{"id":13257,"date":"2021-12-06T10:02:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T18:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaeljbrumm.com\/dcl-v3\/?p=13257"},"modified":"2024-01-23T09:02:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T17:02:48","slug":"automated-fulfillment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaeljbrumm.com\/dcl-v3\/blog\/fulfillment\/automated-fulfillment\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Automation Used in Fulfillment Warehouses"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many technologies that fall under the category of automation, what they all have in common is they reduce the need for human interaction and they increase operational efficiency. Warehouses of all types employ automated processes in many areas, and with advancements in computing and robotics more automated tasks are being added each year. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the proliferation of\u00a0<\/span>many newer types of automation<\/span><\/a>. This was based on a few factors: workers needed to be physically distanced to protect against the spread of COVID-19, the ecommerce industry had massive surge in direct-to-consumer volume that required higher throughput, and all industries were affected by a big labor shortage which left room for automation to fill in the gaps where workforce numbers declined.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many general benefits of using automation in fulfillment. They include greater accuracy and higher throughput of orders, plus less strain on workers. Here are some of the more common types of automation used in fulfillment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted DCL because they were technology leaning, technology focused, and their tools made our lives easier.\u201d\u00a0 Inder Singh, CEO at\u00a0Kinsa<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Print and Apply<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A print and apply machine\u00a0automates\u00a0multiple processes: weighing the package, calculating the packaging dimensions, printing a label, and applying the label to the correct box. Print and apply is usually connected to order fulfillment software that corresponds to the inventory within a warehouse.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Labeling is an incredibly important part of the fulfillment flow. So many pieces of information need to come together in this step for the correct units to have the correct package details\u2014including weight, dimensions, and destination.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the products for the order are picked and placed in the box, they are put on a conveyor belt which leads to the print and apply area. The package weight and dimensions are automatically taken and passed to the label machine.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The label holds critical information that tells warehouse staff where the box needs to go next\u2014whether that\u2019s to a staging area of the warehouse, to a specific carrier, or on a pallet that will go to another distribution center, retailer, or destination.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some fulfillment warehouses still do the print and apply process manually. This means a person will select the box\u2019s destination address on a computer (or enter the address into the computer). They will then click print, wait for the label to be printed, and manually apply the label to the box. They then must record (on a sheet of paper or in an excel file) the completion of the units being labeled and processed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a higher margin for error when labeling is done manually than when it is done with an automated print and apply machine. By automating the print and apply process order throughput increases by 3x or more.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDCL had more modern tools and more of a growth-based, forward-looking business model than some other 3PLs we visited. It was clear that they are a company who is constantly\u00a0improving and\u00a0looking for the next way they can grow their business, and that\u2019s what we want in a partner.\u201d\u00a0Moxxly\u00a0CEO, Cara Delzer<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Automated Packing<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Packing products into boxes is still primarily a manual job. It needs to\u00a0ensure products are secure and presented perfectly for the exact unboxing experience that a brand wants.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u00a0are\u00a0however,\u00a0some parts of the packing process that can be automated.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n