The future of automation is dynamic, exciting, and here. Increaisngly, automation is playing a crucial role in mitigating supply chain disruptions. It’s also increasing resilience across the courier industry, gaining more momentum with each year. It serves to address some of the industry’s most pressing issues and helps companies make more informed decisions to optimise efficiency.
However, as we adapt to artificial intelligence-powered tools, maintaining the human touch remains an important factor as we usher in the new era of automation.
The combination of advanced technologies and human intuition in decision making and strategic tasks can create a harmonious balance in the courier industry, as well as keeping it ethical and transparent.
Ushering in a new era of automation
Automation is increasing efficiency in supply chain and logistics, freeing up employees’ time and handle demand. Incorporating new technologies like AI also enhances decision-making, allowing for the automation of increasingly complex and valuable manual tasks. Because AI can analyse vast amounts of data quickly, AI-powered automation can help to provide actionable insights into problems ahead of time as well as being able to predict potential disruptions in deliveries for example. It allows businesses to take proactive measures against potential problems before they can escalate.
A significant improvement that automation can help deliver is enhancing supply chain visibility. By having end-to-end visibility, companies are now able to track the movement of goods and quickly respond to issues. Consumers nowadays are able to see their online delivery from point A to point B, and businesses should expect to see the same visibility in the supply chain.
Automation filling in the gaps
Importantly, automated inventory management systems ensure that warehouses don’t run out of stock. When inventory levels fall too low, automated inventory management systems can trigger a replenishment order, ensuring stock is kept at optimal levels at all times. With the integration of AI, these warehouse automation systems can even forecast demand ahead of time.
There is always a surge of demand during the summer months as consumers plan ahead of time for the holiday season. When there are sales and stock is still high, customers like to purchase their Christmas presents, creating a surge of demand.
Warehouse automation technologies reduce human strain by speeding up tasks that take up employees’ time and reshaping how customer service is delivered.
The human touch
While automation promises to help employees with the pressure of routine, tedious tasks, and data processing that can be time-consuming, human touch is still required in the supply chain.
As the courier industry evolves, the demand for experienced individuals who have the right expertise in managing these automated systems grows. With dedicated individuals to oversee the process, there can be no margin for error and ensure that it remains ethical and meets compliance standards.
With situations that present unprecedented challenges, like an upset customer, it is undoubtedly better to have human judgement and empathy involved. It can inject the right amount of consideration and thought needed into the situation, helping to resolve issues that automation cannot.
By building and maintaining relationships with customers and suppliers, and handling situations with human intervention, it continues to create a foundation of trust and collaboration that people require from a company. Automation can’t perform a task that requires emotional intelligence.
Additionally, humans have a fundamental role in ensuring the use of automation in the supply chain remains ethical. Human oversight is necessary to hold systems accountable for automated decision making.
Overall, automation remains an important topic in the supply chain as we adapt to a new way of working. However, it is imperative that we never forget how far the human touch can get us, and never erase its value.
- Digital Supply Chain