human judgement.
The best thing about IoT is that it goes beyond inventory management. By keeping in check environmental factors such as humidity, temperatures, and vibrations, IoT has the ability to predict potential shelf failures or even product damage way before it happens. As such, any necessary interventions are done.
IoT integration with smart shelving and racking systems is making warehouses work with higher precision and efficiency. Real-time data helps management optimize storage layouts, reducing any time wastage traditionally associated with warehouses. Eventually, the value of the inventory is maintained.
Sustainable Materials and Design
The environmental concerns continue to escalate. The warehouse industry is embracing available sustainable practices in order to minimize any ecological impact.
Manufacturers are greatly motivated to incorporate eco-friendly materials when fabricating boltless shelves. For instance, recycled steel is getting a lot of traction in place of the original steel. This change is set to reduce energy-intensive mining activities. Similarly, bamboo and reclaimed timbers are also becoming popular because of their eco-friendliness.
Most customers also resonate with the idea of taking care of the environment. As such, manufacturers are incentivized to adopt eco-friendly practices. Adopting sustainable materials also aligns with broader global laws of minimizing waste while reducing natural resource consumption. By extending the shelf lifespan, warehouses will significantly reduce their environmental footprints.
Conclusion
There is a great future for boltless shelving. The technological inventions streaming in require warehouse owners to be prepared, and adopting boltless shelves seems to be the first step of many. It should be interesting to see what technology warehouses adopt next.
