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The Crucial Role of Systems Integrators in Warehouse Automation: A Data-First and Software-Centric Approach

May 22, 2023

Warehouse automation has become essential for businesses as a “must have” to stay competitive, maximize efficiency and respond to dynamic customer service trends. Yet, while the benefits of warehouse technology can be enormous, defining and successfully implementing warehouse automation projects is a complex process.  

One of the biggest challenges a company faces in this process is navigating the rapidly evolving field of new warehouse technologies. Companies have more choices than ever, ranging from autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), goods-to-person (G2P), storage and order picking systems, robot storage, and more.  

It takes specialized expertise in warehouse technology to accurately evaluate, compare, and identify the right options for a particular business – specialized expertise that typically lies outside most companies’ ongoing employment plans.  

For this reason, one of the most critical decisions a business should make before investing in an automated warehouse system is choosing the right systems integration partner to serve as an extension of your staff and ensure a successful project.  

Systems integrators that adopt a data-first and software-centric approach to warehouse automation design play an important role in addressing the most pressing business challenges in warehousing and logistics. 

Role of Systems Integrators in Warehouse Automation: 

A systems integrator provides in-depth expertise in reviewing and selecting warehouse automation solutions, ensuring seamless implementation and optimal results.

Learn about Numina’s System Integration Services

Companies can draw on the integrator’s experience and knowledge to handle a range of project tasks, from planning through implementation, including: 

  • Assessing Business Needs: Systems integrators work closely with a company’s operational and technical teams to understand their unique requirements, challenges, and goals related to investing in warehouse automation. This process takes the form of a warehouse engineering study to evaluate the existing operations and identify areas for improvement and provides the foundation for a tailored solution that meets the company’s strategic objectives.
    Learn More About Numina’s Warehouse Engineering Study
  • Solution Design and Customization: Integrators design and customize warehouse automation solutions to meet specific business needs, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and processes. The best systems integrators have broad experience in integrating warehouse automation systems with all the leading ERP and WMS platforms.
  • Implementation and Project Management: Systems integrators can manage the entire implementation process from installation and configuration to testing and commissioning, ensuring a smooth transition to automated operations. In most cases, the company’s internal IT staff is already fully committed to a wide range of other projects and is able to rely on the integrator as a value-added resource to manage and support the warehouse implementation project.
  • Training and Support: Integrators provide training to staff on using the new systems and offer ongoing support to ensure optimal performance and swift resolution of any issues.

Benefits of Partnering with a Data-First, Software-Centric Systems Integrator 

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: A data-first approach enables businesses to make informed decisions based on real-time insights, helping them optimize warehouse operations and address challenges more effectively.
  • Improved Integration and Scalability: A software-centric approach ensures seamless integration of automation solutions with existing systems and facilitates easy scalability to accommodate future growth.
  • Enhanced Flexibility: By focusing on software and data, systems integrators can help businesses adapt their warehouse automation solutions to evolving market conditions and customer demands, ensuring continued success in the omnichannel landscape.
  • Holistic Optimization: A data-first, software-centric integrator can help identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies across the entire supply chain, allowing for a more holistic approach to warehouse optimization that will accelerate overall order fulfillment.
    You’ve Increased PIcking Productivity – Where is Your Bottleneck Now? 
  • Rapid ROI and Long-Term Value: By addressing the high-priority business problems with a data-driven, software-focused approach, systems integrators can help businesses compare and benchmark the performance of various technologies and determine which will achieve rapid ROI and yield long-term value through continuous improvement and innovation.

Factors to Consider in Selecting a System Integrator 

Systems integrators vary significantly in their expertise and in-house design services, software, and controls capabilities. Many system integrators outsource much of the critical services, and/or build their practice around specific material handling manufacturers. 

The best way to ensure that you’ll achieve the desired ROI on your warehouse automation project is to work with an independent systems integrator who is vendor neutral and has in-depth experience working with all the leading material handling providers. This will ensure that your solution will be based on the best technology that is a true fit for your specific operations. 

You will also achieve the best results by selecting a systems integrator such as the Numina Group, who specializes warehouse automation and optimization solutions. The Numina Group has more than 35 years of experience helping companies to optimize warehouse processes to gain space efficiency and reduce labor costs across order fulfillment operations. 

Conclusion 

Systems integrators that specialize in warehouse automation play a crucial role in helping companies navigate the complexities of investing in and selecting new warehouse automation solutions. The right integration partner helps the company avoid less-than-ideal solutions and choose the right combination of technologies to gain their highest ROI.  

By partnering with a systems integrator that takes a data-first and software-centric approach, businesses can tackle the biggest challenges in omni-channel order fulfillment, ensuring long-term success and competitiveness in the ever-evolving market.  

Don’t miss out on the benefits of working with a forward-thinking systems integrator—embrace the future of warehouse automation today! 

About Matt Cameron

“Data is a quantifiable guide of where the opportunities exist within an order fulfillment operation to create improvements and savings. Based on these opportunities, we look holistically at what blend of automation and technology will produce the most compelling return on investment.” Matt Cameron

Complimentary Demonstration 

To learn more, contact us to speak with a warehouse automation specialist and arrange a complimentary consultation. 

 

Data Guru and Senior Solutions Engineer

Matt Cameron brings 15+ years of advanced warehouse design and processing engineering to his role as a senior solutions engineer at Numina Group. His work extends to more than 300 warehouse system projects, and he has managed engineering operations for mid-sized companies to large 3PLs with 25+ locations.

Matt’s work focuses on the design and deployment of continuous improvement solutions to optimize warehouse operations. He combines an in-depth knowledge of industrial engineering standards and logistics operations with hands-on experience in reviewing, comparing, selecting and implementing warehouse technologies to help Numina clients achieve their productivity and profitability goals.

“It’s a lot of fun to walk in our clients’ buildings before on ‘Day 1’ and then, a few months later, get to return and see the automation solution we designed alongside our client operating in real time, with boxes flying out the door. It’s a passion for me,” he said.

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