The rapid growth of e-commerce is changing the workload inside parcel facilities. Sorting operations increasingly combine standard cartons with lightweight bags, cylindrical products and irregularly shaped items, creating a more demanding flow than many existing systems were designed to handle.
The operational implications were examined by Paul Hamblin and Gert Jan Veelenturf of Eurosort in a discussion recorded at Parcel and Post Expo in London. A key issue is whether today’s infrastructure can accommodate future volumes without requiring a continuous increase in floor space or staffing.
Variability can affect several stages of the process, from induction and identification to routing and discharge. As a result, increasing automation alone may not solve the problem. Technology must be matched to the actual parcel profile if operators are to avoid simply moving bottlenecks elsewhere in the facility.
For businesses, the commercial case for automation is increasingly linked to capacity rather than headcount reduction. A system that allows an existing operation and workforce to process considerably more volume can be valuable when warehouse space is expensive and labour is difficult to secure.
The discussion also considers future developments, including robotic induction and more automated sorter exits. For companies planning logistics investments, the main consideration is not only line speed but also the ability to handle changing parcel formats while extracting greater throughput from the existing footprint.
A multilingual professional experienced in Europe, Canada, and China, Herbert has developed invaluable networks in the automotive and energy industries. He has led high-profile projects involving ENBW, Mercedes-Benz Group, Siemens Group, and the Fraunhofer Institute.