| |AUGUST 20189CIOReviewAdvanced warehouses use a combination of robotic and computer vision to track and manage inventorySmart Inventory ManagementSimilar to the picking process, several warehouses use old school methods such as manually entering the inventory in excel or warehouse management systems after capturing the inventory details at the entry/exit point and inside the warehouse. Some warehouses use barcode as some sort of automation to improve the inventory management process. The inventory management and asset tracking can be smartified using RFIDs that provide advanced method of maintaining inventory control. These RFIDs replace the paper labels and RFID scanners are capable of detecting goods as they leave/enter warehouses and can even identify the packages without a direct line of sight.Advanced warehouses use a combination of robotic and computer vision to track and manage inventory. These warehouses use drone based inventory system where a drone either fully automated or controlled by a warehouse worker fly through the warehouse and collect the inventory. The drones can use RFIDs to capture the inventory or computer vision to read the SKUs. Smart LightingLighting accounts for the majority of energy expenses in the warehouse. The typical high ceilings in the warehouse requires powerful lights to illuminate all corners of the warehouse and to guarantee the safety and performance while operating forklifts and other machinery. These powerful lights, especially those that shine on aisles of warehouses, plays a big role in energy consumption. The warehouse lighting can be smartified by using energy saving LED luminaries with advanced controls. These intelligent lighting detects peoples, vehicles and adjusts lighting to the right levels automatically. These smart lights use IOT devices with presence detection and dimming capabilities provides right amount of lighting when and where needed. They automatically adjust the light levels based on the ambient light. These smart lighting infrastructure improves warehouse operations, promotes worker safety and productivity and reduces energy costs.Almost all large warehouses use some kind of Warehouse Management Systems for their control and execution. Now-a-days these management systems provide intelligence capabilities. Unfortunately, each warehouse operation is unique and these generic management systems' intelligence capabilities may not efficiently support these unique requirements. One solution is to build a smart system that not only takes care of all the warehouse intelligence capabilities but also integrate with several disparate warehouse management systems and provide a holistic solution. This approach will smartify warehouses independently without any limitations.Today's technology can turn your warehouse into a smart warehouse. These emerging technologies monitor, predict the present, future and help the warehouse managers to be on proactive instead of reactive. This smartification can have ripple effect throughout the supply chain. It improves the warehouse's efficiency and reduces cost. Even though these technologies are not mature enough today for mass adoption, but early adopters will have edge over others and will have promising future. Sometimes adopting these technologies today can be a survival for tomorrow. Prasanna Kumar Pattam
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