One of the most important areas for Directors or Managers in a distribution center is the implementation of automated systems that are more strategic and speed up, control, and add value for their customers.
This issue presents the five most important qualities that a fine Intralogistics automation supplier should have.
Verify that your supplier has all of them.
1.- Intelligent Solutions Design
It is a priority for your supplier to have sound knowledge regarding technologies involved in distribution centers. General engineering knowledge in all areas is essential, which includes a correct analysis of industrial engineering, mechatronics, robotics, IT; etc. Such knowledge and an in-depth analysis of your operation and information will derive in the automation system that best adapts to your needs and that provides the most competitive advantages.
When speaking of conceptualization, we focus on the productivity provided by new systems, along with the way in which such adapt to other technologies.
2.- Simulations
The supplier of your choice should also have the flexibility to create solution simulations under a prior analysis. These simulation are created through the use of specialized software, which allows reviewing the characteristics of the current reception, stock, handling, management, assortment, and shipping operations (seasonality data, amounts, flows, peak days and weeks, build-ups, rotations; etc) with the proposed automation resources.
It is a real, but virtual, operation of the distribution center. These simulations may even generate flows with various variables, as requested by the customer, as well as reviewing how would the system react to unexpected crisis.
Simulation is a vital weapon for the supplier to provide certainty to the customer that his operations will be safe and generate the expected productivity.
3.- Solution Implementation
Another relevant factor when considering a proper supplier is the ability to implement the proposed solution.
It is hard to fine reliable suppliers that have all the technological tools to implement solutions in distribution centers. It is also common for clients to find companies in Latin America with efficient solutions proposals but that, at the end of the day, only serve as business offices. This means, they work from a different part of the planet and, thus, fail to make a precise assessment of the needs, or find it hard to implement the solution, since such does not always respond to their needs.
Why is it better for the supplier to be a local vendor? Due to the deep analysis a local supplier can make of the client needs. The cultural features, local regulations, allowed and restricted operations depending on the country, general characteristics of the operators to ensure a solution according to the basic needs, available resources, regulations, and culture in which such solution is implemented should be clearly understood.
4.- Solution Support
It should be expected from the supplier to have a team of prominent associates: an engineering team specifically assigned to the project, including IT, control, mechatronics, among many others. This team is essential not only to create the solution and implement it, but also to guarantee, by means of post-sale support, that the investment works efficiently now and always.
Such support area should serve as service outsourcing, once completed the warranty period. Thus, it will provide immediate response times, continuous training for all employees that support the system on site, and will remain attentive to any necessary updates and modernizations; along with providing reassurance on preventive and corrective support.
5.- Independence of the proposed technologies
Special care must be given to ensuring your supplier focuses on consulting, engineering, and support.
The supplier should be capable of combining software and hardware to create a true solution when closing such virtuous cycle with the use of a dedicated post-sale support scheme.
If your supplier has these five features, you will have an optimal operational cycle, since the same supplier will update with improvements, suggestions, and problem resolution; thus positioning your organization as a cutting-edge, highly-competitive choice. Any decision made without sound previous analysis may lead to operational and economic crisis.
