The rise in customers’ expectations that seems to dominate the market scenario translates to more efficient and competitive companies. The focus now is on

mobilizing available resources whilst utilizing their utmost potential and reducing overall operational costs. Most organizations realize that one of the

ways to maximize customer satisfaction is by gearing up to automation in not just warehousing and retrieval systems but also the entire supply chain.

Automation mirrors the use of control systems for operational and factory processes along with other applications whilst reducing or minimizing human

intervention.

ICT and B2B infrastructure, content management tools and soft technologies such as database and support systems along with computer-aided tools are the need

of the hour in supply chain logistics services. Going beyond improving the company’s fundamental objectives of increased profitability, automation and

robotics have multifarious benefits:
•Smooth handling of products - Reduction in product damage/wastage by human error prevalent in non-automated inventories and ability to do multiple

tasks is a boon for logistics companies who employ robotics and automation for most of their processes. Integrated logistics via ERP trickles down to zero

erroneous information which otherwise may cost the company considerable damage or loss.
•Real time tracking – RFID technology or the Radio Frequency Identification technology has made real time tracking and monitoring of goods plausible

even in today’s times of wide network of supply chain management solutions coupled with the benefits of minimizing storage space and maximizing product

management.
•Improvement in quality and precision – With limited resources effectively managing logistics and transportation requirements of small to large scale

variants through two-way flow of information, there is a consolidation of optimized plans and goods’ management and better monitoring of supply chain

processes leading to greater accuracy and efficiency.
•Better customer service – With automation features such as real time tracking of goods, auto pick up and freight accounting, the companies are better

equipped to make data-driven decisions based on streamlined flow of information and, as a result, enhanced customer satisfaction through automatic

notifications.
•24x7 connectivity – Align the enterprise to meet customers’ requirements, keep accurate records of customer interactions and resolve issues within

stipulated time and with precision is a challenge faced by many logistics firms. With support systems in operation processes, CRM solutions framework has

created new operational efficiencies.
•Facilitate vendor communication – Providing integrated solutions to through PRM to organize profiles that can be regularly updated in real time,

companies can track usage and activity thus controlling communication process.
Amongst automation requiring less human intervention and decision-support systems are IT tools such as XML integrate all the sub-processes of the value chain

with the horizontal processes of the supply chain logistics services from product development to order delivery. Apart from the enterprise application

integration software and customers application software, other products designed to connect trading communities are TMS software that integrates

transportation operations and Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) technology that helps in matching procurement to actual customer demand and share data

with their supply chain partners. Also worth a mention are Loading Dock that enables autonomous unloading and loading and Thyssen Krupp, the ParcelRobot

system for fully automated unloading of loose, standardized packaged goods from containers and trailer trucks.
Gati, a pioneer of express distribution service in India, has implemented best practices in the areas of technology and automation and was one of the first

companies to print its delivery date on the docket and offer money back guarantee, by accepting payment after producing proof of delivery – a POD. Hence,

the simplifying of supply chain logistics solutions through robotics and automation is the new building tool for logistics chains of today and tomorrow and

the logistics companies realize the import of this revolutionary trend.