Demand for analytics and automation across logistics is spurring the growth of computer vision technology—the market is set to nearly double in size globally over the next 10 years from a value of around $15 million in 2025 to nearly $29 million by 2035, according to researcher Future Market Insights Inc. (FMI). As the market grows and applications proliferate, more companies are leveraging computer vision-based tools to automate manual processes, speed production, and streamline business operations.
“The increasing use of computer vision in autonomous systems such as self-driving cars, drones, and robots proves to be a big factor driving market growth,” according to the FMI report. “Computer vision is increasingly being adopted by the automotive, health-care, retail, and manufacturing industries to improve efficiency and enhance accuracy in their operations across the board.”
The technology is an integral part of applications used throughout warehousing and logistics as well—from robotic picking systems to inventory-monitoring drones to camera-based quality control and inspection systems. Especially in the warehouse, such tools are becoming a staple for increasing visibility within the four walls of the facility.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
At its core, computer vision is what allows machines to identify patterns in visual data and extract important insights—using sensors, cameras, and software to analyze and interpret their surroundings.
“Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence (AI) that applies machine learningto images and videos to understand media and make decisions about them. With computer vision, we can, in a sense, give vision to software and technology,” according to an article on Built In, a Chicago-based technology content and recruitment platform. “The ultimate goal of computer vision is to enable machines to see and perceive the world similarly to humans. Once machines have been equipped with computer vision and trained to hone their abilities, they can use computer vision to detect anomalies, direct self-driving cars, [and] monitor equipment … among other use cases.”
Those capabilities are fueling today’s “interconnected” warehouses, helping to improve visibility, accuracy, and workflow efficiency, according to data from the “2025 Warehouse Vision Study” by logistics technology provider Zebra Technologies. The study shows a growing interest among warehouse decision-makers in implementing these types of systems—especially real-time data capture technologies such as fixed industrial scanning and machine vision systems. A majority of respondents to the survey say they plan to implement such solutions over the next five years—57% and 65%, respectively. The tools allow precise tracking of items while reducing errors and creating a seamless flow of information through the warehouse. Examples include scanners that can track and trace items as they move from receiving to storage to fulfillment, and camera-based machine vision systems used for inspection and quality control.
Warehouses are also integrating AI-based vision systems into handheld devices to achieve similar goals. According to Zebra’s study, nearly 80% of respondents say they plan to do so as a way to boost safety—namely by using the devices to detect potential hazards and issue alerts to prevent accidents. In addition, 78% say they will use the technology for quality control, 77% say they will use it to improve inventory management, and 77% also say they will use it to improve picking—for optimizing routes, minimizing errors, and speeding order retrieval.
“Empowering the workforce with advanced tools is also a major focus” in the warehouse, according to the study. “Decision-makers are embracing AI applications on handheld devices to improve safety, streamline inventory management, enhance quality control, and optimize picking accuracy.”
SEEING RESULTS
A collaboration between third-party logistics service provider (3PL) CJ Logistics and warehouse operating system developer OneTrack.ai illustrates how computer vision systems are helping companies gain greater visibility into their warehouse operations. The companies have been partnering since 2019, when they implemented the OneTrack Warehouse operating system (OS)—which combines forklift-mounted AI cameras and sensors with real-time video alerts and customizable analytics—in a single CJ Logistics facility to improve safety. Today, the system is running in more than 40 of the 3PL’s North American locations and is being used to enhance productivity as well.
Essentially, the forklift-mounted cameras provide visibility into operators’ actions, recording each step of the process as they move loaded pallets around the facility and sending managers live video alerts of incidents and unsafe behavior. This allows managers to address safety issues with workers immediately. The system’s analytics platform provides additional insights that can help managers develop processes to improve safety and avoid risks.
The system has yielded big safety improvements: The 3PL has seen a 73% reduction in overall safety events across its Americas network since implementing OneTrack, with some sites achieving a reduction of up to 98%. A OneTrack spokesperson explains that the term “safety event” refers to both actual and potential safety incidents. Actual events include things like a forklift hitting a rack column; potential events include risky behaviors like cellphone use while operating a forklift or failing to look before backing up.
Now the teams are tackling labor and productivity. They’re using OneTrack to automatically track labor performance at the various sites, measure performance against labor goals, and issue real-time alerts when those sites fall behind benchmarks. The alerts also identify the three employees most in need of help each day, including video footage that pinpoints which tasks they’re slowest at performing—opening the door for coaching opportunities and process improvements.
“This detailed insight empowers supervisors to deliver tailored coaching, improving workforce efficiency and fostering a more accountable operational culture,” according to a statement from the companies describing the project.
To date, CJ Logistics has seen an 11% average increase in units per hour (UPH) processed and a 60% decrease in product damage.
“For us, it’s all about keeping employees on task [and] motivated, and removing roadblocks for them,” Laura Adams, CJ Logistics’ senior vice president of technology, engineering, systems, and solutions, said in the statement. “[The system provides] automated alerts and guided next steps, which allow our leadership teams to focus their resources and make the most intelligent decisions on how to improve operations for our employees and for our customers.”
The partners plan to next apply the system to quality processes and predictive analytics—extending those intelligent decisions across the business.
