You know that not having a healthy operation in your Distribution Center can considerably affect your production, and if you are already evaluating an automated warehouse, it is better that you be aware of the following situations. Obtain a return of your investment with these fundamental premises.
When is it necessary to integrate an automated warehouse into your operation?
Although it is true that the more automated your Distribution Center is, the better results you will have, however, to meet expectations, some situations must be considered. For example:
- Reduction of warehouse spaces. If there was a reduction in space in your Distribution Center, take advantage of the technology of an automated warehouse and do not lose efficiency of the operation.
- Ergonomics in the process of storage/assortment of materials. There are materials that do not have a fixed and adequate place and that due to lack of space are found in other locations that generate production problems. If you experience this situation constantly, an automated warehouse will help to drastically reduce this problem.
- Consider safety for materials, tools or finished product. As incredible as it may seem, many times everything is considered except the safety and care of the materials. This point is key to choosing a suitable solution.
- Control over inventories. Sometimes a lot of investment in inventories generates unnecessary expenses. Analyze this variable, so that the automated warehouse can meet your real needs.
- Problems with operation times. If you need to improve the times of warehouse processes, from inputs to outputs or assortment, an automated warehouse could be an effective ally.
- Loss of materials and/or ant robbery. Many clients come to us somewhat ashamed of this situation, and if it happens to you too, don't worry, because it is more common than you think. Fortunately, this vulnerability is nullified by integrating an automatic warehouse, which gives you wide visibility of the products.
How to integrate an automated warehouse efficiently?
Now, if you already know that you need an automated warehouse, you should follow certain protocols/good practices that will help the integration to be successful. Some tips that we share with you are:
- Software ERP o WMS. Since most clients manage their processes with ERP or WMS systems, it is important to have an application or software that allows effective intercommunication in real time between the client's system and the automated storage system.
The importance lies in the ability of the software to communicate; in other words, it has to have a wide range of bidirectional communication protocols, as well as information transfer methods.
- Be clear about the scope. The probability of this happening is minimal, but there is always the possibility that all your expectations will not be achieved, and this happens when there is no clarity about the scope of the project (from the beginning).
Today, you must consider as a "must", to make clear the set of needs and your supplier must provide that certainty, including a simulation of the automated warehouse. Remember that false expectations occur when you want the automated warehouse to execute tasks that are out of its scope, in most cases these tasks are the responsibility of the users.
- Support. One of the most difficult things to obtain is the customers´ trust and the certainty that you are the right option for an intelligent automatic storage project, and that can only be achieved with adequate follow-up and 100% honesty and transparency.
At G.I.Eicom we are known for working on a genuine sense of helping you to improve your processes, offering a project that generates value beyond the business. Our consultants become your best support.
Finally, we want you to know that by integrating an automated warehouse, you will be able to see the ROI within a period of 6 months to a year, so you are certain that the technology works, and greatly helps your intralogistics results.
Let's schedule an appointment, share your contact information and get to know the most robust automated warehouses on the market.
