How is distribution changed by new technologies

As you consider upgrading, migrating or adding to your supply chain technology, you should consider a few important things. There should be tangible value and reporting to prove its effectiveness.

Technology continues to advance with upgrades in accuracy, detail, capability, speed and more. As upgrades to software and logistics technologies improve, distributors can continue to implement effective systems in order to further reduce lead times and inventories as well as their associated costs.

Experts Since Supply Chain Innovators. Search for:. Whitepapers Infographics. June 20, by Robert Victor. June 20, by Robert Victor Robert Victor. For example, a client could ask a digital assistant how much inventory they have in the warehouse without having to call and ask someone there. Companies could also ask digital assistants where a delivery truck is, all without having to call and interrupt the driver.

It makes for a smoother and less disruptive way of communicating. Bots are simply software applications that run automated tasks over the Internet. They perform simple tasks but much faster than a human can. For distributors, bots give your clients the ability to communicate with you online. For example, a customer support bot can give your clients information about their order even if the office is closed or busy.

Bots are also a great way to reach new clients. They can provide potential customers with information and increase overall sales. While bots are best left to perform simple tasks such as communication, they help reduce the workload on your employees so that they can focus on more important tasks. Technology has always impacted how businesses operate.

With each new technological invention, the distribution industry goes through a change. People have been worried about technology replacing human workers for years.

Distribution companies that learn to adopt these new technologies will be the ones to pull ahead. The truth is that most people are already using these technologies in their daily lives. Embracing them in the commercial world will provide more effective communication and workflow. Contact us today to learn how Traffix will use these technologies to provide your company with better distribution and logistical services!

Machine Learning Machine learning sounds scarier than it is. Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence AI is the technology people get most scared about.

They promise more flexibility and a potentially lower price point than investments in conveyors and sorters. And they can be married with the GTP systems mentioned above to form highly-efficient goods-to-robot solutions. Drones scan pallets and boxes inside the distribution center to get a more accurate inventory counts and cut down on this labor-intensive task. And technologies that automatically load and unload trailers are getting more sophisticated.

And technologies that load and unload mixed-SKU pallets are being more widely implemented. And there are emerging technologies to make workers more productive, like augmented reality systems that guide forklift operators to the right pallet and workers to the right bin, and exoskeletons to be worn by workers to give them greater strength and endurance when moving products.

Visionary companies are making investments in distribution technologies to gain competitive advantage. But emerging technologies are not for everyone.

A thorough cost-benefit analysis is needed to make sure the value is there for an operation. As these technologies become more capable and less expensive, they will be adopted by more companies and move into mainstream use.