There’s been so much talk about warehouse automation that understanding what it is—and what powers it—is often clouded by misperception. To make sense of the confusion, let’s set the record straight.
When you think about automated warehouse systems, what comes to mind? Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) moving up and down aisles? Robotic pickers sorting packages? Sensors tracking every pallet? A lights-out facility where equipment runs without humans onsite to intervene?
Despite what industry headlines suggest, real autonomy doesn’t start with these high-profile upgrades. Those come much later. What must come before automated warehouse systems is advanced connectivity: a platform for systems to communicate. Behind each one of these warehouse upgrades must be a foundational layer, or a reliable network infrastructure that enables critical connections and unlocks the real-time data warehouse automation platforms need. It’s invisible but absolutely essential. Before you can scale to autonomous operations, you must build a robust, reliable and resilient backbone that connects every person, system, warehouse automation software platform and device.
This prerequisite is a conversation that most warehouse leaders still aren’t having, even as they continue to invest in smart devices, robotics and warehouse management (WMS) and execution systems (WES).
If you want to see real returns on your automated warehouse systems, then you need to assess and determine how your current infrastructure performs—the good, the gaps, the risks and the opportunities—long before you deploy.
The real starting point: warehouse performance indicators
Smart warehouse initiatives often start with a rush to digitize and automate as leaders invest in advanced systems and warehouse automation software. On paper, the facility may look like it’s high-tech. Beneath the surface, however, is a slew of disparate systems that operate independently and can’t integrate with one another to coordinate workflows or support real-time visibility. These fragmented systems become a liability.
To enable true autonomous performance, you need to bring this critical technology together so it can reliably exchange data. This enables capabilities like:
- WMS platforms and other warehouse automation software communicating inventory status to AGVs for dynamic route planning
- Robots tapping real-time task assignments from the WES platform and updating order-fulfillment progress for faster throughput and fewer delays
- Sensors sharing condition and location data with maintenance and analytics systems to trigger service and optimize equipment use
- Fulfillment and shipping applications receiving live order data from the WMS to coordinate picking, packing and delivery
If data arrives late, systems fall out of sync and information becomes siloed or lost in translation, then weak points emerge. The automated warehouse systems you invested in can’t perform as intended or deliver on the ROI they promised.
For every minute your data fails to move freely, errors creep in and efficiency drops. Here’s a quick example: Let’s say AGVs are tasked with moving inventory in real-time based on data from a WMS. When a sensor update is slightly delayed, those AGVs may head for empty shelves or create logistical bottlenecks. The result? Missed shipments, wasted labor and unhappy customers.
How to chart your path toward automated warehouse systems
Instead of building a list of new automated warehouse systems and projects you want to kick off, your journey toward an autonomous warehouse should begin with a single question: Where do we stand with our network and data today? The answer to that drives every decision and investment and determines how fast you can move. In other words, you need to track warehouse performance indicators.
Before you can scale or implement new automation, you must first recognize:
- How data moves through your warehouse
- Where connectivity and data-flow gaps exist
- How reliable the communication is between systems
- Where integration falls short
- Uncover gaps in your warehouse’s digital backbone
To make meaningful progress, there are several essential areas to evaluate and consider. Here are a few examples of possible warehouse performance indicators to analyze:
- Are warehouse automation software platforms and devices actually “talking” or just coexisting?
- Where do data flows break down or go missing? What problems does this cause?
- Where do connectivity and data-flow gaps lead to missed or delayed information?
- Which systems and processes are most sensitive to delayed or missing information?
- Where do data silos have a negative impact on operations?
- Are manual handoffs slowing or corrupting accurate and fast data exchange?
- Are legacy systems able to work alongside and integrate with newer technologies?
- How reliable is communication between systems under real operational conditions?
- Is current network infrastructure built for growth and resilience?
- Where could network instability cripple the move toward autonomous operations (dropouts, bandwidth limits, etc.)?
- Are cybersecurity protocols up to date?
Map your current systems and note every connection point. Document where data originates, how it travels and which platforms and warehouse automation software share it.
Assessing these areas and building a clear baseline creates a real-time snapshot of your warehouse that indicates where you stand and what needs to improve. This is critical to identify vulnerabilities, guide next steps and inform your automation strategy.
Bring in pros for a complete network assessment
You don’t have to build your baseline alone. Belden has in-house experts who can conduct a network assessment tailored to the workflow of your warehouse operation. We can perform a comprehensive audit of your network infrastructure, looking at factors like:
- Data warehouse automation systems need most
- Device connectivity status
- Integration challenges
- System maturity levels
We’ll show you where gaps and bottlenecks exist, and how to close them for good to improve warehouse performance indicators.
Unlock your warehouse’s full potential
Your warehouse doesn’t need to transform overnight. Once you’ve built your baseline, you have the clarity and understanding to confidently work toward autonomous, scalable and resilient operations.
The path to truly automated warehouse systems begins with understanding and strengthening the network that powers everything else. With the right digital foundation in place powered by the data warehouse automation needs to succeed, every innovation you roll out—from AGVs to advanced analytics—can deliver on its promise.
Our complete connection solutions and services can help you unlock new possibilities and make your warehouse smarter, faster and more seamless.
Learn how we can automate your space.