The days of the still, quiet warehouse are long over, thanks to the rise and continuous growth of e-commerce. No longer simple storage facilities, warehouses are now critical hubs for processing and fulfilling orders at an unprecedented scale. And that scale is only going to magnify, with e-commerce expected to capture 41% of global retail sales within the next three years.
To accommodate extensive logistical demands and growing workloads, warehouses are turning to technology. IoT systems, mobile devices, and real-time data insights have all become instrumental in driving efficient logistics and inventory management. However, many warehouses weren’t designed with these new systems in mind. Structural and locational obstacles – such as thick building materials, obstructive architecture and remote locations – make it difficult for warehouses to achieve reliable connectivity, which can hinder operations and ultimately impact customers.
Today’s warehouses need seamless, scalable connectivity, which requires a complete wireless strategy. Composed of Wi-Fi, public cellular, private cellular, and IoT devices, this four-pronged approach keeps warehouse systems online and functioning properly so facilities can meet increasingly complex operational demands with ease.
The New Role of the Warehouse
In response to intensified demand, warehouses must strike a delicate balance between scaling operations and maintaining real-time, unflinching oversight of shipments and inventory. As a result, warehouse operations have largely moved from manual processes to automated, data-driven systems, incorporating IoT devices and other automation tools. These novel technologies allow them to increase their efficiency through quicker processing, streamlined logistics and improved communication on the warehouse floor.
Accommodating the projected growth in e-commerce will require a lot of space. Projections now indicate that the U.S. will need an additional 1 billion sq. ft. of warehouse space by 2025 to accommodate e-commerce growth – that’s the spatial equivalent of half of all the buildings in Washington D.C.
Both of these factors are contributing to an urgent need for more advanced connectivity solutions. As demand grows, lapses in communication – whether between devices, warehouse employees or outside parties – have become increasingly acute. Even a few minutes of downtime can throw operations off rhythm, potentially resulting in a pileup of delays (and therefore, unhappy customers).
When warehouse owners encounter connectivity issues related to structure or location, their first instinct may be to supplement poor connection with more Wi-Fi apparatuses. While Wi-Fi is core for a warehouse’s web-based office applications, such as email systems or workforce management software, other technologies are better suited to support applications that improve efficiency and connectivity on the warehouse floor. Emerging technologies, like 5G, can improve connectivity by enabling faster, more reliable communication between smart devices, but there is no single solution. This is why warehouses need a complete, four-part wireless strategy; efficiency happens when the right connectivity solutions are matched to the right systems.
Cellular Solutions for Seamless Connectivity
With workers on the move and a bevy of advanced equipment to keep online, warehouses will find that cellular solutions are typically more reliable than traditional Wi-Fi networks. However, they can’t depend on the macro network alone to fulfill their connectivity requirements. Sturdily built and expansive in space, today’s warehouses are highly susceptible to “dead zones” where cellular signals can’t penetrate, leading to a loss of coverage that can stymie operations. To compensate for dead zones, warehouses can employ cellular signal boosters, which capture external cellular signals to amplify and distribute them throughout the warehouse. These solutions also help address common challenges like interference between donor and server antennas, providing robust signal strength in hard-to-reach areas.
Standard signal boosters work best in smaller facilities, like a proprietary warehouse for a single company. Meanwhile, larger warehouses and distribution centers, especially those with multiple levels, should magnify cellular signals using an intelligent active DAS. Designed for scalability, intelligent active DAS can enhance connectivity across areas of up to 1 million sq. ft., depending on the environment. Some intelligent active DAS also support private networking distribution, making them ideal for warehouses that employ IoT applications and require extra-secure connection to keep those devices online and uncompromised.
Extended Benefits of Reliable Connectivity
As e-commerce demand accelerates, retail warehouses can’t afford to tap the brakes. Seamless connectivity results in faster and more accurate fulfillment processes, reducing the risk of order errors and improving overall warehouse productivity. With a complete wireless strategy in place, warehouses can ensure continuous communication, even in hard-to-reach zones, minimizing downtime to enable uninterrupted workflows. Especially crucial during peak periods (like the swiftly approaching holiday season), these improvements enhance customer satisfaction, as quicker, error-free order processing results in faster deliveries.
Uninterrupted connection is also a security imperative. Every day, warehouses process a high volume of valuable goods and data, and the systems in place to secure those assets require reliable connectivity to remain operational. Workplace safety technologies, such as computer vision-enabled cameras and wearable sensors, also depend on a steady connection to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents on the warehouse floor. Moreover, cellular offers enhanced security features, which are essential for protecting sensitive data and maintaining compliance.
Investing in scalable connectivity solutions not only addresses current operational needs, but also future-proofs warehouses against unexpected challenges. Beyond the growth of e-commerce, retail warehouses will likely face unpredictable supply chain disruptions, transformations in the labor force and evolving technological trends in the coming years, all of which can impact their operational strategy. Reliable connectivity will give warehouses the agility to adapt to these challenges as they emerge, leading to a healthier, more resilient business both today and tomorrow.
A complete wireless strategy, anchored by cellular-based connectivity solutions, offers warehouses the scalability, reliability, and security required to effectively address today’s logistical demands. The fast-paced world of retail shows no signs of slowing down and robust connectivity solutions will keep warehouses competitive, merchandise secure and customers happy.
