Aug 16, 2022

For decades, warehouses have been evolving to meet new customer demands and economic challenges. After dealing with months of inflation, a global health crisis, and foreign tensions, it is no surprise that warehouses face a multitude of new challenges in the pursuit of accurate fulfillment. Despite the several changes affecting businesses, organizations of all sizes and industries can expect to deal with:

1. Pressing demands for faster and more accurate shipping. Due to the rise in e-commerce, more consumers are demanding same-day shipping and are more likely to find another company if they get a single bad order. Furthermore, studies show a 22% increase in direct-to-customer shipping. Multiple shipping options and destinations coupled with new RFID mandates pressure warehouses to ensure complete inventory visibility and tracking to prevent inaccuracies.
2. Labor shortages slowing productivity and stagnating operations. A shrinking labor pool can leave your warehouse improperly staffed and therefore inefficient when demands are rising, and customers want quick and quality in their orders. Nevertheless, the research found in Zebra’s newest Warehousing Vision Study shows that 86% of decision-makers plan to expand their workforce in the next three years despite current labor turnover rates.
3. Raw material shortages stalling productivity. From silicon to microchips to bread, there seems to be a shortage in virtually every industry. Without key raw materials, manufacturers cannot produce inventory, leading to bottlenecks and costly downtime.

To stay ahead of the challenges, nearly 71% of decision-makers are accelerating the timelines of their modernization projects within a year. Whether it be by streamlining data entry and computing or reevaluating networks for better communication, modernization can no longer be a slow process.

Take proactive measures against supply chain challenges.

When starting your modernization plan, it may be tempting to gravitate toward the “latest and greatest” systems. However, even small changes can yield big results while setting your organization up for larger implementations without disrupting productivity. As you begin to plan your strategy, specialists recommend the following steps:

1. Assess your team’s skills to prevent overbearing training times - A warehouse equipped with adaptable technology solutions can secure scalability and preparedness for rising challenges. For example, Zebra’s adaptable handheld computers leverage Android for Enterprise, bringing a familiar user-friendly interface into the enterprise setting. This empowers teams to maximize productivity with advanced data capture capabilities and reliable durability for a higher ROI reduced training.
2. Verify your connectivity network is ready for modernized devices - Implementing reliable connections and network management can help your workers respond quickly to demands. That’s why teams like AlwaysConnected prove indispensable in surveying and tailoring network infrastructures to target dead zones and interference before deployment. A sustainable system can embrace new devices and workflows while keeping teams connected and data visible.
3. Secure long-term assistance for future optimization - Managing and maintaining your mobile devices can ensure proper usage and reduced downtime to help complete more orders and reduce costs. This optimizes fulfillment amidst the demand for shorter delivery timeframes. Heartland’s AlwaysOn teams support greater device availability with quicker repair turnaround times, so your teams can consistently use their preferred devices with minimal interruptions as customer demands evolve.

Rising demands for faster shipping, shortages, and disruptions can stagnate warehouse productivity, but using the right mobile devices and management can enhance it. CONTACT US today to see how you can prepare for supply chain challenges in your warehouse.