Is an Aging Population a Disaster for Industry?

Aging in hard numbers

What do the figures say about the situation in the Netherlands? Across the entire industry, 28% of all employees will retire within 5 to 10 years. In transport and logistics, that figure is even 32%, while the national average is 23%. The industrial sector is therefore being hit above average by the aging population in our country and is facing a massive outflow of experienced employees.

In Europe, over 60% of SMEs in logistics and manufacturing are already struggling to find suitable personnel. This problem poses a structural threat to business growth. If we do nothing, it will get much worse in the coming years.

But what can we do about it? Work smarter & automate!

Solutions to automate processes

Many companies still work with pen and paper. There are also quite a few that have made some progress in automation but haven’t focused on further development or refinement. By thoroughly examining their processes and operations, this group can achieve significant improvements.

Barcode scanning and RFID

Barcode scanning and RFID are excellent solutions for working smarter. They can be used alongside and interchangeably. For example, by integrating these technologies around packing tables, you can prevent errors during packaging, speed up the process, and make work much easier. People can be trained quickly when using barcode scanning and RFID.

Many manned forklifts are still used in logistics. Manual scanning from forklifts is being banned in a growing number of countries. Think of it like using your mobile phone in a car: even heavily loaded forklifts can cause serious accidents. Legislative proposals have already been introduced on some continents, such as Australia. This is driving increased demand for forklift-mounted barcode scanners, allowing pallets to be scanned without any action from the driver. Easier, faster, and above all, safer.

You can also fully automate the logistics process, eliminating the need for personnel to monitor it. This allows the entire process to run as a closed loop, with products automatically scanned in tunnels and linked to the correct order number. Again, this is faster, more efficient and safer.

Artificial intelligence

AI is a technology that organizations can use to partially mitigate staff shortages. New applications are emerging every day, enabling smarter and more user-friendly working.

AI isn’t so much about replacing people, but rather creating opportunities to support people and enable them to work more efficiently. By applying AI, you can do more and achieve better results with fewer or the same number of people, less physical strain, and a greater focus on quality.

Create an attractive work environment

It’s important for your organization to explore new technologies. You have to deal with staff shortages and prepare for an even tighter labor market. At the same time, realize that an attractive work environment is something new employees are looking for. And you can bet they’re picky!

No idea where to start? We’re happy to help. For example, by reviewing your business processes and finding solutions to catch up and work smarter.