Make better use of staging areas with automation
Staging areas: All-rounders in the warehouse
A staging area is a zone within a warehouse, usually free of racking and located in front of the loading docks. This is where goods are temporarily placed on the floor until they are transported or loaded elsewhere.
The staging area can be used for various purposes, such as receiving goods, shipping or other functions such as cross-docking.
Goods receiving area:
In this zone, all necessary checks of the incoming products are carried out on the staging area. This includes, for example, checking whether the goods are free of defects and comparing them with the information in the order documents.
Shipping area:
Here the goods are sorted according to orders or transport routes and usually then loaded onto trucks.
In addition, staging areas are sometimes used for other tasks, for example as picking zones for the preparation of orders that are subsequently consolidated, which can further complicate the efficient management of these areas.
Challenges for warehouse operators with staging areas
Warehouse operators face a number of challenges when it comes to staging areas
Space optimisation:
Warehouse managers face the challenge of making efficient use of the available staging area space. They need to ensure that staging areas are large enough to accommodate inbound and outbound shipments, while taking into account space requirements for other warehouse activities.
Organisation and layout:
Warehouse managers need to strategically plan the layout of staging areas to minimise congestion and optimise workflow. They need to determine the optimal layout of the staging areas based on the type of products, order volume and frequency of in- and outbound shipments.
Time management:
Warehouse managers must effectively manage the time spent in staging areas. They must ensure that shipments are staged in time to meet customer demand and shipping deadlines, while also taking into account other operational tasks and priorities.
Seasonal fluctuations in demand:
During peak seasons or promotional periods when there is an increased volume of shipments, warehouse managers need to ensure that staging areas can handle the increased workload without delays or congestion.
The automating of staging areas increases process efficiency and helps to overcome the challenges described. This ranges from the use of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) in the goods receiving area to completely automated loading docks in the shipping area.
Movu ifollow
Autonomous mobile robots for efficient logistics flow in the goods receiving area
Movu ifollow is a system of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) that speeds up your processes. Movu ifollow is scalable and flexible and can carry up to 1,200 kg – without expensive new infrastructure or complex structural changes.
For an efficient inbound logistics flow in the warehouse, incoming pallets are loaded onto a temporary storage (P&D station). The Movu ifollow robot lifts the pallet and moves it from the pick-up area to a destination point. In doing, it can pass through reading gates that automatically register the load. At the destination point, the robot places the pallets on the correct P&D stations.
Movu atlas
Highly dynamic loading zone through automation
Benefits of automating your staging areas
With robotic solutions from Movu, you gain maximum flexibility and productivity on your staging areas:
Optimum time management: Automatic buffer storage in the loading zone and autonomous mobile robots in the receiving area ensure that the goods are always ready at the right place at the required time.
High flexibility for seasonal fluctuations and peak times: With automation solutions from Movu, you gain maximum flexibility for your staging areas and can respond to peaks in demand at any time.
Increased productivity: With Movu ifollow autonomous mobile robots, you operate in the goods receiving area independently of the area layout of the area and can automate several work steps simultaneously. And with Movu atlas you can create a high-performance loading zone in the shipping area.
Best possible use of space: The more pallets are stored or retrieved per day, the larger the staging areas have to be. With Movu automation solutions, you break this cycle and create flexible and highly productive solutions without wasting space.
Career opportunities
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Working at Movu is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to be part of a fast-growing and innovative company. Through our hard work, perseverance and commitment we create cutting-edge automated products that will change the warehouse industry forever. Join us. Want to find out more?
