The world of things around us are becoming more intelligent every day. In the last decade or so we’ve become quite comfortable with our devices—asking Google to tell us about our schedule, Siri to play our favorite songs or Alexa to dim the lights and turn up the thermostat. Technology has also made industrial equipment and material handling smarter and more efficient. And Konecranes has been leading the way in the development of crane technology with a significant focus on automation and digitalization.
Generative AI has transformed digital assistance
Virtual assistants and chatbots have been around for quite a while, but in the past few years have been upgraded with generative artificial intelligence making them able to carry on a natural conversation with their human users. You’ve probably used chatbots on many of your favorite websites. They’re much quicker and easier when you have a question or need help making a purchase. Chatbots have also become invaluable in many workplaces helping users automate repetitive tasks and providing quick access to information.
Intelligent assistance at your fingertips
At Konecranes we’re embracing AI with the development of tools to make our customers’ work faster and easier. We’ve recently launched an offline chatbot for our Warehouse Management System. The chatbot is trained with customer-specific documents such as user manuals and service reports and can be used as a standalone system or integrated with the Konecranes Warehouse Management System.
The chatbot is completely customizable and scalable. It’s responses, capabilities and behaviors are tailored to the customer’s specific requirements and workflows. The knowledge base can also be extended if needed with additional training. But the biggest benefit the chatbot brings is efficiency. Operators can quickly find answers to specific questions about the WMS without flipping through lengthy manuals and resolving common issues is easy with detailed instructions delivered in an instant.
“Imagine a situation where a crane in the warehouse breaks down and interrupts the workflow,” says Lukas Keusch, Chief Engineer Material Handling Engineering at Konecranes. “An operator can ask the chatbot for step-by-step troubleshooting guidance based on previous service reports and functional specifications. The chatbot not only identifies possible causes, but also provides actionable solutions that minimize downtime and prevent bottlenecks in operations.”
Minimizing cybersecurity risks with offline systems
Data security is crucial for any business, especially when dealing with sensitive information like critical manufacturing data. That’s why our WMS chatbot is offline and operates without internet connectivity. We train the chatbot on Konecranes servers and then transfer the knowledge base to the customer’s offline servers. All the data remains on the customer’s secure servers enabling compliance with data protection regulations and minimizing data breach risks.
Re-imagining material handling with smart technology
As technology evolves, it will continue to transform both our personal and professional lives. By embracing these advancements and developing customizable, offline AI solutions that prioritize both functionality and data protection, we’re not just adapting to technological change—we’re actively shaping the future of material handling.
“The chatbot transforms warehouse operations by acting as an always-available expert,” Keusch says. “This immediate access to information reduces downtime, accelerates task completion, encourages the team to resolve issues independently and grows confidence and efficiency.”
The Konecranes WMS chatbot is more than just a technological tool; it's a glimpse into a future where intelligent systems work seamlessly alongside human operators, reducing complexity, minimizing errors, and ultimately empowering businesses to achieve greater productivity and peace of mind.
Learn more about Konecranes Warehouse Management Systems
