Smart glasses are the latest wearable technology that can help you send messages, take calls, and navigate via GPS hands-free. Yet they’re great for more than just daily use: their functions can now impact warehousing. Verdict’s article on smart glasses reveals that major companies—including DHL—are already using them for warehouse management. As a result, the market for this gadget is expected to reach around £16.8 billion by 2030.
Now that industry players are adopting smart glasses into their operations, you may be wondering: how exactly can smart glasses transform work in the warehousing industry?
Enhanced communication among warehouse staff
Communication in warehousing is crucial, as any miscommunication or misunderstanding can lead to scheduling conflicts or storage errors. Smart glasses can also act as an effective communication tool to prevent such instances.
One model that exemplifies this is the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. With the simple voice command “Hey Meta,” warehouse workers can call or message each other as they work, making double-checking details simpler and more convenient. For example, they can quickly and easily ask their supervisor what truck a specific package should go to or which boxes need to be picked up for delivery on a specific day without completely interrupting what they’re doing. The camera on the smart glasses will also allow the supervisor to immediately see the issue and communicate the solution. This makes communication through smart glasses much more streamlined and precise compared to using radios.
Reduced errors in order picking
Making a mistake during order picking—the process where workers get products from the warehouse to fulfil an order—can delay deliveries, leading to unsatisfied customers. Although workers can try their best to pick the right products and prevent mistakes, this process can be confusing, especially when they’re dealing with multiple orders and need to look at different numbers and names on a paper list. This is where smart glasses can help.
Picavi’s smart glasses are specifically designed for order picking. They use pick-by-vision technology that lets warehouse pickers know immediately if they’re getting the right products by simply looking at them. In these cases, the glasses will display information on item type, quantity, and order numbers while allowing workers to keep both hands busy, significantly reducing errors and ensuring accurate deliveries.
Instant access to storage information
Improper storage of certain products can lead to spoilage and mishandling. For example, boxes of medicine that need to be refrigerated and are instead left at room temperature on random shelves could become ineffective or dangerous for consumption. Despite such consequences, this kind of neglect happens often—especially when boxes are improperly labelled or if proper storage equipment, like professional medical cabinets, aren’t used. Smart glasses can prevent this by providing instant access to storage information.
One option warehouse employers have is Iristick’s G2 PRO smart glasses. These have barcode-scanning capabilities that workers can use to immediately know the weight of an item, how it should be stored, and how to inventory it later on. This guarantees the proper handling or storing of products for smoother operations.
Accelerated diagnostic and repair scenarios
Maintenance work and repairs in the warehouse are vital to its operations. Overturned forklifts or fallen shelves blocking passageways can delay operations from hours to days. Aside from delaying orders, this could also increase the risk of workplace accidents. In these cases, smart glasses can help with maintenance and repair support.
We’ve previously listed Dynabook’s dynaEdge AR smart glasses as one model that could speed up diagnostic and repair scenarios. It can record damages and send them to repair experts prior to their arrival for streamlined operations. These glasses can even help workers connect with repairers remotely and receive step-by-step directions that can be acted upon in real-time, which can help with less serious warehouse issues that don’t require these experts’ immediate supervision.
With smart glasses, warehousing can be done more efficiently. Their benefits in communication, safety, and order accuracy illustrate that their transformation into the industry will have lasting impacts on warehouse operations.
Comments are closed.