Logistics manager, supply chain manager, logistics analyst… Are you wondering what is the best warehouse equipment for carrying out your high rack inventories: the traditional scissor lifts, or the innovative drones? This is a crucial choice for you, as it has a direct impact on productivity, safety and therefore the cost of stocktaking including indirect costs. At EYESEE, we’ve studied the issue in detail to help you choose the best warehouse automation solution for your business. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Scissor lifts: a safe bet, but…
Scissor lifts are THE tried and tested solution for accessing high racks in your warehouse. It offers a number of advantages:
- Safety: You benefit from a stable platform and personal protective equipment to carry out your checks in complete safety.
- Accuracy: Detailed visual checks mean you can accurately inspect every location.
- Flexibility: The scissor lifts give you access to all types of goods, including those on pallets.
However, working with scissor lifts also has its drawbacks:
- Cost: Hire, staff and maintenance represent a significant budgetary burden.
- Productivity: Productivity is limited by the manoeuvrability of the platform and the number of operators.
- Space requirements: The access platform takes up floor space and can interfere with normal traffic flow in your warehouse.
Drones: nothing less than a revolution!
Welcome to the 21st century! The logistics drone is THE key to the intelligent warehouse of tomorrow. The drone offers a whole host of advantages:
- Speed: Drones scan many locations in record time, multiplying your productivity.
- Accuracy: Thanks to its high-performance sensors, the drone collects precise data on the state of your stocks, as well as photographic evidence.
- Safety: The risks associated with working at height are reduced to zero.
- Automation: The drone can be programmed to carry out semi-autonomous inventories under human supervision, but with neither piloting skills nor telepilot certificate needed.
- Flexibility: The number of drones can be adjusted according to inventory needs and constraints.
Of course, nothing is perfect! Using drones also has its limitations:
- Preparation: Implementation requires prior training and meticulous preparation. However, this preparation is included and fully managed by EYESEE in the case of our inventory services.
- Environment: The drone may be sensitive to electromagnetic interference and harsh environmental conditions.
- Technical limitations: The drone cannot completely replace operators for certain tasks, such as handling parcels.
What choice should you make?
While both solutions have their advantages and disadvantages, how do you make the best choice for your warehouse? It depends on a number of factors that are inherent to your environment:
- The size of your warehouse: small, medium or large? For medium-sized and large warehouses, the drone is particularly interesting. To test your warehouse’s eligibility, see here.
- The height of your racks: The drone is ideal for warehouses with high racks (above 4 levels).
- The complexity of your products: If your pallets are regular in size and easy to identify, the drone is an excellent option.
- Labelling standards: The more standardized the traceability, the more effective the drone.
- Your budget: The cost of acquiring and maintaining a drone can be quickly recouped through productivity gains and reduced downtime.
To help you clarify matters, EYESEE has produced a detailed infographic comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two solutions.
In conclusion, the drone represents an innovative solution for optimizing your inventories of pallet racks in closed, temperature-controlled warehouses. The scissor lifts remain a relevant solution for certain specific cases. Which solution best meets your needs? Our experts can help you decide.
Would you like to find out more? Contact us now for a personalized study of your needs.
