A seamless experience

Claes Jönsson, Automation Expert, Consafe Logistics

IS THE future of warehouses automated? Increasingly, the answer is yes. With warehouse automation projected to grow by more than 10% a year, according to McKinsey, companies are significantly boosting their investments in automation technologies, often incorporating solutions from various suppliers.

Ah, now there is the rub? You want to have best of breed systems, and indeed some larger warehouses feature automated systems and sub systems from literally dozens of suppliers. You also have to make sure they talk to each other in the most effective, indeed seamless way.

It is also particularly important for those companies on a long journey of automation, perhaps one that has been through several iterations. While a new system may hit the market and take performance up a level, you won't necessarily want to discard older systems, who may be taking care of jobs nicely enough, But you will still want one view of inventory, for example, and that’s where challenges can come in.

But how can you achieve this seamless level of integration? What strategies should you adopt, and what pitfalls should you avoid? This webinar covers how to effectively integrate automation into your warehouse software ecosystem. 

Featuring insights from Claes Jönsson, Automation Expert, Consafe Logistics and Thomas Grüner, Manager WMS & Automation tactical board, Rexel Group, you can see the evolving landscape of warehouse robotics and with a real-life case study from Rexel Group, a leading electrical distributor and solutions provider, you can see how technologies can be tired together in an effective strategy. 

The webinar also covers trends that shape the current warehouse automation landscape; the shift towards flexible automation solutions and what it means for warehouse management; and insights on different integration strategies.

Black box versus white box

A key theme of the webinar is the dichotomy between what Consafe characterises black box integration and white box integration. The company describes the former as a warehouse where manual and automated processes are separated; automation has its own business logic; multiple business logic to deal with in the warehouse; and hard to reach efficiency on all parts.

In contrast, the supplier favours white box integration. It sees characteristics of this as manual and automated processes are not separated; one business logic to rule both manual and automated processes; one software system to manage and maintain; and makes it possible to optimise both worlds at the same time.

Claes Jönsson explains: “In a black box integration configuration, when you upgrade systems, or add new automated systems, it can cause problems. It can be difficult to direct activity in the warehouse coherently.

“The alternative to this is a flexible white box approach, where you can have one business logic that can rule both manual and automated processes.”

Thomas Grüner adds: “We have a WMS to control warehouses. If using a black box approach, it meant taking the dozens of warehouses processes we had developed for our manual sites and rethinking them for a new automated system. We have had to do this in the past, and we have seen issues with inventory processes.

Thomas Grüner, Manager WMS & Automation tactical board, Rexel Group

“With the white box approach we have been able to have the same processes at a manual site as in the automated system, and even over multiple automated systems.

“A white box solution allows us to bring automated systems such as AutoStore and use them alongside AMR solutions.”

To make the most of automation investments, seamless system integration is critical. This webinar is a great way to understand what this means for you and outlines ways you can build a system that is coherent and holistic.

Catch up On Demand

You can watch the webinar and Q&A session online at https://wbmwebinars.com/seamless-warehouse-automation-full-integration-into-wms/live
There is no cost but registration is required. You will receive CPD points for watching the webinar.