Upgrade Your Warehouse Operations as a Remedy For Talent Shortage

August 13th 2019 15:00:00 PM

Warehouse owners and operators are in an interesting situation: On one hand, business is booming, which everyone would agree is a great position to be in. However, companies are still having trouble attracting (and retaining) employees. The talent shortage is having an impact on how employers are looking to change the way workers perform their warehouse jobs, but not necessarily in the way you may think. Savvy employers are looking to upgrade warehouse operations with some automation to improve efficiency and productivity, while keeping the human involvement in the equation.

Do you want to move forward right now to make an appointment to discuss upgrading your warehouse operations with a Scanco Solutions Expert? Contact us online or give us a call at (330) 645-9959. 

Survey Findings Point to Automation, Worker Augmentation Solutions

 The results of a survey conducted by Zebra Technologies Corporation’s 2024 Warehousing Vision Study found that the vast majority of decision-makers (87 percent) are either in the process of expanding the size of their warehouses or planning to do so by the year 2024. Eighty-two percent of survey respondents anticipate they will increase the number of warehouses for their company at the same time.

Other key points from the survey include the following:

Investing in new technology is an important part of staying competitive, with 46 percent of survey respondents stating that faster delivery to customers is their main factor in plans for warehouse growth.

Most companies (73 percent) are updating their warehouses by introducing or updating barcode scanners, tablets, and mobile computers.

The majority (77 percent) of respondents realize they need to modernize their warehouse operations to stay competitive in the on-demand economy. They admitted they were slow to take the next step to introduce mobile devices and technology to their workplace.

Within the next five years, a majority (61 percent) of decision-makers said they planned to use partial automation or “labor augmentation with technology” on the warehouse floor.

Most of the respondents (75 percent) stated they believed human interaction is important to achieving best results in their operation. Thirty-nine percent said partial automation (some human involvement), while thirty-four percent stated augmentation (giving workers some devices) was the best approach.

These responses may surprise some who have concerns that the future of the warehouse industry is moving toward using robotics for many, if not most tasks in the near future. The survey results point to automation being an important part of the work environment and one that will improve workers’ performance rather than replace warehouse jobs.

Warehouse automation and modern software solutions may even go a long way toward attracting candidates who may have previously been reluctant to apply to work in the industry. They may be under the false impression that warehouse jobs don’t require any type of technical knowledge or ability and that they are “only” for unskilled, uneducated workers.

Warehouse Operations Solutions From Scanco

 When seeking to upgrade warehouse operations, you don’t need to have all the answers in advance. All you need to know is what you want to achieve for your business and let Scanco work with you to find the right solution to fit your needs. Whether you are looking to introduce barcode software to your warehouse or you are ready to upgrade to the next step, we can help.

Scanco Sage 100 is user-friendly and fully automated. It can be used with an iOS or Android-compatible device over Wi-Fi or a cellular network. This solution is flexible enough so that it can be used with multiple hardware options and makes keeping track of inventory in real time easy and convenient.

This is just one example of the warehouse operations solutions Scanco can offer you. To take the next step, contact us online or call us at (330) 645-9959. You’ll be able to arrange a personal consultation with a Scanco Solutions Expert.