Automation then and now – Common mistakes and how to avoid them

BPS Global Australia has released a new white paper on automation, examining the current landscape, its history and importantly, its future.

With a particular focus on agile automation and the opportunities it brings, this white paper from Australia’s leading automation partner offers best practice advice for vendors looking to improve processes through automation, and common derailers to avoid.

Over the last 50 years, automation has come a long way. Material Handling Equipment (MHE) is now more flexible than ever; meaning solutions can be reconfigured or relocated in response to the organisation’s changing needs. Moreover, MHE is now more affordable than ever, making automation possible for retailers of varying sizes and sectors.

Written by David Oldridge, Managing Partner; Malcolm Druce, Managing Partner and Bruce Drayton, Director of Automation and Robotics at BPS Global Australia, the whitepaper examines a key factor in the evolution of MHE: Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMRs). Using this technology, the industry has moved toward the modular and scalable solutions that dominate today’s landscape.

“Designed for rapid deployment and high growth opportunities, autonomous robotics provide businesses with targeted improvements in warehouses, rather than total system overhauls,” said David Oldridge, Managing Partner at BPS Global Australia.

“Technologies like automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), autonomous guided forklifts (AGFs) and SMART systems now surpass human capability through their state-of-the-art programming,” Olridge said.

“We’re delighted to share key learnings from working with some of the largest retailers and logistics providers across the APAC region in this white paper,” he said.

With robotics technology improving year on year, retailers across the world are embedding automation in their businesses, and it’s only the beginning. In fact, market research advisory firm ABI predicts that by 2025, over four million commercial robots will be installed in over 50,000 warehouses. To put this into perspective, this figure in 2018 was just 4,000.

But, whilst automation is now more accessible than ever before, there are some key steps to take when embedding this new technology to ensure it doesn’t end up being a costly mistake.

Leaning on their extensive experience in the sector, BPS Global Australia offers practical advice in the whitepaper, including the importance of planning, strategy, and engagement of front-line workers to ensure automation transformations succeed.

In addition to this tacit knowledge, the whitepaper cites research from Harvard University Researcher T.J. Larkin, which examines common automation failures, as well as three simple tips to avoid these mistakes.

Check out BPS Global Australia’s latest white paper here.