Global tensions and ongoing operational pressures are making long-term planning increasingly difficult for warehouse operators. . At the same time, rising consumer demand is forcing many businesses to upgrade and automate their warehouses.
According to Asaf Curelaru, Head of Deployment & Maintenance UK & Ireland at global warehouse robotics firm Exotec, these issues, combined with increasing average warehouse size, are making it difficult to predict a warehouse’s requirements more than five years in advance. Warehouse automation systems don’t need to be built all at once, and systems which can scale with the operator give businesses greater flexibility.
“Uncertainty matters when automation projects that involve multi-million-pound investments are being planned. Rather than trying to solve an uncertain future today, organisations should commit to what they can see clearly, while building an expansion path for what comes next”, said Curelaru.
“Warehouse operators don’t have to commit today to what the operation might look like ten years from now. They can plan around what is reasonably clear over the next few years in terms of requirements, while preparing for the additional capacity that may be needed as the business grows.”
The UKWA recently claimed that only 10 –15% of warehouses are using robots globally, and that the bigger opportunity for organisations may be the gradual automation of existing warehouse facilities. AI is also expected to support warehouse operations through improved forecasting, predictive maintenance, and smarter system integration.
“Long-term forecasts will not always be accurate. But with good planning, an organisation can establish what scaling a system could look like before investing in automation.
“This provides greater budget visibility. By considering potential warehouse expansion requirements early, organisations can understand what scaling is likely to cost and what additional components may be required..
“They can also get a clearer picture of how their automation requirements may develop. For example, an operation might need a certain capacity in 2029, with additional capacity required by 2035.
“The automation provider can model these scenarios, so the warehouse operator can understand what those requirements could look like, the likely costs, and approximately how much lead time will be needed. This flexibility allows an operator to invest in additional capacity rather than committing upfront based on a highly uncertain long-term forecast.
“The future warehouse does not need to be designed today around assumptions about requirements many years away. A more practical approach is to meet today’s operational needs while maintaining a clear path for future expansion”, concluded Curelaru.
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About Exotec
Exotec is a global warehouse robotics company powering the world’s largest brands. The company combines the best of hardware and software to offer elegant warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. 50+ industry-leading brands including Gap Inc, Carrefour, Decathlon, and UNIQLO trust Exotec to improve their operations across 200+ sites worldwide.
Learn more at Exotec.com.
