AMR, Conveyor or No Automation?
Before you approve the upgrade, make the supplier prove the fit.
An AMR supplier shows you robots. A conveyor supplier shows you conveyors.
But you have a different question:
“Will this investment improve my operation enough to justify the cost?”
A convincing demo cannot answer that. Neither can a payback calculation built on assumptions you have never checked.
Before signing, ask three questions.
1. “Are you using our data—or your best-case scenario?”
Your order mix, peak-hour demand, travel distances and staffing patterns should shape the proposal.
Ask suppliers to show their assumptions. If their numbers depend on perfect conditions, you need to know.
2. “What happens when things go wrong?”
A blocked aisle. A delayed replenishment. A conveyor stoppage.
Can orders still reach dispatch? How quickly can the team recover?
You are buying an operating system, including its bad days.
3. “Are these cash savings—or just hours saved?”
Removing walking time does not automatically reduce payroll.
Will the upgrade cut overtime, reduce agency shifts or absorb growth without additional hiring? Include integration, maintenance and support costs before accepting the payback figure.
Compare the options before buying the equipment.
Start with data you already have: order history, scan timestamps, shift records and your warehouse layout. Check what is missing, then simulate the alternatives against the same demand:
AMRs: Can flexible transport reduce a real bottleneck?
Conveyors: Is a fixed flow consistent enough to justify the installation?
No automation yet: Could better slotting or replenishment deliver enough improvement?
Test peak periods and disruption—not just an average day. Check the model against current performance before trusting its predictions.
A simulation is only useful when its assumptions are visible.
At PDQ Robotics, we can help turn your existing operational data into a simulation-led comparison—so you can see the trade-offs before committing capital.
If you are hesitating, ask for evidence. A good supplier should welcome the question.
Comments