Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 33.48
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…solutions that are not outdated when they are used.”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…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.64
March 15, 2021
Robotics 24/7, a new site from Peerless Media, is designed to provide information to help manufacturing, supply chain, and other companies take full advantage of robots and automation. The site will focus on the industries, technologies, applications, and business development aspects of the robotics ecosystem. In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated demand for rapid e-commerce order fulfillment, putting strain on logistics providers and retailers. Industrial robots and autonomous systems can address these and other challenges facing multiple markets, from manufacturing to retail, but reliable information is key to success. Robotics 24/7 will draw on Peerless Media’s experience…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.25
March 11, 2021
It is still early days for widespread use of technologies like mobile robots and artificial intelligence in warehousing, but robots and AI seem to be everywhere in industry announcements. Plenty of attention is also on startups that offer these technologies, and the significant amount of funding they’re attracting. The reasons for all this buzz goes beyond the visual “wow” factor of tote-laden autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) zipping around warehouse floors, reducing much of the walking involved with more manual methods of order fulfillment. The drivers revolve around the intersection of the pressing end-user needs for fulfilling orders more rapidly and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 10.67
March 03, 2021
CEVA Logistics and Berkshire Grey are implementing robotic automation systems at CEVA’s Vancouver eCommerce facility to maximize distribution center capacity, optimize throughput, and accelerate fulfillment processes. CEVA is using Berkshire Grey’s Robotic Product Sortation and Identification (RPSi) system at its Vancouver distribution center to autonomously identify and sort eCommerce packages and parcels, streamlining distribution to 78 Canada Post destinations. The implementation has the capacity to process more than 5.5 million packages annually with minimal operator intervention in a compact 93 square-meter (1,000 square-foot) operating footprint. The RPSi system can handle challenging parcels such as the polybags, tubes, padded mailers, and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.38
February 24, 2021
Gap Inc. today announced plans to open a new state-of-the-art DC or what it calls a “Customer Experience Center” in Longview, Texas. By delivering inventory faster and more efficiently to customers across the country, the $140 million investment will help Gap Inc. meet the rising customer demand for online shopping and reach its future plans for digital growth. Gap Inc. anticipates the new campus will create more than 500 full-time jobs in Longview by the end of 2023 and will grow to more than 1,000 full-time jobs in the city over the next five years. Additionally, the company expects to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.33
February 24, 2021
Berkshire Grey (BG), a developer of integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, and logistics, has entered into a definitive agreement with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp. (RAAC), a special purpose acquisition company, to create a leading publicly listed robotics and automation solutions company. Founded in 2013 by the current CEO Tom Wagner, Ph.D., the former chief technology officer at iRobot, BG offers fully integrated, AI-based software and hardware to automate business operations in warehouses and logistics fulfillment centers. The company’s solutions help retailers and logistics companies meet the exponential growth of e-commerce and ever-increasing consumer demands.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 13.39
February 19, 2021
…popularity for both traditional and D2C retailers is the micro-fulfillment center (also referred to as urban distribution centers). Buy Online, Pick-Up In-Store Buy online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS), and the more social distancing-friendly adaptations like “curbside pickup” have seen wider adoption in recent years, but particularly since the start of the pandemic. BOPIS is relatively inexpensive for traditional retailers as the last mile delivery cost is split with the customer. There are various ways to implement this approach. Some retailers like Walmart and Kroger use defined pickup windows to manage staffing and navigate peak hours, whereas Target fulfills an order within…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.76
February 18, 2021
Locus Robotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfillment warehouses, this week announced $150 million in Series E funding, led by Tiger Global Management and BOND. The round builds on support from existing investors including Scale Venture Partners and Prologis Ventures, the venture capital arm of Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate. “This new round of funding marks an important inflection point for Locus Robotics,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “Warehouses facing ongoing labor shortages and exploding volumes, are looking for flexible, intelligent automation to improve productivity and grow their operations. Locus is uniquely…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.53
February 17, 2021
The workforce keeps fulfillment on track Even with the growing use of warehouse automation, it’s the workforce that keeps fulfillment on track. From associates picking orders to a cart with direction from a mobile device, those on a voice-directed system, or an associate who is the “person” in a goods-to-person automation set-up, people remain essential to efficiently getting the orders out the door on time. That makes labor management systems (LMS) solutions increasingly important, even with the move to more automation. Add in the need to keep warehouse associates motivated and retained when warehouse labor remains challenging to find, and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 47.15
February 16, 2021
…digital, e-commerce and commercial engine, today announced a new micro-fulfillment technology pilot with The GIANT Company in the Philadelphia market. Part of an e-commerce fulfillment center (EFC), the pilot leverages Swisslog’s solution which includes AutoStore technology empowered by Swisslog’s SynQ software, as well as Peapod Digital Labs’ proprietary manual picking capabilities. The pilot launches as Ahold Delhaize USA companies continue to expand e-commerce fulfillment capabilities as part of readying an omnichannel supply chain and supporting the U.S. brands as they pursue their ambitions of becoming the leading omnichannel grocery retailer in their markets. “Over the past year, all Ahold Delhaize…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.83
February 15, 2021
Keeping consumers supplied with fresh baked goods has been part of convenience store chain Kwik Trip’s recipe for success. At its stores, consumers can buy many types of fresh goods, including bakery items that are labor intensive to produce and distribute without significant automation. With future growth in mind, Kwik Trip took an automated approach, including a new facility with automated order picking and storage and warehouse control system (WCS) software to orchestrate the picking of orders needed by stores. The new facility and automation meet the throughput needs of the growing chain, and they also make for a safer,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.06
February 08, 2021
What a year. The COVID-19 pandemic set in and made a massive impact on global trade and amplified existing logistics challenges around the world; lockdowns triggered rapid growth in e-commerce, putting additional strain on already strained freight networks; and a last-minute Brexit deal was finally reached following a few chaotic weeks at the UK border. While all of these challenges remain, 2021 also brings hope, especially because distribution of vaccines has started worldwide—with strong support from the logistics industry. “Safely delivering COVID-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the global air cargo industry, but it won’t happen…
