Let's turn that title on its head. The ideal is to work out your materials handling system first, and only then fit the building design around it. In an existing building, you may be limited in your ability to do this – but designing from the inside out as far as possible is key to maximising efficiency.

The ideal way to automate a warehouse is to start with a blank canvas. This lets you plan your layout and flows in the most efficient manner and ensures that the various aspects of your operations work together seamlessly. In practice, however, unless you’re a start-up with extremely deep pockets, this blank canvas approach is rarely possible. Companies often take more piecemeal approaches instead, automating one or two processes at a time.

While gradual automation can be successful, there are some pitfalls involved. Is it possible to completely overhaul your warehouse operation without breaking the bank or bringing your business to a standstill?

Warehouse automation technology is developing rapidly, which is good news for business owners who want to increase productivity and profitability. However, you'll need to be aware of the latest trends if you want to maintain an edge over your competitors. If you work with us, we'll keep you up to date with what's happening in the industry and tell you which new technologies could work for you.

Let's look at some of the automation processes and tools that are making waves at the moment:

Today's logistics directors and operations managers will almost certainly be familiar with the term 'warehouse automation', but people sometimes interpret the phrase in different ways. Here's a brief guide to what the concept involves, both theoretically and in practical terms.

Call it what you will; after sales service, customer relations, or post-purchase marketing. Research shows that using automated post-purchase platforms (PPP), you have a 60/70% chance of converting a satisfied existing customer, and just a 5/20% chance of converting a new customer. Although all research points to large gains for retailers and brands, what are the benefits for a 3PL carrier who embraces post-purchase platforms in partnership with the suppliers?

The use of automated systems within warehouses can positively impact performance, but to ascertain whether this is a suitable option for your business, you'll need to calculate your likely return on investment (ROI). Here are some of the factors you'll need to take into account.

If you're considering automating your warehouse operations, it's vital to think your decision through carefully before committing to anything. Here are six things to investigate before you take the plunge:

Popular with owners of contemporary warehouses attempting to automate their procedures, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are designed to enable companies to store goods in a compact and logical manner, and retrieve them with ease. These computer-controlled systems come in a number of different forms, but here are five ways in which your business could benefit if you install one of these practical systems.

Warehouse management systems are becoming more innovative by the month. Automation improves productivity and accuracy in ways that weren’t possible only a year ago. Orders can be grouped intelligently enough to reduce travel time, and that pace can be further enhanced by high-speed sorting, automatic storage and retrieval systems.

Every aspect of warehouse automation is controlled by your IT system. Warehouse management systems (WMS) can’t function without accurate data input, and they shouldn’t be left to their tasks without the support of analytics. The best systems improve efficiency, speed, and cost. It’s tempting to rush into warehouse automation thinking that if it’s technologically evolved, it must be better than what you’ve been using until now, but your software should be built around your strategy. Your strategy should not be built around your software. WMS platforms are complex. They must be honed to suit your unique inventory and the rest of your business processes.