Robotics and artificial intelligence are on everyone's mind, but many operators don't need that level of technology at this point, says Jason Joachim, chief executive officer of Cargo Spectre.

Development in warehouse technology is growing every year, Joachim says, leaving many warehouse operators uncertain where to start on their investment journey. Of course, the amount of money available to them may largely determine what they purchase or lease. But clearly understanding one’s needs up front is key. While robotics and AI may be nice to have, conveyor systems may be what one’s operation requires. “It depends how complicated you need to get ,and where the savings really are for a dollar,” says Joachim.

So, if a company isn’t ready for robots, what kind of technology should it be looking at? Two things must be done initially, Joachim says. First, determine where the “biggest, most costly press point” is in the warehouse. Second, speaking with warehouse staff about their needs will indicate where to start. “There always seems to be a disconnect between management and the actual warehouse operators and what they have to do all day,” he says. “There’s a ton of low hanging fruit in this space. You don't have to start with robots.”

Additional conveyors, for instance, could save on investment in forklifts and their operators. “It can be something like dimensioning systems. Or something as simple as having two systems talk to each other. That way, a human isn't having to take data from one system and put it into another with a chance of messing that up.”

The benefits of technology investment ride on the accuracy of the initial analysis, however. If done properly, benefits may include savings not just in money but in time, correct data collection and reporting, and accuracy in invoicing.