Today’s article published on the Meteca blog we talk about the Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) and how its use has become a key factor in the supply chain. We talk about it thanks to the support of an interesting article read on roboticstomorrow.com.
The Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) is a technology that, in few decades, has permanently changed the world of industry. Robotics is present in almost all companies and has become indispensable thanks to the immense benefits it has managed to bring.
First of all, the IoRT has led to the improvement of the functioning of the supply chain, which in recent years has found itself facing an unprecedented increase in demand due to the boom in e-commerce. Thanks to robotics, it was possible to work even in conditions of scarcity of warehouse personnel – an element that determined not only precision in the work, but also considerable economic savings. After all, robotics is a technology that you can rely on with your eyes closed: it is precise, accurate, fast. In short, a turning point for the industrial world from many points of view.
Despite the countless advantages and benefits generated by IoRT, it is important to emphasize that robotic industrial elements must be perfectly integrated into the production chain: the risk is to compromise their value. Companies must be able to calculate everything with extreme precision and ensure perfect harmony between the existing company technology and the robotic technology to be inserted. Otherwise there would be a negative return on investment (ROI), as well as the risk of losing valuable data and / or information or a system outage.
The race to automation in the manufacturing (and non-manufacturing) industry has recorded, to date, impressive numbers: from 2020 to 2022, the installation of 2 million units equipped with IoRT is expected around the world. Europe can boast the highest number of owned and used units: 114 for every 10,000 employees.
The IoRT revolution in the supply chain
The IoRT perhaps finds its maximum expression of utility and precision when used in the production, transport and logistics sector. These companies were also the first to adopt IoRT and embrace the wonders of automation applied to the supply chain. With an almost zero margin of error, fast rhythms guaranteed 24/7, no weight lifting limits or energy loss problems, machinery and devices equipped with IoRT technology are the solution for a company, which now relies almost exclusively on online purchases and fast home delivery.
It is clear, therefore, that robotics is the safest and most intelligent solution that companies have to satisfy an increasing number of requests from customers.
Robotics, however, is also used for the internal organization and perfect functioning of warehouses or large distribution centers. In some of them automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) are used, capable of carrying out operations in very fast times, without stopping and with an almost zero margin of error, which increase productivity and reduce times.
Using robotics for a return on investment (ROI)
As we said earlier, the purpose of using robotics in the supply chain is to increase productivity combined with savings on operating costs. To maximize its value, IoRT technology must be connected to the entire supply chain, so that operations can also be monitored by the IT department and the management sector. By doing so, multiple teams are able to control both connected endpoints and the accuracy and operation of IoRT devices.
This is good because a continuous flow of updated information allows you to predict errors and resolve them in time, but also to save on maintenance and necessary updates. This way any slowdowns or malfunctions can be solved in a short time by a technical team, also avoiding costly losses or interruptions that can affect productivity.
Furthermore, choosing to adopt predictive maintenance for IoRT technology allows the administrative and managerial sectors to evaluate an effective return on investment (ROI) for the company.
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