{"id":1820,"date":"2020-12-18T17:18:17","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T22:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/warehouse-automation\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:18:33","slug":"warehouse-automation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/warehouse-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"Warehouse Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Warehouse Automation Technologies that Boost Warehouse Efficiency<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Using warehouse automation can boost operational efficiency, increase productivity, reduce labour costs, and help ensure a synchronous, smooth flow of warehouse processes. However, it can be easier said than done. That\u2019s why many businesses turn to warehousing and distribution services<\/a> over managing a warehouse themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Request Fulfilment Pricing<\/strong><\/h3>

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We\u2019ll get back to you within 24 hours. Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

What is warehouse automation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse automation is using technology and equipment to streamline repetitive warehousing<\/a> operations, making them less labour-intensive to drive greater efficiencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of warehouse automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From automated order processing<\/a> and automated shipping<\/a> solutions, to automated storage and retrieval systems, there are different types of warehouse automation that work in various ways to increase productivity and streamline processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Goods-to-person (GTP)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

GTP solutions use robots, machines, or equipment that assist workers to make warehouse picking<\/a> more efficient. They are most often picking solutions designed to reduce travel time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Pick-to-light (PLT) systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pick-to-light systems make use of barcodes and LED lights to assist workers in finding the right items to fulfil an order. They also help increase productivity and locate items accurately and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Voice picking systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pickers use voice picking systems to communicate through headsets to manage and oversee movement and picking lists<\/a> and tasks. This way, they can easily communicate with the warehouse manager about picking details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Box selection algorithm using Cubiscan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A box selection algorithm ensures that your orders have consistency in fulfilment costs<\/a> by calculating the ideal package size for a given order combination. Cubiscan machines determine the right size depending on the dimensions and weights of the products that are to be shipped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, ShipBob uses this in combination with each customer\u2019s packaging preferences to tell us which package size we should use for any order combination so we select the best suitable packaging while reducing dimensional weight.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have your own warehouse?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ShipBob has a best-in-class warehouse management system (WMS) for brands that have their own warehouse and need help managing inventory in real time, reducing picking, packing, and shipping errors, and scaling with ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With ShipBob’s WMS<\/a>, brands with their own warehouse can even leverage ShipBob’s fulfilment services in any of ShipBob’s fulfilment centres across the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia to improve cross-border shipping, reduce costs, and speed up deliveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Request WMS pricing here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to outsource?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may be worth exploring the services of a third-party that specializes in warehouse automation and fulfilment, as they have a lot to offer with much less investment required on your part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top benefits of implementing warehouse automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse automation is an integral part of optimising the supply chain<\/a>, as it reduces the time, effort, and errors caused by manual, variable tasks. Some business owners employ logistics automation<\/a> in their own warehouse, using their own technology and tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the advantages offered by warehouse automation software or through partnering with a reliable 3PL<\/a> like ShipBob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Boosts employee productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With warehouse automation, businesses can streamline processes in the supply chain to make them more efficient. This doesn\u2019t always mean replacing employees with robots but helping staff do their jobs better and faster and\/or repurposing their time to focus on more specialized tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper warehouse management<\/a> can even increase worker satisfaction by removing the more mundane, repetitive tasks. At ShipBob, we use warehouse automation systems to optimise our fulfilment centres, improve processes, and automate fulfilment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCompared to other warehouses we\u2019ve worked with, ShipBob processes orders so quickly to get them out the door faster. It\u2019s fun to see orders shipping out instantaneously. I love how fast and efficient ShipBob is.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harley Abrams, Operations Manager of SuperSpeed Golf, LLC<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

2. Improves accuracy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A leading reason why customers lose trust in an ecommerce business is when they receive the wrong order. Warehouse automation can help reduce errors by reducing the number of decisions a warehouse associate needs to make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShipBob uses warehouse automation to eliminate picking and packing errors for better order accuracy<\/a> through our box selection and Cubiscan process. This helps us choose the optimal packaging for each unique order, taking the seller\u2019s preferences into account, and instructing the packer for each order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Decrease warehouse labour costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By optimising your distribution centre with warehouse automation systems, you cut labour costs associated with the order fulfilment<\/a> process. When ShipBob does this for example, we decrease our variable cost per order and give customers cheaper rates, passing the savings back on to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How ShipBob\u2019s warehouse automation helped these 3 businesses grow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rather than needing to manage, automate, and optimise a warehouse yourself, you can outsource fulfilment<\/a> to ShipBob and have us take care of fulfilment logistics<\/a> for you. Below, you\u2019ll hear from a few of the thousands of ecommerce brands that ShipBob helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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