Automating the order picking process means making choices. One such choice is whether to ship the products in boxes or plastic crates. That decision is often influenced by various practical considerations and is sometimes even made based on what’s already available in the warehouse. Many companies underestimate the impact of this choice on their logistics operation. In this sixth and final part of the series on smart warehousing, Dirk Becks, outlines the key factors that...

Automatisering van het orderpickproces betekent keuzes maken: gebruiken we een doos of kunststof bak als ladingdrager? Vaak kiest men op basis van 1 of enkele praktische overwegingen, of zelfs op basis van reeds aanwezige bakken of dozen. Maar de impact van de ladingdrager wordt op de logistieke operatie vaak onderschat. In dit zesde en tevens laatste deel uit een serie artikelen over smart warehousing vertelt Dirk Becks wat de belangrijkste aandachtspunten zijn.

Many companies are curious about the potential of collaborative robots (cobots) in logistics, but there have only been a limited number of real-life implementations so far. In this fifth part in a series of articles about smart warehousing, Dirk Becks, Senior Consultant at Groenewout, discusses the differences between conventional robots and cobots. The article also explores the advantages and disadvantages of each solution and the bottleneck for both of them. Would you like to know more about...

When it comes to logistics real estate, how does the Netherlands measure up against its neighbors? Is there still land available for the construction of logistics real estate? Does the country have enough space (and societal support) for new e-commerce facilities? And what about the costs and regulations – are they on a par with those in neighboring countries? Nederland Distributieland took a closer look based on a number of factors and spoke to various experts,...

Many logistics businesses believe that the remedy to theft and loss is a large and complex access control system, supported by security cameras and visitor/intruder detection systems. But is this really the case, or are they too focused on managing incidents? Consultant Stijn Belt regularly sees companies implementing solutions in response to incidents. According to him, that can often result in a false sense of security. The way to avoid this is to develop...

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are on the verge of a breakthrough, as they are increasingly regarded as an effective alternative for traditional conveyor and sorting systems. In this fourth installment in a series of articles about smart warehousing, Dirk Becks, Senior Consultant at Groenewout, explains which factors are driving the breakthrough and what to look out for when purchasing AMRs. This article was published  on Logistiek.nl in February 2021. Click here to read the article on Logistiek.nl if...

Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) for small items of stock are rapidly gaining ground. They have a relatively small footprint and combine quality and productivity with flexibility and scalability. In the second part (click here) of the series on smart warehousing, Dirk Becks explained what makes shuttle systems, autonomous mobile robot (AMR) systems and cubic storage systems so ideal for smart logistics facilities. This third instalment explores how the various systems impact on the distribution center. What are...

New technologies are opening up new opportunities for smart warehousing – resulting in not only lower costs, but also faster and more flexible processes. But how can you start making your warehouses ‘smarter’? In the second in a series of six articles, Dirk Becks explains what makes shuttle systems, autonomous mobile robot (AMR) systems and cubic storage systems so ideal for smart warehousing. To read Dirk’s previous article, which outlines which factors to consider when choosing...

New technologies offer numerous opportunities to make warehouses ‘smarter’. Besides reducing costs, that also results in faster and more flexible processes. But how can you implement smart warehousing in practice? Dirk Becks answers this question in a series of six articles. In the first article, he examines the factors that influence which solution to choose. This article was published on logistiek.nl in October 2020. Click here to read the article on logistiek.nl or download in PDF (in Dutch only)

How can you combine e-commerce with brick-and-mortar stores? Groenewout outlines the importance of a sound omnichannel strategy; Although e-commerce is becoming increasingly difficult for retailers to ignore, brick-and-mortar stores are unlikely to completely disappear from the retail landscape. There is growing evidence that omnichannel retail strategies – and the associated supply chains – are the way to go. Mohamed Lasgaa recently shared his views on the latest developments, the impact of the coronavirus crisis and...