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This article was originally published in Business 2 Community.

Last month, an annual gathering of top manufacturing experts took place at MODEX, one of the world’s largest conferences for manufacturing and supply chain solutions. This year’s theme was “future-proofing your business,” and suppliers presented the next-generation of equipment and technology that will propel companies into the future of manufacturing.

More Optimization, Less Waste

We live in an age when many aspects of our lives are continuously optimized and improved upon. We call up transportation at the touch of an app. Instead of waiting at a doctor’s office, we opt for medical consultations over video conference. Online orders arrive at our doorsteps in less than 24 hours. Such optimizations feed our need for instant gratification, setting new, higher expectations for many businesses, including manufacturers and their material handling and distribution systems.

Introducing new technology can be disruptive: upending the status quo is always challenging for businesses and their employees. For manufacturers, though, the idea of the smart factory of the future is quickly becoming a reality, and even those hesitant to embrace these advancements are finding it hard to ignore. As we advance steadily toward Industry 4.0, companies should prepare to redefine how they approach materials handling.

Companies in manufacturing and warehousing today are turning to automatic guided vehicle solutions (AGVs) for their material movement needs. Accuracy, efficiency, and performance all factor into choosing the right AGV to meet your facility needs, with many options in today’s market to choose from. 

The introduction of new technology can be disruptive: change is challenging for businesses and their employees. But the smart factory of the future is quickly becoming a reality, and even those hesitant to embrace these advancements are finding it hard to ignore. We’re on the cusp of Industry 4.0 – a trend that is redefining how companies approach materials handling.

After a banner year in 2015—with over 17.5 million vehicles sold in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal—the automotive industry is poised to continue this pattern of growth through 2016 and beyond. That doesn’t mean the industry is without challenges, though. Automakers are beginning to feel the effects of an increasingly competitive market as an influx of tech companies enter the automotive game, embracing big data to identify and solve problems, and touting a “fail fast” mentality that enables the quick production of innovative new products.

For most companies, improving their bottom line is critical to success. When looking at the bigger picture, labor costs, operating costs, efficiency, and workflow processes are all aspects that play into a company’s overall progress. When disruptions to these areas happen, ripple effects can be felt across a facility.

For many companies, the costs associated with manual material handling can make a huge impact to the bottom line. In recent years, automation advancements have driven a change in the market, becoming a go to solution for companies looking to innovate their material flow processes.

Manufacturers across the U.S. are experiencing a damaging shortage of skilled labor — negatively impacting their ability to produce goods and their bottom lines. As companies search for automated solutions, Seegrid’s vision-powered AGVs are leading the market by solving the biggest challenges in manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, and fulfillment. 

Check out Part 1.

With so many AGV solutions on the market, it can be difficult to tell which AGV is right for your application and facility. Before investing in automation, ask your AGV vendor these important questions about install times, safety standards and the team you’ll be working with.