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Helping Logistics Actors Succeed with Warehouse Automation – Interview with Carl Granehult

Carl Granehult Warehouse Automation

Carl Granehult. Photo credit: Martin Toresson 

Carl Granehult has unique experience in warehouse automation solutions and connected systems and represents Sigma Technology’s competence in the logistics sector. We asked Carl a few questions about his journey.

Carl, how did your career in logistics start and develop over these years?

My first job was a part-time role at a warehouse during studies. Seeing it transform from a completely manual setup to include storage lifts and a warehouse management system (WMS) caught my interest and changed my pre-conception of a warehouse from something boring to a place where technology and IT makes a difference.

After university, I had the privilege to join a team working with warehouse automation in retail and consumer distribution, and for the last five years, I have been working as an IT manager at a third-party logistics (3PL) company. Balancing daily operations, strategic work, and keeping the customers happy by delivering an excellent service.

You have worked in the logistics industry for a long time, what trends do you see? 

The trends I would like to mention are:

– Product owners bringing their logistics home

After outsourcing logistics to 3PL partners, product owners are building own warehouses with customized automation to fit their needs and enable expansion for future growth.

– Customized delivery vs. fast delivery

Same-day delivery has been trending for the last five years. Still true, but the end customer value more and more the ability to pick the desired delivery time rather than a super speedy delivery.

– Sustainable logistics

The environmental questions put increasing demands on carriers and distributors, to minimize the air shipment and use degradable fillers and packing material to reduce environmental footprint.

How can IT and automation optimize and revolutionize modern warehouses?

In the early 2000s, automated warehouses were not very common and required a substantial investment not many could justify. Today, many warehouses are automated to some extent, and having a flexible and integrated warehouse management system has become an important competitive advantage on the market.

What are you working with at Sigma Technology?

I am working as a coordinator for larger warehouse automation solutions and connected systems.

What is your challenge?

Understanding the customer’s business to identify requirements and then, in the end, creating a solution that will benefit the customer is a challenge as well as one of the biggest motivators.

Contact us to learn more about our experience in the logistics sector.