Warehouse Automation & Integration

Warehouse automation changes operations in several important ways. First, you’ll see fewer errors—automated systems dramatically reduce mistakes in picking, putting and inventory management. Your throughput improves as these systems work consistently without breaks, often running 24/7. You’ll make better use of your space, especially with solutions like vertical lift modules that use your facility’s height effectively. Your costs often go down as automation handles routine tasks while boosting productivity. Your team’s safety and job satisfaction improve as automation takes over physically demanding or repetitive work, letting people focus on more valuable tasks. And you’ll gain better insights through the detailed data these systems provide, helping you make smarter decisions about your operation.

Vertical lift modules (VLMs) are a key part of modern warehouse automation, especially when you need to save floor space while picking more efficiently. VLMs can connect with your existing warehouse systems to track inventory in real-time and guide picking with light indicators. They work especially well for storing small to medium-sized items and can be adjusted for different product sizes and weights. The goods-to-person approach eliminates wasted time walking and searching for items and their design reduces strain on your team. For warehouses with thousands of products, you can group VLMs together to create efficient pick zones.

Today’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are built specifically to work with your team, not replace them. These smart machines use sensors, cameras and AI to maintain awareness of their surroundings, allowing them to safely move around your people, equipment and obstacles. Unlike older automation that requires facility modifications, AMRs adapt to your existing layout and can be reprogrammed as your needs change. They excel at repetitive transport tasks like moving materials between workstations, bringing picked items to packing areas or taking finished goods to shipping. These robots can work alone or in groups, scaling up during busy periods and managing their own charging schedules. Most importantly, they complement your workforce by handling physically demanding tasks while your team focuses on more complex work and customer service.

Before investing in warehouse automation, it’s important to optimize your current processes. Start by analyzing your workflows to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Map out your product movement patterns and storage needs to understand where automation could have the biggest impact. Consider your space constraints, throughput requirements and growth projections. It’s also helpful to assess your team’s skills and prepare them for working alongside automated systems. At RSC, our Engineered Solutions team can help with this analysis, creating a clear roadmap for automating your facility in phases that align with your business goals and budget. This preparation ensures that when you do implement automation, you’ll get the maximum return on your investment.