How does the Internet of Things (IoT) influence warehousing tasks?
The Internet of Things (IoT) influences warehousing tasks by incorporating connectivity and automation, enabling real-time monitoring through sensors that report inventory location and status, space optimisation through pattern analysis to improve distribution, environmental control to ensure optimal conditions for sensitive products, predictive maintenance that anticipates equipment failures, integration with ERP/WMS systems to automatically update inventories, and cost and error reduction by decreasing manual intervention and increasing process speed.
How does IoT help with inventory management and optimisation?
IoT makes inventory management a dynamic and accurate process by obtaining data in real time. Its main benefits are:
- Total visibility: sensors and RFID show exact location and quantity, preventing errors and losses.
- Automatic updating: movements are recorded in WMS/ERP without manual intervention.
- Smart alerts: notifications for minimum stock or anomalies.
- Optimised replenishment: predicts demand and avoids overstocking.
- Condition control: temperature and humidity monitoring for sensitive products.
- Advanced analytics: data to optimise distribution and reduce picking times.
How does it influence monitoring and control?
The IoT turns the warehouse into a smart environment by enabling real-time tracking of product location and movement, environmental control with alerts for deviations, automatic notifications about risks such as overweight or unauthorised movements, integration with WMS systems for quick decisions, access control for greater security, and predictive maintenance that prevents unexpected downtime.
What is the relationship between IoT and automation or robotisation?
- IoT coordinates and controls all automation functions:
- It enables robotisation: real-time data for AGVs and robots.
- It synchronises: it coordinates tasks between robots and systems.
- Intelligent automation: it adjusts routes and speeds according to demand.
- Integration with WMS/ERP: updated inventories and orders.
- Predictive maintenance: robots report their status to prevent failures.
How does it influence operational efficiency?
IoT increases productivity and reduces costs by minimising human error through automatic data capture, providing real-time visibility for faster decisions, optimising processes with efficient routes and spaces, applying predictive maintenance to avoid unexpected downtime, integrating systems to automatically update inventories, and monitoring conditions to ensure product quality.
How does it interact with other new technologies?
IoT powers other innovations by integrating with emerging technologies: with Artificial Intelligence for prediction and intelligent optimisation; with Big Data for massive analysis and strategic decisions; with Robotics for autonomous and safe movements; with Blockchain (technology that allows information to be stored in a decentralised, secure and transparent manner) to ensure reliable traceability; with Augmented Reality to provide real-time information to operators; and with 5G to achieve instant communication between devices.
What are the main advantages of IoT in logistics?
- Total visibility and traceability.
- Reduction of errors and costs.
- Optimisation of inventories and processes.
- Control of conditions and security.
- Basis for automation and smart warehouses.
- Improved customer experience.
