The logistics industry has undergone some major changes recently, and disruptions such as the pandemic, insufficient supply of goods, shortages of manpower, advent of technologically advanced equipment, and soaring demand for supply have been the catalysts for these changes. Logistics, as an industry, attaches great importance to time and efficiency, and is also one of the industries that adopts automation and robotics technology on a large scale to meet supply and demand. Recently, DHL Express announced the opening of the Middle East’s largest robotic sorting center in Israel. The company said it has invested $80 million in a factory near Ben Gurion Airport to keep pace with the surge in parcels in Israel. To match the state-of-the-art center in Europe, they opted for an automated sorting system, in which 100 conveyors sort 20,000 packages per hour, about five times as much as before. DHL can now process a freighter in 50 minutes and reduce the manpower required for the automated sorting system by nearly 70%, for which employees are trained in other roles. The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the human reliance of industries such as logistics, which have come to an abrupt end due to the imposition of lockdowns and restrictions on physical activity. Essential goods must also be provided. Adding robotic arms to industries that are heavily dependent on labor does sound like it is taking their jobs, but on the contrary, it increases employment opportunities. Robotics and automation will not only improve the safety of humans working under one roof, but also increase efficiency. It will help direct manpower to other useful jobs such as delivery and maintenance.
