Tag Archives: Blockchain

Warehouse operations are critical to any manufacturing business. From holding inventory to delivering items, the process must be as swift and efficient as possible. Earlier practices such as document management and communication have been a significant step, but growth and progression in the supply chain call for more.

The rise of the Internet has been a key event in improving warehouse operations. As technology progresses, there are even more ways to optimize the supply chain, and ensure every item or employee is included.

The Need to Streamline Warehouse Operations

Warehouse operations offer many opportunities for error while meeting tight deadlines. Brand owners must recognize these areas for improvement and see what can be done to reduce mistakes. Streamlining translates to more accurate and faster processing, which equates to higher customer satisfaction.

Warehouse operational efficiency also translates to long-term time and cost savings. Next-gen technology can streamline warehouse operations using fewer minutes and dollars resulting in increased productivity.

Remember to include workers when integrating these new electronics. Forty-two percent of workers fear job loss from automation and new technologies. However, the reality is humans are responsible for tool management and strategy execution. Train them to work with these items rather than against them.

Vital Next-Gen Technologies in the Warehouse

Some facilities may incorporate multiple next-gen technologies, while others only incorporate one. The most important factor is to assess what works best for a specific set of operations and makes sense investment-wise.

Automation and Robotics

Certain warehouse operations are rather repetitive. It can be the same cycle of picking out a product, packing it, adding a shipping label and sending it off. Automating these processes with robots can take care of these mundane tasks, shifting focus to more pressing concerns in the facility.

Smaller establishments can still find ways to introduce automation. For example, installations like conveyor belts move items along the facility. Automated labeling machines can transfer the necessary information.

Certain equipment can also improve staff safety. For example, about 70 worker fatalities occurred in forklift-related accidents across different sectors. Self-operating forklifts simplify warehouse transportation and prevent hazardous contact.

Blockchain Technologies

Blockchain technology is a key database streamlining data storage and information sharing. Warehouse management entails plenty of information about product quantity and delivery. Many parties — like suppliers, manufacturers and distributors — are involved.

The blockchain ensures information is accessible and interconnected. What’s ideal about this next-gen ledger tech is it keeps data under wraps. Each block is secure in nature because it requires verification and permission.

Thus, blockchain technology is ideal for various financial transactions. If a distributor pays a manufacturer for production, they should process the transaction through this network. It has a suitable layer of encryption while executing those actions.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a flexible alternative to blockchain technology. By employing this network, a warehouse can generate connections between products and machines through sensors and software. If one product is removed, the system will detect it and send an update.

The IoT enables warehouses to receive real-time data about the movement of their shipments. This cuts down the slower steps in inventory management and prompts communication between devices so all parties in the supply chain can stay up to date.

It is possible to fuse both next-gen technologies in warehouse operations. The blockchain establishes trust, while the IoT improves connectivity, refining the process of sharing information among multiple parties.

Artificial Intelligence

Multiple industries are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes. While most people find its use helpful in customer service, 40% of business owners use AI for inventory management and 30% for supply chain operations. Warehouses can use their programs to collect and organize data in the long run.

AI can also generate different presentations and reports based on the data it receives. Manufacturers with multiple facilities can upload their information and send a prompt to receive specific information about their inner workings.

AI can also provide business recommendations on streamlining operations with predictive analytics. However, these programs’ output depends on the data set given, and there are limits to the predictions they can make depending on the amount of variation.

The next best thing to do with this output is to conduct a comprehensive data analysis. Use the information to set metrics for evaluation in the future. If one area is faltering, make actionable decisions to influence processing in the facility.

Cybersecurity

As effective as next-gen technologies in warehousing are, new problems arise. The Identity Theft Resource Center found supply chain attacks impacted more than 10 million people in 2022. Each facility and its streamlined performance are vulnerable to these cyber threats.

Focus on preventive measures to maintain the order of operations. Investing in a firewall adds a layer of protection to warehouse information. Add intrusion detection systems to alert business owners of any breaches.

Physical security installments can also protect warehouses. For example, surveillance cameras log who accesses company computers during and outside active hours. Biometric technology is also a good touch for tracking and access control.

Optimize Warehouse Operations with Digitalization

Speed and effectiveness are crucial in warehouses. Next-gen technologies have made great strides in equipping facilities with these attributes, so take advantage of them to strengthen operations.

*This article is written by Jack Shaw. Jack is a seasoned automotive industry writer with over six years of experience. As the senior writer for Modded, he combines his passion for vehicles, manufacturing and technology with his expertise to deliver engaging content that resonates with enthusiasts worldwide.

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The eCommerce industry is one of only a few business models that have thrived amidst the financial uncertainty of COVID-19. eCommerce did more than just weather the pandemic, it took advantage of the opportunity to accelerate industry growth by 4 to 6 years, according to an Adobe analysis.

While many assume eCommerce gains are relatively insulated, in actuality, the industry affects many adjacent ones, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. As the rest of the world struggles to catch up financially, eCommerce and related industries are thriving and rapidly changing. Here, we’ll explore how data analytics and manufacturing trends in eCommerce are changing industry operations.

Data Analytics

Increased online traffic and changing user patterns have led the eCommerce industry to employ sophisticated data analytics methodologies to predict consumer behavior. eCommerce stores worldwide make use of data analytics to provide product recommendations, perform market analysis, optimize price, and forecast demand.

Business analytics is nothing new, but its ease of use and popularity has increased in recent years. With many consumers worldwide still confined to their homes or local communities, more and more are turning to online shopping. Not only does this expanded consumer base mean more accurate analytics, but it also means more opportunities for business expansion, both in the eCommerce industry and beyond its confines.

Business analytics has become extremely important in business decisions because of its cost-saving abilities and adaptability. Specializations in the field include marketing specialists and business analysts. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the business and financial professions will expand faster than average over the next decade, making an investment in data analytics an investment in your future.

As data analytics become more widespread, tools like Google Analytics, Supermetrics, and Glew.io are enhancing their user features and accuracy. Analytic usage across industries is easier when these resources are there to help bridge the gap. Each day, they’re becoming more and more accessible to businesses.

eCommerce in Manufacturing

Manufacturing is another sector that’s been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting trends in eCommerce. Some of the top eCommerce manufacturing trends include:

• Constant shifts in the industry, including shifts to online business.
• An increased number of D2C sales.
• Using real-time data integration to resolve and reduce order errors.
• Enhancing the customer experience.
• Streamlining the payment process.

Changing trends in manufacturing extend to all commercial industries. If you have a product to sell, increasing efficiency and providing a better customer experience can make all the difference for your business. With the introduction of driverless cars and automated inventory counts, administrative pressures are relieved and businesses can turn their attention to other matters.

The Changing Landscape of Supply Chain Management

When it comes to supply chain management challenges, businesses must understand the problems at hand to identify the most pertinent solutions. Some of the most useful solutions today involve implementing advanced technology, including robotic warehouses, blockchain, and digital supply chain twinning.

Decentralized distribution is also being piloted by companies like Amazon, which is experimenting with drones and has larger ambitions to produce a floating distribution hub. While not all of these innovations have taken flight just yet, as we look toward the future of manufacturing, the eCommerce industry promises much more in terms of automation and agility. Most consumers expect timely, fast delivery via the postal service, and robotics and automation offer the quickest path to meeting high consumer expectations.

Overall, eCommerce is shifting to a digital economy, making use of blockchain for enhanced security and efficiency, while employing more technological and data analytics tools. The rise of chatbots and automated business processes allow business owners to focus on important matters, rather than dealing with trivial mishaps and other time-consuming administrative tasks.

Keeping Up in a Fast-Paced World

Staying on top of eCommerce trends in today’s fast-paced world is not for the faint of heart. It is perhaps for this reason that over the years, business owners have repeatedly held a stagnant mindset when it comes to innovation and improving processes. There’s always an excuse to put it off for later.

However, the fact of the matter is that now is always the time for process improvements. Businesses that stick to the status quo and maintain existing workflows find themselves falling behind financially sooner or later. The risks of stagnation are much greater than the risks of innovation, especially in today’s competitive global marketplace.

The market is continually changing, your competitors are stepping up their game, and consumer demands are increasing each day. Customers expect a smooth on-the-go shopping experience, fast service, and tech-savvy business models. Even for in-person transactions, consumers prefer contactless payment methods and online inventory availability. Their preferences extend far beyond the eCommerce industry itself, meaning progress in fields like automation and artificial intelligence are essential to satisfy new and emerging consumer habits.

With a customer-driven focus, successful eCommerce businesses aim to increase sales through data analytics and boost efficiency through more streamlined websites and supply chain management practices. Don’t allow your business to get left in the dust — eCommerce or not, digital shopping trends are shaping industry operations across the board.

If your business is in need of help to rocket into the future of manufacturing through digital transformation or supply chain optimization, contact the operations management experts at USC Consulting Group. They have been shaping manufacturing operations for over 50 years.

*This article is written by guest author Ainsley Lawrence. View more of Ainsley’s articles here.

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