Use of Smart Glasses for Boosting Warehouse Efficiency: Implications for Change Management

Markus Epe, Muhammad Azmat (), Dewan Md Zahurul Islam and Rameez Khalid
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Markus Epe: Business School, University of Plymouth, Cookworthy Building, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Muhammad Azmat: Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
Dewan Md Zahurul Islam: Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Rameez Khalid: Management Department, School of Business Studies, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University Road, Karachi 75270, Pakistan

Logistics, 2024, vol. 8, issue 4, 1-25

Abstract: Background: Warehousing operations, crucial to logistics and supply chain management, often seek innovative technologies to boost efficiency and reduce costs. For instance, AR devices have shown the potential to significantly reduce operational costs by up to 20% in similar industries. Therefore, this paper delves into the pivotal role of smart glasses in revolutionising warehouse effectiveness and efficiency, recognising their transformative potential. However, challenges such as employee resistance and health concerns highlight the need for a balanced trade-off between operational effectiveness and human acceptance. Methods: This study uses scenario and regression analyses to examine data from a German logistics service provider (LSP). Additionally, structured interviews with employees from various LSPs provide valuable insights into human acceptance. Results: The findings reveal that smart glasses convert dead time into value-added time, significantly enhancing the efficiency of order picking processes. Despite the economic benefits, including higher profits and competitive advantages, the lack of employee acceptance due to health concerns still needs to be addressed. Conclusions: After weighing the financial advantages against health impairments, the study recommends implementing smart glass technology in picking processes, given the current state of technical development. This study’s practical implications include guiding LSPs in technology adoption strategies, while theoretically, it adds to the body of knowledge on the human-technology interface in logistics.

Keywords: order picking; smart glasses; smart warehouse; digitalisation; warehouse operations; logistics performance; warehouse performance; smart logistics; innovation (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: 2024
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