Whether you are automating a warehouse for the first time, upgrading an existing site or building a new facility, these insights will help you navigate the journey with confidence. Some tips can be implemented in-house, while others may benefit from expertise of partners such as Vanderlande. We believe in collaboration and can adjust our involvement according to your needs.
Let’s start with the basics: your data. Look at your order data and SKU master data to get a clear picture of anything that is being processed and picked in your warehouse, including the types of products – in terms of their dimensions and weight – going through the system. Also consider looking at in-bound data from delivery trucks as well as outbound data – from sorters and to shipments.
By analysing all of this information, preferably a year’s worth of data, you can pinpoint peak months, week and even daily trends. These insights are used to ensure that you get the right solution for your current and future requirements.
When selecting equipment for your warehouse, the best choice may not always be the one initially desired. While a piece of equipment may excel at its task, it’s essential to consider how it fits into your overall operational design.
Similarly, opting for a less expensive sorter can often fulfil your needs just as effectively as a pricier alternative. Taking a thoughtful approach to technology assessment can lead to significant cost savings.
It’s important to thoroughly evaluate your options, carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies. Collaborating with experts can provide invaluable insights to align warehouse technology with your specific operational requirements. This ensures your investment delivers optimal value, maintaining both functionality and efficiency.
Participating in workshops with industry experts, such as Vanderlande, is essential for gaining deep insight into the process of designing, installing, and maintaining your solution. Personally, I find great satisfaction in these workshops, collaborating closely with our customers to ensure everyone involved understands the process and the reasoning behind key decisions. Customers’ requirements vary, so I work closely with them to tailor the workshop sessions to their specific needs.
These sessions typically begin with detailed briefings on data analysis and proposed technological solutions. We then move on to layout sessions, where we collaborate with you to optimise your floor space effectively. Additional workshops cover crucial topics such as IT software and hardware, project management, and service.
Each workshop provides an excellent opportunity to engage directly with our experts, providing a clear understanding of every aspect of your warehouse automation journey.
To fully understand how equipment and systems will work in your warehouse, it’s beneficial to see them in action. Visit test centres, like our Innovation Centre, to visualise solutions such as goods-to-person workstations or automated storage and retrieval systems.
Enjoying a hands-on experience is also a great way to understand workflow and performance. For example, we hold workshops in which you can pick your own items. This really helps to visualise the process, capacity and ergonomics of a workstation.
You should also take the opportunity to see the technology doing its job. One of the best ways to do this is to visit a customer that is running a similar solution. Seeing a live system really helps you understand how everything comes together.
In today’s business environment, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a fundamental consideration. Assessing power consumption to reduce energy usage and evaluating the reliability of local power grids are critical steps. At Vanderlande, we continuously enhance our calculation methods to ensure accurate data for our key equipment and seek ways to optimise solution efficiency. Prioritising sustainability not only supports environmental goals but also ensures compliance with evolving regulations.
Beyond that, we want to work with you to understand your pain points as we both shift towards more sustainable solutions. We are willing to go the extra mile, which is why we collaborate with customers and suppliers to achieve success on this vital topic.
Involving your project management team early on is crucial for ensuring a smooth process. This early engagement allows them to fully grasp the decisions made and effectively meet your needs. In this way, they will be better prepared for the project as it runs through phases such as installation, testing and ramp-up. This way of working together will help you to tap into our experience as we guide you through implementation.
Understanding the testing and ramp-up phases is key for a successful implementation. Make sure that you clearly understand what you can expect in testing and how the team goes about its work. That way you can enjoy a smooth and efficient ramp up.
Early collaboration with your expert partner to create a detailed plan for the testing phase can prevent issues later on. This proactive approach is especially important if you are on a tight schedule that is driven by your need to go live before a peak like Black Friday.
Let’s think outside the box together! At Vanderlande, our team is passionate about exploring innovative solutions that complement your unique perspectives and challenges. With our deep knowledge and experience – from high bays to shuttle systems, mobile vehicles to robot pickers – we’re dedicated to help you find the best options to match your needs.
Every company and every market is different. This is reflected in the layout of your warehouse – and the advice offered by our experts.