The use of warehouse wearables has been a topic of discussion by supply chain leaders for the past few years. Wearables include any and all devices workers may use in the course of work. For example, handheld barcode scanners, glasses leveraging augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR), and even biometric sensors are types of warehouse wearables available. Now, the broadscale use of wearables has remained somewhat out of touch for many organizations. They were simply too much of an investment to manage. However, the use of wearables is rapidly gaining traction, and according to Matt Leonard of Supply Chain Dive, the adoption of wearables in the warehouse will exceed 90% within the next ten years. Supply chain leaders need to understand what warehouse wearables could really do for supply chain management, as well as the limits and barriers to implementation.

Cost and Privacy Are Primary Barriers to the Use of Warehouse Wearables

Wearables are expensive. Each device can cost anywhere between $100 and $1000. If the warehouse operates with a staff of 200 people, that could amount to a cost of $200,000, and that is excluding the cost of maintenance of wearables and replacement. Another challenge to the use of wearables exists as well. Wearables that track personal information, including real-time location and biometrics, such as heart rate, walking time, steps, respiration, and more, present what may be perceived as an invasion of worker privacy. However, the advancements in technology and the growing consensus that wearables will improve efficiency and safety can overcome these obstacles.

Wearables Effectively Transform Workers into Connected Assets

In today’s world, it is about connecting everything and
everyone. More information in the supply chain is power. Informed leaders can
make decisions on the fly, responding to sudden changes in demand, identifying worker strengths
and weaknesses, and enabling continuous performance measurement of workers.
At the same time, deploying wearables can dramatically increase the accuracy
and accountability in order fulfillment, not to mention inventory put away,
tracking inventory cycles, and more. Consider this; integrated wearables
solutions could provide an ongoing inventory count by leveraging workers as an
asset. Obviously, workers are assets, but transforming them into a connected
asset that produces data will enable better management.

Additional Benefits of Wearables in the Warehouse

The use of wearables in the warehouse will be a game-changer. It will give managers the ability to identify safety risks among employees. There will be some pushback from both employees and even human rights organizations, such as those concerned about potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, real-time access to employee movements will give managers insight into the warehouses that they previously lacked. Such actions can eliminate the walls that workers may experience, integrate with payroll platforms to ensure greater accuracy in tracking hours, and much more. Since wearables are designed to be worn, it would also be an effortless way to increase the value each worker brings to the table.

Implement Wearable-Ready Processes with the Right Supply Chain Systems
Consultant and Partner

Wearable ready processes require ration of existing systems
and the ability to analyze data. For organizations still operating with the
warehouse management systems of yesteryear, upgrades to systems, including the
adoption of cloud-based platforms, will be necessary. The trend is clear;
supply chains are moving toward a wearable future. Ensure your organization is
on the path to warehouse wearables with all the right systems in place by
turning to Veridian as your selection and implementation partner on supply
chain systems. Find out more about wearables and how to integrate them with
your system today by visiting Veridian
online.