Humanless warehouses: How COVID-19 has accelerated warehouse automation

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By Cory Levin, director of business development with Air Sea Containers The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way warehouses operate and, with the help of shifting consumer preferences, will spur new opportunities for automation. Warehouses large and small are increasingly turning to automation to maintain social distancing and reduce the number of staff that have to physically come to work. Let’s explore how… Rise of the robots Robots are widely used to perform tasks workers can’t do at home. In South Korean facilities, for example, robots are being used to measure temperatures and administer hand sanitizer. With health experts warning that social distancing measures will need to remain in place until 2021, the trend of automating warehouses is likely to continue and accelerate. Many logistics experts agree that automation will play a key role in the post-pandemic workplace as warehouses begin to adjust to social distancing. Fewer workers on premises mean that warehouses are reliant on automated technology to help get orders out the door. Robot picking is three to five times more efficient than manual solutions , as robots make fewer errors and provide greater flexibility on the warehouse floor where social-distancing measures would otherwise be a hindrance. Robotic solutions have also been put to work sanitizing warehouse facilities to eliminate the threat of COVID-19. Robots that administer chemical sprays and ultraviolet light can be used by warehouse facilities for deep-cleaning without the need for human cleaning crews. Goods-to-person robotics minimize the contact employees have with warehouse inventory. Programmable carts can take items directly to packing stations. Robots are becoming easier to program, even more so than some traditional automation systems, allowing warehouse facilities to better cope with demand. New technologies in the warehouse Amazon and Walmart are at the forefront of warehouse automation. Amazon began automating its […]