Intralogistics: Definition, benefits and future challenges

Intralogistics refers to the management of internal flows of goods, materials and information within a company’s facilities. It encompasses all planning, organisation, control and execution activities related to the movement and storage of goods in a warehouse, factory or distribution centre.

Often overlooked in overall supply chain strategies, intralogistics has quietly established itself as an essential pillar of business success: by optimising the flow and processing of goods, it enables companies to increase their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.

Yet intralogistics remains an often misunderstood field. Let’s take a look at its growth, its advantages, and the challenges and opportunities that await us in the era of Industry 4.0.

The origins of intralogistics date back to the early 20th century, when the industrial revolution necessitated the development of more complex systems for inventory management and materials handling. Intralogistics was therefore born to meet the new demands of mass production.

Over the decades, intralogistics has evolved steadily, incorporating the latest technological advances. The e-commerce boom in the early 2000s marked a turning point, making intralogistics a performance lever in its own right.

Since then, intralogistics has become a real competitive issue, forming part of an overall economic strategy. It is no longer limited to simple warehouse management and is now integrated into the entire supply chain, connecting suppliers to end customers.

With the advent of automation and IT systems, intralogistics is opening a new chapter in its history and is fully integrated into Industry 4.0. Modern intralogistics solutions now rely on artificial intelligence and robotics to increase connectivity and flexibility, thereby adapting to changes in demand and disruptions in the supply chain.

Intralogistics aims to optimise the flow of goods and information to ensure efficient and profitable operations. It encompasses the following activities:

• Receiving and inspection: Incoming goods are processed, recorded and integrated into the logistics system.
• Inventory management: Goods are stored in appropriate locations according to their nature and turnover rate.
• Order preparation and processing: Goods are removed from stock, sorted, packaged and labelled before shipment.
• Shipping: goods are temporarily stored according to their destination and delivery order before being loaded onto trucks.
• Returns management: once received, goods are recorded and repackaged before being reintegrated into the system.

Each step requires rigorous computerised traceability in order to automate data collection and processing and adapt processes accordingly.

Intralogistics is a rapidly evolving sector that truly reflects our society and our consumption habits. With the emergence of the green supply chain and the connected industry, it is reinventing itself and embracing new challenges, including:

• Changing consumer habits, with customers becoming increasingly demanding in terms of product availability and delivery speed.
• Intensified competition, reinforced by the technological race imposed by all sectors of activity.
• Environmental challenges, which are pushing companies to adopt more sensible and sustainable intralogistics solutions.