Warehouse inventory monitoring and tracking generates rich data from operations. Enhanced with Bluetooth low-energy beacons and inventory tags that enable data capture and cargo identification down to the item level, RTLS solutions for warehouse management can ensure a continuous flow of real-time information on inventory levels, trucks, cargo, drivers, and location. This factor alone could increase inventory accuracy by up to 95 percent, apart from reducing cases of theft and abuse. Read about Warehouse management
Further benefits of implementing RTLS in warehouse environment include inventory tracking, transit loss, theft, and damage prevention, forecasting demand based on historical sales data, timely detection of load discrepancies, bottleneck identification, workplace safety, environmental conditions, intruder detection, etc.
Industrial IoT also enables inventory tracking, workflow automation for warehouse optimization,, and improving visibility of supply chain logistics. The traditional step-by-step approach to filling purchase orders involves capturing requests via logistics software, allocating existing inventory tracking to the orders, and manually picking them up.
Lowest cost per Sq.ft. Real-time warehouse inventory tracking solutions with up to 2.5-meter accuracy, battery life of 5 years, and reporting 10 minutes. Immensely improves efficiency, and locates inventory, cargo, people, and equipment. Helps in improving storage patterns, and understanding people’s movements to fine-tune workflow. Track forklifts and improve their productivity. Read about indoor tracking solutions
Although industrial RTLS software in the warehouse (track and trace, environment, condition monitoring, worker safety, security) is steadily making its way to storage facilities in Beira, Nairobi, or Singapore, the adoption of connected warehouse systems remains the exception rather than the rule and is mostly driven by the Asia Pacific (APAC) market’s key players. SME companies can benefit much from adopting IoT in the warehouses and government grants can be put to good use here.
In the age of real-time connected objects “everything”, visibility is crucial to ensuring that a company’s supply chain works like a well-oiled machine. IOT-powered factories, African warehouse logistics management, and control applications offer a whole new way to manage production workflow and administer storage space, equipment, tasks, and material flows.
That said, real-time warehouse inventory monitoring and tracking, enabled digital transformation initiatives is largely undermined by slow technology adoption rates.
As mentioned earlier, WMS — which is considered the baseline for implementation of more advanced technology — is still missing from one-third of warehousing facilities. In most cases, companies rely on spreadsheets and standalone software solutions such as pick-to-light or voice-directed picking tools, which do not work in sync.
Furthermore, the cost of implementing custom RTLS solutions — especially across smaller warehouse facilities — often outweighs the benefits. Despite the diminishing price of sensors and greater availability of cloud-based infrastructure solutions, Industrial IoT app development involves integration with third-party devices and services. At the same time, the business logic of web and mobile applications is coded from scratch.
While retail and logistics companies are still struggling to create a holistic RTLS perspective, truly connected warehouse optimization experiences and seamless supply chains are supporting the growing amount of smaller customer orders. The answer might lie in mobile technology and industrial handhelds.
Additionally, potential real-time warehousing inventory tracking and RTLS solutions stretch beyond specific equipment. Smart sensors, for instance, may be incorporated into legacy building management systems to reduce energy consumption, monitor CO2 levels, ambient light, inventory tracking, and forklift safety, or be installed on delivery vehicles to track mileage and driver behavior.
All things considered, it’s safe to say the future of the warehouse is connected. Is your company ready for the change?
Call us to learn more about implementing RTLS software in the warehouse for improved productivity, safety, and compliance.
Also, read about Transport Logistics Software and warehouse inventory monitoring, optimization solutions for the Asia Pacific and African regions