What’s driving that interest?
As discussed in the report, in general, distribution managers are always looking for ways to reduce costs, and to consider additional automation to get that job done.
However, a variety of factors are in play right now, according to our survey and one-on-one interviews, to specifically increase the interest in automated case picking right now:
- Increasing percent of case picks for many companies;
- Improving price-performance curve of available case picking solutions;
- Growing general concern about DC labor issues (availability, aging labor base);
- Card Check/Unionization Potential;
- Total labor costs growth often exceeding growth in system costs, which in some cases are falling, changing ROI environment over time;
- Interest in reducing variability in DC operational performance;
- Concern about physical demands on operators/safety/workmen's compensation issue; and
- General trend towards larger DCs, which can more easily justify automation.
Again, the full report will be released in approximately two weeks, and you can register now to receive it via email the day it is published on our site.
Are you surprised at this level of interest in automatic case picking? Anything you would add to the list of drivers? Let us know your thoughts at the Feedback button below.
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