Navigate the logistics data maze with ProGlove

ProGlove’s vision for a smarter, more connected warehouse

As global inflation begins to decline steadily, consumer spending is gradually bouncing back. In January, global accounting firm EY deemed 2024 the year of ‘consumer revival’, noting that consumers are feeling more optimistic about their finances.

From a production side, warehouses are certainly experiencing the impact of this ‘revival’ firsthand. According to the European Commission, the manufacturing sector is doing much better than it was compared to a few years ago. The sector is now accounting for a quarter of the EU’s business economy net turnover.

As consumers begin to reach further into their pockets, e-commerce has certainly been a game-changer, with lower prices and shortened delivery times. While things are looking up, this new era of consumerism is not without its challenges. Amid this increase in demand, warehouses are feeling the impact of global disruptions that have upended workflows and supply chain strategies. Warehouses today need to be smarter, faster, and use more data to handle these new challenges and keep customers happy.

What challenges are top of the agenda for warehouse leaders?
Warehouses today face a complex set of challenges. Before choosing a tech solution, leaders need to identify and understand the most significant hurdles. This includes:

• Labour shortages: In the US, 27% of manufacturing workers are set to retire this decade, leaving a significant labour gap. On top of this, fewer younger workers are choosing industrial professions, leaving warehouses struggling with inefficiencies and operational challenges that could hinder their ability to keep up with growing demands.
• Sustainability: Pollution levels around U.S. e-commerce hubs have gotten so bad researchers recently discovered we can see them from as far as space. As consumers and government bodies become increasingly environmentally conscious, sustainability and waste reduction has come into sharp focus.
• Productivity and engagement: Workers are also feeling less excited about their jobs. In fact, only 30% of U.S. workers feel engaged at work, which is the lowest in 11 years. This poses significant challenges for warehouses. As consumers increasingly turn to e-commerce, warehouses are under pressure to enhance productivity in order to meet faster turnaround times.
• Health and safety: Warehouse jobs can be physically demanding with staff walking up to 18 miles a day, often lifting heavy items. With new safety regulations and a focus on employee well-being, warehouses need to do more to protect their workers.

So, how can warehouses overcome these problems?

From concept to reality: how our scanners have transformed shopfloor operations
From the very beginning, ProGlove’s scanners were designed with one thing in mind: to make warehouse workers’ jobs easier.

Our founders understood that hand-eye coordination is critical, and keeping both hands free would make a big difference to improving the efficiency and accuracy of warehouse staff. That’s why our wearable scanners were designed to keep both hands free at all times – workers can scan barcodes without repetitively picking up and putting down bulky devices. This simple change saves up to 4 seconds per scan, increasing overall efficiency by up to 30%.

At ProGlove, our goal is not just to improve efficiency but also to enhance safety and accuracy. Traditionally, leaders have limited visibility into workflows making it challenging for them to make informed decisions. With our scanners, managers can now see what’s happening, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions – all without physically being on the shopfloor.

With this in mind, our guiding question remains: how far can we go to optimise the use of hands? With longer battery lives and new scanning capabilities, we’re just getting started.

The power of having data at our fingertips
Data is key to running a successful warehouse. As warehouses are becoming increasingly data-centric, decision-makers have also come to recognise that a well-informed and connected workforce is a more productive one. ProGlove stands at the forefront of this shift – our scanners capture operational data like pick accuracy and scanning efficiency, while our software collects and combines data from multiple sources to give businesses a complete picture of what’s happening in your warehouse.

Our solution is also customisable. This allows businesses to choose exactly the type of data they collect and analyse, so warehouses can focus on monitoring the metrics that matter most to them. When you combine our data with other information from your warehouse, you can make clearer decisions about everything from making the most of your space to keeping workers safe.

Bringing the vision to life: Experience ProGlove in action
Want to see our scanners in action? You’re in luck! This October, we’re set to launch our Customer Experience Centre. This interactive experience offers an inside look at how our products are used by real workers on the shop floor. Hosted at our Chicago office, you’ll have the opportunity to meet our developers, ask questions, and learn about what we’re working on next.
Find out more here: [Link to website] or contact us to learn more.