9 Biggest Warehouse Automation Myths We Hear From Our Customers
“I already have a fleet management system for my AGVs”
AGVs is the abbreviation of Automated Guided Vehicles.
AMRs is the abbreviation of Autonomous Mobile Robots.
Fact:
AGVs are widely used and they are great for their purpose, however, they might not be right for you.The post-COVID-19 markets are shifting to include or switch to AMRs, as they are more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective than AGVs and can make timely adjustments to changing environments. In addition, AMRs do not need to be retrofitted to the original warehouse, enabling rapid deployment.
Furthermore, the currently used AGV fleet management system might not be able to support and manage AMRs, hence it limits your business to the current fleet.
While they were once the best way to automate material handling, AGVs are now outdated technology. AMR technology has surpassed the capabilities of AGVs and is the clear choice for businesses that want to remain competitive in a fast-changing world.
“With Meili FMS — our universal fleet management system — you will be able to prepare yourself for new levels of automation and be future-ready for the new industry 4.0 options.”
“I already have a fleet management system which is provided by my robot’s manufacturer”
OEM is the abbreviation of Original Equipment Manufacturer
Fact:
To some extent, the OEM software will no longer work if your business is planning to diversify your fleet.Interoperability between different robot types and brands is a growing concern in various facilities across the industries. More users are diversifying their fleets for different applications and operations.
Currently, robot manufacturers develop their own FMS, which means that there is minimal-to-none correlation between different systems. In other words, the robots cannot communicate amongst each other, causing delays in operations, accidents, and collisions — ultimately increasing operation costs while diminishing safety and efficiency substantially. And, it doesn’t matter if the OEM fleet manager is top of the line.
“For businesses using or considering a diverse fleet of mobile robots, a universal fleet management system is by far the best choice. We are not going to claim Meili FMS is better than the OEM solution, but we do strive to be the bridge between the robots, enabling them to operate at their highest potential.”
“Cloud-based software is not safe”
Fact:
This statement is partially true. There is no such thing as a completely safe cloud system despite top-of-the-line security.Even though there might be chances of a cybersecurity breach, when it comes to automating your warehouse systems, cloud-based software still brings a lot more benefits compared to a local solution. As you no longer need to set up and maintain an on-premise data centre, this delivers the following benefits:
Infrastructure and maintenance cost reduction
Less burden on the in-house IT department
Scalability possibilities
Easier integration with other systems and software.
Ability to generate and collect more data from various information systems and from the supply chain
“Like with all solutions, you have to weigh what level of risk you are comfortable dealing with, starting by getting to know the software provider both as a company and from an end-user perspective.”
“Your software is too expensive”
Fact:
There is no arguing that a fleet management system is a big investment, but it is the kind of investment that will make your business more profitable.Interoperability issues are one of the main causes of delays, accidents, or extra expenses for businesses. In other words, accurate task allocation and effective traffic control equal huge cost savings, reducing the reliance on labour, better energy efficiency, and increasing the entire facilities’ outputs overall.
You don’t have to go all-in at once if you choose to implement Meili FMS. We have built the solution to be modular, where we can add other features to the subscription when required, without compromising the overall offering.
To bring further value, we have developed Meili FMS as an integration to your current ERP system, bringing a whole new level of automation and Industry 4.0 readiness without requiring additional infrastructure installation to the robots’ facility.
Regardless of how you go about it, you can rest assured that the investment will be worth it.
“It is always possible to gradually transform your warehouse into an automated one.”
“A system like yours is only suitable for large-scale businesses”
Fact:
This needs to be put to rest — smart solutions can benefit businesses of any scale.The fourth industrial revolution is happening now, bringing interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data. In other words, in order to stay competitive in this ever-changing world, businesses regardless of their sizes will need to start investing in robots and automation sooner or later.
Furthermore, being an early-stage or small business may allow you to:
Adapt to the change more quickly
Easily test out new solutions in a more risk-free environment
Devote time to tasks and goals that really matter
“Smart system breakdowns carry risks of lengthier downtimes and higher recovery costs”
Fact:
Failure happens; however, it doesn’t mean that it’s unpreventable.Experts emphasise that one of the main causes is a lack of communication between the operator and the supplier/integrator. In other words, by closely communicating the operational needs and expectations, the system could be modified and upgraded to meet the demands, which ultimately eliminates congestion and speed throughput.
Furthermore, with smart systems that have real-time tracking, detecting, and analysing like Meili FMS, they can mitigate risks by providing a bird’s-eye view of fleet productivity with user-intuitive dashboards. It also sends alerts to operators regarding potential failures, which reduces the possibility of lengthy or unexpected delays or downtime.
“Our in-house IT staff won’t be able to maintain and support such sophisticated automation technology.”
Fact:
Smart systems are built to support people as they go about their tasks. This means that they are designed to be simple, intuitive, user-friendly, and reliable.At first glance, every new system can seem overwhelming and complex. But with little training and some quick tutorials, employees can easily learn their new workflow within hours.
Moreover, different levels of service and support contracts can be negotiated. The right supplier should always be willing to work with a customer to ensure that the staff feels comfortable, supported, and confident with the new system.
“Meili Robots offers customer support to help with preventive maintenance and repair, as well as to teach internal staff to handle those tasks on their own. Furthermore, our software is built to be intuitive and straightforward, which makes it very easy to be onboard.”
“All of our company’s facilities are different, so we can’t use one solution for all of them.”
Fact:
This statement is, in fact, partially true as there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.That’s because different facilities in different geographic locations will have different needs, challenges, and goals. This means that the smart system’s configuration will have to vary to meet the unique needs of the specific facility.
For the system to run smoothly and efficiently across facilities, this requires clear communication between the operator and the supplier/integrator. Information — such as number of mobile robots, number of orders picked per shift, detailed location maps, types of operations, just to name a few — needs to be shared.
“Adopting a new software means we will have to completely change every process in our current operation.”
Fact:
Not necessarily. Softwares are built to make your life easier, not harder.When deploying new software, businesses are often concerned about valuable time-wasting, or even temporary operational disruptions.
However, it all comes down to choosing the right supplier — whether they are willing to listen and understand your current situation, workflows, and target objectives.
The ideal vendor should be able to bring a comprehensive installation plan, to minimise impacts on current operations.
Additionally, they should be available to answer all your questions and walk you through every step of the process, from initial evaluation to design, installation, commissioning, operation, service, maintenance and support.
“With Meili Robots, depending on the complexity of the solution, the development time can be within a few months and once done, it can be easily and quickly set up through our user-friendly interface.”
About Meili Robots
Meili Robots is developing the next-generation of mobile robots fleet management, called Meili FMS. A universal digital solution, an all-in-one platform that is capable of handling different kinds of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). Enable traffic control, empower interoperability and facilitate automated task allocation — all via intuitive UI. Check our website meilirobots.com/product to learn about our products. Contact us to find out more: info@meilirobots.com.
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