Smart Warehousing as a Wave of the Future

Hokey Min ()
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Hokey Min: Maurer Center 312, Department of Management, Schmidthorst College of Business, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA

Logistics, 2023, vol. 7, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Background : The unprecedented supply chain disruptions caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic forced many firms to change their way of doing business dramatically. These changes include quickly responding to the growing demand for online orders and the corresponding direct shipments to customer locations. These changes have been further accelerated by rapid technological innovations resulting from the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). One of the most notable technological transformations that we have witnessed is the growing popularity of smart warehousing concepts. Although smart warehousing may represent a wave of the warehousing future, the published literature rarely documents its underlying principles, specific application targets, and potential impacts on supply chain performance. This research aims to identify key drivers of the digital warehousing revolution and describe important value propositions for warehousing automation. Methods : To help companies develop smart warehouses successfully as an integral part of a supply chain link, I conceptualize an ideal smart warehousing system, design its basic architecture, propose specific milestones for monitoring the progress of smart warehouse development, and then, identify critical success factors for its full utilization in today’s volatile warehousing environment. This paper employed qualitative content analysis to conceptualize smart warehousing development and establish a smart warehousing framework. Results : A smart warehouse will bring many managerial benefits, including warehousing cost efficiency, labor productivity, and agility in the era of the knowledge economy. Conclusions : This paper will enable companies to accelerate digital transformation and improve their competitiveness amid the post-pandemic industrial revolution.

Keywords: smart warehousing; warehousing technology; innovation; the fourth industrial revolution; change management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L8 L80 L81 L86 L87 L9 L90 L91 L92 L93 L98 L99 M1 M10 M11 M16 M19 R4 R40 R41 R49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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