Like it or not, warehousing and warehouse management is evolving exponentially through technology and new workplace trends. Some of these advancements have just come to fruition, while others will make an impact in the years to come. Either way, you should be aware and prepared for the future of warehousing. Let’s talk about a few.

So, what is Big Data and why should you care?

“Put simply, big data is larger, more complex data sets, especially from new data sources. These data sets are so voluminous that traditional data processing software just can’t manage them. But these massive volumes of data can be used to address business problems you wouldn’t have been able to tackle before.” – Oracle

The power of businesses to analyze massive amounts of data is matched only by their ability to collect it. This power to collect data comes from advancements in tools like barcode scanners, RFID scanners, GPS, and pretty much anything that is related with IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things).

Big data isn’t just about tracking inventory and sales trends, however. Employees using wearable technology give employers data to see how they are moving around the warehouse, what routes they could take to improve their performance and so on. Having this data opens up the opportunity to add other technology to the flow like automated guided vehicles (AGV) for example.

From Boomers to Millennials, A new warehouse management mentality.

Growing up with technology in use by warehouses today (smartphones, tablets, and cloud computing) , Millennials are uniquely poised to take warehouses and warehouse management into the next generation of technology advances and efficiency. Additionally, Millennials will bring a sense of environmental and social consciousness to warehousing. The use of “green” materials and a more transparent supply chain management for example. Also, they have a comfort level with being “always on” that warehouses may require.

Blockchain affects warehousing in a number of ways.

Companies with efficient warehouses will be able to more efficiently integrate blockchain practices and technologies that promote transparency, scalability, better real-time access, and lower costs per transaction. This is already happening with new adopters daily.

Warehouses in many cases were self-contained ecosystems that were primarily concerned with what was currently on their shelves, and little else. Now with the rise of a global supply chain and the need to track packages from origin to the doorstep, warehouses need to stay connected to every other link of the chain.

Warehouse management out of the box thinking.

Companies are realizing that they need to be closer to major urban centers than ever before. The most troublesome and costly part of delivering a package to a consumer is “the last mile,” and warehouses are looking to close that gap by building closer to the people they’re delivering to.

New warehouse design changes include column spacing, ceiling height, and materials that promote sustainability.

Warehouses might not even be in buildings. Amazon has filed patents for some wild new warehouse designs, including in blimps, underwater, and underground. Crazy, right?

Bottom Line.

New trends in warehousing are emerging as quickly as new trends in technology and workplace efficiency are. Expect to see the advent of these trends accelerate with new discoveries and bold new directions in business.

One of the strengths of working with a developer like Coolearth Software is our solutions are modular and flexible to take on today’s challenges and tomorrows. Investing in a warehouse management solution is critical to the bottom line. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a company that can’t grow with your industry and company. Contact us to learn more of what we can do for you and your big data stream necessary to be successful.