In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Amin Sikander, the President and Co-Founder of Synkrato, joins Kevin to discuss the role of digital twins and AI in the warehousing industry. Synkrato is a company that focuses on digital twin technology and its application in logistics and supply chain management. Their approach to creating living digital twins opens up new possibilities for warehouses of all sizes to embrace Warehouse 5.0 and unlock their full potential. Listen to the full podcast episode to learn more about this exciting topic.

The Power of Digital Twins in Warehousing 

Digital twins are virtual representations of physical objects or systems, such as warehouses or machinery. Amin explained that Synkrato’s approach is to create a “living” digital twin that ingests real-time data from various sources, including IoT sensors and RFID, to provide an accurate and dynamic picture of the warehouse. Amin adds, “A living digital twin enables augmented reality picking and provides a real-time view of inventory and resources. It allows us to interact with technology better and optimize picking costs, which is crucial in reducing warehouse labor expenses.” This living digital twin enables improved planning, simulations, and optimization of warehouse operations.

Leveraging AI for Optimization and Resource Management 

By combining the power of digital twins with AI, Synkrato aims to revolutionize warehouse operations. Amin highlighted the importance of optimizing processes such as slotting, which involves determining the most efficient placement of products in the warehouse. AI algorithms can analyze data from the digital twin and recommend better slotting strategies, resulting in reduced travel time and improved picking productivity. Amin adds, “Our AI engine takes inputs from the digital twin and generates a baseline slotting plan. It continuously adapts and self-corrects based on real-time data from the warehouse, allowing for dynamic optimization of resources and tasks.”

Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Warehouse 5.0 

Amin discussed the challenges of adopting new technologies and addressed concerns about job displacement. He emphasized that Warehouse 5.0 is not about introducing entirely new technologies “Warehouse 5.0 is about embracing existing technology and making it more human-centric. It’s about leveraging digital twins, AI, and AR to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and optimize warehouse processes.” Synkrato’s platform enables scalability and flexibility, allowing warehouses of all sizes to leverage digital twins, AI, and AR to improve operations without extensive investments or disruptions.

Key Takeaways from Synkrato

• Digital twins provide real-time visibility and enable augmented reality picking, leading to improved warehouse operations.
• AI-powered optimization based on digital twin data enhances slotting strategies, reducing travel time and increasing picking productivity.
• Warehouse 5.0 leverages existing technologies to make them more human-centric, enabling scalable and flexible solutions for improved operations.

The New Warehouse Podcast