Optimise Operations with Software-Driven Automation

To remain competitive and profitable, warehouses are being pushed to deliver more than ever. Businesses must meet rising customer demands while overcoming challenges like labour shortages and fluctuating inventory levels. Automation offers a clear path forward, but implementing the right strategy can be complex. With over 300¹ automation solutions available, finding the right mix for your operations can be overwhelming. The key is to leverage flexible software that adapts to your changing needs.

The three pillars of software-enabled automation

By focusing on these areas, warehouses can significantly boost throughput, improve labour efficiency and maintain visibility, no matter what the day brings.

Inventory positioning

Inventory positioning, often called slotting, involves strategically placing products to maximise efficiency and productivity within a warehouse. This reduces travel time for workers and ensures high-demand items are easily accessible.

As you see in a grocery store, high-margin and popular items are placed at eye level and on end caps to encourage quick sales. Similarly, in a warehouse, inventory positioning places high-demand items near each other, reducing the time and effort required for picking.

The FORTNA OptiSlot DC^TM software solution takes this concept further by continuously optimising item placement based on real-time data. This can lead to a 13% increase in picking productivity and a 20% reduction in replenishment frequency.

Key benefits of a software solution that prioritises inventory positioning include:

• Increased efficiency: By placing high-demand items in easily accessible locations, pickers can retrieve items faster, reducing overall order fulfillment time.
• Improved throughput: Optimising product placement can lead to a smoother flow of goods through the warehouse, increasing the number of orders processed per hour.
• Reduced labour costs: Slotting efficiency reduces the need for excessive movement, which can lower labour costs and improve worker productivity.

Dynamic slotting is especially useful in today’s fast-paced warehouses. Instead of relying on static inventory placement, software can continually adjust locations based on demand, improving efficiency during peak times.

Resource balancing

Resource balancing ensures both human and automated resources are deployed where they’re needed most. Think of it like adjusting a shift schedule dynamically, reallocating resources to the areas with the highest demand. Recalling our grocery store analogy, if checkout lines are backing up, a worker restocking shelves might be redirected to assist at the register until the need dies down.

For example, when order volumes spike, workers could be temporarily reassigned from other tasks to operate automated systems, increasing throughput in critical areas. Modern software eliminates guesswork by analysing operational data to ensure resources are always optimally assigned.

Some realized benefits of resource balancing include:

• Increased throughput: Ensures that resources consistently work on the highest-priority tasks, maximising output.
• Reduced downtime: By dynamically reallocating resources, downtime is minimised, and productivity is maintained even during peak periods.
• Improved labour efficiency: Workloads are balanced to prevent overburdening workers and ensure that automated systems are used to their full potential.
• Reduced bottlenecks: Ensures the flow of work continues seamlessly, reducing inefficiency, delays and increasing productivity.