- Wouter Satijn, Sales Director, Joloda Hydraroll 

The logistics and manufacturing industries continue to face a barrage of challenges. From endemic labour shortages to rising environmental expectations, businesses must consider new ways to innovate and bounce back. Making changes that improve efficiency and reduce costs is important, but providing a better working experience is also a key factor – and that can only be achieved by using automation to improve the working environment, minimise delays, and reduce risk. 

With a high percentage of accidents happening in or around the loading bay of a warehouse or factory, this is considered one of the more dangerous areas for businesses to address. It can also be one of the most inefficient.

Automating the loading process can improve employee experiences, thereby future-proofing the business, in the following three ways:

1. Optimise loading and unloading 

Manually unloading and loading trucks is exceptionally physically demanding for operatives, who often rely on winches and ropes to move heavy items. Adding to the safety risks is a huge reliance on forklift trucks, which are involved in a quarter of all workplace transport accidents.

Automating this part of the logistics process is faster and more efficient – achieving in two or three minutes what typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes manually. Plus, an automated loading system makes it safer for employees to unload heavy loads. 

Fewer forklift trucks are required, which minimises the risk of accidents and product damage, while also cutting costs and freeing up valuable space. Businesses can increase output by reducing the storage space in the loading dock area. And staff have more opportunities to take up roles that are better paying, or that they find more enjoyable.

2. Eradicate driver delays

Truck drivers are a scarce resource and yet long delays for drivers as they wait for unloading or loading slots are not uncommon. In addition to the 30 to 45 minutes it takes on average to load or unload a trailer, drivers often have to wait significantly longer for their turn at the loading bay.

One simple change – automating the loading and unloading process – can completely transform their experience, reducing driver wait time by 85%. For drivers, this ensures more time on the road and reduces the uncertainty and stress of meeting delivery deadlines within restricted hours. For businesses, it means fewer trucks and driver shifts are required to transport their products.

3. Adopt new business models

With streamlined processes and more confidence in delivery timelines, businesses have the resources to explore other improvements, such as environmental goals.

Achieving this incremental improvement in logistics efficiency, reducing the number of forklifts, and cutting the emissions generated from idling trucks can provide a noticeable boost to a company’s environmental performance. 

Additionally, with more certainty about the speed of loading and unloading turnaround, businesses can explore new models. For example, they could maximise trailer utilisation/ load capacities and journeys to minimise empty miles or even outsource to 3PLs to make more effective gains across the business.

Conclusion

Automating the loading process improves employee experiences, which is important if businesses are to get ahead of recruitment challenges and reduce staff turnover. Alongside the obvious productivity advantages of a happy and complete workforce, automation yields rapid returns through enhanced efficiency and reduced costs. It also future-proofs the business by providing a foundation for further optimisation, automation, and collaboration to achieve additional improvements. 

About Joloda Hydraroll:

Joloda Hydraroll is a one-stop-shop provider of loading solutions for handling all types of freight, including pallets, air cargo and parcels. Our story has unfolded over 60 years and we are now regarded as the global leader in loading solutions.
We help businesses make loading and unloading processes more efficient and effective with manual, semi-automated, and fully automated solutions. All our systems are backed with ongoing maintenance support that includes reactive breakdown, Pre-Planned Maintenance (PPM), and complete asset management services to minimise downtime.
Our status is demonstrated by our proven and trusted technologies; we have in operation more than 1,000 automated loading systems and 500,000 manual loading systems, with a maintenance team of more than 100 engineers worldwide. We have offices on four continents and an unrivalled global network of over 35 local sales and support partners.