Today's solutions are designed to reduce the complexity of deployment with standardized, configurable automation platforms that warehouses can get up and running — sometimes in as little as a day — with little to no software engineering required.
Simplifying Lift Truck Automation Deployment
Q&A with Kyle Smart, Sales Manager, Technology Solutions | Yale
Tell us about yourself and your role with Yale.
I’ve been in the materials handling business for over ten years, including eight years with Yale. My job is solving customer challenges with lift truck automation solutions. I design solutions around specific applications across a lot of different industries. These days, my work is focused on Yale Relay™, our automated lift truck platform. I work closely with customers to demonstrate how automation can improve productivity, address labor challenges and create a scalable path toward smarter warehouse operations.
For years, lift truck automation has often been viewed as a complex, resource-intensive undertaking. What innovations have had the greatest impact on making automated lift trucks more accessible and practical for a wider range of operations?
One of the most significant changes we’ve seen is that lift truck automation today isn’t an all-or-nothing investment. In the past, implementing automated lift trucks usually meant lengthy engineering projects and highly customized systems. Now, the focus is on making solutions easier to deploy, easier to manage and flexible enough to easily fit into existing operations. User-friendly automation platforms with intuitive fleet management and simplified mapping and implementation have made it a lot more realistic for operations to start small, prove value and expand over time. That bypasses some of the technical and operational barriers that have historically kept many warehouses from pursuing automation.
We’re also seeing automation become practical for a much broader range of warehouse tasks as the technology evolves. In addition to models such as automated tow tractors providing a solution for horizontal transport, vertical pallet positioning capabilities enable end-to-end automation of tasks that also involve picking and placing loads on elevated surfaces. For example, automated counterbalanced stackers that reach lift heights of approximately 13 feet can be used to automate put away and retrieval tasks in stage lanes, from conveyors and even in some low- to mid-level racking applications with minimal infrastructure or workflow changes. These innovations give operations the flexibility to automate specific workflows where they’ll have the greatest impact in existing facilities rather than redesigning the entire facility around automation. What you end up with is a more scalable, adaptable approach that lets warehouses improve productivity while implementing automated lift trucks at a pace that makes sense for their business.
Ease of implementation is a major focus in lift truck automation. How are technology providers rethinking deployment, configuration and ongoing management to reduce the burden on warehouse operators?
Historically, implementation has been one of the biggest sticking points for automated lift trucks. That’s why today’s solutions are designed to reduce the complexity of deployment with standardized, configurable automation platforms that warehouses can get up and running — sometimes in as little as a day — with little to no software engineering required. Automated lift trucks now have intuitive software and drag-and-drop interfaces that simplify implementation, allow operations to reconfigure workflows on the fly and provide visibility into automated fleets from a centralized interface. The goal is to make automation something existing warehouse teams can adopt and manage instead of systems that require specialized engineering and expertise.
Ongoing management is just as important as initial deployment. Modern automated lift truck platforms are built to support phased implementation, allowing companies to automate one application, validate performance and then expand as the operation evolves. The ability to easily remap workflows as needed adds to the ease of ongoing management. By lowering the operational burden both during deployment and after implementation, automated lift truck manufacturers are making automation more accessible for organizations that want the flexibility to scale over time.
Cost remains a key consideration for many organizations when it comes to lift truck automation. How are evolving pricing and deployment models helping lower the barrier to entry for companies that may have previously considered lift truck automation financially out of reach?
One of the biggest changes in how warehouses look at the cost of automated lift trucks is the introduction of more flexible financial models that reduce the upfront investment traditionally associated with automation. Instead of requiring a big up-front capital expenditure before seeing any operational benefits, newer approaches like Yale Relay’s frictionless rental model roll the truck, software, hosting, ongoing platform improvements and support into a predictable monthly or annual fee, without the burden of ownership or long-term commitments. This gives companies two things they couldn’t get before — a fast, low-risk way to trial automation, and a clear understanding of total cost. It’s a huge factor in removing a lot of the financial uncertainty that has historically slowed automation adoption.
This pricing model, combined with the ease of deployment and ongoing management that we’ve already discussed, also makes it easier for warehouses to phase in automated lift trucks over time. Instead of committing to a fleet-wide automation project on day one, operations can pilot automation with one or two lift trucks and demonstrate the value in a specific application in real conditions in their facility before expanding to additional workflows. This combination of financial flexibility and phased adoption makes automated lift trucks a much more attainable option for organizations that might previously have considered the technology out of reach.
No-code and low-code technologies have transformed many areas of enterprise software. How is that trend influencing the design of lift truck automation solutions, and what impact could it have on adoption rates across the supply chain industry?
The same principles driving low- and no-code enterprise software are definitely having an impact on automated lift trucks. The emphasis is shifting toward intuitive tools that reduce the need for specialized programming or extensive automation expertise. Features like Yale Relay’s user-friendly drag-and-drop portal make mapping and re-routing workflows a simple task that can be performed without programming or software engineering resources. This makes it easier for warehouse teams to deploy and adjust automated operations using existing personnel.
As technologies like this continue to simplify configuration and day-to-day operation, automated lift trucks become approachable to a broader range of organizations. Lowering the technical barrier to entry allows companies to focus less on the complexity of the technology and more on the operational problems they’re trying to solve. Over time, that ease of use has the potential to accelerate automated lift truck adoption by enabling more facilities to implement automation with greater confidence.
Looking ahead, what innovations do you believe will have the biggest impact on simplifying lift truck automation deployment over the next five years, and how might they change the way warehouses evaluate automation investments?
Over the next five years, I think we’ll continue to see innovation centered on making automation easier to adopt, in addition to adding new capabilities. That means further simplifying everything from facility mapping and workflow configuration to fleet management, so warehouses can deploy automation faster and with fewer specialized resources. We’ll also see manufacturers continue to expand the range of applications automated lift trucks can support, enabling automation to take on increasingly complex warehouse tasks.
As the technology matures, more warehouses will start looking at automated lift trucks as less of a standalone capital project and more of an operational tool that can be introduced wherever it will deliver the greatest value. Being able to target specific applications, demonstrate measurable improvements and expand over time gives warehouses greater confidence in their investment decisions. Ultimately, the easier automated lift trucks become to deploy, manage and scale, the more organizations will view automation as a practical addition to everyday warehouse operations rather than a specialized technology reserved for only the largest facilities.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of RoboticsTomorrow
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