Scenario-thinking is essential when scaling warehouse automation

Despite geopolitical turbulence, inflation and economic uncertainties, the world keeps turning and many logistics operations are growing alongside it. While it is good news that logistics growth continues, companies are being more cautious. This makes it more important than ever to ensure that your business can scale up.

Modular solutions are a good way to make sure that you can adapt to changes. Naturally, they must deliver immediate value and provide a foundation for future growth. As a neutral integrator, we specialise in supplying and seamlessly integrating various automation solutions.

Involve customers in scenario thinking

Logistics companies and freight forwarders with their own storage facilities consult us for advice on various matters, including scalability. In many cases, we involve customers in scenario thinking. If scalability and flexibility are important, there will be various scenarios that can lead to the desired outcome. The expected situation for the next two years is important, but you must always consider long-term growth.

Working through all those scenarios will help you to see the direction. It will also show you the available options. After that, you will know the extent to which automation can support scaling, which is an important consideration.

It is easy to extend

An AutoStore, as well as AMRs and pallet shuttle systems, are perfect examples of an automation solution that is extensible. These systems are designed to enhance the flexibility of logistics operations. An ROI of 24 months is often achievable. This helps the user to then think about growing the business and having money coming in to take the next steps. These solutions are made particularly useful by the ability to add storage or pick capacity by adding more storage units, robots or workstations without operational disruption being caused.

The enormous storage density of an AutoStore system is what makes it unique. Often, only 25 percent of the normal warehouse floor space is needed. This creates room for further growth. While space in an existing operation is often considered a fixed factor, smart automation actually creates new possibilities. This provides extra capacity where it is needed most, optimising processes and effortlessly supporting the organisation’s growth.

AutoStore scenario providing a clear picture of the direction and the available options.

Conveyor, AMR or pick-robot as extension

When it comes to scaling warehouse automation, there are plenty of options besides extra storage capacity and packaging machines. For example, a conveyor or AMR system can make the input and output of bins around a storage system more efficient. Weight control and product scanning can also be added. An increasing number of companies want a positive barcode scan as an additional order-picking process and product confirmation. Some of our customers have added a pick robot to their AutoStore installation afterwards, which can replace an operator 24/7. If that works well, more pick robots follow at the other workstations.

Autonomouse Mobile Robots scenario providing a clear picture of the direction and the available options.

Software, cameras and AI

A powerful Warehouse Control System (WCS) makes controlling all scaling options easy, even if they originate from various suppliers. Our in-house developed LogiCS WCS seamlessly links the various subsystems and products to each other and integrates them into one working solution. The possibilities are endless. By adding camera systems and AI into processes, even more control, efficiency and process optimisation opportunities emerge.

AutoStore scenario providing a clear picture of the direction and the available options.

Automation is clearly the best option

We expect the adoption of warehouse automation solutions to continue growing in the coming years. This is mainly because it makes operations more flexible. Furthermore, there is still scope for improvement in terms of penetration rate. An increasing number of options are available to support logistics processes that currently depend mostly on manual activities, and these can be automated. In the current tight labour market, automation is the obvious choice.