Friday, October 17, 2008

Full automation in Retail Industry

I work with industry leader of Supply chain software. We have software to integrate with the most sophisticated tools helping people in warehouse and supplying good to the end user. But that’s not what I am excited about. Industry is focusing on making work easy for warehouse guys so reduces number of warehouse guys required by ‘managing’ their operations and remembering which item is where.

But there is huge potential to grow when ‘automation’ is included in warehouse. Right now, there are ways people automate the delivery of container into right truck with intelligent conveyer belt. The revolution will come when the picking of an item and putting it into the container will be automated. It’s possible at this time by using robotic hands. Even more can be done with integrating this whole system with vending machine or automated teller machine which can revolutionize the way people shop. This is not thing which will take 10 years to come. Everything exists and only thing that needs to be done is right kind of integration and make a general purpose vending machines.

Go to a general purpose vending machines, insert your credit card, select the items that you want, accept the item, get the bill, pay it, go home. Easy! huh?

I am not aware if anyone is trying for this. But I can foresee it coming as that is the next thing which I can see clearly.