The Time to Automate Is Now, Explains Crown E-Book

Enterprises of all sizes have been hearing about the potential benefits of automation for years, but adoption outside the automotive industry has been slow. How can you get started with warehouse robotics?

“We wanted to demystify the process, so we created an e-book – The Time to Automate Is Now,” said Jim Gaskell, director of global automation and emerging technologies at Crown Equipment Corp.

Since 1945, Crown has grown from a one-room operation in rural Ohio to one of the world’s largest lift truck manufacturers.

Organizations are understandably wary of new technologies, so the e-book explains how to approach the warehouse automation journey. It outlines steps including adopting an automation mindset and weighing fixed versus mobile automation.

Hiring challenges, safety concerns, and ever-increasing needs for flexibility and visibility are prompting warehouse operators to look at robots and automated lift trucks. Crown’s free e-book examines how to consider costs, the need for customization, and how to optimize operations with telematics.

The Time to Automate Is Now also shares the use case of DHL Supply Chain, which improved efficiency and resilience with Crown Automation Solutions.

In addition, the e-book discusses the importance of overcoming assumptions about technology. Not only do forward-thinking managers examine all their processes to see where automation makes sense, but they also involve workers in that modernization.

“With an automated lift truck fleet and warehouse management system buffering, customers can deal with variable loads, which are a big challenge. The robot tender knows what’s going on quickly” noted Gaskell, who spoke with Robotics 24/7 at ProMat 2023.

There’s no time like the present to get started with automation, so check out Crown’s e-book on overcoming the hurdle of getting started!