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The real path to higher warehouse productivity and faster ROI

Beyond Units Per Hour

Warehouses face more pressure today than ever due to rising labor costs, customer expectations, and complex multichannel operations that make it crucial for organizations to understand what drives productivity inside the four walls of the warehouse.

Despite having modern warehouse management systems (WMS) in place, many companies still struggle to translate operational data into meaningful insights that actually improve performance.

Why?

Because most warehouses still rely on a traditional and outdated metric: Units Per Hour (UPH).

Why Units Per Hour falls short

UPH attempts to measure productivity by dividing output by hours worked. But while simple, it’s also deeply flawed. UPH measures what was produced, not how the work was performed. It ignores key variables such as:

travel distance
number of pick locations
item size and weight
lift height
task complexity
daily work mix
layout constraints

This means two employees may appear to perform differently, even if one simply received a much easier task. The result? Misleading insights, unfair performance comparisons, and a lack of understanding of actual cost drivers.

In the video above, we explore why traditional UPH metrics fall short, and how a modern warehouse productivity system can unlock real efficiency, fairness, and rapid ROI. Listen to our expert Martin O’Grady, and learn about what practical steps you can take to transform your warehouse performance.

Watch the full webinar on youtube

The power of a warehouse productivity system

A modern warehouse productivity system changes the game by capturing the true nature – and cost – of warehouse work. Instead of general metrics like UPH, it breaks down tasks into detailed components, integrates with WMS and time & attendance data, and builds a complete picture of how work actually happens.

A fairer, smarter, more data‑driven warehouse

As the conversation in our recent webinar highlighted, the shift away from UPH isn’t just a technological upgrade – it’s a cultural one. By providing data-driven, equitable insights, a warehouse productivity system empowers frontline managers, elevates employee engagement, and gives businesses the clarity needed to make real operational improvements.

Modern warehouses can no longer afford to rely on assumptions or incomplete metrics. Productivity needs to be measured fairly, transparently, and based on real work.

Book a demo today!