How artificial intelligence is revolutionizing warehouse management

Creative professions and, more broadly, all occupations with a major IT component—from developers to cybersecurity engineers—may find themselves on the front line and voice concerns about their future, but they will not be the only sectors affected by artificial intelligence. Hailed as a revolution on the scale of the advent of the Internet for commerce, this technology is also set to transform far more tangible links in the production chain. Logistics is no exception. “AI has great potential to improve efficiency, reduce costs and minimize errors in warehousing operations,” says Yeming Gong, professor of management science and director of the AIM (Artificial Intelligence in Management) Institute at EM Lyon Business School, in an interview with Mecalux France. In truth, although the technology capable of simulating human intelligence—or surpassing it?—is still far from revealing its immense potential, AI is already a reality in warehouses, where it has paved the way for significant improvements in management.

In recent years, the main advance has been the use of AMRs, or Autonomous Mobile Robots, which can move without human guidance. They are used for repetitive material-handling tasks. Palletizing, goods transport and order picking are thus managed in real time by WCS (Warehouse Control System) software, helping to optimize flows. But AI also enables logistics real estate specialists to anticipate potential problems before they arise. “Thanks to AI, we can improve maintenance operations. By analyzing sensor data and using machine learning, algorithms can identify equipment failures upstream and thereby support proactive maintenance to reduce downtime and the associated costs,” Yeming Gong notes.  

AI also contributes to more efficient and sustainable management of energy resources in warehouses. Smart systems can analyze energy-consumption patterns and automatically adjust lighting, heating and air conditioning to optimize energy use. This smart energy management not only results in cost savings; it also plays an important role in reducing warehouses’ carbon footprint and, ultimately, in enhancing the brand image of the logistics company operating the building. 

Personnel safety is another area in which AI delivers significant improvements. Smart monitoring systems equipped with cameras and sensors can detect anomalies and potential risks in real time, enabling rapid intervention to prevent accidents. In addition, AI can help analyze trends and historical data to identify at-risk areas and improve safety protocols. 

By combining historical data with automated action models, companies can gain operational flexibility. Used to automate operations through autonomous robots, automated sorting systems and inventory-management drones, AI drives down operating costs and boosts operational accuracy. However, according to the expert, while AI acts as a productivity booster and ultimately benefits a company’s bottom line, it would be reductive to view it solely as a way of making money. “It brings many benefits to employees, both in terms of well-being at work and safety,” he explains.  

Algorithmic technology thus assists people with certain repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as order collection and sorting. “When performed manually, these are tedious operations, and the personnel responsible for them can be prone to injuries,” Yeming Gong notes. “Today, thanks to the collection of real-time data, AI can analyze this information, allow operators to focus on higher-level tasks and develop more highly valued skills. Physical fatigue and the risk of workplace accidents are therefore reduced.” Predicted by some of the most pessimistic experts to cause widespread future unemployment, well-designed AI could instead improve working conditions.