New software automates warehouse location labelling, saving time, reducing errors, and boosting efficiency.
What initially started as an internal solution to a task eventually became a fully-fledged product, simplifying and automating the creation of stock location lists in warehouses.
Late last month, Rack and Shelf Labels, a company specialising in creating and implementing warehouse stock location labelling systems, released its latest software solution, Loc Builder.
The creation of Loc Builder began as an internal initiative at the company, aimed at addressing the time-consuming and error-prone process of generating stock location lists in warehouses. Traditionally, creating these lists involved manually mapping the warehouse layout, which could take experienced professionals several hours and untrained staff even longer.
Additionally, when clients attempted to create these lists themselves, errors were common, often requiring extensive rework. Recognising the inefficiency, the team at Rack and Shelf Labels explored the potential of AI to automate the process.
Loc Builder’s AI-driven approach divides the warehouse into cubes or blocks, each representing a segment of racking. This modular structure allows for flexibility, accommodating variations in warehouse design, such as differing racking heights and aisle lengths. Once the user sets the start and end values, the AI fills in the gaps, automatically generating a list of location codes.
Crucially, when the final location codes are generated in excel, AI sorts the stock locations into the correct sequential order, irrespective of the order in which the blocks or segments are generated One of the key challenges in warehouse labelling is ensuring that location codes and check digits are accurate and error-free. Loc Builder addresses this by generating check digits that are resistant to three types of conflicts – proximity, repeatability, and predictability.
This means that the same check digit does not appear in adjacent locations, does not repeat within the same block, and does not follow a predictable pattern – ensuring reliable and efficient data entry, even during voice-picking operations.
The software also features smart validation, alerting users when inconsistencies arise – such as using different naming conventions for similar segments. This proactive error checking helps maintain accuracy and saves time during setup.
“It’s not really about the labels. It’s about designing the stock location layout in the most effective way,” explained Dale Church, Co-Founder of Loc Builder and Sales and Operations Director at Rack and Shelf Labels. “We’ve developed methods to make this process easy and foolproof for customers, including detailed drawings that clearly demonstrate our proposals.
“Typically, we assess the warehouse, discuss optimal stock-picking routes, and provide recommendations. However, the challenge arises when someone has to create the stock location list in Excel. Sometimes we handle it, and sometimes the client does it themselves.”
Why it matters
Warehouse efficiency hinges on accurate and organised location labelling. However, traditional methods are prone to errors and time-consuming processes, often slowing down operations and increasing labour costs. Manually creating stock location lists can take experienced professionals several hours, while less familiar staff may spend days.
Loc Builder changes this dynamic by automating the most tedious aspects, allowing warehouse teams to focus on higher-value tasks. As a result, businesses can achieve faster stock management and minimise disruptions caused by human error, ultimately boosting overall productivity and accuracy.
In one test scenario, Rack and Shelf Labels used Loc Builder on a medium-sized warehouse with around 14,000 locations. Previously, manually generating a stock location list would take skilled workers around four hours. With Loc Builder, the same task was completed in under 10 minutes.
Early adopters, such as Chris Harrington Head of Projects, ANZ from Ceva Logistics, reported that even on his first attempt, the software saved him more than 60 per cent of the time typically needed. This included inputting the weight and dimension capacities of each stock location, another of the many key features of the software. Once familiar with the tool, users can expect time savings of 90 per cent or more.
Loc Builder’s development is rooted in real-world challenges encountered by Rack and Shelf Labels during its international expansion. Initially developed in the UK, the Australian branch emerged after project work highlighted the need for a more
efficient stock location labelling solutions in the region.
A key challenge in warehouse management is handling barcode quality, particularly in environments with lighting issues, dust, or sensitive scanning equipment.
Strategic collaborations and future directions
Prior to the release of Loc Builder, Rack and Shelf Labels has established a strategic alliance with GS1, an entity that helps set the standards in barcoding and supply chain management.
“The fact that GS1 is taking an interest in this product demonstrates its potential impact on the industry,” says Dale.
The company is also engaging with warehouse management system providers to explore integration opportunities. As the software gains traction, feedback from users will shape future updates and enhancements.
Loc builder stands out because it was developed directly from hands-on industry experience, not as a top-down software solution, but as a response to real-world warehouse challenges. It’s genuinely built for warehouse professionals, by warehouse professionals.
With its launch, the industry now has a unique opportunity to get involved early and help shape the next iterations of the tool through practical feedback and collaboration.
Rack and Shelf Labels aims to build on its early success by collaborating with industry partners and responding to user feedback. Dale anticipates that the software will soon become an indispensable tool for warehouse project managers worldwide.
As automation becomes more integral to logistics and supply chain management, solutions like Loc Builder are helping project managers tackle complex, time-consuming tasks with greater speed and accuracy.