• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Advertise
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Features list
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsor an article
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Editorial Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Press releases
  • Events

3 Tips for Successfully Integrating AI in Warehouse Automation

December 8, 2022 by Mark Allinson

AI is becoming an increasingly essential tool for fulfillment or distribution warehouse operations. Most 3PLs (third-party logistics companies) and distribution centers won’t be able to meet industry standards for speed and accuracy within a few years unless they integrate AI and ML into their warehouse automation.

But, like all technologies, successful AI integration depends on a clear understanding of what it can and can’t do to improve warehouse operations. Here are three tips to help you use AI effectively in a warehouse setting.

1. Understand not just the ‘what’ but the ‘why’ of warehouse AI applications

Adding AI to your warehouse automation can bring valuable efficiencies, such as better picking methods and routes, improved warehouse layout, and shorter order fulfillment times.

But, before you throw AI into the mix, it’s critical to understand your pain points and where to best apply artificial intelligence.

For example, suppose two 3PL warehouses struggle with lagging order fulfillment times. In the first warehouse, the current automation solution can’t keep up with a high SKU count combined with inventory velocities that shift based on complex external factors.

Adding AI to the mix will give the 3PL increasingly accurate projections to allocate shelf space and locate SKUs for maximum slotting efficiency. Problem solved by AI.

However, in the second 3PL warehouse, poor management has led to high turnover and low employee morale. Inexperienced staff make frequent mistakes, and managers lose a great deal of time training new hires.

In this case, the problem is personnel management, which needs to be solved before determining the best application for AI.

2. Optimize your workforce

In many warehouses, robots, drones, moveable shelving, and other warehouse automation have reduced the number of workers needed to complete operations and increased efficiency for those that remain.

However, today’s warehouses still rely on a human workforce. An essential element of successful warehouse AI is using it to enhance the work of your staff.

For instance, staffing needs in different areas may fluctuate throughout the day as stock arrives at the facility and orders ship out. Calculating labor demand in a vast warehouse may be too complex for a manager to do in real-time, but AI is up to the challenge, allowing your warehouse management to move at the speed of commerce.

3. Trust your automated systems – but verify

Humans make decisions based on a few factors; AI is capable of decision-making that accounts for thousands of variables. That makes AI a powerful tool for warehouse automation and one that can lead to novel strategies to increase the speed of operations.

In a fast-paced distribution or eCommerce fulfillment environment, you must rely on AI tools that optimize your day-to-day operations. However, analytics is key to long-term success in adding AI to your warehouse automation.

Compare performance in successive periods, before and after adding AI to the mix, to determine whether your systems need further tuning and if your AI application is appropriate. As your operations and industry standards inevitably change, expect to make changes over time.

The question is not whether to integrate AI into warehouse automation but how best to do it. Investing time and resources into smart warehouse AI will quickly pay operational dividends.

About the author: Jake Rheude is the Vice President of Marketing for Red Stag Fulfillment, an eCommerce fulfillment warehouse that was born out of eCommerce. He has years of experience in eCommerce and business development. In his free time, Jake enjoys reading about business and sharing his own experience with others.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Related stories you might also like…

Filed Under: Automation Tagged With: ai, automation, operations, warehouse

Primary Sidebar

Search this website

Latest articles

  • Dexterity and Kawaski partner to produce ‘world’s first intelligent robot arm’
  • Terhoeven unveils ‘world’s first’ fully automated line for reinforcing steel mesh
  • Autonomous electric truck company Einride to adopt hands-free charging solutions from Rocsys
  • AMD to sell its ZT Systems server manufacturing business to Sanmina for $3 billion
  • Lab automation: How AI and robotics are accelerating drug discovery
  • Recovering Surveillance Footage: Stellar Photo Recovery in Automated Security Systems
  • What are AI agents and what do they do?
  • Distributed intelligence: Using AI to manage power
  • Levels of intelligence: Navigating the future of AI, from robotic arms to autonomous cars
  • Superwood: A potentially revolutionary material that could replace steel

Secondary Sidebar

Copyright © 2025 · 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