• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power

Robotics market sees accelerated growth amid e-commerce boom

November 12, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

By Steve Richmond, director of logistics systems, Jungheinrich

New use cases for robotics are being identified almost daily. The rapid growth of e-commerce, fuelled in part by necessity from Covid-19 lockdowns, has meant that for many organisations, the requirements for staff and goods is growing at a rate too fast to meet demand – the need for automation is now greater than ever.

With technology advancing rapidly, almost anything can now be automated. And with intelligent navigation and precise picking technology, even items of an odd size, shape or material can be handled by robots.

As this technology becomes increasingly more sophisticated, enabling robots to perform roles with accuracy, consistency and safety front of mind, this has also advanced the ability for robots to communicate with other robots around the facility.

This advancement could not come at a better time as consumer pressure and demand continues to rise, and purchasing behaviours undertake a rapid shift away from the high street. So, how can automation enable organisations to meet changing expectations and cope with future unexpected peaks and troughs in demand?

Logistics is the new retail

There is no doubt that the pandemic has altered consumer buying habits dramatically. With lockdown forcing non-essential retail to shut, and large numbers of the population forced to shield, online was the only option for many.

This transition to e-commerce meant that the shift away from physical stores to digital was accelerated by roughly several in the space of just a few months.

While the “online experience” is still important, brand loyalty has taken a back seat, with speed and convenience now reigning supreme as consumers want what they want, where and when they need it. And this change in behaviour has also resulted in a change to picking processes too.

Whereas for physical stores, this was done by roll cage or pallet volume of product and pushed to store, which has now transitioned to article based delivery to service online orders.

Crucially, the process of correct, on time delivery to the location the consumer needs it, means that data capture is a vital element that must be optimised.

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Electronic Point of Sale Systems (EPOS) linked directly to inventory control, combined with delivery tracking mechanisms, are essential not just for process optimisation, but to meet customer demand and satisfaction.

The pressure is on for organisations to optimise each part of the supply chain, so visibility across the entire spectrum is vital to ensure that areas for improvement are quickly identified and remedied.

A foundation of automation

Negative economic forecasts are fuelling business uncertainty and disruption, however the maturity of automation technology and the promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are enabling a fundamental and exciting transformation in business models.

2020’s e-commerce boom has forced organisations to rethink their entire processes to optimise setups and cope with surges in demand.

With social distancing measures in place, companies are unable to get enough staff to work to the optimum volume within picking areas because they must be adequately spaced apart. And when it comes to productivity levels of picking and packing, 60 percent of the task is taken up with walking between locations, which in itself is redundant labour.

This is where automation has a significant role to play in saving money and boosting productivity. As logistics becomes increasingly integrated into business models and in meeting customer demand for a documented journey of deliveries and returns, warehouse automation technology is now an essential factor.

This is not only to keep up with higher volumes, but to ensure required data is automatically accessible and ready to integrate with the rest of the business.

Furthermore, these advancements in technology are very much underpinning the opportunity to build racking higher and unlock even more vertical space, with lift ability of very Narrow Aisle trucks, mini load, and ASRS (Automatic Storage and Retrieval) continuing to rise.

More organisations are also introducing Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to their warehouses that provide numerous benefits to organisations; saving significant time and money when incorporated within routine operations, as well as improving warehouse efficiencies, reliability and safety.

Changing role of the worker

As automation becomes more commonplace, we will see a shift in worker demand and where workers are deployed. Within the most successful automation environments, humans still have an important role to play.

But by augmenting the human worker with robots that can take on the repetitive or mundane tasks, the human is freed up to take on the more intricate or complex tasks.

Technical individuals will be required to maintain the automated systems so skilled workers will be essential to manage the robotic principle of an estate. Blending skilled resources with automation – including robotics and IoT – will create a smart connected warehouse that will help organisations to increase productivity and manage rising supply chain complexity.

Organisations will need to have the flexibility in place to adapt to unprecedented events to keep their businesses stable.

Even for smaller businesses, not only can automation unlock valuable efficiencies, but can also act as a safety net to help see the company through turbulent economic times, where a lack of staff could have significant knock-on effects.

For example, when the government’s planned legislation to limit visas for “low skilled” workers comes into effect on the 1st January 2021, the consequences for many businesses could be severe. Deploying a level of automation now could go a long way to alleviating the concerns of the future.

Christmas as usual?

The signs are there for a surge in e-commerce orders ready for the Christmas season, with retailers such as Marks and Spencer already reporting huge spikes in Christmas-related searches on its site. But with talk of a second national lockdown in December, it’s going to be anything but a “normal” Christmas this year.

As such, will families forgo the usual volume of gifts? The big family meals and parties over the festive season will be far smaller than usual, so grocery retailers are unlikely to experience the same surge as most years.

But perhaps consumers will purchase even more, and rely on e-commerce to deliver presents far and wide to family and friends they can’t see. Either way, there will be peaks and troughs for all this Christmas.

With so many unknowns, how can organisations that typically rely on a temporary workforce during the usual peak seasons predict what they will need?

With automation, there is less pressure on forecasting as the technology can scale up and down accordingly.

Supply chains which are already under immense pressure caused by an incredibly turbulent environment will begin to show increased strain unless they rely on innovative technologies.

While businesses may still be suffering from a lack of certainty in many areas, an automated solution can enable a safety net strategy, supporting organisations with overall business aims, despite experiencing challenges such as staff shortages and unexpected peaks in demand.

To be successful in these rapidly changing environments, automation will play a key part in this transition to future-proof supply chains. It’s time to send in the robots.

About the author: Steve Richmond is director of logistics systems at Jungheinrich UK, specialising in the design, engineering, installation and project management of fully integrated intralogistics solutions for optimised supply chain efficiency.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Features, Industry Tagged With: automated, automation, business, businesses, changing, christmas, consumer, demand, e-commerce, logistics, organisations, peaks, picking, pressure, robotics, robots, safety, shift, staff, supply, systems, technology, time, usual, warehouse

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Reader Interactions

You must log in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • ABB robots help tackle Covid by automating testing, research and diagnostics
  • Svaya Robotics launches ‘India’s first collaborative robot’
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific partners with Celltrio to build fully automated cell culture system
  • Comau builds robotic welding solution for Daimler Trucks China operation
  • Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases new 3D simulator software
  • Kuka unveils new compact autonomous mobile robot for intralogistics
  • Global autonomous cars market size to reach $16 billion by 2030
  • Volvo invests in Waabi to strengthen autonomous truck offering
  • Hacking Robots: The 5 Threats You Need to Know About
  • AMD launches Kria ecosystem program to help developers bring automation solutions to market faster

Most Read

  • Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
    Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse
  • Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
    Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
    UPS and Gap units partner to offer ‘unmatched automation and supply chain capabilities’ to apparel merchants
  • DHL becomes first to install Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot to unload trucks
    DHL becomes first to install Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot to unload trucks
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
    The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
  • What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire
    What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • ABB robots help tackle Covid by automating testing, research and diagnostics
  • Svaya Robotics launches ‘India’s first collaborative robot’
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific partners with Celltrio to build fully automated cell culture system
  • Comau builds robotic welding solution for Daimler Trucks China operation
  • Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases new 3D simulator software
  • Kuka unveils new compact autonomous mobile robot for intralogistics
  • Global autonomous cars market size to reach $16 billion by 2030
  • Volvo invests in Waabi to strengthen autonomous truck offering
  • Hacking Robots: The 5 Threats You Need to Know About
  • AMD launches Kria ecosystem program to help developers bring automation solutions to market faster

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

November 2020
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« Oct   Dec »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT