Connected warehouses, smart data, and AI: listen now

CartonCloud’s COO Shaun Hagen joins the panel on the IWLA Warehousing Unboxed Episode Five - Warehouse Technology Trends in 2024 and Beyond. Join us for a conversation about how logistics technology is helping modern 3PLs use their raw data to make informed decisions across the warehouse landscape.

CartonCloud COO/ Head of North America Shaun Hagen joins IWLA’s Wil Carton, former Made4Net President Chris Oeschel, OneTrack CEO and Founder Marc Gyongosi on the IWLA Warehousing Unboxed Podcast to discuss the evolution of warehouse technology, Artificial Intelligence, and the changing landscape of warehousing.

In a landscape filled with technological buzzwords, discover how 3PL-based companies can stay across new technology advancements, and ahead of the curve.

AI is helping to optimize processes across the world of logistics. Explore how real-time data is being used in connecting entire warehouses and connected devices are creating a seamless network web of information allowing warehouses to track and manage inventory in real-time.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and smarter warehousing

Warehouses are becoming connective ecosystems, which can be proactive and not reactive.

Cloud-based WMS are the backbone of modern warehouses. It’s not just about storing data; it’s about accessibility, scalability, and real-time collaboration. Warehouses can stream operations, scale up or down as needed, and enable remote access to critical information — a warehouse at your fingertips.

How emerging tech will shake up logistics in the next 5 years

Innovative technical solutions are being used and introduced across all levels of the logistics industry.

“The barrier to entry is being lowered for access to emerging technology in logistics, simplifying access and usability of new technology and providing tools to capture and use real-time data for everyday use — allowing them to make strategic and fast decisions to act on new opportunities, provide specialized services, and diversify revenue by offering something new,” said CartonCloud COO/ Head of North America Shaun Hagen.

In terms of how this technology can be accessed and utilized by small-medium-sized businesses the future is closer than it may seem.

“Smaller companies don't have spare capital to drop tens of thousands of dollars on emerging solutions and don’t necessarily have IT teams to dedicate to running their software or technology solutions,” Mr Hagen explained.

“But they also don’t have to. Intuitive technology, cloud-based software, and strategic tech stacks are putting niche and advanced solutions into the hands of logistics professionals at all levels.

“However, there are still some considerations — the main one being data capture and use at a day-to-day level.

“For smaller players, looking to capitlize on new technology and innovations, it’s important to focus on the data solutions they have, and start by ensuring they can integrate with these new technologies as they become more available from a price perspective.

“Starting with the data foundation, you can then ensure you have the right starting point and practices in place to make sure solutions connect and talk to each other — and ensure they are able to get the benefits they want from these solutions.”

“Many Third Party Warehousing providers are already accessing the tools they need to set the foundations and set up their strategies — which can ultuimately set up small businesses to out-compete the larger companies, in terms of the agility and flexibility they have in accessing new technology and solutions, and in terms of their ability to scale rapidly with these tools in hand.”

Listen to the full podcast episode here;

What should 3PLs consider in navigating new technology?

Sharing insights from CartonCloud’s successful expansion to North America following customer demand, Mr Hagen explained “customers are wanting something more flexible, that they can have up and running with 4 or 5 hours of effort, not 4 to 5 months.”

CartonCloud has seen significant success with 3PL warehouses looking to differentiate their services and add additional revenue streams from a service point of view with the integrated WMS TMS platform for cross-docking or combined services, by including additional software integrations — and through the ease of use of the platform itself, allowing accurate data capture, tracking, fast workflows and more.

“Logistics providers can be thinking about where they can have a competitive advantage — either through their technology or service, or a combination of both,” Mr Hagen said.

“Working out ways they can differentiate themselves — whether that’s e-commerce coming to accelerated industries like food and beverage, or if that’s differentiated offerings to solar panels, etc, and creating a value-based conversation with their customers… going and trying to own a market segment and being a bit more specialized - that’s where we see customers being the most successful and the most profitable”

Technology solutions are working behind the scenes to ensure accurate data access across varied platforms, how to make data available and accessible from many different platforms, and sharing insights for data-led decision-making in real-time.

“From needing people to adopt new tech, to making it so intuitive that there is no adoption period. Making the interface of more and more logistics tech so intuitive that people can pick it up and go” Mr Hagen said.

“We’re changing how a user interacts with the warehouse and what an operation manager’s day looks like.”

It's not just about what data people want to see, but making sure it’s accessible in the way they want to access and use it, what systems can access and interpret this, and how it can be integrated with ease and flexibility — for operators to use and customize this as they need.

📈 Are you ready to set your 3PL up for growth?

You can see our powerful Warehouse Management System and Transport Management System in action and explore our range of features designed to automate your data and simplify your operations, letting you do more with less. Contact our team to book your FREE Demo tour and see how CartonCloud can revolutionize your operations. 👇

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