It’s a great time to get a job in the warehouse industry. However, before you apply, it’s also a good idea to learn more about warehousing. The more you know in advance, the more prepared you will be for your interview, and for the new position.
Liberty Staffing Services can help you find a great warehousing position! Reach out to us today to get started!
Here are some trends to know about as you prepare to apply or interview for a warehousing position.
Wearable Technology
Wearable technologies are becoming commonplace in warehouses. Warehouse managers have their team members wear hardware such as smart glasses, smart scanners, and Fitbit-style trackers.
This can help warehouse employees to perform tasks more efficiently and more accurately. Additionally, this technology can be used to monitor for stress, exhaustion, and fatigue. It’s not just about confirming that an individual worker is safe (although that is important), but it also provides data about processes that need to be adjusted to be safer.
Regardless of which position you get, you may be asked to wear a piece of technology.
Use of Blockchain
By using blockchain, warehouses can connect with all the other players in the supply chain: manufacturing facilities, suppliers, production sites, distribution centers, and retail partners.
This creates a digital paper trail of communication between these parties. This record of communication is accessible to everyone in the network, creating more transparency and traceability.
It’s far easier for manufacturing companies to get real-time data that can be used for forecasting that is more sophisticated and accurate.
Blockchain technology updates both inventory and fulfillment processes in a way that cuts costs and increases revenue.
Omnichannel Fulfillment
Some warehouses are switching from a traditional warehouse format to an omnichannel fulfillment system.
An omnichannel warehouse receives orders from multiple directions, including orders from stores, order replenishment from current stores, and traditional e-commerce orders. Sometimes it will even involve customer service-assisted orders.
E-commerce purchases are frequently returned, and this causes a massive strain on traditional warehouses. Think of it this way: that’s a 30% increase in the warehouse’s workload without any additional revenue.
If you get a job at an omnichannel warehouse, you may end up working with several systems, including warehouse management, order management, package optimization, and a dedicated transportation system.
Shifts in Management
In 2023, Millennials are between the ages of 27 and 42. This means that more Millennials are advancing into management roles–including warehouse leadership roles.
In management roles, Millennials tend to have a collaborative leadership style. They tend to have very high standards of performance and can be somewhat rigid in their expectations. However, they are also great about helping everyone see the interconnectedness of each task so that people feel that their work means something.
RFID Scanners
Handheld RFID scanners are used to increase inventory automation in the warehouse. These scanners read labels that are encoded with unique identifiers and a wireless radio transmitter.
They are steadily replacing barcode scanners because RFID scanners don’t require line-of-sight to the barcode. Instead, RFID tags and labels are located and then scanned remotely–you don’t have to be able to see the package or any tags and labels.
RFID readers can also be installed in strategic locations throughout the warehouse, such as above a doorway or warehouse aisle. The scanners will automatically read RFID tags as they move through the area.
Increased Automation
Expect to see significant amounts of automation in the warehouse. Contemporary robotics in the warehouse include handheld terminals, warehouse management software, automatic guided visuals, autonomous mobile robots, automated storage and retrieval systems, sortation systems, and more.
This automation also means that there are more open positions for programmers, coders, and robotics technicians.
Continued Use of Temporary Labour
Temporary workers play a big part in the labour force in today’s warehouses. Warehouses use temporary workers for many reasons, including being able to scale up during busy times, test out employees before hiring them full time, and maintain full staffing throughout the year.
If you’re looking for temporary work, a warehouse position may be the ideal job for you. It’s even great for summer work.
Liberty Staffing Helps People Find Great Warehouse Jobs
For 24 years, Liberty Staffing has been matching great employees with great employers.
One of the areas where we have made the most connections is in the warehouse industry!
If you’re looking for warehouse work, let us know! We can walk you through the application process, including what to put on your resume and how to prepare for your interview. We can also help you determine which kind of warehouse position is best for you.
Get in touch with Liberty Staffing today–we’re here to help you find a great position!
