The archetypal warehouse is undergoing a huge transformation, but there are risks to growth that need to be addressed. Robotics and digitalisation could hold the key to boosting capacity.
THE WAREHOUSE has become a powerhouse for fulfilment, whether it be replenishing retail stores, feeding just-in-time manufacturing lines or serving a discerning customer base directly through ecommerce.
Demands placed upon the performance of the warehouse have ratcheted up considerably over the past ten years as decision makers have come to realise the critical role the warehouse plays in delivering on the ‘customer promise’.
Immediacy is now a commercial imperative. Sales can be won or lost on availability, speed of despatch and proximity to the customer. Short lead times and late cut-offs play a decisive role in winning and retaining customers, along with brand reputation that can be enhanced or diminished by the speed and efficiency with which returns are processed and refunds managed.
