When it comes to automation in cold-chain warehouses, many people think it’s all about robotics. But the information systems are the ones that orchestrate robotic and human tasks and plan loading, unloading, and storage. Information systems share data among disparate platforms to make sure they are all operating in tandem. The ultimate goal is to automate decision-making and information systems to facilitate the analysis of data that allows tandem operation to happen.
For cargo owners that require cold storage, the automation of warehouse activities and processes is not one-size-fits-all. Logistics operators need to evaluate their customers’ attributes and requirements and tailor solutions accordingly. One of the primary objectives of automation in the cold chain is to keep human workers out of the freezer, where temperatures can reach -30 degrees Fahrenheit, making them difficult to staff. Cold-chain operators also endeavor to automate repetitive tasks in the warehouse. Tasks like manual case picking — moving boxes from one area of the warehouse to another — are the sort that should be automated. Automating repetitive tasks frees up team members to perform more meaningful work.
In automated cold-storage warehouses, WMS, automated receiving technologies, computer vision systems, algorithms, visibility platforms and machine learning capabilities all work in tandem to create end-to-end process and decision-making automation. Both logistics providers and shippers and receivers of goods stand to benefit from cold-chain automation.
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