Eight Steps to Successfully Implementing Technology in Your Warehouse

By Jared Green, director of global sales – automation & emerging technologies, Crown Equipment Corporation

Properly managing the introduction of any new warehouse technology is essential to strengthening employee engagement and retention. These technologies may require changing familiar processes and revisiting old habits while also creating new accountability expectations.

Many operations open to new technology are investigating object detection systems. These systems are designed to detect objects which may be in the path of a moving lift truck. Some provide alerts while others can actively slow the lift truck to further allow the operator time and space to take an appropriate action.

Regardless of the technology being introduced, we’ve observed eight key steps that help ensure smooth and successful deployments. Following these proven steps encourage understanding of the value of new warehouse technologies—both to your business and your workers.

1. Consider the Outcomes

Until a new technology is fully integrated, workers may simply see change as something that creates additional work or even inhibits productivity.

This perspective may create frustration and resistance toward the new technology, especially if the new approach is associated with a corporate initiative rather than something being pursued by local facility managers. It’s therefore critical to consider not just the business value, but also the effects it may have on your workforce. Make sure you understand what the technology is, how it works, how it can be configured to fit your application, and what it’s going to do for your business. Awareness of what changes will be required of end users will help you anticipate and address their concerns when you begin deployment.

You may experience increased effectiveness of detection systems provided by your lift truck’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM). These OEMs have a deep understanding of material handling applications and the capabilities of their products, meaning they may be able to provide performance advantages over third-party solutions.

For example, OEM solutions may integrate with the truck’s operating system. This allows them to adjust sensor detection zones in response to factors like lift truck travel speed and steering angle, providing more reliable performance in dynamic warehouse environments. This integration also makes it possible for the system to do more than provide visual or audible alerts, including the slowing of the lift truck to further allow the operator to take appropriate action.

2. Communicate With Your Team

If you don’t communicate with workers early in a technology implementation, they may focus more on the change itself rather than the improvements it may bring. Let your employees know what’s coming; address their questions and concerns.

It’s often helpful to have someone in authority distribute a one-page summary sharing expectations about the new technology. Most importantly, be sure to explain to employees how the technology can benefit them. For example, object detection systems can help reinforce training and increase operator awareness.

Experienced operators can be excellent sources of feedback since they understand nuances of their work and effects, big or small, of introducing new technology. It can be helpful to work with an OEM that appreciates seasoned employees’ expertise and their focus on productivity, and understands that new technologies should help streamline processes without adding complexity.

Unresolved concerns regarding new technology may instill doubt or outright fear in your warehouse employees. When you communicate ahead of time, you are more likely to create employee engagement at every level. Effective two-way communication can help address concerns up-front, streamline the deployment process and expedite return on investment (ROI).

3. Plan Collaboratively

It’s no mistake that we discussed communication before planning. Ideally, the two steps should go hand in hand.

Good planning starts with communication. Outreach gives local leadership opportunities to provide feedback and contribute to building the plan. Involve all stakeholders: safety, operations, maintenance, HR, and any others who will be involved or affected.

Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) early in the planning process will help you validate the decision to implement the new technology. Getting local buy-in will help you understand the current state and identify what needs to be done to reach your desired future state.

When it comes to an object detection system, be mindful of how work is done today without such a system. Integrate the functionality in a way that respects current processes and the knowledge and capabilities of the people who operate within them.

Build a training plan that will share the right information with the right people at the right time. If necessary, tailor existing processes to incorporate the system to minimize employee frustration and the potential for mismatched initiatives. In addition to initial training, your onboarding plan should include opportunities for trainers to observe and provide real-time coaching as operators begin using the system.

4. Provide Hands-On Training

When implementing technologies, such as object detection systems, conduct structured, hands-on training that introduces the full capabilities of the system. Share details and expectations incrementally to avoid overwhelming your team.

Consider dividing your teams into functional areas of responsibility to maximize the value of training. This will respect everyone’s time and allow training to focus on specific needs of each group.

Videos and classroom instruction can help your team understand how an object detection system works and what it’s designed to do, but the majority of training should be hands-on. This experience is essential to help workers evaluate how the technology will perform in the real world. In particular, operators need to understand how their equipment will perform under challenging conditions, such as areas with limited space to maneuver. Trainers should follow up more than once after the system is deployed to ensure desired gains are being made and no one has fallen behind.

5. Engage Your Team in the Process

Although precise figures are rarely stated in research findings, numerous studies and anecdotal experience from hundreds of deployments consistently show that people are significantly more likely to embrace change if they feel they’re being considered and heard.

Give employees opportunities to ask questions and share their experiences during the early stages of implementation. Walk the facility and invite operators to demonstrate the system on the warehouse floor. Let them experience what happens when objects are detected and explain any challenges they’ll encounter.

It’s important for users to know they’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback. Connect with your team’s formal and informal leaders to integrate their responses. Schedule formal review sessions with operators, using a frequency that fits your application and business processes. This engagement will help you retain good people before, during and after deployment.

6. Accept and Adopt

This stage begins when operators cross the threshold from learning about object detection to recognizing its value, then embracing the system.

The perceived value of any technology will inevitably be based on the experience of each individual user. Once your associates recognize the value of object detection systems and accept their usefulness, they’ll consider how to integrate them into their day-to-day activities. At this point, the training team can begin to take a back seat and “give the keys to the system” to your workers.

7. Monitor the System to Maintain Momentum

No technology will magically take hold without reinforcing expectations at all levels. Maintain momentum by instituting processes for accountability, positive feedback and periodic upstream reporting on progress. Positive feedback is particularly critical at this stage. Be sure to recognize anyone who is meeting or exceeding expectations. Reinforcing good behavior will help you get more of it.

Data monitoring is critical to track KPI expectations and ROI. Periodic reports will also help keep everyone “in the game” and engaged to create desired changes. This also provides the opportunity to consider process changes after the implementation is complete, looking for ways to leverage the lessons learned following deployment.

8. Iterate Based on Your Experience

Create a plan to build on early successes and consider logical next steps. Use what you have learned through each deployment to ensure that early successes continue as your deployment continues. If appropriate, consider how your business objectives can be modified based on your experiences.

Although this phase will evolve differently for every organization, it’s important to remember that lasting change will be achieved incrementally. Identifying some quick wins early in the process can help create confidence among users and stakeholders, which is essential for building momentum.

Keep “moving the goalposts out” over time to stretch your organization and pick up new wins along the way. Refine continuously as you go, incorporating what you learn with each successful implementation.

While this article is focused on object detection systems, it may come as no surprise that this 8-step model can be applied to virtually any technology implementation. As you look for ways to improve productivity or enhance the hiring and retention of your workforce, consider the importance of involving them in the process and encouraging them to take advantage of every opportunity to help define their future.