Robotic materials handling is coming to the warehouse and distribution center.

Visualization - using graphical images on a screen - could be the next step forward in WMS technology, according to Tecsys and Next View Software.

The Voice Picking Blog will feature regular posts on emerging technology for voice directed picking; trends and insights regarding voice picking system selection, implementation, and integration; and commentary on timely topics and industry news.

Modern spent the day with MVS Fulfillment, a New England 3PL, to see how small distributors are coping with the recession, off-shoring and customer service.

On the heels of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the materials handling industry is starting to experience growth. In fact, John Nofsinger, CEO of the Material Handling Industry of America recently said, “Going into 2010, I anticipate progressive, continued, gradual growth. I do not expect to see the industry ramping up significantly into double digit growth in 2010, but growth is growth and up is up.”

According to our 2010 Software User survey, nearly half of all logistics operations using a WMS are looking to upgrade over the next 12 months. Our technology correspondent explains why and then introduces us to a shipper that’s on the brink of revolutionizing its warehouse operations.

Following a 3 percent gain in the number of global manufacturers shipping to the United States from February to March, there was another 3 percent gain from March to April, according to data from Panjiva, an online search engine with detailed information on global suppliers and manufacturers.

Following a 2.4 percent gain from February to March, the April report on the non-manufacturing sector from the Institute for Supply Management stated that its index for measuring the sector’s overall health—also known as the NMI—came in at 55.4 percent for the second straight month.

Keeping in line with retail sales growth from February to March, the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation recently reported retail sales were up again from March to April.

You may have already heard that Peerless Media, LLC has completed the acquisition of Modern Materials Handling from Reed Elsevier. What does that mean for loyal readers of this newsletter?