Penske Brings Augmented Reality, Tech Innovations to the Warehouse

Imagine a warehouse where drones autonomously scan inventory overhead, smart glasses guide workers with color-coded augmented reality overlays and robotic vehicles navigate the floor without human intervention.

This isn't a glimpse into the distant future - it's happening right now inside Penske Logistics facilities. As supply chain complexity grows and labor markets tighten, Penske is deploying cutting-edge warehouse technology to help customers get their products where they need to go, faster and more accurately than ever before.

Quality, on-time delivery metrics and cost control are all critical components of modern warehouse operations - and technology is advancing the efficiency of how goods are moved and stored.

Every warehouse, whether a dedicated operation or a multi-client facility, face unique challenges. But the ultimate goal remains constant: get the right product to the end customer in the most efficient way possible.

Penske is actively piloting and implementing a range of technologies across its network to improve accuracy, speed and safety. These systems also rapidly collect and share information, helping customers better manage inventory and potentially reduce carrying costs.

Seven Ways Penske Uses Technology to Optimize Warehouse Operations

Drones: Penske piloted autonomous drones that fly through distribution center aisles to provide real-time inventory updates and alerts staff when products are out of their assigned storage slot. As drones travel through the facility, they scan LPNs (license plate numbers) on pallets and barcodes on racking to verify inventory accuracy. That data is automatically uploaded to the warehouse management system (WMS), streamlining the inventory count process, dramatically reducing human error and saving valuable time.

Visual Guided Vehicles (VGVs) - Reliable, Repeatable Movement: VGVs are trained to move pallets and inventory along consistent, pre-programmed paths throughout the warehouse. Once trained on a specific route, a VGV repeats it reliably - think of it as a sophisticated radio-controlled vehicle that remembers exactly where it needs to go.

VGVs gained more relevance in recent years and continue to be a vital asset as labor availability remains a challenge. Beyond efficiency, automation frees up human workers to focus on higher-value tasks and improves overall safety. For example, deploying robots for heavy lifting instead of exposing employees to injury risk.

Voice Pick Technology - Hands-Free, Eyes-Up Picking: Penske uses Vocollect Voice Pick devices at multiple operations across its network. Using a headset, the system verbally directs employees to the correct pick location and instructs them on exactly what to retrieve - keeping their hands free and their attention on task.

Voice pick technology delivers measurable improvements in both productivity and order accuracy. An added advantage: the systems support multiple languages, helping to minimize communication barriers in diverse warehouse environments.

Pick-to-Light Systems - Visual Guidance for Faster, More Accurate Picks: Pick-to-light systems take the guesswork out of order fulfillment. Lights illuminate at the correct storage locations while monitors display the quantity to pick and where to place each item. The result is a faster, more accurate picking process that reduces reliance on paper-based instructions and minimizes costly errors.

Smart Glasses – Augmented Reality Meets the Warehouse Floor: Smart glasses puts augmented reality (AR) directly in the hands – and eyes – of warehouse associates, adding an intelligent layer to the picking process. Using 2D labels to pinpoint storage locations, the glasses display critical information including location, quantity, item description and an optional product image.

The experience is intuitive: the correct pick location appears green, while the wrong one appears red – providing instant visual confirmation that eliminates picking mistakes. The smart glasses software also supports equipment procurement, workflow structuring and system integration, driving measurable improvements in both speed and quality.

Radio Frequency (RF) Scanners – Flexible, Real-Time Inventory Tracking: Penske uses a variety of RF scanner configurations – including forklift-mounted units, handheld devices and wearables – to direct employees to accurate picking locations and automatically update the WMS upon scan.

• Forklift mounted scanners stay with the vehicle for seamless pallet management
• Handheld RF scanners feature a trigger, keypad and barcode scanner for case and pallet scanning
• Wearable scanners strap to an employee's forearm, with a ring-style scanner on the finger – keeping both free for picking tasks

Multi-Tier Pick Modules – Maximizing Storage and Throughput: Penske has engineered and implemented a multi-tier pick module featuring merge, sort and loading conveyors at a customer location – with impressive results:

• 17% increase in overall storage locations
• Improved storage cube utilization
• Pick locations realigned with actual order profiles
• Infrastructure positioned for future inventory growth
• 86% increase in cases picked per hour
• Measurable reduction in picking errors

This innovative pick module was specifically designed to maximize the number of SKUs a customer could store within a limited footprint – proving that smart design and technology together can unlock specific operational gains.

Future-Proof Your Warehouse Operations With Penske

The warehousing landscape is evolving rapidly, and businesses that leverage advanced technology today will be best positioned to meet the supply chain demands of tomorrow. From autonomous drones and augmented reality smart glasses to voice-directed picking and high-throughput pick modules, Penske offers the technology, expertise and operational flexibility to help your business move faster, smarter and more efficiently.

Ready to explore what technology-driven warehousing can do for your operation? Contact us today to discuss a customized solution that improves accuracy, reduces costs and keeps your customers satisfied.