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How COVID-19 Will Affect Warehouse Technologies in 2021 and Beyond

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COVID-19 saw a dramatic change in the way that people interact and shop across the globe. Few sectors felt the wake of COVID-19 as hard as the warehousing and restaurant sectors. But while restaurants saw their demands dramatically decrease, many warehouses could scarcely keep up with demand. 2021 and the post-COVID world is going to see warehouse technologies changing.

In General, Warehouses Will Be Doing More With Less

Warehouses are going to continue seeing increased activity as people continue to make purchases online. Many people simply got used to having everything delivered to them during COVID and they aren’t going to go back to the shops. Brick-and-mortar retailers are likely to see decreased sales while online stores and eCommerce will see increased sales. But to keep their profit margins and logistics tight, warehouses are going to be meeting a lot of this demand through automation and process improvement, rather than increased hiring.

Many Industries Will Turn Toward Warehousing in Light of eCommerce

Grocery stores, as an example, are starting to move toward cold warehousing services rather than brick-and-mortar stores that can be browsed. Stores that have traditionally operated as a showroom, such as appliance stores or even mattress stores, may find themselves turning into warehouses and focusing on their eCommerce presence. This will again increase the need for warehouses and reliable warehouse technology.

Companies Will Be Providing Workers With AR Capabilities

While many warehouses are going to automate, they will likely still rely upon workers for key processes. These workers are very likely to be using heads-up displays, augmented reality, sensors, and other always-present IoT technologies. AR can lead pickers directly to items, keep a running tally of the items already picked, and track core metrics about user performance. Augmented reality can help individuals not only complete their jobs faster but avoid error. AR was already moving toward this direction, but the need for faster, more accurate operations during COVID-19 will likely fuel adoption.

Machine Learning and Simulations Will Be Used to Improve Operations

Logistics becomes a real problem when warehouses start to do so much more. Warehouses and logistics and shipping companies in general are going to be increasingly using machine learning and simulations to improve upon their processes and operations. Warehouses can create complete clones of themselves inside of a virtual space to simulate how different inventorying, picking, and shipping operations could work, thereby identifying the methods that are most effective without having to test the solutions out in real-time.

While the pandemic may eventually wane, the consequences of it may amplify. COVID served as an accelerant, forcing many changes to occur faster than they otherwise would — but these were changes that were already in the works.

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How the Coronavirus Changed Warehouse Management and Design

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COVID-19 seemed to have come out of nowhere. In fact, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, warehouses were pressed to keep workers safe. They needed to stay open, but they needed to do it safely. In the beginning, no one knew how hard this pandemic would hit, but there was time to learn what worked and what didn’t work and warehouses are now better able to design a system that keeps inventory flowing and workers safe.

Warehouses across the country, including KACO Warehouse in Arizona, have had to rethink their business models to stop COVID-19 from spreading in the workplace. For example, warehouses have altered their design to accommodate social distancing. Without these measures, warehouses would not be able to stay open. Other ways warehouses are staying safe is by mask-wearing, temperature checks, and taking a fresh look at sick leave policies. This safety issue has been going on since March and since then, warehouses have implemented a number of safety precautions, one of which is rigorously cleaning tractors and forklifts, something that will likely continue once the pandemic is gone.

When it comes to redesigning warehouse space, it is all about how the workers navigate the warehouse and maintain six feet of social distancing while they’re working or on break and technology is helping. There are algorithms that know when employees are maintaining social distancing in warehouse aisles, along with cameras that are linked to a central hub. This technology is not there to spy on workers but to use algorithms to create safe routes for workers to follow when storing or accessing inventory. This technology goes so far to know when an employee is not working up to their capacity, which could be a sign they’re sick.

All of this came at a time when e-commerce began to skyrocket and that’s even before the holidays hit. With people in lockdown and not out shopping, we saw a huge spike in demand in 2020. In order to keep up with this demand, warehouses needed to implement safety measures and quickly. E-commerce sales before 2020 even ended jumped from 80 million to over 200 million. And the trend is not slowly down. Purchasing online is now the first option for many people locked down and needing supplies.

With no sign of the pandemic slowing down, the new safety measures implemented in warehouses across the country will remain for the unforeseeable future. There’s no reason to scrap them anytime soon. For most warehouses across the country, these new business models have worked. Consumers have no idea what has had to go on behind the scenes to make sure they received their delivery. Warehouses have had to make a lot of changes to stay in business, but it has certainly been worth it both for the companies and or consumers.

 

Warehouse Safety Notice for Post-Covid Return

Post-Covid 19 in your Warehouse: Top Safety Priorities

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The Covid-19 pandemic has changed a lot about our world, particularly in the way companies do their business. Many consumer are choosing to stay away from businesses to prevent exposure and more companies are allowing their employees to work from home. When it comes to working in warehouses, it’s no different. However, many of your employees will still need to physically do their jobs, which is why it’s important for companies that use warehouses to take the proper steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees. The following practices will help you give your warehouse employees peace of mind when they head into work each day.

Review Risk Assessments

While your previous risk assessments may have worked just fine, there’s a new normal so they need to be reassessed by today’s standards. First and foremost, you need to determine how to minimize or eliminate the risk of contracting the virus in your warehouse. This includes reducing the possible routes of transmission that may exist in your current processes. While PPE equipment can help, wherever possible, it’s better to provide Plexiglass partitions and the ability to socially distance wherever possible. Your employees’ input can be an invaluable part of this process. It’s also a good time to review and revamp cleaning processes, using the right cleaning agents, particularly on high-contact surfaces.

Check Supply Chain Safety

In the warehouse industry, it’s not just about your warehouse; it’s also about your supply chain. Talk to your vendors about their own precautions surrounding Covid-19 and make sure they’re taking the appropriate steps as well. Let them know what you’re doing to keep everyone safe and how that applies to their interactions with you. This will prevent more serious discussions down the line if something goes wrong.

Ensure Safety on All Shifts

Many warehouses have fire marshalls and employees trained in first aid to ensure the safety of all workers. When choosing who to furlough or allow to work from home, make sure you have these qualified individuals onsite during each shift. You may be able to reduce their numbers, but there should be someone present on all shifts so those who are still working at your physical location are protected.

Control Goods Going In and Out

Whether you deal with customer returns or it’s simply the delivery process, reducing points of contact is a must. While this isn’t fully possible for warehouses, limiting interactions and putting precautions in place will help keep everyone safer. Social distancing, proper cleaning and protective barriers are just part of this process. You may also have to isolate any goods coming in for 72 hours to ensure they’re free of the virus before going to the next point in the process. Remote drop-off from your supply chain can also be useful in reducing contact points.

Map Out a Response Plan

Even with all the proper precautions in place, someone in your warehouse could test positive at any point. Rather than being surprised and having to scramble to figure out what to do, haivng a response plan in place ahead of time can save a lot of time and money. Remember, one of the best ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is contact tracing. Having an effective way to map out where each employee is throughout the day can help make this process easier.