The opportunity to consider adopting automation technologies becomes more compelling with the new generations of equipment offering the prospect of reduced costs, increased operational efficiency and productivity to smaller operations.

Should you be considering your automation journey now?

Saving money in the warehouse is a by product of saving time. By embracing automation, you make better use of your space and reduce the labour involved in routine tasks.

Warehouse automation is often pitched as a money-saving or efficiency strategy, and this is definitely one of the main benefits of investing in automation. However, automation also has a wide-ranging impact on warehouse safety, with the potential to reduce injuries, sickness, and downtime, and improve the happiness and well-being of your workforce. Here’s how:

As we enter the final quarter of 2023, the UK logistics sector is in a fairly strong position after a tumultuous few years. Challenges remain, however, in the shape of stubbornly high global energy prices, the ongoing challenges of Brexit, staff shortages, and decarbonisation. As one of the fastest growing industries globally due to the rise in online supply transactions for both B2C and B2B facing industries, there is also a pressing need for fast delivery, real-time data visibility, and continual stock availability in order to keep up with the ever-changing demands of customers.

How can new technologies and trends assist logistics businesses to meet customer expectations as the sector continues to evolve throughout 2024?

The UK logistics sector has continued to evolve at a rapid pace in 2023, driven by increased consumer demands, environmental/sustainability regulations, and innovations in software and automation technologies. In this article, we’ll look at the main trends that have shaped the sector this year, examining the influence they hold on businesses, and the implications they carry for the future of the logistics industry.

Amazon is frequently held up as the gold standard for logistics and distribution businesses (frustratingly, it has to be said), and while the e-commerce giant certainly sets a high benchmark in terms of what businesses can achieve with the right organisation and technology, the Amazon warehousing system doesn’t work for all companies.

There are many challenges with a new warehouse. If you are considering a new build, one of them is the time it takes to get planning permission. The government’s own statistics for April to June 2023 admitted that only 20% of major applications submitted at the district planning authority level in England were completed within the statutory period of 13 weeks. Unfortunately, once the application is submitted, and as long as it is correct and compliant, there isn’t much you can do to speed the process.

A big change is coming to the UK’s roads and logistics sector, after the UK government greenlighted Longer Semi Trailers (LSTs) for general use on 30th May 2023.

Readers of a certain age may remember when schooling was based around the so called three R’s of Reading, wRiting, and aRithemetic, and since then various other sectors have developed their own 3R’s, including the Reduce, Reuse & Recycle mantra of the sustainability movement.

The world of warehouse automation has changed and there are now new technologies and new systems available as well as developments of existing, to change and improve your warehouse and distribution operations.