Huawei’s new smart warehouse uses AI, green power, and automation to increase productivity and safety while reshaping Africa’s logistics landscape.
With Chinese technology global giant Huawei having launched a smart warehouse of the future in Johannesburg this week, a tech expert said the Industrial Revolution was replicating itself.
Huawei South Africa has launched its leading smart warehouse solution – a strategic investment with the potential to revolutionise logistics operations in Africa.
The 14 000 square metre facility boasts advanced technologies that boost efficiency, security and sustainable practices – marking a major step in the warehousing industry.
Huawei smart warehouse reps future of industry
Industry leaders said the launch of the smart warehouse represented the future of the industry, showcasing Huawei’s intelligent systems to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
They said Huawei’s investment in the state-of-the-art facility demonstrated its commitment to developing innovative solutions to drive the industry forward.
Huawei South Africa chief executive Will Meng said the warehouse and logistics market in South Africa was valued at $93 billion in 2024 and poised to reach $157 billion by 2032.
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“This growth signifies more than just numbers – it represents a transformation towards more agile, responsive and technologically advanced supply chains – which are essential for maintaining a competitive edge in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace,” said Meng.
Driven by green power solutions, e-security systems and modern logistics, the facility showcases the positive role that smart logistics can have in Africa.
Thirty-four operationally based staff operate the huge warehouse using cutting-edge technology.
Key features
Key features of this smart warehouse include:
- Green power solutions: The site utilises a 150KWp PV system supported by Huawei’s SUN2000-100KTL-M2 inverter on each building. This generates around 90% of the facility’s daytime energy needs.
- E-security: An intelligent camera system provides 24/7 full-colour coverage and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled features to detect safety hazards and security incidents. The system removes the need for large control rooms while enhancing overall safety and security within the warehouse and leaving more space for products to be stored.
- Modern logistics: The picking operation in the warehouse is 100% paperless, using PDA (personal digital assistant) scanners for real-time operations. The role of warehouse pickers at the facility has also evolved, thanks to its use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated guided forklifts (AGFs).
Traditional warehouses rely on pickers to fetch goods and bring them to outbound stations.
Smart warehouses use AGVs and AGFs to automate the process by bringing goods to a picker.
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This increases efficiency by enabling pickers to process around 110 lines per hour, compared to traditional warehouses that process up to 60 lines per hour.
It also speeds up loading times and helps workers avoid the potential hazards of operating heavy machinery.
Commenting on Huawei’s latest innovation, Africa Tech Week Conference and The Future of HR Careers Conference chief executive Ralf Fletcher said the Industrial Revolution “saw a move from subsistence farming and labour-operated jobs to a more innovative and sophisticated way.”
Some jobs lost but many more created
Said Fletcher: “While many jobs were lost, exponentially many more were created. You find people who have been doing jobs in industries for years. And there is no doubt that many of these administrative and intensive jobs are going to be replicated by robotics and AI.”
Fletcher said in its place, society is going to see a massive explosion of opportunities in the AI space in the future.
“The challenge is going to be the skills, not the opportunities. People with skills are going to be paid much more.”
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He said the trend from the Industrial Revolution is certainly replicating itself now.
“Most people need to be asking themselves whether they are geared for the future or skilled for the past. Automation and robotics do need human intervention – they are not working on their own.”
Industrial Revolution replicating itself
Fletcher said AI and humans working together is the future – people using more innovative machinery.
“The idea is that if you have more skilled doctors, you will have a better healthcare system. The same happens in business and service delivery.”
