Modern warehouses operate like orchestras where robots and human workers must perform in perfect harmony. When autonomous mobile robots zip through aisles while pickers navigate the same space, chaos can ensue without proper coordination. WES software serves as the conductor that brings order to this complex environment, ensuring every movement is timed and every task flows seamlessly. Discover how leading facilities boost throughput by 30-40%!
The 2026 challenge: Rising costs meet labour shortages
Warehouse operators across Britain and Europe face a perfect storm heading into 2026. Energy costs have surged dramatically, with electricity prices climbing 40-60% compared to pre-2022 levels. Meanwhile, the logistics sector struggles with a chronic shortage of workers – the UK alone reports over 100,000 unfilled warehouse positions. This combination forces managers to extract maximum productivity from every available resource, whether human or automated. Simply adding more staff or equipment is no longer viable when both are expensive and increasingly scarce.
WMS plans, WES executes: Understanding the critical difference
Think of it this way: your WMS is like a chess grandmaster planning several moves ahead, deciding which orders to process and allocating resources across the shift. It answers the questions of what and when. Your WES, by contrast, operates like a Formula One pit crew chief, making split-second decisions about how to execute those plans most efficiently right now.
The WMS might plan for Order A before Order B, but the WES determines exactly which picker takes which route, coordinating with robots to avoid collisions and minimise wait times. This distinction matters enormously because warehouse conditions change by the second, and plans made five minutes ago may already be suboptimal.
When robots fail: How WES handles the unexpected
Imagine the morning rush hits and suddenly one of your autonomous mobile robots stops mid-aisle with a sensor fault. In a traditional setup, tasks queue up behind the failure, creating cascading delays that ripple through the entire operation. With sophisticated WES software, the response happens within milliseconds. The system immediately recalculates all affected routes, redirecting human pickers around the obstruction and reassigning the robot’s tasks to available workers based on their current locations and workloads.
Key capabilities that enable this rapid response:
- Real-time monitoring of all equipment status and worker positions across the facility
- Instant task reallocation algorithms running continuously in the background
- Dynamic path optimisation that reroutes around obstacles automatically
- Priority-based queuing that protects urgent orders during any disruption
A morning rush scenario: WES in action
Picture a typical Tuesday at 9 AM in a distribution centre. Overnight orders have piled up, and the first delivery wave departs at 11 AM sharp. Three pickers clock in while two autonomous mobile robots begin their routes. Suddenly, a flash sale notification triggers a 200% spike in incoming orders. With WES software conducting the orchestra, the system instantly reprioritises the order queue, assigns flash sale items to the fastest-clearing zones, and ensures workers receive optimised task sequences.
Hardware-agnostic solutions: Freedom to choose
One of the biggest concerns for warehouse operators is vendor lock-in – investing heavily in one robot manufacturer’s ecosystem only to find their equipment doesn’t communicate with alternatives. Forward-thinking WES providers like Consafe Logistics address this through hardware-agnostic platforms. Their Astro WMS with integrated WES modules connects seamlessly with robots from multiple manufacturers, whether you’re running Locus, 6 River Systems, or traditional conveyor automation.
Building the foundation for scalable automation
Warehouses that invest in robust WES infrastructure today position themselves to adopt future technologies with minimal disruption. The coordination framework becomes a platform that new equipment simply plugs into rather than requiring wholesale system redesigns. Starting with strong synchronisation capabilities creates competitive advantages that compound as more sophisticated robots enter the market over the coming decade.
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