Warehouse providers need to ensure that all employees are safe on the job. Fortunately, IoT-enabled smart warehousing can address this particular concern. Here are some examples of how IoT implementation in warehouse monitoring systems can improve workplace safety:
- Notifies warehouse managers of unauthorised entry into a zone or MHE usage.
- Prevents accidents between MHE by establishing safe distances; even if accidents occur, the devices will send a real-time alert.
- Controls and monitors the zoning density, allowing safe distancing within a zone.
How do IoT-enabled asset management and monitoring solutions work?
IoT technology grants connectivity between multiple devices in the warehouses, thanks to tiny processors and wireless networks. It also helps managers and personnel communicate without going back and forth to the workstation.
Moreover, a study suggests that IoT technology implementation could reduce inventory inaccuracy by 20-30%. It can result in reduced operational costs and improved workflow efficiency.
Here’s a closer look at the specifics of IoT technology within smart warehousing:
Beacons are IoT solutions that rely on low-energy Bluetooth technology, making them highly energy-efficient. When used in warehouse management, these devices work by transmitting signals to other nearby devices and can be monitored using cellphones and other GSM-based devices, which helps warehouses track their assets in real-time.
Warehouses typically embed beacon tags in their assets. This beacon inventory management system will assist warehouses in improving their asset management system, balancing their safety stock, and easing information circulation.
In addition, there are several reasons why beacon tags are preferable to use in smart warehouses, including:
- High read range: the low-energy Bluetooth or BLE technology used by beacon tags allows for excellent monitoring coverage. It increases efficiency because multiple activities can be controlled using a single mobile device.
- Consumes less power: BLE technology is designed to use less energy. As a result, most beacon tags that run on batteries last an average of three years without recharging.
- Cost-effective: beacon tags are being mass-produced due to the widespread use of Bluetooth technology in mobile devices. Mass adoption of these will affect pricing and create relatively inexpensive beacon tags.
Wearable technology, also known as wearables, are attachable devices that receive and transmit data to and from users. In warehousing industries, the common wearables include smart glasses, activity tracker bracelets, and many more.
These devices make it easier for all personnel to complete their duties and communicate with their managers hands-free. As a result, they can receive commands or report their current statuses without holding or letting go of the device and the item they’re working on.
Another vital feature of wearable devices is that they enable warehouse managers to track personnel movements. As a result of the technology, they can improve warehouse safety and security by reducing accidents caused by personnel entering dangerous areas.
Furthermore, the tracking feature of wearables improves transparency between managers and employees. By tracking their movements, managers can easily track whether or not employees are following the predetermined plan.
Sensors in warehouses help identify and verify all goods movement and personnel activities. Sensors typically employ RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to automatically transmit signals to receive and send information.
RFID sensors can be used in the form of tags attached to inventory, thus streamlining the process of asset tracking and reducing human errors. Asset tracking is a vital part of warehousing because it keeps track of each product throughout the entire supply chain stages in the warehouse.
This technology can also help keep the specific zones and rooms safe by limiting access to only those authorised visitors. Authorised visitors may register fingerprints, possess a specific key, or enter a PIN code to open the door lock.
Cloud-based warehouse monitoring systems allow for organising multiple activities on a single platform. It works by integrating information collected by IoT devices into the systems.
Warehouse managers can capture data and collect it securely on the cloud. Furthermore, cloud-based warehouse monitoring systems will provide insightful analytics that will assist them in making sound business decisions.
What are the benefits of IoT for warehouse managers?
Now that you know how IoT technologies work in warehouses, it’s time to learn about the benefits these technologies offer warehouse managers. Warehouse managers have many responsibilities, including overall management of the warehouse area and employee performance monitoring.
- Optimises space utilisation
Optimising space utilisation allows warehouses to grow without expanding their land-especially given the high cost of buying land and developing warehouse buildings.
Therefore, space utilisation optimisation focuses on making the best use of available space to accommodate the goods and assets that warehouses own. It works by embedding IoT technology in warehouse inventory, giving warehouse managers a clear awareness of the layout and configurations related to the storage facilities in the warehouse.
- Enhances equipment effectiveness
Improving equipment effectiveness enables warehouse providers to organise their assets, ensuring that none of their assets are idling or underutilised. It’s easy to do that when you incoporate asset tracking provided by a reputable warehouse monitoring system.
Ultimately, warehouses that use asset tracking solutions gain the ability to analyse and gain insights into the key aspects of their MHE. Quality, availability, and performance are all part of it.
The ability of smart warehouse systems to remotely monitor activities benefits businesses with warehouses set up all over the world. It’s a feature of the systems’ ability to make real-time decisions without visiting each warehouse.
Instead, managers can use the cloud-based platform to monitor warehouse performance. Most importantly, the cloud-based warehouse system’s remote monitoring capability allows businesses to gain visibility into warehouse activities without compromising anything due to long distances.
- Increases employee productivity
Implementing IoT technology optimises floor-level activities, reducing the need for personnel to walk back and forth to their workstations. It enables warehouse managers to collect data automatically and make decisions in real-time.
At the same time, warehouse managers can also help their company boost profitability by increasing employee productivity. IoT devices allow employees to complete more tasks without relying heavily on physical movements. They can also easily communicate with the managers without submitting paper-based documentation, which can be troublesome and time-consuming.
IoT technology embedded in the inventory allows warehouse managers to determine whether the equipment is safe for employees. If there is a break, the system will automatically reflect it, allowing warehouse managers to prohibit employees from using it.
Similarly, smart warehousing provided by IoT technologies may also equip warehouse managers with the current market status. They will then receive information about supply and demand trends and incorporate it into their operations cycle.
- Enables environmentally friendly operations
Businesses that can optimise their warehousing activities will be able to use energy more efficiently at all stages. It eventually leads to prudent energy consumption, which reduces carbon emissions, thereby assisting businesses in meeting corporate ESG goals.
So, are you ready to incorporate smart warehousing?
Many warehousing companies have successfully enhanced their performance by implementing IoT technology and switching to a smart warehouse monitoring system.
If you own a warehouse or organise stocks within your businesses, a smart warehouse monitoring system can only enhance your asset management system. We’ve been working on ensuring that our products and services can help you manage your business better and, that’s why, you should check out how Yojee can bring innovation to your warehouse monitoring system. We have consistently delivered technology solutions that suit our customers’ needs and assist them in achieving their efficient warehouse management.
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