Drone Automation for Warehouse 4.0

Executive Summary

The digital transformation of warehouses - driven by safety, cost and revenue benefits – is underway across the world.

Technologies such as IoT, AI, and drones are augmenting the business value created by the adoption of RFID, robots and real-time analytics. UAVs have started playing a central role in the intelligent automation of warehouse operations – given their ability to fly & hover autonomously, carry payloads, avoid obstacles, navigate indoors & land precisely, operate in fleets and be remotely used.

The business benefits from drones are significant and immediate given low CapEx & infrastructure investments, access to commoditized drone hardware, and SaaS-based solutions for warehouse operations. The cloud-connectivity of drones, combined with API-based integration, make it easy for existing warehouse management systems to onboard autonomous drone fleets into enterprise workflows.

Capabilities such as custom dashboards, remote control via telepresence over 4G/5G, high-quality video recording are key to realizing the value in warehouse applications such as inventory reconciliation & audit, safety & surveillance, item search & recognition, etc.

The pioneers in Warehouse 4.0 have already done PoC projects on multiple use-cases, by involving stakeholders from R&D, IT, operations and senior management. These are now running pilot programs that involve repeatable missions of drone fleets – this building a wider set of business cases that mature into large-scale drone deployments across the supply chain.

Table of Contents

• Warehouse Diversity & Complexity
• Business Drivers for Warehouses
• Warehouse 4.0
• Warehouse Safety & Security
• Drone Adoption in Warehouse 4.0
• Drone Automation in Warehouse 4.0
• Drone Program for Warehouse 4.0