How technology improving conditions for warehouse workers

In recent years, warehouse staff have become more difficult to recruit and retain. New technologies are improving safety, making jobs less physically demanding and more enjoyable.

New workers typically spend days or weeks training to learn the job and safety requirements. Advancements in learning systems have resulted in companies being allowed to cut training time to hours. Screens display graphics that guide workers to product locations and specify quantities that need picking. Voice and graphic instructions tell inexperienced staff exactly what to do. For example:

“Pick trousers A from location B, scan to make sure it’s the right one, then place it in tote C.”

Hybrid picking trolleys make workers more productive by combining picking, replenishment and inventory counting in one run instead of multiple ones.

A major risk facing warehouse workers is musculoskeletal injuries. Every warehouse equipment manufacturer is improving the ergonomics of their manual handling equipment, making it easier to move and manoeuvre items without excess physical stress. Exosuits and lift assistance devices make it easier to lift heavy loads without strain.

CCTV and AI are making warehouses safer by spotting potential hazards. For instance, AI can identify areas in the warehouse where collision near misses happen and suggest solutions to make locations safer.

Not all improvements to working conditions require expensive technology. Employee morale can be boosted by gamifying work, which adds game elements that create friendly competition between workers. Clear career opportunities improve worker engagement when today’s new entry level employees know that they have a chance to become future managers.

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