Smart warehouse technology transforming fulfillment & 3PL operations

What is the warehouse technology of tomorrow? 

Like never before, finding new ways to enhance efficiency is critical for 3PLs to survive. Supply chain complexities, driver shortages and the growth of ecommerce means traditional warehousing can no longer cope. We are now seeing the rise of the smart warehouse – one that leverages game-changing new efficiencies powered by the technology of the future. 

Top 3 smart warehousing technology trends 

The near future promises powerful new top warehouse technologies enhancing the way 3PLs and their customers do business. Here are three trending smart technologies that are increasingly shaping the fulfilment landscape. 

1. Embracing localised distribution networks 

One of the key lessons of COVD-19 was that huge warehouses come with major limitations. Chief amongst these was the ‘bottlenecking’ that many experienced when supply chains came to a standstill during the pandemic. 

This lack of agility, combined with the same or next-day delivery expectations of today’s customers, means that huge warehouses simply are not up to the task of ensuring smooth distribution networks, both globally and locally.

Smaller, more localised warehousing operations will possibly emerge as a far more agile and resilient way for retailers to access inventory. 

Businesses may also consider adopting multi-tenanted warehouses. This offers a more cost-efficient way to service large population centres, making inventory accessible locally and regionally via consolidation centres.   

2. Leveraging automation and robotic technologies 

Same-day delivery expectations may already be placing significant strain on 3PLs – particularly those yet to embrace technology.

But with the rapid advancement of autonomous cars and delivery drones, customers may soon expect delivery within the hour. Servicing this expectation would of course require 3PLs to embrace the kind of technology that provides a quantum leap in efficiency.  

Conveyors and sorters are already established warehouse robotics, but we can expect to see increasing adoption of this form of automated robotic packing. So too of automated storage and retrieval systems, as well as automated mobile robots that eliminate much of the manual work performed by warehouse staff.   

Like many 3PLs, you may not yet be sold on the benefits of warehouse automation technology, particularly when considering the implementation costs.

However, the sooner you embrace smart warehousing techniques, such as autonomous warehouse systems, the better. You do not want to be left behind the competition, unable to satisfy the increasing demands of customers. 

3. Enhancing warehouse processes with cloud software 

More and more, 3PLs are turning to warehouse management software to realise significant time and cost savings. The powerful automation offered by these solutions help drive efficiencies across the entire fulfilment process – from warehouse and inventory management, to picking, packing and shipping orders. 

The advanced API capabilities of cloud computing software allow you to consolidate disparate systems into one easy-to-use solution, where you can easily control and gain real-time visibility of all your key functions.

Plus, with powerful data-analytics functionality, you have the right tech to generate the invaluable insights you need to identify key trends and drive improvements across your business. 

Warehouse management software is a game-changer for the logistics industry, helping eliminate the manual work often associated with the traditional warehouse and human error, while optimising the fulfilment process to massively reduce operating costs. With customer expectations only increasing, those 3PLs that fail to embrace key technologies will quickly lose out to those that do. 

What are online retailers demanding from 3PLs? 

Unprecedented customer demands are changing the way retailers do business. With customers shopping around the clock, they expect near-immediate delivery times and flawless service. Often, a single incorrect order, late delivery or payment error is all it takes to shatter their loyalty. 

To deliver the impeccable service customers expect, more and more retailers are entrusting their logistics operations to 3PLs. They are demanding that these partners not only manage their entire fulfilment process, but also enhance it. Retailers are seeking 3PLs that can drive time and cost-saving efficiencies to ensure not a single customer order goes unfulfilled. 

So, how are 3PLs achieving the step-change required to satisfy the needs of today’s retailers? They are embracing innovative top technologies, utilising powerful automation to eliminate countless time-sapping, often error-prone tasks. 

Trend in action: Mango Logistics 

Before Access Mintsoft's inventory management system, time-intensive manual work was a daily challenge for the team at Mango Logistics.

Their inventory management software simply could not provide the inventory accuracy or efficiency they needed, forcing them to use spreadsheets and perform considerable manual data entry, all of which posed the risk of human error. 

“If it wasn’t for Access Mintsoft, we wouldn’t have been able to go down the route of offering same-day and next-day delivery at the cadence our clients needed – or transform into a full logistics and storage solution.” 

Henri Purvis, Commercial and Operations Advisor at Mango Logistics 

How warehouse management systems provide a competitive edge 

3PLs that embrace smart warehouse tools sooner rather than later will be best placed to service the growing demands of retailers. Future-proofing your 3PL with innovative technology will lead to game-changing efficiencies, allowing you to edge out the competition and be the high-performance partner retailers need. 

Embracing warehouse automation technology can empower 3PLs to: 

• Enhance inventory management across various fulfilment sources. 

• Optimise inventory management across multiple fulfilment sources. 

• Provide a diverse array of shipping options to cater to various customer needs. 

• Efficiently handle backorders, returns and exchanges for a smoother customer experience. 

• Deliver a smooth, error-free end-to-end service that enhances customer satisfaction. 

• Help retailers boost productivity and slash operational costs. 

• Gain invaluable insights from historical data to help clients operate more efficiently . 

In short, warehouse automation technology enables 3PLs to save time, reduce costs and ensure a smoother, more efficient fulfilment process. Without it, your 3PL risks falling behind the competition, unable to offer retailers the services they need to meet increasing customer demands. 

Trend in action: Haul & Store 

With ambitions of expanding to a second warehouse, the team at Haul & Store was seeking a more efficient way to process orders, so they could take on larger volumes. However, they could not afford to hire any more warehouse personnel.

The team needed an end-to-end warehouse management solution that had key features such as automating the time-intensive manual tasks holding them back, and also integrating all their systems in one place. 

“Access Mintsoft has allowed us to bring on more clients and scale our business at the rate we needed. Implementing Access Mintsoft has not only allowed us to take on more clients and create enough demand to move into our second warehouse but continues to support us as we grow as a business.” 

What are the top 3 benefits of warehouse management software?

1. Save time with everything in one place

By consolidating all your key functions in one easy-to-use cloud platform, warehouse management software will help with order fulfillment processes.

This smart warehouse system provides the control, visibility and automation you need to more efficiently manage anything from warehouse layout and inventory, to order fulfilment, shipping and warehouse returns. 

2. Anticipate trends with data-driven insights

The powerful big data analytics capabilities of warehouse management software can provide the real-time visibility and insights you need to anticipate client needs and effectively pre-empt supply chain disruptions. 

3. Drive cost efficiencies

By automating much of the fulfilment process, warehouse management software not only helps slash labour costs, but also those caused by human error. A smart warehouse benefits you with faster, better fulfilment and services that separate you from the competition, like free branded shipping.  

Trend in action: Fulfillable 

After broadening their service offering, the Fulfillable team needed a way to enhance their efficiency. They were seeking a comprehensive, intuitive warehouse management solution that both they and their customers could use, that could automate tasks like invoicing and streamline their entire fulfilment process. 

“Lots of time was spent on manual processes which Access Mintsoft has now allowed us to automate. Our ethos is to automate as much as we can so that we can reduce order fulfillment costs by streamlining our operations where we can. Access Mintsoft has allowed us to do that.” 

“As the future unfolds, more e-commerce businesses are founded by young entrepreneurs who have grown up with/are used to using technology for the everyday aspects of their lives. Modern fulfilment needs to meet their expectations and ideas.” 

Ben Chidzoy, Co-founder of Fulfillable, says is essential to the 3PL’s survival.    

Read case study 

How warehouse management software drives down costs 

By simplifying the entire fulfilment process, warehouse management software helps reduce costs by enabling 3PLs to: 

1. Eliminate manual tasks 

Put simply, warehouse management software helps your personnel save significant time. It automates many of their time-sapping manual tasks, allowing them to service an ever-growing volume of orders faster and with greater accuracy in warehouse operations. 

2. Generate business from existing customers 

By enabling you to offer faster, more accurate and reliable services, warehouse control systems make you stand out from the competition. This means happier clients less inclined to look elsewhere, allowing you to make the most of untapped upselling opportunities, reducing the costs of marketing to new customers. 

3. Minimise errors and optimise your warehousing operations

By eliminating manual work, warehouse management software significantly reduces costly mistakes that can spell disaster for customer loyalty.

These inventory control platforms also provide real-time visibility of inventory to ensure you are never over or understocked, while ensuring your warehouse optimisation process makes the most of your warehouse space.  

Why becoming a tech-enabled 3PL is essential 

The 3PL industry will only get more competitive. As customers increasingly shift from same-day to same-hour delivery expectations, only those 3PLs that embrace smart warehouse technology will thrive.

Real-time visibility of the entire fulfilment process, automation of manual tasks and the ability to quickly adapt to the changing needs of retailers will be essential.  

Warehouse management systems can deliver the competitive edge needed to meet the surging demands of customers and retailers. They can help 3PLs drive efficiencies and cost-savings across the end-to-end fulfilment process. Not only that, but they can help eliminate errors and deliver the elevated service levels required to ensure customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.   

You do not want to be left behind while the competition capitalises on new, better ways of doing business. By embracing smart warehousing solutions now, you can future-proof your 3PL warehouse operations and be first in line to take advantage of automation's promise. 

Trend in action: CBF Group 

After expanding into ecommerce services, CBF Group needed a smart warehousing system that could scale with their business. Access Mintsoft has simplified fulfilment for CBF Group, helping them not only enhance efficiency and reduce costs, but also grow their client base.  

“Using Access Mintsoft helps to win us new business. The brand itself is a selling point for us – we’ve had enquiries based on the fact we use Access Mintsoft as our third-party software provider.”