Intralogistics: Definition, benefits and future challenges

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

Often overlooked in global 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 become more efficient, productive and competitive.

Yet intralogistics is still a little-known 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 required the development of more complex systems for managing stocks and handling materials. 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 boom in e-commerce in the early 2000s marked a turning point, making intralogistics a performance driver in its own right.

Since then, intralogistics has become a real competitive challenge, forming part of a global economic strategy. Intralogistics is no longer confined to simple warehouse management; it is now an integral part of the entire supply chain, linking suppliers to end customers.

With the advent of automation and IT systems, intralogistics is opening up a new chapter in its history and becoming fully integrated into Industry 4.0. Modern intralogistics solutions now rely on artificial intelligence and robotics to provide greater connectivity and flexibility, enabling them to adapt 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

• Reception and control: incoming goods are processed, recorded and integrated into the logistics system.
• Stock management: goods are stored in appropriate locations according to their nature and frequency of rotation.
• Order preparation and processing: goods are removed from stock, sorted, packaged and labelled before being dispatched.
• Dispatch: goods are temporarily stored according to their destination and delivery order before being loaded onto lorries.
• Returns management: Once goods have been received, they are recorded and repackaged before being put back into the system.

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

Intralogistics is a rapidly evolving sector, reflecting our society and our consumer habits. With the emergence of the green supply chain and connected industry, it is reinventing itself and embracing new issues, in particular :

• Changing consumer habits, with customers increasingly demanding product availability and speed of delivery.
• Heightened competition, reinforced by the technological race imposed by all business sectors.
• Environmental issues, which are driving companies to adopt more sensible and sustainable intralogistics solutions.