Smart warehouse: the difficult part lies in the structural drawings, not in the robot

Automated warehouses are becoming the default for consumer goods, e-commerce and pharmaceuticals in Vietnam. But most discussions between project owners and equipment suppliers start with which vendor to choose, while the question that decides success or failure comes much earlier.

Four parameters that determine whether automation works

Clearance height. Automated storage systems only pay off when they use the full height. A warehouse designed with a nine-meter clear height has almost no chance of hosting a high-bay AS/RS, no matter how expensive the equipment is.

Column grid. A column in the middle of the equipment's travel aisle is an error that cannot be fixed once the foundations are poured. The column grid must follow the rack module and the equipment's turning radius, not floor-plan aesthetics.

Floor load capacity and flatness. Autonomous vehicles and high-reach forklifts require much tighter floor flatness than conventional warehouses. This item is often cut to save money, and the entire floor then has to be re-ground later at many times the cost.

Equipment positions and provisional loads. Conveyors, lifts and control system supports need provision openings, local foundations and hanging points, all designed in at the structural stage.

Software also needs space in drawings

The warehouse management system and equipment control system need a separate air-conditioned server room, cable routes separate from power lines, backup power, and network equipment positions that cover the entire floor area. These are small items within the total investment, but omitting them causes costly problems later.

Correct order: design first, equipment later

The lowest-risk approach is to settle the operating concept and the desired level of automation at the project preparation stage, so the basic design leaves room for it: sufficient height, the right column grid, sufficient floor load capacity and enough provisions for equipment. When the project owner decides to invest in equipment in phase two, the building is ready to receive it.

Conversely, choosing the equipment first and then forcing the building to fit it is the most expensive approach, and it also locks the project owner into a single supplier from the start.

A note about the level of automation

Not every warehouse should be fully automated. For slow-moving goods with a wide range of SKUs, a semi-automated warehouse often gives a better investment return. The right step is to test throughput scenarios before deciding, rather than choosing the level of automation based on enthusiasm for technology.

Try it now with your project