International logistics technology company Zebra Technologies has published its latest Warehouse Vision Study. This could that heightened consumer expectations are driving technology investments that are improving fulfilment accuracy, reducing out of stock situations and shortening delivery times.
“Over 40% of respondents cited shorter delivery times as a key measure requiring warehouse investment,” said Zebra Technologies. “Also indicative of increased consumer demand is the expected increase by 76% of those surveyed in the number of warehouse locations and volume of items shipped out of warehouses.”
Around 50% of the IT and operations decision makers who took part in the study said that they were planning to move to better, full featured warehouse management system last year. 75% of them plan this by 2020 to help manage the increased locations and items shipped. 51% expected increased investment in real time location systems that track inventory and assets throughout the warehouse last year. 76% of respondents planned to do this by 2020.
Mark Wheeler, director, Warehouse Solutions, Zebra Technologies, said, “IT and operations decision makers in warehouses and distribution centres consistently need to identify new ways to improve productivity and reduce costs to remain competitive.
“Fulfilment is an integral part of the customer value chain and investment in technology and innovation in this area can go far to improve a customer’s experience.
“Nearly half of respondents in the survey indicated a concern about labour performance in the order, pick and fulfilment process.
“We see this as an enormous area of opportunity: providing workers with the tools they need to do their jobs accurately and productively will help companies meet and exceed customer expectations for accuracy and on-time delivery.”
The October 2015 survey was completed by 1,378 IT and warehouse professionals in 12 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
