Warehouse operations consists of handling and storage. The objective is to efficiently receive inventory, store it as required, assemble it into unique orders and make customer shipments.

Important with handling is movement continuity and efficiency. Every moment a product is 'waiting', no value is added and this can be considered as waste. Handling procedures should be designed to move cases grouped on pallets or containers to achieve scale economies. The objective of handling is to sort inbound shipments into unique customer assortments. Three handling activities are:
1. Receiving
2. In-storage handling: movements within warehouse. RFID has potential to improve operational efficiency.
3. Shipping: order verification and outbound transportation equipment loading. Pallets help to facilitate vehicle loading and saves a lot of time.

1.Automated solutions are being developed and adopted at blinding speed
2.E – tailers and LSPs developing their own systems

Reason: Much cheaper than before to buy a robot


Enablers of warehouse automation:
1.Availability (hardware costs lowered)
2.Monumental strides is connected technology (communication between robots possible)
3.Advances in artificial intelligence
4.Increasing cost of warehouse space (no lights on, except when something’s wrong)
5.Improved scalability and flexibility
6.      Robots are not humans