Page 9 - Logistics News April 2021
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Thought Leadership
may be divided into five major phases, inventory and fulfillment status to multiple
each of which offers increasing control and warehouses and distribution centres can help
visibility. here. Likewise, when it comes to last mile
• Enhance individual worker empowerment: delivery, today’s consumers want and expect
Gain basic control and visibility of business next-day services, which means retailers
operations by shifting away from legacy must find a way to deliver if they want to
devices and operating systems (OS) to more keep their customers coming back. This, in
Android mobile computers and scanners turn, demands investment in technologies
with user-friendly interfaces and simple that can provide accurate tracking of both
functionality for data capture. inbound and outbound inventory and visibility
• Improve team mobility and workflow across supply chain touchpoints. Plus, with
optimisation: Further improve operational the return rate of e-commerce purchases far
control and visibility through innovations exceeding that of retail, e-tailers have every
such as wearable mobile computers, ring interest in technologies that increase visibility
scanners and head-up displays that can of reverse logistics and help facilitate the
be associated with communication and returns process.
collaborative software. This easy-to-learn
technology augments workflows to boost Ensuring employee health and safety
productivity. As COVID-19 demonstrated, warehouse
• Increase asset visibility and utilisation: Use operators must also integrate rigorous health,
targeted real-time visibility and location safety and cleaning measures to help mitigate
technology that integrates software as a the need for warehouse closures and avoid
vital piece of the efficiency puzzle. Sensors supply chain interruptions. Bluetooth Low
and radio frequency identification (RFID) Energy technology, which is integrated with
technologies can vastly improve inventory the right hardware and software solutions,
management, yard management and much can provide visibility into the amount of time
more. workers remain in close proximity to one
• Operate with real-time guidance and another and encourage greater distancing.
decision making: Implement the widespread It can also enable organisations to quickly
use of real-time visibility and sensing contact trace if positive cases are confirmed
technology and robotics automation within the facility so that the proper staff
solutions. isolation and disinfection measures may
• Operate with data-driven performance: be taken without requiring a full shift
Achieve predictive and adaptive operations cancellation or warehouse closure.
through prescriptive analytics, sensor-driven
real-time data, robotics automation and Visibility is king
machine learning to anticipate and solve The investment and implementation of
future challenges. new technologies as part of a strategy to
modernise operations across the entire supply
Going beyond the warehouse chain is critical for remaining competitive
When it comes to transportation, today’s in the on-demand economy. These new
challenges include a lack of qualified drivers technologies serve one essential purpose,
and low staff retention, as well as insufficient which is to provide greater visibility and
coordination between warehouse operators, control – both of which help improve
suppliers and customers, which in turn leads efficiency, productivity, responsiveness and
to half-empty delivery trucks, increased performance levels. Though it will take some
traffic congestion and unnecessary air time and effort to achieve an optimised
pollution. Technologies that help capture supply chain, the short- and long-term
and provide complete, real-time visibility of benefits gained will be well worth the effort. •
April 2021 | Logistics News 7
