20%
Higher warehouse scanning productivity
Faster scan confirmations helped more than 100 handheld scanners deliver a 20% productivity improvement.
Home / Private 5G / Warehousing
Private networks / Warehouses & logistics
Private 5G for warehouses.
Keep every move connected.
Connect scanners, vehicles and warehouse applications from goods-in to dispatch. Private 5G gives your operation a dedicated mobile network designed around the people and equipment moving through it. Seneca designs and manages private 5G networks for UK warehouses.
Keep pick confirmations flowing, connect mobile robots to their fleet systems and give supervisors a clearer view of work on the floor. Bring the warehouse, loading bays and yard into one connected operation.
Private 5G in logistics
Warehouse productivity with private 5G
70–80%
Faster air-cargo warehouse processes
Reliable connectivity helped an air-cargo operation improve warehouse process speed by 70–80%.
Up to €18k/month
Modelled savings across a warehouse robot fleet
For a fleet of 20–25 mobile robots, less downtime, higher throughput and more efficient routing translate into modelled savings of up to €18,000 a month.
Connectivity that follows the work
Private 5G from goods-in to dispatch
An item is received, put away, picked, packed and loaded. Each step creates an update that the next person or system relies on. When a scanner waits for confirmation or a vehicle loses its application connection, the interruption can ripple through the rest of the order.
Private 5G connects these mobile workflows across the working area, with managed device access and traffic priorities. It can work alongside existing Wi-Fi and wired systems, extending the network design around tall racking, mezzanines, loading bays and outdoor movements.
Join up the warehouse journey.
- Goods-in records reach the warehouse system at receipt.
- Pickers receive the next task on their handheld.
- Robots exchange jobs and status with fleet software.
- Supervisors coordinate floor activity and respond to alerts.
Practical warehouse use cases
Private 5G for picking and warehouse robots
Build the connection around the tasks your team repeats throughout the shift.
01
Complete warehouse scans where the work happens
Keep stock movements flowing from goods-in through picking to dispatch. Handheld scanners send transactions over private 5G to the warehouse system as staff move between aisles and loading areas. A completed scan updates the job at the point of work, reducing retries and trips to find a connection.
02
Keep warehouse robots supplied with jobs
Connect mobile robots to fleet software throughout their working routes. Private 5G carries job assignments, progress and charging updates between picking and packing. When priorities change, the fleet application reallocates work and supervisors see outstanding collections. The robots retain their own navigation and safety functions.
03
Give dispatch a clear loading handover
Bring loading checks, exceptions and departure status into the same warehouse record. Vehicle terminals and staff devices send updates from the dock over private 5G, so dispatch can resolve a missing item or incomplete load before release. The next team sees the current job status without reconstructing it from radio calls.
Beyond the warehouse doors
Private 5G for warehouse teams
A forklift leaves the aisle to stage a pallet at the dock. A driver arrives at the gate, and the dispatch team confirms which load is ready. Extending the network design beyond the building connects those handovers with the warehouse systems inside.
Vehicle-mounted terminals, yard-management applications and cameras can share arrival, loading and collection information with the dispatch desk. The team gets a clearer picture of goods waiting at the bay and vehicles ready to move.
Bring indoor and outdoor routes into the same project, so coverage follows the actual order journey.
From scanner to stock record
Designing private 5G around warehouse routes
- 01 / Mobile devicesHandheld scanners, vehicle terminals, robots, tablets and wearables
- 02 / Working areasAisles, mezzanines, pick stations, loading bays and the yard
- 03 / Private networkSIM access, radio coverage, traffic priorities and site network connections
- 04 / ApplicationsWarehouse management, fleet control, safety applications and local computing
Plan for the busy shift
The radio design considers rack heights, stock types, moving vehicles and the routes staff use. Peak device numbers and the mix of scanning, video and robot traffic shape capacity. The project connects the selected devices through to the application, so a completed scan or job update is the useful result.
Keep existing systems in the picture
Bring warehouse management, identity and fleet applications into the design from the start. Compatible cellular devices connect directly; suitable gateways provide a route for other equipment. Local computing can host selected applications and video processing close to the floor.
Explore the wider logistics and warehousing offer → Private compute →
Planning & costs
Warehouse private 5G planning and costs
We assess your estate, devices and applications, then design connectivity around the work you want to improve. We help build a business case around the opportunity, deployment costs and ongoing support.
We handle the technical assessment and help connect the investment to useful results. The first conversation starts with what you want to achieve.
One area or the whole estate.
Start with a focused deployment and expand, or move ahead with a full programme. We shape delivery around your priorities and readiness, and coordinate installation with your operation.
Talk to our teamNeed reception on staff and visitors’ existing mobile contracts? Mobile coverage and DAS for warehouses → is a separate service from your private device network.
Planning questions
Warehouse private 5G questions
Do we need private 5G or better Wi-Fi?
Start with the task and the cause of the interruption. Coverage, device roaming, authentication and the application can all affect a scanner transaction. Private 5G is an option for mobile operational workflows; Wi-Fi can continue serving suitable users and devices alongside it.
Read the warehouse comparison →Will our existing scanners work?
Check the exact model, cellular bands and SIM support. Some scanners support private cellular directly, while other workflows may suit a gateway or a device refresh. We bring those choices into the scope before selecting the network equipment.
Can the network support AMRs and AGVs?
Yes, it can connect autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles with compatible fleet systems. The design follows the robot supplier’s interfaces and communication requirements, alongside the equipment’s own navigation and safety functions.
Can coverage extend into the loading yard?
Yes. Include loading bays, vehicle routes, gates and staging areas in the site plan. Indoor and outdoor radios, mounting positions, power and backhaul are designed around those working areas.
What determines the price?
The footprint, racking, device population, radio design, spectrum, installation and application interfaces shape the project. A site plan and one defined workflow are a useful starting point for a scoped proposal.
Read the private 5G cost guide →How much does private 5G cost for warehouses?
The warehouses examples range from £52,920 to £67,749 ex VAT, including installation and one-year support. The focused and larger site assumptions are shown in the cost table. These are indicative calculator examples, confirmed by survey; exclusions are listed with the table.
From goods-in to dispatch
Get a private 5G quote for your warehouse
Show us the route, the devices and the task that loses time. We’ll help bring the network and applications into a practical first project.
Website information and service conditions
Website information and use cases provide general guidance. Performance, coverage, savings and suitability depend on site conditions, equipment, applications, integration and the agreed service scope. Illustrations and worked examples are indicative; third-party results relate to the original deployments.
Information may change or contain errors. Project-specific specifications, delivery commitments and commercial terms are set out in the agreed proposal and contract. External results relate to their original deployments; the staff-time calculation illustrates the stated inputs.