A recent survey commissioned by ProGlove, a producer of wearable scanner solutions, has discovered that 74 percent of warehouse leadership are concerned about maintaining productivity levels in the warehouse. 

One of the major barriers identified to maintain productivity was people, and 76 per cent of warehouse floor workers state having the right people was the top priority in maintaining or improving productivity.

42 percent of floor workers surveyed highlighted staff exhaustion and fatigue as significant challenges in the warehouse. With the labour market experiencing continuing shortages, there is a clear and present need for organisations to prioritise worker wellbeing and build efficiency around them, not despite of them.

Many organisations overlook their workforce and instead focus on automation, cost cutting, and KPIs while neglecting the people directly impacted by these schemes

According to the survey, other prerequisites for sustained success include improving processes and workflows (72 percent) and optimising space and layout (66 per cent). Whilst these can create efficiency gains, having a well-equipped and highly motivated workforce is critical in improving warehouse productivity.

Ilhan Kolko, CPO of ProGlove, commented, “The findings in our survey lay bare the pressing need to embrace human-centric technology products, to deliver better working conditions, higher productivity, and improved customer service. Facilitating human-machine collaboration in the warehouse, through wearable tech, will not only enhance workers, but it will also keep them safer and happier.”