Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 14.83
December 20, 2021
…begins to scale deployments of its grocery automation and micro-fulfillment systems, Alert Innovation Inc. announced a transition in leadership roles. Founder John Lert will become executive chairman, handing the CEO reins to Fritz Morgan, who had been serving as chief operations officer. “I had this transition in mind when I asked Fritz to help me lead Alert,” said Lert. “I recognized during our very first meeting that he has the intellectual capacity, the leadership skills, experience in leading disruptive technology-product companies to scale, and most importantly the alignment with our core values to become my successor in leading the organization.”…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 29.93
October 26, 2021
…more than $1 billion. The New York-based company runs micro-fulfillment operations for grocery and general merchandise retailers in New York, Washington D.C., and Tel Aviv. “It has never been so complex and challenging for retailers to fulfill and deliver online orders,” stated Fabric. “With these funds, Fabric has emerged as a new kind of unicorn — a 'robocorn' uniquely positioned to solve these challenges in the retail space.” Founded in 2015, the company said that its proprietary micro-fulfillment technology stack including robots and software is designed from the ground up to make on-demand fulfillment profitable and scalable for all retailers.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 27.96
August 30, 2021
…sq. ft. The Urbx Micro system is designed for micro-fulfillment in urban neighborhoods. It starts at 32 GridBots, 54 TowerBots, and 1,512 totes, and occupies 1,800 to 5,400 sq. ft. The company claimed that its Urbx Tower system is “ideal for high tote requirements in cities,” at 120 ft. in height. It has a similar footprint to the Micro but can have up to 72,576 totes. In addition, Urbx offers curbside store fulfillment with a footprint of 720 to 900 sq. ft. Attorneys represent Attabotics Spencer Chimuk of McLeod Law LLP and David C. Van Dyke of Howard & Howard…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 18.71
July 26, 2021
…Ltd. examines the growing pains around the adoption of micro-fulfillment centers, mobile robots for indoor use, and delivery drones and robots. Legacy, brick-and-mortar retailers faced shutdowns, staffing shortages, and tightened profit margins during the pandemic, causing many to delay projects and investment in new technologies, said STIQ, which does business as Styleintelligence. At the same time, larger e-commerce players such as Ocado Group PLC and Amazon.com Inc., which had acquired Whole Foods in 2017, experienced rapid growth and sought partnerships with existing grocers. As a matter of perspective, even if e-grocery doubled in size, it grew to only 10% of…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 24.58
July 25, 2021
…announced it has signed a multi-year strategic deal with micro-fulfillment company Fabric. It will integrate robots and software with Instacart's proprietary technology to create new e-commerce services for retail partners and a faster, easier online grocery shopping experience for customers, said the partners. “Instacart is proud to serve as the chief ally to retailers during a time when e-commerce in North America is poised for accelerated adoption,” stated Mark Schaaf, chief technology officer of Instacart. “Our next-gen fulfillment initiative combines our robust technology suite and dedicated community of shoppers with robotics solutions to give retailers even more ways to serve…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 16.10
July 12, 2021
Micro-fulfillment is on everyone’s lips these days, or so it seems. Major supermarket chains including Kroger, Walmart, and H-E-B have started micro-fulfillment center projects, tapping automation companies that offer robotic, high-density storage and picking systems, which can be placed inside a store or a so-called “dark store” that fulfills online orders for a compact geographic area. But for all the attention on the micro-fulfillment center (MFC) trend to date, it’s mainly taking hold in grocery. It does, however, overlap with the concept of hyperlocal fulfillment, which almost every retailer or e-commerce brand is trying to achieve in some form. The…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.07
June 17, 2021
…told Robotics 24/7. “People now expect same-day delivery, and micro-fulfillment centers can help operators maximize real estate.” “The third trend is a shortage of labor, especially in the U.S., Israel, Europe, and Australia,” Yanovsky said. “Warehouse workers walk 10 miles per day and lift heavy boxes. Those [tasks] are better for robots to do, and we want to put people in other tasks.” “All of these trends brought customers to understand that they need robotics, but it's not easy,” she said. “Automation will impact their business format; it's not just realizing what they will or will not implement. Businesses need…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.94
April 23, 2021
…Gatik said it delivers orders safely and efficiently among micro-fulfillment centers, so-called dark stores, and retail locations in middle-mile logistics. “Velodyne’s sensor solutions have the proven performance, reliability, and resilience our AVs need to operate safely and efficiently in complex urban operational design domains,” stated Arjun Narang, co-founder and chief technology officer at Gatik. “We’re excited to be rapidly scaling our autonomous solution with the support of Velodyne’s industry-leading lidar technology.” San Jose, Calif.-based Velodyne claims to be the first public pure-play lidar company and provides sensor hardware and software for autonomous vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), robots, unmanned aerial…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 17.70
April 13, 2021
…environment for associates, they added. They added that their micro-fulfillment solution can match the productivity of an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) with faster startup and less infrastructure. “This partnership demonstrates that Tompkins Robotics and GreyOrange are expanding to deliver the leadership and expertise their clients need to transform their businesses for the future,” said Mike Futch, president and CEO of Tompkins Robotics. “From solution detailing to implementation and collaboration on specific projects, the GreyOrange and Tompkins Robotics teams work to provide their partners with business, technical, sales and marketing resources to enable them to grow their business and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 10.18
April 06, 2021
…grocery, industrial, and healthcare in warehouse, retail locations, or micro-fulfillment centers. It recently unveiled an innovation hub in Norway and partnered with Asian-American grocer H Mart and Bastian Solutions. “We view AutoStore as a foundational technology that enables rapid and cost-effective logistics for companies around the globe,” stated Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group. “We look forward to working with AutoStore to aggressively expand across end markets and geographies.” “We are delighted for SoftBank to join the AutoStore team as we continue on our journey to automate all commerce and deliver best-in-class automation solutions to our customers,” said…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 32.80
March 30, 2021
…today announced that plans to open a fully automated micro-fulfillment center in Carlstadt, N.J., to support its online grocery operations. The company is partnering with robotics provider AutoStore and integrator Bastian Solutions to upgrade its order-fulfillment capabilities. H Mart started in 1982 with a single store in Woodside, Queens, N.Y., and has grown to more than 97 stores across the U.S. The Lyndhurst, N.J.-based company offers both Asian and Western foods and is also known for its food halls. The National Retail Federation has recognized H Mart in its list of “Hot 100 Retailers,” and Supermarket News has listed it…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 20.57
March 18, 2021
…solutions that are not outdated when they are used.” Micro-fulfillment is coming Micro-fulfillment represents one of the biggest challenges for the retail industry. If a company does not have the item immediately, the consumer will either buy it somewhere else or another product altogether. Handling consumables and groceries from regional distribution centers do not meet the order fulfillment needs and expectations of today, giving room to automation systems that can. Lier predicts that globally there will be major changes in the way stores, chains, shopping centers and online shopping is set up and organized. Stores, transports, warehouses and every aspect…
