Flexible automation will play a growing role of in warehouse operations. As the industry shifts towards more adaptable, AI-enhanced solutions, businesses will gain the agility needed to stay competitive in an increasingly dynamic market.

Warehouse operations face unprecedented challenges, including rising labor costs, low unemployment, fluctuating demand, and increasing customer expectations across B2B and B2C channels. The self-optimizing warehouse — driven by advanced warehouse execution systems (WES) powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning — represents a revolution in fulfillment efficiency. 

The AI system can provide insights into best practice operating procedures for procurement advisors, as well as data on product forecasts for suppliers. 

Warehouse management technology over the past 10 years has come a long way in terms of wrangling some order into inventory and order management processes.

Companies need technology that not only improves order fulfillment metrics, but helps retain workers by making it easier to hit productivity targets, and to stay engaged.

Food-grade warehouse maintenance requires exceptional attention to detail, a commitment to strict regulatory compliance, and a proactive approach to quality management.

In this Back to the Future Report learn how new systems powered by machine learning (ML) can provide daily warehouse storage slotting change recommendations that can be executed on a daily basis.

Andrew Jackson, North America business development manager with AutoStore, details the right and the wrong way to automate a modern-day warehouse.