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Warehouse automation

WHAT IS warehouse automation?

Warehouse automation refers to the use of automated technology, mechatronics, robotics, and digital control systems to perform tasks traditionally handled by people. It encompasses everything from industrial conveyors and sorters to robotic picking, pouch systems, and automated storage solutions.

The goal of warehouse automation is to improve speed, accuracy, efficiency, scalability and the work environment in warehouse and distribution operations.

Also known as:

Automated warehousing
Automated intralogistics
Automated warehouse technology

HOW DOES warehouse automation WORK?

At its core, warehouse automation connects physical material handling equipment with software intelligence, typically via Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and/or Warehouse Control Systems (WCS).

Typical automated functions in a modern warehouse include:

Goods receiving – conveyors, scanners, and automated data capture.
Storage – ASRS, shuttle systems, or automated racking.
Picking – robotic arms, or voice-picking technologies.
Buffering, sorting, sequencing and routing – automated sorters and conveyors directing items to the right station.
Dispatch and shipping – cross-docking, automated labelling, and loading systems.

BENEFITS OF warehouse automation

Efficiency: Faster throughput and reduced cycle times and handling costs.
Accuracy: Minimises picking and shipping errors.
Scalability: Handles seasonal peaks and growth without major increases in labour.
Cost savings: Lowers operating costs by reducing reliance on manual work.
Safety: Reduces risks associated with manual handling.
Sustainability: Optimises energy use and reduces waste.

Download the free e-book: BEUMER Group’s Guide to Warehouse Automation.

THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF WAREHOUSE AUTOMATION

Level	Description	Examples
Manual warehouses	Human-driven processes with minimal tech	Paper-based picking, many manual touch-points
Mechanised warehouses	Equipment assists labour	Conveyors, handheld scanners
Semi-automated warehouses	Machines handle specific tasks, humans support	Goods-to-person stations, sorters
Fully automated warehouses	Integrated automation across all processes	ASRS, robots, integrated sorting and sequencing systems

HOW BEUMER GROUP SUPPORTS 3PL OPERATIONS

BEUMER Group designs end-to-end warehouse automation and integrate modular, scalable systems that optimise material flow to increase efficiency.

Our automation portfolio includes but is not limited to:

BG Pouch System – for high-speed, multi-SKU order consolidation and sequencing.
Line and loop sortation systems – for efficient, large-scale routing of goods.
Conveyor systems – ensuring continuous, reliable flow of goods.
Cross-socking solutions – speeding up goods transfer directly between inbound and outbound flows.
Integration with WMS and WCS – enabling data-driven optimisation and complete system visibility.

FAQ ABOUT THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS

Examples of warehouse automation include conveyors or sorters transporting cartons or SKUs, automated storage systems and retrieval systems, line or loop sorters, and pouch systems for buffering and sequencing orders for packing.