Automation is the future of warehousing.
Don’t get left behind.
As global demand for new warehouses continues to surge, the warehousing industry faces unprecedented labor shortages, with workers permanently leaving the field in record numbers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the transportation, warehousing, and utilities sector experiences a 3% average monthly turnover rate. Yet 7% of the jobs in the sector remain unfilled. This trend is expected to persist as Baby Boomers retire and younger generations opt for flexible schedules and remote work.
This labor shortage has left warehouses and supply chain professionals struggling to maintain peak operational efficiency to meet demand. In response, many companies are turning to automation solutions to bridge the gap and ensure consistent productivity. With the rise of innovative technologies and advancements in robotics, automation is rapidly becoming the go-to solution to reduce labor costs, improve efficiency, and increase productivity.
Overcome labor shortages with robots that are guaranteed to show up ready to work
Fifty-seven percent of chief supply chain officers believe labor shortages have hindered their ability to meet demand, according to a survey by Berkshire Grey and Hanover Research of over 200 senior-level supply chain decision makers at U.S. eCommerce and retail businesses.
To address this challenge, 51% of supply chain executives are in the process of adopting or planning to adopt robotics, the same survey reveals. Even more, a staggering 85% of executives who currently use robotics plan to increase their investment in the technology.
Robotics and other autonomous solutions help warehouses offset the labor shortage and reduce businesses’ dependence on hiring, training, and retaining employees. Automation isn’t intended to replace humans, rather, it augments the existing workforce to allow employees to do more with less.
Incorporating autonomous solutions may also help with retention and employee satisfaction. Fifty-one percent of executives surveyed by Berkshire Grey and Hanover Research believe implementing automation will increase employee satisfaction and 43% believe it will lead to a decrease in employee turnover.
That’s because automating repetitive tasks frees up time and opportunity for employees to move into more skilled, higher-paying positions. Plus, employees can learn from and work with technology, a perk that appeals to today’s workforce.
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Chief supply chain officers who believe labor shortages have hindered their ability to meet demand
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Supply chain executives who are in the process of adopting or planning to adopt robotics
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Supply chain executives who currently use robotics and plan to increase their investment in the technology
Boost productivity and introduce consistency to warehouse operations
Autonomous technology ensures precision and efficiency. Autonomous solutions work around the clock with minimal human intervention, improving productivity and reducing lead time.
According to a survey conducted at IDC, over 70% of companies that implemented robotics in their warehouses—specifically AMRs, or Autonomous Mobile Robots—saw productivity improvements in the double digits. The option to rent robots, such as AMRs, through what’s known as a Robots as a Service (RaaS) model also allows warehouses to deploy (or return) robots based on demand. This translates into significant cost savings for businesses, enabling them to scale operations more effectively in a fast-paced and competitive industry.
Autonomous solutions are also proven to be highly effective at improving workplace safety because they are not prone to human error. Robots are equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and other safety-certified technologies that allow them to pick and place loads with extreme accuracy, reducing the risk of inventory damage and employee injury.
After all, forklift accidents, for instance, account for an average of 34,900 serious injuries and 87 deaths per year in the United States alone, OSHA estimates.
With the implementation of autonomous forklifts, companies can minimize the risk of workplace accidents, reducing liability and insurance costs while ensuring a safe working environment for employees.
Cut costs with greater operational efficiency
Without automation, a warehouse manager may purchase a new piece of equipment, such as a forklift, to keep up with the influx of product arriving at the dock doors to be unloaded. New forklift purchases may even be a regular occurrence, as human error, reckless or distracted driving, and other hazards within the warehouse require damaged equipment to be replaced.
With every new forklift purchased, a new forklift operator will need to be hired—and hiring warehouse labor doesn’t come cheap in today’s economy. Due to unprecedented labor shortages, companies are forced to raise wages to hire and retain the labor needed to keep operations running at peak efficiency. On top of a competitive salary, warehouses still have to pay all other expenses associated with labor, such as employee healthcare and insurance.
Automation simplifies this equation substantially, allowing warehouse managers to fulfill equipment and labor needs with one purchase.
Additionally, autonomous forklifts can be programmed to optimize their routes and tasks, which can reduce energy costs and extend the life of the equipment.
How the Fox Robotics Autonomous Forklift can help build the warehouse of the future
To scale operations quickly, efficiently, and with greater flexibility, companies like DHL are turning to the FoxBot Autonomous Forklift. The FoxBot is specifically designed to unload standard 53-foot trailers and place pallets with guaranteed accuracy on the warehouse floor. A suite of safety-certified sensors and proprietary firmware enables precise, on-the-fly navigation and robust pallet-picking capabilities, ensuring safety and boosting productivity.
Improve efficiency with rapid deployment: With no WMS or IT integration required, the FoxBot can be installed and deployed in just 45 minutes. Deep learning-powered vision allows the FoxBot to build maps of the warehouse automatically and detect pallets in any orientation, maximizing uptime and enabling the robot to complete workflows with minimal human intervention. One operator can manage 5-6 FoxBots—which translates to 20 to 100 trailer unloads per shift.
Reduce workplace accidents: Fewer employees on the warehouse floor means fewer employees are in harm’s way.
The FoxBot is built for safety: LiDAR sensors with 360-degree vision allow FoxBots to continuously monitor the space around them, checking for obstacles and stopping in advance of collisions. Fully redundant safety braking, courtesy beeps, and optional no-go zones also guarantee safer working conditions. The proof? Our FoxBots deployed at customer sites have picked over one million pallets with zero safety incidents.
Cut costs: With the FoxBot, companies can expect to save up to 40% on labor costs, as fewer workers are needed to keep operations running. For example, the FoxBot Autonomous Forklift can be purchased or leased (as a CapEx or RaaS—robots as a service—model). And each FoxBot has the potential to save warehouses up to $81,000 over five years.
Companies can also save on capital expenditures in the long run, as fewer accidents and collisions translate to longer shelf lives for equipment. The FoxBots’ software can also be updated from afar, reducing downtime when technological improvements are made.
Additionally, the FoxBot’s precise navigation and safety-mandated speeds reduce energy costs and extend the life of the equipment.
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