The Fourth Industrial Revolution, often called Industry 4.0, marks the development of intelligent systems that can create, store, move, and distribute goods with little or no human intervention. Systems are not just automated, they are capable of making autonomous decisions to respond to changes in the physical environment.
These changes are being felt in all sectors of society and across industries as they disrupt traditional workplace design, efficiency standards, and hiring practices. The potential for system improvement brought on by Industry 4.0 is particularly acute in its application to logistics and supply chain dynamics.
Using digitization and the cloud computing infrastructure, various links in the supply chain can transmit information seamlessly within themselves and between each other. Smart production facilities could assess the quality of raw materials and decide the specifications of a product based on their findings. They also might communicate the availability of a given product to shippers and consumers.
Furthermore, smart warehouses could efficiently store and retrieve products. Employing radiofrequency identification as well as drones and robots could reduce pick time and minimize safety hazards for employees. Such Industry 4.0 systems could reduce the time trucks spend at loading docks and ensure trucks are loaded to facilitate efficient unloading at their destinations.
Integrating smart systems that include machine-to-machine communication, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and other technology could help your business anticipate market trends and prepare to meet increased demand with minimal disruption. Similarly, your company could increase its responsiveness to raw material shortages and secure alternatives to accommodate downstream demand.
Although a smart warehouse can enhance efficiency, it cannot solve all a warehouse manager’s problems. External events can create spikes or dips in demand, requiring an adjustment to the workforce.
Data from conveyors and sorting systems can provide clear evidence of where personnel should be deployed for maximum efficiency. Information about the skillsets of all available staff could help a warehouse manager assign workers during times of increased or decreased demand.
It might not be feasible to maintain a workforce of skilled individuals sufficient to meet unexpected spikes in demand. Instead, intelligence from automated and autonomous systems could inform hiring decisions for flex labor when a temporary need arises.
The skillsets necessary for warehouse workers are evolving as quickly as the technology used across facilities. Unfortunately, retention among warehouse workers tends to be low, and maintaining an appropriately skilled workforce could be challenging.
The time and expense involved in recruitment, combined with the effort of training and onboarding, might make expanding your workforce to meet short-term needs cost-prohibitive. Yet the safety and performance issues that arise when warehouse workers are fatigued, as well as the cost of overtime, are real issues that warehouse management must confront and resolve.
HapiGig is a platform that provides highly skilled warehouse workers for all a warehouse’s temporary and on-demand needs. We make sure to hire warehouse workers who are familiar with the ongoing changes imposed by Industry 4.0 so they don’t miss a beat at each gig. These experienced and highly-vetted workers could step right into your facility and begin contributing immediately, without a need for you to invest in prolonged training or onboarding.
If your facility needs temporary workers to address a seasonal spike or staff shortage, HapiGig can be your solution. Warehouse workers register on the platform and then go through an extensive vetting process to verify their skills and reliability. Only then does HapiGig hire them as W2 employees and allow them to compete for open warehouse jobs with registered employers.
Gaining on-demand access to skilled and thoroughly vetted warehouse employees could provide a phenomenal advantage to your business. Register as a HampiEmployer today to begin relying on flex workers to thrive in the Industry 4.0 marketplace.