How does a mandatory inspection become a working system? Warehouse racking inspection with RackInspect
Warehouse racking inspection is mandatory; the difficulty is proving it afterwards. In RackInspect, the defect register and the compliance documentation are produced while the defects are recorded.
Inspecting warehouse racking systems is mandatory, and in many places it does happen. The real question is how well it can be proven afterwards: when it took place, who carried it out, what was found, and exactly where the defect was. In BlackBelt's RackInspect platform, the documentation is produced together with the defect recording.
Why is it not enough that the inspection takes place?
Because the obligation also requires proof, and that is often missing. Under the MSZ EN 15635 standard, warehouse racking must be inspected at least every 12 months. The report, however, is often on paper or in a hard-to-follow PDF. If a question arises later about which row, level and position the defect was in, and what happened to it, there is often no quick answer.
What does RackInspect solve, and what does it not?
RackInspect does not replace the expert: it ensures that what the expert finds is recorded. How a racking system should be inspected is still known by the inspector. The platform's job is to get the findings into the system consistently, in a searchable form and in line with the annual mandatory inspection.
How does voice-controlled defect recording work?
The inspector works with voice-controlled industrial smart glasses: they move through the warehouse hands-free and simply say what they see. There is a practical reason for this: in a warehouse, you should not have to type. The system captures the image, interprets the speech and creates structured data in real time.
The defect recording process:
- Identifying the location: the inspector selects the facility and the warehouse, then marks the defect location by row, level and position.
- Stating the defect: they record the type of defect, its risk and the required action by voice.
- The defect register: from this, the system immediately creates the defect register entry, complete with visual documentation.
By the time the survey ends, the documentation is practically finished. There is no administration afterwards.
What does artificial intelligence add?
AI image analysis recognises the elements of the racking system and determines the exact location of the defect. Voice-controlled inspection integrated with industrial smart glasses enables hands-free data capture, which is simply faster.
How is the report produced?
Documentation is automated: the system immediately generates the inspection reports and the compliance documents. There is no separate step and no assembling afterwards.
Does it work across several sites?
Yes, RackInspect manages several warehouses on a single central interface. This way, the condition of all sites can be tracked and compared in one place.
What results does it bring?
The measurable impact shows in the accuracy of documentation and the speed of maintenance. According to BlackBelt's RackInspect product description, the platform delivers up to 60% fewer documentation errors and an up to 35% faster maintenance process. This is no longer an IT question but one of operational efficiency.
What is actually new about it?
What is new is that the process happens in one step. There is no note-taking and no separate data entry: the data enters the system there and then, when the defect is recorded.
As CTO, this is what matters to me. Not that we have a new tool, but that an unnecessary step in the process disappears. For me, this project is about how a mandatory process can be done in a way that actually works.
Frequently asked questions
A short overview of how RackInspect works, in three questions.
Does RackInspect replace the expert inspection?
No. The inspection is still carried out by an expert; RackInspect ensures that their findings are recorded consistently and in a searchable form.
Do you need to type during the walkthrough?
No. The inspector works hands-free with voice-controlled industrial smart glasses and says what they see.
When is the report ready?
Together with the walkthrough. The defect register and the compliance documentation are created during the recording, so they are practically finished by the end of the survey.
