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Autonomous forklifts in warehouse using AR app on tablet for inspection.

Powering warehousing and logistics with seamless 5G connectivity

Warehousing and logistics

Warehousing and logistics operations are becoming more automated, connected, and data-driven than ever before. With Private 5G, Ericsson is helping logistics hubs gain real-time visibility across people, assets, inventory, and workflows — enabling smarter automation, faster movement of goods, and more resilient supply chains at scale.

Logistics use case video captioned

Connected warehouses. Smarter operations

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Discover how Lufthansa Cargo boosted warehouse efficiency by 70–80% with private 5G

What does it take to keep cargo operations moving at one of the world’s busiest airport hubs? In this video, Lufthansa Cargo shares how replacing legacy Wi-Fi with Ericsson Private 5G at LAX helped deliver always-on connectivity for warehouse scanners, improve process speeds by 70–80%, and create a stronger foundation for future digital innovation across its operations. 

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Five key trends shaping 5G investments in warehouses

2024 INCISIV market report points to 5G neutral host coverage and private network connectivity as keys to keeping busy warehouses and distribution centers productive, competitive and resilient.

Learn the findings from executives of distribution centers ranging in size from USD 100 million to 5 billion, who identified innovations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and robotics as essential for upgrading their operations.

See the findings
Packages move on belts and chutes in sorting facility.

How is cellular connectivity achieving smart warehousing operations at CJ Logistics?

Download the case study to learn how CJ Logistics, one of South Koreas leading warehousing and logistics operators, is using Ericsson private 5G networks in their facilities. Learn about their digitalization journey, network concerns, and use cases that are adding efficiencies to the business process operations.

Download case study

Create agility

Making warehouses smart and agile

Logistics companies are struggling to overcome efficiency challenges related to storage, space optimization, pressure for fast and cost-effective deliveries, and the unpredictability of changing demands. Finding the balance between storing a large variety of goods requiring delivery, while guaranteeing their fast and convenient accessibility is a challenge for supply chains. To address these issues, real-time insights and the adaptation of the facility are key, and the adoption of advanced technologies will play a key role in having an active and responsive supply chain.

Ericsson is helping to make smart warehouses more efficient and agile and reliable in handling items through the adoption of a private 5G network.

Use cases

A warehouse with tall shelves.

Continuous and precise inventory tracking enables the application of advanced real-time algorithms for demand forecasting and optimization. This plays a crucial role in dynamically adjusting inventory levels, ultimately leading to the optimization of resource allocation, and reducing overstock.

Man with IoT device in warehouse loading dock.

Continuous and precise inventory tracking enables the application of advanced real-time algorithms for demand forecasting and optimization. This plays a crucial role in dynamically adjusting inventory levels, ultimately leading to the optimization of resource allocation and reducing overstock.

Advanced operations

Revolutionizing operations through automation

Warehouses today are often equipped with a large number of connected and wireless devices such as handheld scanners, tablets and autonomous vehicles, all connected to a network. When utilizing a diverse set of wireless use cases in a complex environment, challenges such as network delays, dead zones and problem with handovers are common, given the dynamic nature of a warehouse with its narrow aisles, high sealings, and compact racks with diverse pallet contents.

With a seamless 5G network operating as one cell, a diverse range of wireless technologies can move smoothly around the warehouse without being interrupted by handovers, dead zones nor network delays. By utilizing advanced real-time data, the connected operations can take the next step into enhanced coordination and enabling swift decision-making and optimized resource allocation. All powered by a robust, scalable, and reliable 5G network.

In the case of a large warehouse, Ericsson's 5G Private Network deployment led to a remarkable 20% increase in productivity.

Use cases

Autonomous robots in a warehouse.

Leveraging 5G networks, AGVs and AMRs efficiently move materials across the warehouse with speed and reliability. By optimizing routes and dynamically adapting to obstacles, they ensure agile, responsive, and accurate material movement.

Connected Worker in a warehouse.

Powered by 5G connectivity, workers use hand-held devices such as tablets, personal data assistants to access real-time data, enabling them to make quick decisions and manage inventory precisely. AR/VR smart glasses offer visual guidance, enhancing the accuracy of tasks such as picking and packing.

Unlock intelligence

Using real-time data to boost efficiency

The optimization of labor, storage, and operational efficiencies, along with the real-time management of unforeseen volatile demands, rapid shifts in customer behavior and supply chain issues, stands as remarkable challenges for warehouses today. These challenges are combined by the lack of visibility across the supply chain, posing difficulties in optimizing the end-to-end pallet handling process.

In response, smart warehouses are unlocking the next level of intelligence by tapping into the vast data streams created within their own private 5G network and operations, and those of their suppliers/partners. This connectivity is key to addressing critical challenges, such as optimizing workers, storage capacity, and operational costs, as well as managing unforeseen seasonal demands and supply chain issues in real time. Through continuous data and video collection and the application of AI/ML, warehouses can enhance asset tracking, predict maintenance needs, and create digital twins for effective visualization and planning.

Use cases

Radio equipment boxed and stacked in warehouse.

Continuous monitoring of assets and equipment helps anticipate failures before they occur through data analytics and machine learning, thereby minimizing downtime.

Drone monitoring boxes in warehouse.

Through Ericsson private 5G networks, precise indoor positioning of devices is possible, which enables a variety of use cases such as location and increased efficiency of the autonomous fleet. Safety measures can also be met by being able to locate devices and people in real-time.

Featured content

Packages move on belts and chutes in sorting facility.

Case study | Transforming warehouse operations with Ericsson Private 5G

CJ Logistics, a leading South Korean logistics company, is delivering groundbreaking enhancements and remarkable operational efficiency gains with Ericsson Private 5G. By connecting their wireless operations solely over 5G, CJ Logistics are reaching remarkable efficiency gains.

Collage illustrating 5G positioning.

Blog | 5G positioning: What you need to know

The arrival of 5G delivers new enhanced parameters for positioning accuracy down to the meter, decimeter and centimeter. In this technical overview, we break down the accuracy requirements of emerging 5G use cases and explore the key features of new 3GPP 5G positioning architecture.

Cameraman with smart phone and equipment videoing speaker on stage.

Podcast | Enabling smarter warehouses for your smart factory

In this podcast, SME Media senior editor Steve Plumb talks with Per Treven, director of business development-manufacturing for Ericsson, about the importance of warehouse digitalization as part of your smart factory strategy.

Person with tablet in a warehouse.

Feature article | Ericsson Private 5G, together with Kollmorgen’s NDC Solutions Platform

Discover automated guided vehicle (AGV) and mobile robot capabilities, powered by Ericsson Private 5G.

Person in the street carrying packages.

Blog | Logistic challenges and the impact of a pandemic

Since the outbreak, more than one in three of us admit to either beginning or increasing our online grocery shopping. How has this impacted the already-challenged world of logistics?

Person looking at a computer screen with graphs.

Blog | How Machine Learning-powered Demand Forecasting can boost customer satisfaction?

What is machine learning powered demand forecasting and how can it help businesses to predict more accurately where customer demand is headed and how much material is needed?

Trucks platooning on road.

Report | Pre-emptive logistics – the road ahead

Digitalization activities are transforming enterprises and industries around the globe. The logistics industry is no exception. This report takes a closer look at the future of logistics and explores the viability of pre-emptive logistics.

Man inspecting goods in logistics center.

Blog | Defining the business value of Industrial 5G

How can 5G truly bring value to an industrial business? That’s what Digital Catapult and Ericsson aimed to answer in the creation of the Industrial 5G Accelerator programme. Here, we explain what happened when the partners worked with two leaders in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.

Robot lifting box in warehouse.

Case study | Warehouse workers leverage private cellular for better network control and uninterrupted Wireless LAN connectivity

Cradlepoint’s NetCloud Private Networks provides an end-to-end solution
for secure, reliable Wireless LAN coverage for key applications.

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