October 2020

| SOLUTIONS | www.smartmachinesandfactories.com September/October 2020 | 25 | and the like to capitalise on the flexibility this affords them.  Advanced bonded wireless Internet solutions enable organisations to add important resilience and back-up capability to their Internet connection and build in contingency by combining Internet connections from different carriers to create a single ‘virtual internet pipe’. Optimisation of the performance parameters of the virtual connection is included with management of data usage, to ensure there is control over costs and quality. With combined bandwidth and enhanced reliable internet performance integrated into a portable solution, it is highly suitable for immediate deployment situations; especially if Internet services are required urgently. In many cases, communications infrastructure is either missing, needs repairing or may take several weeks to secure an install date. Advanced bonded Internet solutions can be applied to one warehouse, or multiple sites internationally, no matter the location, with visibility and management of the entire estate through a single portal. And with portability being a primary factor of these solutions, they can be rolled out on site rapidly, enabling instant internet connectivity – thereby reducing downtime and immediately improving productivity.  Using digital technology With rapid advances in technology and the advent of cloud-based solutions, the way we work and interact has dramatically changed. Technology innovation has led industries to continually strive to be more efficient, productive and cost effective. Yet, when it comes to the world of logistics, investment in IT has been slow, which meant advancing at scale has been difficult, and subsequently led to the slow progress of the digitisation of warehouses. Despite these challenges, the technology available to logistics firms has advanced rapidly and we are now starting to see examples of how advances in digital technology can deliver efficiency and productivity opportunities at the start of all projects, such as enhanced supply chain visibility – truly revolutionising warehouses of the past. AGVs, IoT, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are no longer works of fiction, but can be adopted by forward thinking firms looking to capitalise on the benefits that embracing innovation can bring to smart warehouses. All of these innovations require high quality, reliable internet network resources to function and deliver benefits in the field.  Conclusion The logistics industry must embrace digital advances and adopt smarter processes and technology to stay competitive and meet both demand and expectations. It must set aside outdated processes and management methods to make this a reality. To enable this digital operation in the future, the basics of warehouse internet connectivity resources have to be in place.  So, how can logistic companies ensure that a high quality, reliable Internet network connection is established quickly in warehouses to make certain that a lack of connectivity does not negatively impact projects? By working with an ecosystem of experienced and trusted providers who can discuss options and supply the connectivity solution and services that warehouses require. The industry will then be able to continually benefit from the opportunities that the latest advances in technology innovation for business operations present. The potential rewards to firms that capitalise on digitisation will be transformative.  *Nick Sacke is head of IoT and products at Comms365