Lighting typically accounts for 65% of warehouse energy demand, significantly impacting both operational costs and carbon footprint. Smart lighting systems can reduce energy consumption in logistics facilities by up to 87%.
Experts at McKinsey Technology highlight that companies now expect CIOs, CTOs and CDIOs to turn the promise of tech into business value. Chief technology officers must take on the roles of orchestrators, builders, protectors and operators to meet these expectations.
Researchers Diego Augusto de Jesús Pacheco, Daniel Møller Clausen and Jendrik Bumann study how to improve efficiency in a distribution warehouse. Implementing a warehouse management system (WMS) significantly changes the performance of a distribution warehouse.
Alicia Martínez de Yuso, a Project Manager at the Zaragoza Logistics Center, analyses how businesses need effective solutions to prevent supply chain disruptions. Companies need a resilient and sustainable supply chain, adopting innovative practices and leveraging technology.
A report by the consultancy Capgemini argues that a new era is emerging where retail sales will become increasingly immersive. The aim is to make users feel as if they have entered a different dimension and to build stronger relationships between customers and brands.
Mecalux has integrated generative AI into Easy WMS to respond to requests more naturally, simulating human conversation. With this technology, clients can streamline daily tasks in their warehouses, access data efficiently and minimise potential errors.
Virginia Fani, Ilaria Bucci, Romeo Bandinelli and Elias Ribeiro da Silva analyse the sustainability of returns and reverse logistics. The strategic decentralisation of warehouses and stores dedicated to returns balances lead time and sustainability.
Sarah Schaumann (MIT CTL) leads a project on prescriptive intelligence as part of the MIT–Mecalux research collaboration. Optimising order distribution with self-learning AI models aims to help companies select the ideal shipping points for their goods.
Mecalux uses simulation software to create virtual replicas of its clients’ warehouses and optimise operations. The software generates a digital twin, a virtual representation that employs real data to predict system performance.
AI‐enabled analytics will be part of all businesses. But this integration will depend on the type of business and what each executive knows and understands about AI. Implementations are just scratching the surface, underlining the chasm between early adopters and the rest of the pack.
Interview with Eva Ponce, research scientist and Director of MIT CTL’s Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab, on the evolution of the omnichannel customer experience. According to Ponce, automation will drive warehousing, one of the supply chain areas most impacted by the growth of e-commerce.
According to Capgemini, GenAI, quantum computing, semiconductors, batteries and space tech will play a significant role in the near future. Business leaders will be impacted by these transformative technologies aimed at improving energy storage and data collection.
Researchers Alinda Kokkinou, Hans Quack, Ondrej Mitas and Albert Mandemakers analyse the effects of incentives on online shopping processes. Charging customers for next-day delivery was the most effective way to stimulate them to choose the more sustainable option.
According to Gartner experts, business leaders can already implement five strategies to attract the increasingly numerous custobots. These AI-driven programs are capable of buying and selling products automatically.
More and more organisations are incorporating a Chief Data Officer (CDO) in their strategies to leverage big data and artificial intelligence (AI). A study explores the profile of these professionals tasked with spearheading their companies’ digital transformation.
Guy Treguer is the Managing Director of Schaal Chocolatier, a leading producer of high-end chocolate and a benchmark in the sector. Treguer explains how the company enhanced the quality of its products by insourcing their storage and keeping them at a constant temperature.
Low-code programming systems are taking off among businesses interested in customising their software. A quarter of the companies surveyed by KPMG have already implemented low-code programming processes, and 19% expect to do so in the coming year.
Beatriz Royo, an Associate Professor at the MIT-Zaragoza Program, analyses how technology enhances supply chain resilience. Businesses must be able to operate in VUCA environments, and the response to these challenges lies in strengthening the resilience of manufacturing companies.
Researchers Dong Hoang and Els Breugelmans study the effects of substituting out-of-stock groceries with other items in online retailing. Consumers prefer products they are familiar with as substitutes for products found to be out of stock following their purchase.
Researchers from Bath and Cambridge analyse the results of integrating picking and packing planning in e-commerce warehouses. How should pickers be allocated? How and in what sequence should pick lists be assigned to packers after picking is completed?
Humanoid robots, the ultimate form of robots that mankind has long dreamed of, seem to be on the verge of becoming a reality. Inspired by human anatomy, humanoid robots’ most critical three elements are the brain, the cerebellum and the body.
Matthias Winkenbach, Director of Research of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, explains how AI will transform traditional route management. The aim is to devise route plans that are not just short, cost-effective and fast, but are effective for drivers.
The metaverse is set to transform industries such as consumer goods, healthcare, training and supply chain management. According to Capgemini experts, businesses will need to meet the digital expectations of the new generations.
People want to leverage technology to make better purchasing decisions, but retailers and brands are falling behind. A study from the IBM Institute for Business Value concludes that just 14% of consumers are satisfied with their online shopping experience.
Although 96% of businesses believe generative AI will affect their projects, a mere 9% have begun deploying it in their organisations. Those that have not yet taken the leap plan to partner with other firms to kick-start their transformation.
Researchers Negin Jamili, Pieter L. Van den Berg and René De Koster study the impact of sharing pickers and docks in a collaborative warehouse. Companies can jointly use warehouses belonging to logistics service providers to gain greater flexibility in storage space.
Cloud computing will become a requirement for competitiveness within the next four years. Gartner experts affirm this prediction, highlighting the use of AI-driven applications in the cloud.
A report from consulting firm Capgemini highlights 15 new roles expected to be created in the logistics sector over the next 15 years. These include disruption director, bionic human, up close and personal trainer, VTOL commander and more.
Rob Handfield and Tom Linton explain how increasing supply chain visibility and velocity creates immunity against potential disruptions. In their book Flow: how the best supply chains thrive, they compare supply chain flows with nature and the laws of physics.
Spain has remained the world leader in organ transplants for 32 consecutive years. It is a benchmark in this procedure, which involves up to 100 professionals per donation. Rebeca Bajo, a nurse in Spain’s National Transplant Organisation, explains the logistics efforts required to transport organs in time.
Spain has remained the world leader in organ transplants for 32 consecutive years. It is a benchmark in this procedure, which involves up to 100 professionals per donation. Rebeca Bajo, a nurse in Spain’s National Transplant Organisation, explains the logistics efforts required to transport organs in time.
Luis Ferreira is the General Manager of HAVI Portugal, a multinational that manages and optimises the supply chains of leading brands such as McDonald’s. Ferreira explains how Easy WMS and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) help maintain the cold chain and foster energy efficiency.
Experts Thomas J. Goldsby, Donald F. Kuratko and Michael G. Goldsby analyse the benefits of an entrepreneurial mindset in the supply chain. Middle managers play a fundamental role in creating a conducive environment for finding new ways to tackle business challenges.
Organisational resilience depends partly on the traits of employees, who play a primary role in managing disruptions. The study by Melanie and Markus Gerschberger and Scott C. Ellis reveals 10 personality attributes that contribute to organisational resilience.
Interview with Kuang Xu, a tenured Associate Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, on AI in logistics. According to Xu, AI has transformative power in numerous businesses, and companies should embrace automation to unlock AI’s full potential.
A data space in urban logistics refers to an environment where relevant information for logistics operations is managed and stored. Integrating digital technologies enhances the efficiency and visibility of data spaces, and several European projects have addressed their use in this field.
Implementing additive technology in industry simplifies supply chains and reduces energy consumption with lighter parts. Additionally, 3D printing enables short runs and savings in the assembly phase, creating personalised products that add value for customers.
Data-driven decision-making is helping chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) identify and prioritise their next steps through AI and machine learning. This is a key takeaway from a survey conducted by IBM’s Institute for Business Value in partnership with the consulting firm Oxford Economics.
Business efficiency with AI is the new focus of CEOs. This concept has spurred the development of investment strategies that maximise benefits through AI. According to a survey by Ernst & Young, 65% of CEOs agree that AI is a positive force for both businesses and society.
Frantisek Stora is Managing Director of IKEA Components Slovakia, an IKEA subsidiary responsible for delivering furniture components and accessories. Stora explains how automating the facility with trilateral stacker cranes and Easy WMS software has helped the team fill increasing numbers of orders.
Logistics process automation helps companies enhance connectivity and efficiency in their warehouses. A Zebra study reveals that 69% of managers and executives have already invested or plan to invest in automation by 2024.
The market for AI-driven computer vision applied to logistics is on the rise, and more and more suppliers are able to meet this demand. A report by DHL contends that this tool will become widespread in most logistics-sector companies over the next five years.
Pavol Masarovič is Operations Manager at IKEA Components Slovakia, an IKEA subsidiary responsible for delivering furniture components and accessories. Masarovič explains how automating the facility with trilateral stacker cranes and Easy WMS software has made it possible to fill increasing numbers of orders.
3PL providers have become key partners for companies outsourcing their warehouse and distribution processes. Carl Marcus Wallenburg and Michael Knemeyer analyse trends such as AI and the Internet of Things, which are set to mark the future of 3PLs.
René de Koster explores the latest trends, experiences and technological advancements in his publication Warehousing 2030. Companies will invest in automation to drive operations like order fulfilment and speed up deliveries.
Interview with Matthias Winkenbach, Principal Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on the incorporation of AI in e-commerce. According to Winkenbach, AI will contribute to the decarbonisation of freight transportation and promote sustainable logistics.
Thomas H. Davenport and Nittin Mittal explain how organisations that have integrated AI into their processes have a competitive advantage. The authors provide insights for enterprises that have started to incorporate AI or have been using it for some time.
Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence centred on creating realistic content such as images, videos, music and text. In the supply chain, it has the potential to assist in decision-making related to logistics process optimisation.
Interview with Michael Burton, Customer Supply Lead at the Wissington Factory of British Sugar, the main sugar manufacturer for Great Britain and Ireland. Burton explains the advantages of automating internal material transport and storage processes and digitally managing all operations with Easy WMS.
Interview with Angelo Conti, Warehouse Manager at College of DuPage, the second-largest higher education institution in Illinois (US). Conti explains how the Mecalux solution has optimized the storage of paper and supplies for the school’s students, professors and staff.
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