Monica Hernandez

Warehousing historically hasn’t been a particularly exciting topic. But times have changed. Thanks to technological innovations, warehouse automation has made the receiving, housing, and distributing of goods truly fascinating stuff. At Supply Chain Now, we spotlight companies doing exciting things throughout the industry. In modern warehousing, the innovations garnering attention include systems integrations involving robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI); the use of optical character recognition (OCR) technology in yard management; an “elegant” automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS); and a solution called Chuck. Warehousing at a Crossroads: Innovation for Efficiency “The warehousing industry is experiencing a technological revolution, with advancements in automation, robotics, IoT, AI, and data analytics transforming operations and driving efficiency. These innovations are not just enhancing operational capabilities but are also paving the way for smarter, more connected, and efficient warehouse environments,” an October report by Taiwan-based logistics property developer ALP said. ALP said AS/RSs, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and robotics “are at the forefront of the smart warehousing revolution. These systems enhance efficiency, reduce labor costs, and improve accuracy.” AI and Robotics: A New Frontier for Modern Warehousing A Forbes Council post in November said that “one of the most visible impacts of AI and…

The ecommerce industry has been steadily growing over the last few years, accelerated by the Coronavirus pandemic which led to a surge in demand for online products and services. This is great news for online retailers; however, as we know, competition online is fierce. Retailers who aren’t offering an exceptional customer experience risk losing their business to a competitor. A key part of a great customer experience is delivery and returns, and customer expectations in this area are high. 60% of consumers will buy again from a retailer if they were satisfied with the delivery. Returns are equally important and 78% of consumers consider the quality of a returns service when choosing where to shop. Customers know what they want, and they will choose stores based on where they will get the best experience. However, not all customers are the same. Offering a personalised e-commerce experience that meets customer expectations is vital in the right to acquire and retain today’s digital customer where customer loyalty is only as good as the last shopping experience. The Custom Approach to Delivery and Returns When it comes to delivery, retailers who think a “one size fits all” approach will work underestimate the needs…