Page 29 - Inbound Logistics | April 2017 | Digital Issue
P. 29

INFOCUS










       TRENDS




        SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LOGISTICS






































                                     Warehouses Eye Robots



                                         o better serve customers and remain globally competitive, warehousing
            by Jason McDowell T and logistics providers are continuing to evaluate robotics solutions. While
                                     robotics technology has already made an economic impact on the manufacturing
                                     sector, it is now starting to transform supply chain operations to be faster, safer,
                                     and more productive. The demand for robots, and the supply of matured robotic
                                     solutions to optimize logistics processes, have created a tipping point that could
                                     lead to widespread acceptance and presence of robots in warehouses and logistics
                                     operations, according to a new report from Tractica.

                                       Worldwide warehousing and logistics   intelligence firm estimates that global
                                     robot unit shipments will increase from   market revenue for the sector reached
                                     40,000 in 2016 to 620,000 units annually   $1.9 billion in 2016 and anticipates that
                                     by 2021, according to Tractica. The market   the market will continue to grow rapidly


                                                                                      April 2017 • Inbound Logistics 27
   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34