As we tackle the global pandemic era of warehouse management, many are starting to question if we require a new breed of manager to navigate our faster-moving environment.
As vaccines roll out more broadly, and countries begin to get the coronavirus under control, attention will turn to the recovery and a return to normal operations. The supply chain will play an integral role in this effort, and will itself emerge in a different shape, with COVID-19 leaving a lasting legacy on many areas of transportation and warehousing.
Early forms of wearable devices have been popular in warehouses and distribution centers for a number of years. But the technology is growing rapidly in sophistication and application.
Automation was proceeding at a rapid pace in many factories and warehouses before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now, however, concerns over worker health, the need for social distancing, and the relentless push for cost-cutting are accelerating the progress of robots for order fulfillment.
Control towers are taking on an increasingly vital role in modern-day warehouses, powered by advances in artificial intelligence, says Kevin Reader, director of business development and marketing with Knapp.