Blog Post
The impact of robotics on your supply chain
Website Editor • Feb 03, 2020
It’s predicted that in the next 5 years there will be a strong growth of autonomous robots particularly for supply chain operations of companies.
When you think of robots, you may think of an old science fiction movie. However, that is no longer the case, robotics is bringing additional innovation to supply chains along with value. Manufacturing companies have already been widely using robots for the last few decades however they are only used for specialised tasks and almost always work alone.
As emerging technology has come into play, it is allowing for greater innovation to take place, allowing autonomous robots to be created. It’s predicted that in the next 5 years there will be a strong growth of autonomous robots particularly for supply chain operations of companies. The trend seems to already have caught on as Oxford Economics
states the global number of robots has already multiplied 3 times over in the past 20 years to 2.25 million. It’s predicted the growth of robots will even multiply faster than we can imagine. Oxford Economics
suggests that past trends predict that in the next 20 years, we will reach 20 million robots with 14 million being in China alone.
What are autonomous robots exactly?
Autonomous robots are a type of robot that is able to be programmed to perform certain tasks with little human interaction needed. They greatly vary in features as they are highly customisable. All in all, they can vary in size, function, mobility, and use of AI. Autonomous robots are not only a simple robot. Drone aircrafts, autonomous cars and so forth are also classified as autonomous robots. This is because they are programmed to complete a certain task and learn from their environment and surroundings which in turn allows them to become smarter and more efficient.
There are many benefits as one could imagine with the use of autonomous robots. In particular, they are able to reduce long term costs, improve speed and accuracy of operations while also reducing the risk of employee injury in dangerous environments. With the implementation of autonomous robots, increased efficiency can be achieved as they are able to work side by side with humans. Not to mention autonomous robots are able to perform the mundane boring tasks allowing employees to focus on more meaningful and strategic work. As autonomous robots are becoming more sophisticated, installation times are becoming less time consuming. The use of autonomous robots will enable companies to transform their processes and exceed expected increases in revenue greatly.
Why robots and why now?
The time to assess your company’s supply chain is now. Autonomous robots can unlock many benefits for companies as discussed above. Emerging technology is allowing companies to achieve much further benefits than they believed possible. It’s about time companies begin to look at ways of using emerging technology in order to solve problems. As emerging technology continues to rise in popularity the focus changes from if we will use this emerging technology to how will we use the technology to our benefit and how soon can we incorporate the technology for our business.
Autonomous robots can be used in order to meet variable demand and just-in-time inventory processes compared to traditional industrial robots used in the past that were more suited to high mix, low volume production. This enables companies to improve their supply chain processes while improving customer's varying needs as we move into an era of mass customisation.
With greater emerging technology coming into play such as ML and AI robots are becoming smarter. With new developments, robots are becoming more suited to work alongside humans making collaborative work easier and more successful not to mention the uncapped potential of analysing data allowing companies to make smart decisions backed by data instantly.
It's without a doubt that the numerous benefits speak for themselves as they can significantly enhance business operations. However, a company’s first step before implementing technology is to understand their needs and establish how the technology can benefit their company. It goes without saying that companies who fail to understand how emerging technology can benefit their processes may in fact risk their reputation as being leaders in their industry.
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With a focus on real-time monitoring through IoT solutions, we aim to showcase the advancements that contribute to the efficiency and compliance of global pharmaceutical supply chains. Evolution of Temperature-Controlled Logistics Temperature control has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last two decades. Stringent global regulations, customer demand for new temperature ranges, emerging markets with extreme temperatures, and the growing value of drugs like biologics have been essential driving forces. These factors have spurred the evolution of temperature-controlled logistics to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. The landscape of temperature-controlled logistics is evolving, thanks to technological advancements. Trends include the growing availability of prequalified shippers simplifying the validation process, sophisticated supply chain services, a rising interest in reusable packaging, and advances in temperature-monitoring technology. 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