AI-powered glasses and autonomous drones are helping visually impaired workers perform jobs on warehouse floors, as employers look for new ways to address staffing shortages.
Bosma Enterprises is using tools including Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) smart glasses, drones, magnification software and screen readers to help visually impaired employees handle warehouse tasks. More than half of Bosma’s workforce is blind, making it the largest employer of blind people in Indiana, according to the Business Insider report published Thursday.
Warehouses Face Worker Shortages
The warehousing industry is growing along with e-commerce, but employers are struggling to find enough workers. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed 392,000 open jobs across transporting, warehousing and utilities in June, up 87,000 from a year earlier.
Rick Hermanns, CEO of staffing and talent management firm HireQuest (NASDAQ:HQI) , told Business Insider that demand from e-commerce, rather than labor availability, is driving the need for more workers.
