This post is submitted by Danielle Gregory.
Nowadays, it is almost impossible to get anything done without coming in contact with technology. Technology controls our jobs, home, manners, in short, it has become an essential part of human life.
Its benefits can’t be ignored. Any company which is planning to get ahead in the market can only do so by integrating the latest technology in its operations.
Over the past few years, the logistics industry has witnessed some remarkable advancements by incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality.
For competitive advantage in the market, it has become crucial for the logistics companies to go for technological solutions for
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing Operations
- Transportation
- Delivery
- Customer services
Ways to Interact with AR:
According to research carried out, by the end of this year, AR would have $90 million in revenue. We can interact with the AR technology in four ways.
Through Gestures
With smart glasses, the user can have a touch-free experience, and only through hand gestures can complete a number of tasks. For instance, the Google glasses can count a large number of products per second through camera sensors without having to manually note the number.
Through Voice
When the hands are occupied the voice commands come to the rescue. The smart glasses can control certain apps through voice command.
Through Head Motion
For an environment where all the above fail, head motion offers an alternative. Pictures, maps, and other content can be scrolled through head motion.
Through Touch
Touchscreen devices have been in fashion for quite a while now and for better user experience, various touchscreens are installed in a working environment where their hands are not occupied
Virtual Reality in The Transport World:
Analysts of Transport Systems Catapult recognized Virtual Reality as having great potential for solving problems related to the transportation world. Their visualization laboratory teams are of the view that the innovative applications used in the gaming environment opened new doors for testing new technologies including Oculus Rift. AR is thought of having great potential to develop the transportation department in logistics by optimizing
- Speed
- Inventory operations
- Driver navigation and driver's experience
- Freight picking, loading, and drop-off.
Many companies are looking for ways to automate the whole transportation process with teams working on analyzing the people’s perception and behavior around automated vehicles.
AR has helped add great improvements to the logistics world. It has assisted in enhancing.
- Efficiency
- Reliability
- Security of freight transportation.
Sustainability Measures:
The past few years have seen significant developments in the management of logistics operations. Many big organizations are planning to upgrade their transport operations to decrease transport expenses and inefficient aspects in every possible way, which include :
- Better administration frameworks
- Smart Freight arrangement to save extra space.
- Smart Route planning saving cost and fuel.
- Lane sharing and pooling characterized cargo union
According to some analysts, the use of economical practices can bring about a 5-to 20-percent increase in revenue. Some of the possible ways of how AR is going to impact the transport world are as follows:
Speeding up the Design Cycles:
They are also trying to limit the need of people to physically travel to different places for small tasks. And virtually walk them through the designs to speed up the design cycles.
Efficient Picking
Picking is one of the most tedious tasks having numerous error possibilities in a distribution network. AR has the potential to yield substantial advantages inside a brief time-frame. AR can help confirm:
- Is the delivery ready for pickup?
- Is it complete?
- Are there any damaged goods?
- Automated confirmation for picking
Today, smart glasses are being used in various warehouses that enable the workers to see a virtual course, making the tasks simpler and quicker.
Completeness Check:
The workers equipped with AR collectors can determine in a faster time if the parcels are complete or not. Nowadays it’s the barcode scanners and in the future, works are being done for a wearable AR gadget to be put to use with scanners and 3D sensors to decide the number of pallets and individual parcels.
Navigation Software:
The navigation software can guide the workers to the exact location of any parcel without any mistake. Thus saving a lot of time and preventing any error.
Virtual Dashboards:
After the goods have been picked, the workers can enter the information regarding it in the WMS software through virtual dashboards.
According to reports, the companies that incorporated AR in their operations by equipping their workers with smart glasses got 30 percent faster and up to 300-percent more accurate performance than before.
Efficient Inventory:
The warehouses have surpassed their traditional role as storage rooms and are being used for
- Storage
- Assembling
- Labeling
- Packaging
- Sorting
The architectural environment can be Virtually remodeled using AR. Instead of physically doing something, virtual reality helps to see all the outcomes of the new structures and their impact on various tasks digitally. Errors can be gotten rid of and a perfect model can be applied.
Effective Trade:
AR is expected to streamline the international trade and global trade services industry by scanning trade documents and helping in international cargo handling. Air Freight transports the goods by a charter or a commercial air carrier that has very complex documentation procedures and custom procedures. AR can assist in making sure that the shipment is in accordance with the terms and conditions and that it complies with the international trade regulations. AR devices can
- Scan the trade documentations
- Identify the code classification of the goods
- Translate them
- Spot any error thus avoiding delays and making the whole process smooth.
Cargo Loading and Drop-off
Freight transportation is in the ever-increasing process of improvement. The accurate and complete information for each item is really important regarding the
- Content
- Weight
- Size
- Destination
- and further processing
This information is crucial for loading the products. There is a need to handle the products efficiently. A lot of time of the drivers is spent on the loading and unloading of the cargo. Along with that, there are other challenges that they can face:
- Incorrect weight measurements
- An improper assortment of goods
These all lead to a greater time loss which in turn badly impacts the customer experience. The overall working experience could get a lot better if the drivers are provided with AR technologies to equip them with all the data related to
- The cargo weight
- The exact location of cargo
So it is important to equip the staff with wearable AR devices so they can handle parcels according to the prescribed instructions for loading. This in turn helps to reduce the chances of cargo damage. Automated doors of the vehicles can follow a hand or head movement and operate accordingly providing a hand-free experience for the driver.
Efficient Driving Experience:
According to research, traffic congestion is costing huge losses to world economies. That is why there is an increasing need to advance routes on streets. Bigger companies are already experimenting with AR. Smart windshields are already being tested. All the information is displayed on the screen regarding
- Traffic blockages
- Alternative routes
- Possible Deviations
- The shortest way to the destination
- Crucial parameters for cargo
- The environment conditions essential for the cargo
These help to save the drivers from the hassle and, add efficiency and reduce cost by saving time and fuel. Moreover, the conditions notification for safe cargo can help avoid huge losses.
Optimized Traffic Flow:
Traffic blockages often become a hindrance in the smooth flow of the goods. Real-time traffic data obtained with the help of VR can help optimize routes and suggest alternate routes for transportation. Along with that, it can improve the driver’s security and minimize distractions. The relevant information is displayed on the smart windshield or on the smart glasses.
