Nearly 70% of warehouse decision-makers in India and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are aiming to automate workflows by 2024, with a focus on customer-centric tasks, according to a report from Zebra Technologies. The report also states that almost 58% of warehouse decision-makers are planning to implement radio frequency identification (RFID) technology by 2028. This move is expected to enhance inventory visibility and reduce instances of out-of-stock products. Additionally, 84% of warehouse leaders in India and APAC are emphasizing the importance of technology adoption, such as robotics, to retain employees amidst labor shortages.
Rajnish Gupta, VP of India and Subcontinent at Zebra Technologies, noted that warehouse operators need to embrace technological solutions to enhance operational efficiency, agility, and real-time decision-making during high-demand times. This involves modernizing operations to manage returns effectively, improve inventory visibility, and enhance demand forecasting.
Globally, 73% of warehouse decision-makers have either expedited or are planning to accelerate the implementation of modernization projects. In APAC, a similar trend is observed, with 69% of decision-makers aiming for accelerated modernization.
The report suggests that this approach should assist in managing returns, which emerged as the primary operational challenge, cited by nearly half of the surveyed warehouse decision-makers (47% globally, 40% in APAC). Almost half of these decision-makers believe that automation enhances worker efficiency and productivity by reducing manual picking, order errors, and cycle time.
Moreover, approximately eight in ten warehouse associates globally (81%) and in APAC (78%) believe that embracing more technology and automation aids them in meeting or surpassing productivity targets.
