TECH & AI
Robots can make warehouse operations more efficient and productive , while reducing errors and improving safety . It ’ s estimated there will be around 50,000 robotic warehouses by 2025 with over 4 million robot installations . As of October 2021 , Amazon alone had around 350,000 mobile drive-unit robots .
“Robotics is an interesting one ; it ' s kind of counterintuitive as to how it works ”
MINDY DAVIS VP , GLOBAL MARKETING , DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN , SAP
One company that has done more than anyone to marry WMSs with robotics and automation is SAP . Mindy Davis is the company ’ s VP , Global Marketing , Digital Supply Chain . A SAP veteran of 17 years , Davis had a minor in logistics from university and her first job was working in a warehouse , for a distribution company in Atlanta .
“ It was my introduction to how digitalising inventory management systems can bring them to life ,” she says .
Davis says that , during the pandemic , SAP was tasked with helping customers align supply with demand .
“ We were able to dig them out of this hole , thanks to our Extended Warehouse Management ( EWM ) solutions ,” she says .
“ EWM helps ensure you are not carrying excess inventory , so that it ’ s aligned with what your demand plan is ,” she says . “ It ' s also about making sure you ’ re prioritising
130 May 2022