Gamification of warehousing: exploring perspectives of warehouse managers in the UK

Abstract

Contemporary warehouses are key links in the supply chains in competitive global business environments and with rapidly evolving trends in technology they need to adapt to the evolving needs of customers. Gamification recently emerged as a potential means of improving employee engagement leading to increased operational efficiency. This article therefore explores the perspectives of warehouse managers in the UK on gamification of warehousing activities. The findings suggest that gamification is applicable in the warehousing context with potential benefits such as improved worker engagement, increased morale and productivity, enforced competition, increased accuracy, and skills development. However, there are also significant barriers to effective implementation – these include resource constraints, gamification efficacy over time, ethical considerations, and ensuring fairness for all players. The findings from this study provide some valuable insights, thereby providing a rational basis for potentially fruitful future research in this area of growing interest.