Understanding your battery assets plays a crucial role in the future of forklifts in North American warehouses, particularly in the context of sustainability, operational efficiency, and data-driven management. As forklift fleets increasingly shift to electric models, the effective management of batteries becomes central to maintaining productivity and minimizing downtime. Here are five reasons you need better data to make better decisions:

1. Optimizing Battery Performance Through Data

The integration of IoT and data analytics in forklifts is a critical trend, by monitoring key battery metrics—such as charge cycles, temperature, and energy efficiency— you have actionable insights to extend battery life and optimize performance. This aligns with the shift toward data-driven operations, where warehouses leverage analytics to reduce operational costs and enhance decision-making. Integrating battery data into broader warehouse management systems (WMS) or warehouse enterprise systems (WES) also provide a holistic view of operations, ensuring seamless alignment between equipment performance and warehouse workflows.

2. Enabling Predictive Maintenance

One of the challenges with forklifts is maintaining battery health to prevent unexpected failures. The ability to predict maintenance needs based on real-time data minimizes downtime and prevents costly disruptions. This supports the trend of integrating advanced sensors and predictive analytics into warehouse operations. Adopting such technology creates a strategic advantage, reducing long-term operational costs and creating a competitive moat for companies.

3. Supporting Sustainability Goals

While many think only lithium batteries are green, they would be incorrect. With the right asset tool, lead acid batteries can directly contribute to sustainability by ensuring optimal battery utilization and reducing energy waste. Efficient charging and proper maintenance mean fewer batteries are disposed of prematurely, aligning with corporate sustainability initiatives. As the shift toward lithium-ion batteries accelerates, you also want to ensure that the investments in lead acid batteries yield maximum returns. Sustainability-conscious companies can use this data as a differentiator in their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, appealing to stakeholders who value green initiatives.

4. Enhancing Operator Efficiency

Battery data helps warehouse operators by simplifying battery management. Features like automated alerts for charging or maintenance reduce the cognitive load on workers and ensure forklifts remain operational when needed. This complements the hybrid model of automation and human collaboration, where technology supports human efficiency.

5. Driving Down Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

One of the biggest barriers to adopting electric forklifts is the perception of high upfront costs. Properly managing your current battery assets can minimize this concern by helping companies maximize the return on their battery investments. Through efficient management, companies can lower the TCO of electric forklift fleets, making them a more attractive option for warehouses transitioning from internal combustion models. Companies with large fleets could see significant savings in the millions by reducing battery replacement frequency and improving overall energy management. This is especially critical in the e-commerce sector, where tight margins demand operational efficiency.

Conclusion

Finding the right battery asset tool is critical to navigate the ever-changing warehouse and/or distribution center. Philadelphia Scientific continuously advances technology to maximize how our customers best manage their battery assets. With an innovative approach balanced by a deep history in batteries, we design, engineer and manufacture unique solutions that deliver the most efficient charging and preventive maintenance products to keep our customers fleet running at maximum capacity. Our scalable hardware and intelligent software solutions improve workflow, maximize asset value, and drive efficiencies in how our customers manage their battery investment.

Philadelphia Scientific's Battery Manager software is not only a battery monitoring tool—it is a key enabler of the trends shaping the future of forklifts. By addressing sustainability, efficiency, and cost concerns, Philadelphia Scientific’s Battery Manager software positions itself as an indispensable asset in modern warehouse operations. Whether viewed through the lens of long-term value focus or emphasis on operational innovation and customer-centricity, Philadelphia Scientific’s Battery Manager software is poised to play a critical role in the transformation of warehouse logistics.

If your organization is looking to enhance its strategic shift in batteries, contact us today. Let us help you transform your battery management planning, management, and transition so you are not only ready to meet the challenges of today but also to capitalize on the opportunities of tomorrow. To schedule a battery audit or demo, please contact sales@phlsci.com.