When looking at the 2024 trend for warehousing and distribution, automation, visibility and data optimisation were among the most cited predictions. How did these change through the first half of the year? Well into the year, the availability of space in some regions of the world is currently shrinking. In this area, the price for warehousing space has been increasing quite significantly, affecting local economies, and prompting the re-negotiation of leases. To adjust to these changes, warehousing has a special card up its sleeve: flexibility.

What is flexible warehousing?

When talking about flexibility in warehousing, the industry refers to the capability warehouses today have of:

  • speed up
  • slow down
  • divert

With the smart use of inventory, these three options are available for brands and allow them to adjust to their needs at a specific point in time. The use of these techniques needs to be well calibrated as if a cargo delivery is slowed too much, it is going to directly affect the overflowing in a distribution centre, while if you speed it up too much, it might lead to the need for extra resources or equipment and therefore additional cost.

In order to finetune this balance the use of data is vital. “Data allows companies for better visibility and that brings true control on warehousing and distribution,” says Simon Oxley, Global Head of Business Development for Maersk Contract Logistics. Visibility gives brands the opportunity to make decisions and then act. To be able to view the transportation legs even before and after the use of flexible warehousing and being on top of one’s inventory means knowing where a specific cargo is needed, when is needed, and what outcome its delivery will have on the overall plan.

How does flexible warehousing look like?

Imagine it’s Wimbledon, and your favourite tennis player wins while sporting the latest sneakers. It’s a massive hit, orders are flowing, so the producing brand needs more stock of that specific shoe. The need here from the company is to speed up their supply chain, perhaps transhipping the product faster in the ports, to reach awaiting customers. Such flexibility could be achieved by changing ports, or changing from vessel to aircraft, or rail, for a multimodal solution. In the case in which a brand needs to instead slow down its supply chain, let’s say if demand is lower, it can be done by diverting and leaving cargo at the port side, then boarding it onto a slower vessel that is calling at more stops.

By having the opportunity to flex their supply chains like this according to their needs, brands can truly sell at the right time - in the right place, with the right product.

The technology boosting warehousing space

To be able to get this kind of visibility, and therefore achieve flexible warehousing, means also having the right technology to process the data.

How data works with the latest technology today is that it allows businesses to collect data points across the whole supply chain and, therefore have specific visibility on their cargo movements, boosting its strategical allocation. Through precise collection and analysis, alternative solutions can be generated and identified, pointing towards a better course of action.

  • Inventory software: If a brand is forced to make changes to its supply chain, such as redirecting purchase orders to different locations, creating different purchase orders to go out to a specific store or a different one, redirecting stock to different retailers or wholesalers, etc.
  • Automated systems: are able to identify the best possible scenarios for different pieces of inventory. Constantly evolving, automation allows to speed up efficiency, and it works while controlled by the right global software so that inventory levels in all the facilities are visible.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI): is starting to make its way into warehousing and distribution, commencing to revolutionise and impact as it does in every single industry. AI can help with identifying sorting scenarios, define unseen solutions for more sustainability, and recommend changes to factory ordering patterns.
Green house gas emissions warehouse.

What can we expect in the future for flexible warehousing and distribution?

Today, flexible warehousing and distribution is gaining more attention. To allow for the possibility to speed up, slow down or divert, the use of automation is increasing, by proxy accelerating the level of flexibility in distribution centres. As technology gets better another phenomenon is taking over: mega projects. The terms refer to warehousing and distribution facilities of very big sizes. Following this trend, warehousing space under construction is now projected to cover up to more than 100,000 square metres, augmenting automation, and handling more products while efficiently managing multiple customers.

In order to achieve and maintain flexibility in warehousing - especially if working with this size warehousing facilities - companies are moving to working with one integrated provider across their supply chain, to have the ease of dealing with only one point of contact. The ability to rely on a globally experienced partner allows for this flexibility and ensures that there is support when needed.

Learn more about warehousing and distribution

통합 픽토그램

산업 트렌드 및 인사이트를 받아보세요.

진정한 통합 물류를 경험해 보세요. 몇 번의 클릭만으로 아이디어와 비즈니스 인사이트를 얻으실 수 있습니다.

미래 산업 트렌드에 관한 최신 정보를 원하십니까?

이 양식을 입력하여 구독을 신청하시면 통합 물류에 관한 Maersk의 인사이트를 메일로 받아보실 수 있습니다. 맞춤형 기사를 통해 유용한 정보와 비즈니스 인사이트를 확인해 보세요. 언제든지 구독을 취소할 수 있습니다.

구독 신청을 완료하셨습니다. 환영합니디!

Logistics Insights 구독을 성공적으로 완료하셨습니다. 곧 이메일 확인서를 보내드리겠습니다. 최신 업계 트렌드 정보를 기대해 주세요.

오류가 발생했습니다.

죄송합니다! 문제가 발생하여 귀하의 정보가 수집되지 않았습니다. 다시 시도하여 정보를 제출해 주십시오. 문제가 지속되면 Maersk로 문의해 주시기 바랍니다.

미래 산업 트렌드에 관한 최신 정보를 원하십니까?

이 양식을 입력하여 구독을 신청하시면 통합 물류에 관한 Maersk의 인사이트를 메일로 받아보실 수 있습니다. 맞춤형 기사를 통해 유용한 정보와 비즈니스 인사이트를 확인해 보세요. 언제든지 구독을 취소할 수 있습니다.

위의 상자를 선택한 다음 제출을 클릭하세요.

이 양식을 작성함으로써 귀하는 당사의 개인정보 고지사항에 명시된 대로 귀하의 개인 데이터를 사용하는 데 동의함을 확인합니다.

소식 받기
뉴스와 인사이트 구독
최신 공급망 트렌드를 이메일로 받아보세요

이 양식을 제출하면 A. P. Moller-Maersk 및 그 계열사로부터 이메일을 통해 물류 관련 뉴스 및 마케팅 소식을 수신하는 데 동의합니다 . 본인은 구독 취소 링크를 클릭하면 언제든지 Maersk 마케팅을 수신 거부할 수 있습니다. 개인 정보를 처리하는 방법에 대한 자세한 내용은 개인정보 고지를 참조하세요.

등록해 주셔서 감사합니다
뉴스레터를 구독하셨습니다. 뉴스레터 기본 설정 방법이 담긴 이메일을 곧 보내드립니다.
구독 중
언제든지 구독을 취소할 수 있습니다.