23/07/2026
Rather than treating automation as a quick fix for isolated tasks or immediate labor shortages, businesses must approach it as a long-term operational redesign.Key Practical Action PointsRethink Whole Operations:
- Do not just automate a single task or replicate manual processes; redesign workflows entirely to optimize efficiency and predictability.
- Plan 10–20 Years Ahead: Align the system layout with forecasted capacity, scalability, and long-term future needs instead of just current demand.
- Lead with Data Analysis: Base initial goals on historic operational data, including volume metrics, order profiles, and exact process performance.
- Utilize Simulation Tools: Run scenario testing and modeling software to validate facility throughput and system performance before committing to investments.
- Engage Teams Early: Involve multiple internal departments during the early planning stages to secure organizational alignment and guarantee a smooth workforce transition.
- Conduct Field Research: Visit active reference sites of experienced integration partners to observe automated material flows and real-world results in practice.
- Avoid Peak-Demand Dimensioning: Do not build the automated system infrastructure strictly around seasonal peak capacity—as is typically done with manual labor—since automation shifts operational logic entirely.
https://warehousenews.co.uk/2026/06/a-smarter-way-to-start-with-automation/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-smarter-way-to-start-with-automation
Automation is becoming essential across industries, and more companies are exploring how to take the first step. Cimcorp believes that the key is to start from the right place. “Rather than focusing on a single task, companies should step back and rethink their whole operation,” says Derek Ricka...
