The Benefits of Supply Chain Automation

Establishing an efficient and effective supply chain within today’s digital age is essential for retailers and manufacturers to maintain their competitive edge. Not only have eCommerce sales been steadily on the rise, but consumer expectations about delivery times are also increasing. While the retail world is growing at an unprecedented rate, rapid technological advancements are proving to make retail supply chain automation the only way to keep up with demand. 

Supply chain automation involves utilizing technology to manage and centralize workflow processes, thus lessening complexities, improving efficiency, and minimizing the risk of error associated with manual management. According to Retail Dive, the use of automation in warehousing could help increase facility productivity by 10 to 20% over the next three years, while IBM notes that intelligent automation in the supply chain, including artificial intelligence, is expected to reach 85% in retail over the same period. 

One such area that can significantly benefit from automation is dock scheduling, with evidence suggesting that dock automation can significantly improve an organization’s value by lessening the risk of out-of-stock items and delayed shipment times. SupplyChain24 asserts that “through automation, retailers see faster product cycle times and customers reap the benefits of lean inventory management practices without sacrificing inventory availability.” 

You can learn more about the latest supply chain trends and technology at the Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo on September 1 & 2, 2021 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Get your free tickets today!