This week, some of the most influential businessmen and world leaders are gathered in Davos, Switzerland, for another world economic forum annual meeting. Amidst the traditional discussions about the direction of the world economy and society, one theme stands out: the growth of artificial intelligence, automation and robots in industries.
This movement is already referred to by specialists as the fourth Industrial Revolution and promises to profoundly transform the industry not only by expanding the use of robots, but also by connecting these devices in a network, using sensors and processing data on a large scale. Naturally, this artificial intelligence extends to logistics and the supply chain, and is expected to speed up deliveries and reduce errors in orders.
In the United States, Amazon bought robot maker Kiva and already has more than 30 kiva robots in 13 of its 50 distribution centers to help with picking and packing activities. Due to the integration of the systems, the robots know where the millions of items are stored and literally carry the shelves to the picking and packing teams, which separate the products. The new system allowed Amazon to increase its storage space by 50% without expanding the physical area and generated a significant increase in efficiency for the North American retailer's operation.
Video 1 – Amazon robots in operation at the California distribution center
Source: CNET
In Brazil, Natura also invests in the automation of its distribution centers. In 2015, the company inaugurated a new logistics hub in Itupeva, São Paulo, with capacity to store 3,6 million boxes of finished products. In addition to the DC with 13 pallet stacker cranes, 4 robots for palletizing/depalletizing, 20 shuttles for operations with boxes and 2 telescopic conveyors, trucks were developed that allow fully automatic loading and unloading in just 5 minutes.
Video 2 – Natura's new automated logistics hub in Itupeva
Source: SSI Schaefer Brasil
The coming years promise to see many investments in automation, in industries and in their distribution centers. This new moment will require effort not only from companies, but also from logistics professionals, who will have to qualify to fit the new profiles sought by companies. More and more repetitive jobs will be performed by robots, leaving humans to perform more complex tasks that require creativity.
References:
<http://www.tecnologistica.com.br/destaque/natura-inaugura-hub-logistico-itupeva/>
<http://www.bbc.com/news/business-20754979>
<http://cerasis.com/2015/07/06/robotics-in-logistics/>
<http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-doubled-the-number-of-kiva-robots-2015-10>
<http://www.ibtimes.com/davos-2016-need-embrace-robot-revolution-not-fear-it-tech-leaders-say-2272199>