Cloud Software for Business
Cloud technology is developing at an incredible rate and who knows where it could take the packing supplies industry. In terms of warehouse management and logistics, it is already making a significant difference to the way we pick and store our stock.
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Steve Banker from Forbes Online believes that this is only the start of IoT use in warehouses and has emphasised how changing to the cloud will benefit employers, employees, and customers. Banker claims that:
“Most well-run warehouses have a Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) that depends on upon bar code data. Warehouse floor level operations personnel and warehouse managers execute their tasks based on this data”
A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software application that supports the day-to-day operations in a warehouse. To enhance your organisation’s efficiency your WMS program must hold centralised management of tasks such as tracking inventory levels and stock locations.
The Packaging Industry and Technology
In-store retailers are feeling the wrath of e-commerce businesses. Due to the efficient technology used in warehouses, customers are receiving their packages quicker than ever after adopting “the amazon effect”.
Making your business more central should be on the top of your priority list. Although Cloud software is hosted off-site, virtually, it will manage accounts by accessing the software over the internet.
This future of warehouse management lies in IoT. Cloud technology has massively grown in popularity over recent years and in 2015 it hit its peak in success. Last year’s results proved to be positive for cloud technology as:
- 90 percent of businesses used cloud technology in some capacity in 2015
- 85 percent of users are confident in their provider’s ability to provide a secure environment
- 24 percent of IT budgets will be allocated to cloud solutions in 2015
It is predicted that Amazon will have a 19 percent share of the U.S. apparel market by 2020, which is 6.7 percent up from 2015’s impressive figure. With e-commerce sites like Amazon and eBay moving towards cloud technology, UK retailer Argos has decided to use voice picking in their warehouses. This risk has proved to have been successful as their level of accuracy is going up and pick accuracy error rates have gone down from just over 1 percent to less than 0.3 percent.
Part of Amazon’s success is their use of cloud and robotics. Currently, Amazon is using over 30,000 of these robots in their facilities, but how can this work for your business?
The Future of Warehouse Management
Businesses such as Ferrari’s Packaging have recently installed battery powered, self-propelled robotic wrapping machines. Currently investing in sophisticated technology means it can be used to wrap multiple packaging products.
There are lots of benefits to using this new technology one being that they are much safer than manual stretch wrap machines. These robotic machines are equipped with an active break emergency stop bumper that can bring the machine to a stop under any impact.
Again by using a machine to boost productivity this is creating a more efficient foundation for businesses. For the first few months concentrate on adapting your business by supplying your staff with the digital training they will need. Technology will only keep growing and it will soon become a help rather than a hindrance to your employees.