Supply chain warehouses today face mounting pressure to accelerate order fulfilment while simultaneously maintaining inventory accuracy. This is particularly evident in e-commerce. Here, cross-border retailers are experiencing rapid growth, and next-day or even same-day delivery expectations have become the norm. Common warehouse processes such as order picking, packing, and shipping preparation are also largely manual, labour-intensive. This makes them prone to human errors, exacerbating existing challenges.
As global supply chains become increasingly complex and customer expectations soar, the sector demands a more data-driven approach. Organisations striving to meet these escalating demands places the supply chain sector at a critical juncture. To meet the challenge, the sector requires new new solutions that will help ensure resilience.
While digital transformation and automation are frequently discussed as potential remedies, wearable technology offers a promising and oft-overlooked advantage to these challenges confronting supply chain operators. And, although the initial hype surrounding wearable tech products such as VR headsets and smart glasses faced challenges scaling, the dominance of healthcare and fitness driving demand for wearable tech is a prelude to that broader impact wearables can have on industries.
The wearable tech industry is on a trajectory for explosive growth, set to hit $290.6 billion by 2030. By drawing from the successes and insights from consumer markets, supply chain operators can harness the potential of wearables to make gains in supply chain operations.
The data potential
Beyond their fashionable appeal, the wearable devices’ practical applications and promise of transforming healthcare propelled the sector into a success story.
This same potential exists within the industrial sector. Wearables, in constant proximity to its user, capture granular data on every movement from equipment hum to worker activity. This data isn’t just numbers, but a roadmap to warehouse efficiency.
This shift from analog to digital opens up unprecedented opportunities for efficiency gains. For instance, smart glasses with built-in scanners guide workers to the exact item, cutting picking time. Meanwhile, real-time location tracking can safeguard lone workers.
The aggregated data can then be analysed to optimise operations, identify bottlenecks, and used to improve overall productivity. This data-driven approach mirrors the success of consumer wearables, where personalised experiences are built upon understanding individual behaviour.
A safety net for warehouse workers
Worker safety is also paramount in high-pressure warehouse environments, where a spike in activity, especially during peak seasons, can lead to an increased risk of worker injuries. Beyond efficiency gains, wearable technology can become a lifeline for worker safety. From invisible ergonomic challenges, to falls and heat exhaustion, the breadth of hazards within a warehouse meant workers need to take extra safety precautions at work.
Unfortunately, businesses often lack visibility into the day-to-day challenges, or struggle to correct patterns without the data-driven insights. Questions like “Where do workers fall most often?” or “What tasks lead to the highest injury rate?” often go unanswered. This is where wearable technology, particularly those with vital sensors can help businesses monitor worker vitals, detect potential hazards.
Smart wearables like barcode scanners can be easily integrated into gloves, which streamlines tasks for pickers and warehouse workers. Not only that, but wearable scanners also alleviate physical strain commonly associated with handheld scanners, which can contribute to complications like repetitive strain injuries. Additionally, real-time location tracking enables swift response to emergencies. When a worker has falls, or when an equipment malfunctions, wearables can provide rapid alerts.
In saying that, it’s important to recognise that safety wearables are tools and cannot therefore be used in isolation. Supply chain operators should already have established a strong foundation of workplace well-being and safety protocols before a full-scale integration with wearables. This way we can ensure technology complements existing safety practices, rather than replace them.
The path forward
The future of supply chain operations hinges on data-driven innovation, and a blend of human ingenuity. Wearable technology is poised to be a catalyst for transformation. As devices evolve to capture increasingly granular data, an integration with existing IoT and ERP systems will create a comprehensive operational blueprint.
While the technology is powerful, its effectiveness is contingent upon a strong foundation of human expertise and established operational protocols. The goal here is to create a symbiotic relationship between technology and human expertise. Through harnessing the power of data and human intelligence, supply chain operations can unlock new levels of efficiency, productivity, and safety to drive operational excellence.
- Digital Supply Chain
