Automation in warehousing was the key focus at logistics software provider Dovetail’s 2015 warehousing conference, held in Johannesburg last month.
South African supply chain and logistics consultancy Industrial Logistics Systems chairperson and founder Martin Bailey stated at the event that automation was the future of warehousing in South Africa.
He noted that workers’ wages were increasing, with unions also advocating for further increases. The Labour Relations Act also made it difficult to dismiss workers in certain situations.
Municipal costs, such as electricity, rates and taxes, as well as higher inflation, were challenges that automation could offset.
“Automation is [becoming] cheaper and more flexible. However, it is currently more expensive and more difficult for us in South Africa to implement, owing to labour concerns. So, we need to focus on transport and on getting rail right to reduce costs,” said Bailey.
Warehouse software solutions provider Accellos senior VP and GM Joe Couto agreed that automation was an important focus in warehousing solutions.
He noted that increased automation resulted in more system functionality that removed user decisions and increased levels of prioritising workloads through automated task management.
Further, automation resulted in the increased tracking of warehouse operator activity to improve productivity, the effective monitoring of bottlenecks and problem areas, as well as monitoring employee productivity and behaviour.