Racing to predict the future in transportation logistics

Steve Beda (pictured), executive vice president of customer solutions, Trax Technologies, explores the importance of embracing analytics for best-in-class operations.

Not that long ago data analytics was the purview of political wonks, dusty academics, and financial analysts crunching numbers to beat the markets. Then things changed as business leaders felt increasing pressure to find new ways to improve performance, deliver shareholder value and meet skyrocketing consumer expectations for products and services. Marketing teams seized analytics as a new, more sophisticated tool for understanding customer sentiment and predicting buying patterns, while operations leaders found ways to use production line sensors and collated data to foresee line failures and areas for improvement. Sadly, transportation logistics has been slower to adopt analytics at scale to the point where, even today, some operators continue to make potentially enormous and impactful decisions for their business based on, in some cases, little more than custom and practice and a well-trained gut. That too has to change.

It is simply not enough anymore, in the ultra-competitive world of transportation with soaring gas prices, global and real-time trucking and shipping complexities and the long shadow of pandemic supply-chain interruptions are still creating staff, capacity, and container shortages. To understand the root causes of all of this, to identify market influencers and potential problems before they bring down an entire network, global transportation executives now need access to both comprehensive data and sophisticated analytics capabilities. Embracing both will do one crucially important thing for every business: help us see the future. Or at least make data-driven decisions today that lead to efficiencies tomorrow and success for the long haul.

As we begin the process of due diligence and adoption, let’s take a look at the four core types of data analytics and just what they do for supply chain efficiency.

1. Descriptive Analytics – a Foundational Understanding

You can’t look ahead without understanding where you came from and there’s absolutely no way to improve performance without pinpointing what’s working well or identifying where problems or weaknesses may be emerging. For both of these critical performance benchmarks, we need Descriptive Analytics. This is quite simply an assessment of current state using historical data. A collection, curation, and analysis of data that shows us what happened over a period of time. The number of deliveries. Volume of goods. The number of carriers, routes, modes, and so forth.

It’s the foundational baseline on which more complex data analytics practices build insights into performance and quality of service.

2. Diagnostic Analytics – Why did that happen? What does that mean?

So we have a list of what happened. But understanding why things occurred, pinpointing the variables and influencers for more nuanced strategic learnings – that’s the role of Diagnostic Analysis. Diagnostic looks beyond baseline operational outcomes to measure performance against goals, deadlines, by mode and geographies, and many other variables. As part of this process look for three key measurement strategies:

Carrier Scorecards

Carrier scorecards are a critical and comprehensive tool for understanding why outcomes happen. For decades scorecards were inconsistent, non-standardised paperwork that captured intelligence but made it incredibly time-consuming and inefficient to analyse or draw strategic insights. Ideally shippers today should enforce the use of electronic, standardised formats with their carrier partners to make analysis consistent and meaningful. From the collection and analysis of scorecard information you should expect to rapidly understand:

  • On-time Delivery: how many packages arrived on time versus missed deadlines – and where? Which carriers? Which markets?
  • Damage Tracking: how many packages arrived broken, damaged, or otherwise contaminated, affecting replacement costs and long-term reputation?
  • Billing Accuracy: do final invoices match estimates? What is the percentage variance? Which carriers are less accurate with their billing and why?
  • Fallouts: how many loads were delivered to warehousing or other points in the network only to be returned due to limited storage and handling capacities?
  • Tender acceptance: what is the acceptance rate among carriers for contracts? If this is low, there may be a perceived problem with stated terms, compensation, or another factor that must be worked out in future negotiations.

Functional Performance Metrics

Quite simply this is the process of data collection and analysis to provide a detailed understanding across the operation. When measuring performance in this way, key indicators typically include shipping times; order accuracy (did the right product ship to the right customer at the right price?); delivery times (are there unforeseen delays between shipping and delivery?); transportation costs; warehousing costs; number of shipments; inventory accuracy and inventory turnover. There can be many other variables too, but measure against these and you’ll build a comprehensive picture of your success in the marketplace.

Cost Analysis

Lastly, how much did everything cost? Is there a discrepancy between budget and actual cost? And where is the variance?  Understanding these factors will help identify weakness in the supply chain for renewed operational improvements in the short term.

3. Predictive Analytics – the impact of external data on planning and validation

The data race is on – with all kinds being collected, curated, and analysed across industries, organisations, and businesses. As external data, beyond our logistics operations, becomes more readily available and with real-time information becoming instantly accessible, the role of analytics is rapidly becoming even more critical to day-to-day operations. In predictive analytics, analysis combines external data with owned company data to create context for how we may operate in the moment or over a period of time within geographies, modes, channels, and even by carrier. Even more significantly, predictive analytics, when employed correctly, can predict the outcome of a strategic or operational change and help validate the change prior to execution, limiting risk as much as possible. It’s important again to ensure that data content and capture quality is high to enable accurate modelling using the available data inputs and known constraints to make the most accurate and meaningful prediction.

Major measures for predictive learning include:

GPS Tracking: GPS tracking was one of the earliest data points for operational efficiency analysis and is still important. Real-time tracking of trucks, trailers, and other equipment creates a broad baseline oversight of operations. Knowing at any time where carriers and other equipment are can lead to greater efficiencies and resource optimisation. But it also enables driver and safety performance monitoring, reduces administrative time to manually check-in and monitor locations and progress, and ultimately leads to more end-to-end quality customer service.

Weather Data: Knowing when weather constraints may affect performance, cause delay or even endanger drivers or other assets can be critical, especially when dealing with global shipments across countries and regions. But weather can also impact the supply and demand balance too so planning for it is important even in the short term. Tornadoes and hurricanes, flooding, and deep freezes create massive demand for generators, water, heaters, and lumber to protect against storm damage. A surge in demand creates supply challenges, can spike prices, and have other knock-on effects down the supply chain.

Traffic Data: Look at how major coastal storms can cut off whole towns and cities, or even a major sporting event in a downtown area can cripple a traffic system for hours. Understanding traffic problems, road or modal outages, parking availability, port congestion, or volume issues is an increasingly important factor in best-in-class operations. There’s a huge industry focus happening right now on the use of AI to provide real-time route optimisation – the local, national, and global re-routing of shipments and deliveries based on changes to traffic patterns in the moment. Rightly so, using external traffic data to map clear, efficient routes or make urgent changes can save time, money and protect reputation with customers.

Predictive analysis monitors and models against all of these factors and more to create an impact analysis – what we need to know, do and change to avoid network, shipping, or delivery problems. This enables strategies and data-driven decision-making that will ultimately help reduce the negative impact of external factors beyond our control while optimising operational efficiencies to meet deadlines and stay within budget.

4. Prescriptive Analytics – where are we headed?

The ultimate goal for any best-in-class transportation logistics operation is the transition to, and full adoption, of a Logistics Control Tower strategy. A seamless collection and analysis of high-quality external and internal data collected over time, modelled and used to provide a prescriptive analysis of actions needed and changes to be made.

When the Suez Canal – the world’s largest shipment gateway – was blocked last year, the effect on the local, national and global supply chains was immediate and lasting. Often when a crisis like this occurs, the teams managing logistics just don’t have the manual capabilities to deal with the complexities, scale, or scope of the problem – or the impending and far-reaching impact. They look at reports, shuffle paper, and do their best to make decisions, but only sophisticated data-driven modelling can rectify massive outages or high-impact events.

Or picture this. You are a manufacturer with a delayed ship in Long Beach with raw materials impacting three different finished goods. What do you do? Fortunately, your control tower can see that two of the three will be out of stock before the inbound arrives. One of the finished goods is a high-margin item and sold to one of your top ten customers. Your system assesses the cost for air freight and determines this is just enough to cover the top customer and automatically weighs the cost against the loss of margin on the sale. That is the future of transportation logistics.

Prescriptive data analysis will continue to play an increasingly pivotal role in day-to-day operations, helping make and prioritise decisions. When product inventory is severely limited, can we prioritise delivery to customers that would be most impacted by failure to deliver? Can we instantly measure, understand and rank cost to customers and then prioritise by region for fastest delivery? In this way, shippers can fulfil high-impact orders to big-box retailers like Target while managing other options to cater to smaller customers with a less urgent need. Or is it advisable to ship highest margin products first when carrier capacity is constrained? And if we are facing constraints, is it better to continue with a low-cost carrier or allocate budget to pay spot rate shipping costs? All of these questions and more can be managed and answered with prescriptive analytics using best-in-class master data management standards and AI to predict outcomes and prescribe action.

Take Steps Now To Be Ahead of the Curve

So, the ultimate question: Where is your operation in the analytics race? Are you still reporting on what already happened in the past? Are you beginning to explore the abilities to predict what will happen? Has your organisation fully embraced the transition to a data-driven, analytics-led strategy, and do you have the tools to prescribe the necessary actions or a recommended path forward? Wherever you are on the curve, four fundamental factors must be kept in mind:

  • Be honest with your current state If you are still in “hindsight.” Own it and plan for how to make the necessary changes to “insight.” Don’t try to skip a step in the progression of analytics.
  • Plan how to get access to all needed data (internal, external providers, and public data). You may have to subscribe to services, turn to logistics providers and expert partners, etc.
  • Hire a data scientist or find a good partner to help prove out a few test use cases. When you start out you should always choose the project that has the highest value (return) for the lowest effort (investment). Make sure that you are solving a real challenge that drives value.
  • Take your impact and go after more.

Making a transition to a data-analytics-based operation isn’t simple or instant, but the investment will be invaluable. Embracing data is essential to future success, particularly given the events of the past two years. If the Russia-Ukraine War, global pandemic, supply chain shortages, Suez canal, and increasing environmental events tell us anything it’s that the landscape for our industry has changed fundamentally. Cause and effect is the new norm. Expect obstacles, challenges, and a fluid future where custom and practice must give way quickly to prediction, prescription, and inarguable data-driven action to succeed tomorrow and down the road.

Steve Beda is executive vice president of customer solutions for Trax Technologies, a global leader in Transportation Spend Management solutions. Trax elevates traditional Freight Audit and Payment with a combination of industry leading cloud-based technology solutions and expert services to help enterprises with the world’s more complex supply chains better manage and control their global transportation costs and drive enterprise-wide efficiency and value.

Box Latch solution successfully trialled in Australia

In a first for Australia, Wiring Solutions Plus (WSP) at Underdale in South Australia is trialling the use of Box Latch products with REDARC Electronics at Lonsdale in a B2B closed‐loop in metropolitan Adelaide.

WSP and REDARC have agreed to test the feasibility of these US-made Box Latches as they aim to eliminate costly, labour-intensive practices, reduce the potential for injuries and develop a system for the return of the collapsed cartons and Box Latches to WSP for re‐use.

Managing Director of WSP, Mark Pickering stated: “We’re interested to see how this goes and hopeful for success for all involved.”

Thousands of cartons with WSP wiring looms are shipped to REDARC every year. Box Latch enables these cartons to be reused up to 20 times, says its manufacturer, yielding thousands of dollars in savings for boxes, but more importantly greatly reduces the corrugated cardboard from being recycled which supports REDARC’s environmental goals and company values.

Due to the uneven spread of weight in the single‐wall cartons, WSP is trying two Box Latch Large on the bottom, and one on the top to temporarily close the cartons for shipping. Early testing at the WSP facilities by Australian associate and sales representative for Box Latch Products, Phil Southam of KHP Business Solutions, indicates two latches will hold the 11kg weight in the current boxes.

Southam says: “If WSP’s pilot programme works as expected, it is likely WSP will move to double‐wall cartons to provide more strength, longevity and security.”

Stronger cartons will cost a bit more but will prove to be cost‐effective in the long run as well as reducing the need for two Box Latches on the bottom.

Pickering recently stated: “Richard Burley [supply chain manager] from REDARC has provided positive feedback on the first trial and would like for it to continue.” A further 150 Box Latches have been supplied for the ongoing testing programme.

Packaging tape eliminated

Using a cost savings calculator provided by Eco Latch Systems, projections are that WSP will be able to pay for the Box Latches simply from the savings on tape. As cartons are temporally closed with Box Latches, they will be palletised, shrink‐wrapped and shipped to REDARC. A side benefit is that by eliminating the need for tape, this removes the risks for injuries and damage to box contents from sharp blades after arriving at REDARC. A key part of this pilot project will be working with REDARC to coordinate the return of the collapsed cartons to WSP so they can restart the closed‐loop.

In the current setting, when the cartons reach REDARC, every box has all four flaps cut off to facilitate ease of access to the components for assembly. This is labour intensive and generates serious risks for lacerations. In order to save the carton and return it to WSP for re‐use, REDARC will use another product by Eco Latch Systems, LLC ‐ the Clip & Stack (sometimes referred to as the Corner Clip & Stack).

Designed to hold carton flaps out of the way for packing or unpacking, one or two Clip & Stacks can be used to keep flaps down and open as contents are added or removed. This eliminates catching on roller systems feeding the assembler. With the use of four Clip & Stacks, boxes can be stacked two- to four-high saving considerable floorspace. This also prevents employees from being hit in their faces or bodies by box flaps on shelves, provides for neat and well managed shelf/rack space and prevents employees from tripping as a result of open flapped cartons on floors.

As with the Box Latches, the manufacturer says the Clip & Stacks can be used hundreds or thousands of times, so only a small number may be required depending on how many open cartons are required for packing or assembly at any one time. Since this innovative product allows for cartons to be stacked while open, pre‐constructing them during slow times allows for them to be ready when needed at peak times.

Box Latch solution successfully trialled in Australia

In a first for Australia, Wiring Solutions Plus (WSP) at Underdale in South Australia is trialling the use of Box Latch products with REDARC Electronics at Lonsdale in a B2B closed‐loop in metropolitan Adelaide.

WSP and REDARC have agreed to test the feasibility of these US-made Box Latches as they aim to eliminate costly, labour-intensive practices, reduce the potential for injuries and develop a system for the return of the collapsed cartons and Box Latches to WSP for re‐use.

Managing Director of WSP, Mark Pickering stated: “We’re interested to see how this goes and hopeful for success for all involved.”

Thousands of cartons with WSP wiring looms are shipped to REDARC every year. Box Latch enables these cartons to be reused up to 20 times, says its manufacturer, yielding thousands of dollars in savings for boxes, but more importantly greatly reduces the corrugated cardboard from being recycled which supports REDARC’s environmental goals and company values.

Due to the uneven spread of weight in the single‐wall cartons, WSP is trying two Box Latch Large on the bottom, and one on the top to temporarily close the cartons for shipping. Early testing at the WSP facilities by Australian associate and sales representative for Box Latch Products, Phil Southam of KHP Business Solutions, indicates two latches will hold the 11kg weight in the current boxes.

Southam says: “If WSP’s pilot programme works as expected, it is likely WSP will move to double‐wall cartons to provide more strength, longevity and security.”

Stronger cartons will cost a bit more but will prove to be cost‐effective in the long run as well as reducing the need for two Box Latches on the bottom.

Pickering recently stated: “Richard Burley [supply chain manager] from REDARC has provided positive feedback on the first trial and would like for it to continue.” A further 150 Box Latches have been supplied for the ongoing testing programme.

Packaging tape eliminated

Using a cost savings calculator provided by Eco Latch Systems, projections are that WSP will be able to pay for the Box Latches simply from the savings on tape. As cartons are temporally closed with Box Latches, they will be palletised, shrink‐wrapped and shipped to REDARC. A side benefit is that by eliminating the need for tape, this removes the risks for injuries and damage to box contents from sharp blades after arriving at REDARC. A key part of this pilot project will be working with REDARC to coordinate the return of the collapsed cartons to WSP so they can restart the closed‐loop.

In the current setting, when the cartons reach REDARC, every box has all four flaps cut off to facilitate ease of access to the components for assembly. This is labour intensive and generates serious risks for lacerations. In order to save the carton and return it to WSP for re‐use, REDARC will use another product by Eco Latch Systems, LLC ‐ the Clip & Stack (sometimes referred to as the Corner Clip & Stack).

Designed to hold carton flaps out of the way for packing or unpacking, one or two Clip & Stacks can be used to keep flaps down and open as contents are added or removed. This eliminates catching on roller systems feeding the assembler. With the use of four Clip & Stacks, boxes can be stacked two- to four-high saving considerable floorspace. This also prevents employees from being hit in their faces or bodies by box flaps on shelves, provides for neat and well managed shelf/rack space and prevents employees from tripping as a result of open flapped cartons on floors.

As with the Box Latches, the manufacturer says the Clip & Stacks can be used hundreds or thousands of times, so only a small number may be required depending on how many open cartons are required for packing or assembly at any one time. Since this innovative product allows for cartons to be stacked while open, pre‐constructing them during slow times allows for them to be ready when needed at peak times.

IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: Locus Robotics’ AMR Solution

Continuing with our run-through of each of the IFOY Award nominated finalists ahead of the winners announcement on 30th June at BMW World, we look at Locus Robotics’ AMR Solution, the first of two entries in the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV/AMR) category.

IFOY category: Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV/AMR)

Locus Robotics is a leading provider of intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to improve productivity and throughput within the warehouse and manufacturing facilities. The solution helps retailers, 3PLs, specialty warehouses, and manufacturers meet and exceed increasingly complex and demanding requirements, integrating into existing infrastructures without disrupting workflows, and enabling customers full ROI within six to eight months.

The solution consists of an integrated execution platform that uses proprietary optimization algorithms and real-time operational performance data to coordinate labor and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to deliver two to three times more productivity and throughput. In addition, Locus provides a variety of AMR form factors to apply the right robot to the right job, at the right time. A purpose-built, integrated robotics solution designed to automate all material flow within the warehouse and manufacturing facilities.

Description

Locus’s strength lies in the maturity and optionality of our execution platform which provides real-time optimization of all tasks to be completed within the four walls and across multiple levels in warehousing and manufacturing environments. The software acts as a fleet manager, managing complex workflows that support a variety of use cases and clustering work to build optimal robot missions.

The unique multi-bot approach decouples workers from orders and tasks, minimizing unproductive associate time and assigning the right robot form factor to meet the right human at the right time to collaboratively perform the next most efficient task. Proven at scale, the system can seamlessly add robots to add capacity to any operation within minutes.

Locus also improves the overall workplace quality and ergonomics. Workers no longer need to push heavy carts and walk long distances to keep up with growing order fulfilment demands. Workers stay in zones while the bots bring the work to them. This significantly lowers worker fatigue, and improves workplace safety to deliver higher productivity and lower overall labour costs for recruitment, training, and retention. Locus customers are seeing documented double or triple increases in their fulfilment productivity and fulfilment cycle times, while significantly lowering labour recruitment, training, and retention costs for  both full time and seasonal positions.

CLICK HERE to watch three case studies.

IFOY TEST REPORT

The US provider Locus Robotics offers its autonomous robots, which work collaboratively with warehouse staff, exclusively in a packaged rental model. After the set-up with a one-time “start-up fee”, a “core fleet” is available to the customer for his tasks. This is an average of between 45 and 50 vehicles per customer, with fluctuations (rather) upwards and less downwards not excluded, of course. The robot manufacturer from Wilmington in the Greater Boston metropolitan region (Massachusetts/USA) has been active in Europe since 2019.

At the moment, Locus serves around 80 customers in about 200 warehouses with its picking system. The customers come not only from retail, but also from pharmaceuticals and industry (ABB). Picking into the 45-kilogram moving robot is extremely easy: the type and quantity of the products to be picked at the location and placed into the small load carrier on the Locus robot are very clearly displayed on the clear touchscreen. Picked, confirmed, and the fast journey continues. The tester has never found this so easy, intuitive and without a single second of “learning the ropes”.

The peak season for Locus is November/December, because the Christmas business easily burdens retailers with four to five times as much picking work as during the year. According to a survey by Material Handling Industry (MHI) and Deloitte, 56% of respondents have “extreme problems” finding suitable staff. No wonder: up to now, about 40 to 60% in the warehouse are determined by walking, with an average age in Germany of 40 to 55 years.

Locus solves this problem pragmatically and effectively by separating the employees from the picking trolleys: the work comes to the pickers, i.e. a classic goods-to-person principle. However, not stoically standing only at a fixed workstation, but “flowing” in a certain area, which normally, however, does not go beyond the warehouse aisle. This not only saves a lot of energy, but also makes the work far more effective and productive than picking along. Locus does not replace the customer’s inventory management system, but obtains its information about the product and the number of units to be picked from it. The Locus software clusters the orders for the optimal picking route – of the roving units, mind you, not of the individual pickers – and which orders are connected on a container. In the field, the system works with high-quality Lidar sensors (“Light Detection and Ranging”). Irrespective of the time saved by short distances for the pickers: the picking system also increases productivity by the fact that the human at a single picking position, for example, spends only 8 instead of 12 seconds – that adds up. When picking, both hands are free for the products to be picked.

If necessary, a seasonal fleet can easily be added to the core fleet mentioned at the beginning, for example for two to three months for the Christmas business. The robots themselves are produced between May and November and are maintained quickly and leanly. A total of around 8,000 of these robots are currently in use, 2,000 of them in Europe. When the going gets tough, 100 to 500 f the robots can easily be produced – per week. The “package” also mentioned above consists of the uncomplaining replacement of the robots during maintenance; in the event of malfunctions, the customer does not incur any additional costs. Every three months, the so-called “field service” comes to the customer’s premises to check on things. It also takes three months for the customer to implement such a system.

IFOY Test Verdict

With collaborative AMR, retailers, 3PLs, but also operators of special warehouses or manufacturers can greatly improve their effectiveness with an ROI of six to eight months. In doing so, an integrated execution platform uses proprietary optimisation algorithms and operational performance data to coordinate “man and machine”. On the subject of innovation, Locus has 33 patents in the US and seven in Europe. An additional 23 patents have been filed in Europe.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: In terms of market relevance, Locus’ AMR Solution hits the head. The massive increase in e-commerce requires cost-effective solutions to increase throughput, which has been impressively realised with Locus’ all-in-one solution. The business concept makes the solution affordable also for smaller companies. Therefore, the market relevance is considered to be very high. In addition, the sustainable handling of the equipment through reuse and refurbishment meets the demand of today’s trend, which makes the solution even more interesting.

Customer benefit: Customers benefit in many ways and to a great extent from the AMR Solution. An enormous increase in productivity can be expected with a simultaneous reduction in the workload of the employees. In addition, customers enjoy a full service if required, can monitor internal performance data and use the software system to optimise workflow. The presentation based on reference projects is fully convincing and shows the benefits for the current boom in e-commerce. Enormous customer interest is also seen in the flexibility. An uncomplicated expansion or reduction of the machinery fleet in the case of fluctuating seasonal business is possible without financial risk and thus meets the modern requirements in this area.

Novelty: The overall system impresses in many ways and can be considered highly innovative. Without complex technology, the robots are used efficiently to increase productivity and can also be operated intuitively. The human-machine interaction is limited to the essentials for a practical application and has been implemented very well. This is where innovation meets real practical benefit. An innovative convenience is working with individual personal tags, which, for example, immediately adapts the user interface to the correct language of the employee.

Functionality / type of implementation: Due to a professional presentation of all aspects, the AMR solution from Locus could be comprehended very well. The handling of the devices during order picking is very easy and the flexible reaction to obstacles is done without any problems. The devices themselves are limited to the most essential things and make it clear that an efficient use of hardware and software can have a huge effect.

Verdict: Locus’ extraordinary AMR solution is an excellent response to current market demands.

market relevance ++
customer benefit ++
novelty ++
functionality / type of implementation +
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about Locus Robotics’ AMR Solution.

 

 

RangePlus DC achieves significant efficiency improvement

Geek+, a global leader in AMR technology, has announced the successful implementation of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at independent British online retailer RangePlus’s fulfilment centre. The new automated storage and retrieval system was designed and delivered in collaboration with warehouse automation specialist and Geek+ strategic delivery partner Breathe Technologies. The modernisation provides RangePlus the firepower to compete with larger actors in the growing e-commerce sector.

Lit Fung, VP and Managing Director, Overseas Business at Geek+, said: “We are delighted to see our smart picking solution enable RangePlus to achieve efficient, flexible, and accurate operations. This digital transformation helps them greatly increase their competitiveness and chart their own course as an independent ecommerce provider.”

Due to the change in customers’ shopping behaviour from buying in brick-and-mortar shops to online purchasing, RangePlus has seen rapidly growing order demand, and its original manual order picking was holding the business back. With a high number of small and irregular goods, manual order picking processes were time-consuming and prone to error. RangePlus began looking at automation solutions to boost warehouse capacity and throughput. After comparing different order picking options, Geek+’s cost-effective, flexible, automated warehouse picking system was the best choice to help them handle a 25% increase in order volumes and 40% in SKUs.

Marcus Uprichard, Head of Business Development & Partnerships at Breathe Technologies, said: “Working closely with RangePlus and Geek+, we’ve created an automated warehouse picking system that’s incredibly flexible, modular, and perfectly suited to high-growth e-commerce environments.”

The Geek+ goods-to-person solution is running 24/7 in RangePlus’s fulfilment centre with 243,000 SKUs and handles over 250,000 orders per year. After automating its picking process, RangePlus achieved a 300% improvement in picking rate and order picking time, as well as a 25% reduction in operating costs. They also maximised their warehouse capacity by stocking 50% more SKUs in the same space while reducing error rates and minimising waste. Their ROI is 100% under two years, proving that investing in AMRs is a sound investment.

Shabbab Al-Ghamdi, co-founder of RangePlus, said: “This automated warehouse picking system has been a wise financial decision. We can now significantly increase the amount we pick, pack, and ship… the system is paying for itself.”

Geek+ picking AMRs automate the picking process by bringing the inventory shelves to the warehouse operator at the picking station. The solution reduces the time spent finding and moving goods around manually and improves not only picking accuracy but also employee productivity and comfort. Empowered by artificial intelligence, inventory shelves are arranged according to demand in real time; the most in-demand items are close to the operator to ensure a fast and efficient picking process.

Geek+’s solutions offer valuable flexibility to companies navigating the rapid changes inherent to e-commerce. The sudden rises in demand that accompany peak seasons like Black Friday and Christmas can be met by quickly adding AMRs to the system. Geek+ will continue creating and applying smart logistics technology to support independent e-commerce merchants’ transition to smart logistics operations.

 

 

RangePlus DC achieves significant efficiency improvement

Geek+, a global leader in AMR technology, has announced the successful implementation of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at independent British online retailer RangePlus’s fulfilment centre. The new automated storage and retrieval system was designed and delivered in collaboration with warehouse automation specialist and Geek+ strategic delivery partner Breathe Technologies. The modernisation provides RangePlus the firepower to compete with larger actors in the growing e-commerce sector.

Lit Fung, VP and Managing Director, Overseas Business at Geek+, said: “We are delighted to see our smart picking solution enable RangePlus to achieve efficient, flexible, and accurate operations. This digital transformation helps them greatly increase their competitiveness and chart their own course as an independent ecommerce provider.”

Due to the change in customers’ shopping behaviour from buying in brick-and-mortar shops to online purchasing, RangePlus has seen rapidly growing order demand, and its original manual order picking was holding the business back. With a high number of small and irregular goods, manual order picking processes were time-consuming and prone to error. RangePlus began looking at automation solutions to boost warehouse capacity and throughput. After comparing different order picking options, Geek+’s cost-effective, flexible, automated warehouse picking system was the best choice to help them handle a 25% increase in order volumes and 40% in SKUs.

Marcus Uprichard, Head of Business Development & Partnerships at Breathe Technologies, said: “Working closely with RangePlus and Geek+, we’ve created an automated warehouse picking system that’s incredibly flexible, modular, and perfectly suited to high-growth e-commerce environments.”

The Geek+ goods-to-person solution is running 24/7 in RangePlus’s fulfilment centre with 243,000 SKUs and handles over 250,000 orders per year. After automating its picking process, RangePlus achieved a 300% improvement in picking rate and order picking time, as well as a 25% reduction in operating costs. They also maximised their warehouse capacity by stocking 50% more SKUs in the same space while reducing error rates and minimising waste. Their ROI is 100% under two years, proving that investing in AMRs is a sound investment.

Shabbab Al-Ghamdi, co-founder of RangePlus, said: “This automated warehouse picking system has been a wise financial decision. We can now significantly increase the amount we pick, pack, and ship… the system is paying for itself.”

Geek+ picking AMRs automate the picking process by bringing the inventory shelves to the warehouse operator at the picking station. The solution reduces the time spent finding and moving goods around manually and improves not only picking accuracy but also employee productivity and comfort. Empowered by artificial intelligence, inventory shelves are arranged according to demand in real time; the most in-demand items are close to the operator to ensure a fast and efficient picking process.

Geek+’s solutions offer valuable flexibility to companies navigating the rapid changes inherent to e-commerce. The sudden rises in demand that accompany peak seasons like Black Friday and Christmas can be met by quickly adding AMRs to the system. Geek+ will continue creating and applying smart logistics technology to support independent e-commerce merchants’ transition to smart logistics operations.

 

 

Inmarsat launches initiative to harness industrial IoT

With more businesses recognising the impact of IoT technologies on their operations and on the world, and the number of global satellite IoT connections set to continue growing at a 25% CAGR in the coming years, the need for a ‘one stop shop’ for IoT solutions has never been greater.

To accelerate these IoT opportunities for businesses around the world, Inmarsat, a world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, is announcing Inmarsat ELEVATE, a new partner programme offering three key pillars to support businesses throughout the IoT ecosystem and to cement the industry’s future growth.

The first pillar is a development programme for IoT solution providers, system integrators, machinery manufacturers, and OEMs looking to scale, who will be able to take advantage of Inmarsat’s ELERA satellite network and footprint.

The second pillar is a partner ecosystem, enabling organisations to access each other’s knowledge and collaborate with other organisations within the satellite IoT sector.

The third pillar is an online marketplace to promote IoT solutions that work seamlessly anywhere in the world, no matter how remote – to ensure every business can benefit.

In the next five years, the goal of Inmarsat ELEVATE is to help partners achieve double digit growth – as well as establishing Inmarsat ELEVATE as the leading IoT marketplace for solutions that work anywhere in the world.

Mike Carter, President at Inmarsat Enterprise, said: “The satellite IoT market has been steadily growing for years – and now is the time to up the ante and kickstart its next stage of more rapid growth. Inmarsat ELEVATE will help our customers realise the promise of IoT anywhere, while empowering the wider satellite IoT ecosystem to make it a reality. The ELEVATE community will play an active role in addressing the planet’s really big challenges, helping build a more sustainable, efficient and safe global supply chain.

“Inmarsat’s ELERA network provides an essential backbone to IoT innovation, so our development partners will be able to scale and grow their operations backed by its reliability and seamless global connectivity. Our partner ecosystem will enable knowledge-sharing and collaboration at an unprecedented scale, between parties of all sizes, in all geographies and industries, while our online marketplace will promote IoT solutions for any and every business need.

“Launching a programme like Inmarsat ELEVATE is about using our expertise and technological strength for the good of our customers – and we’re confident that it will have a huge impact on the organisations that need it most. We’re excited to work with as many new partners as possible, and to see what we can achieve together – as individual businesses, and as an innovative, game-changing industry.”

Partners will benefit from Inmarsat’s global footprint, empowering them to take advantage of opportunities beyond their existing operational regions. Inmarsat will also support building customised growth plans for each partner, and help businesses make sense of global regulations and market access.

ELEVATE partners will be able to harness these new commercial opportunities and scale faster than ever thanks to Inmarsat’s ELERA network, the world’s most reliable satellite network for IoT and secure narrowband connectivity. ELERA offers more global spectrum than any L-band provider, with Inmarsat’s recently launched I-6 F1 satellite (and I-6 F2 launching in Q1 2023) making the best use of the available spectrum and providing 50% more capacity per beam.

What’s more, dedicated technical teams will be on hand to help new partners test, integrate and optimise their satellite connectivity investments, to ensure their success. For those struggling to access the capital they need to support this growth, the ecosystem will also offer smaller companies new opportunities to access funding through its financial community – further strengthening the industry’s growth.

Inmarsat launches initiative to harness industrial IoT

With more businesses recognising the impact of IoT technologies on their operations and on the world, and the number of global satellite IoT connections set to continue growing at a 25% CAGR in the coming years, the need for a ‘one stop shop’ for IoT solutions has never been greater.

To accelerate these IoT opportunities for businesses around the world, Inmarsat, a world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, is announcing Inmarsat ELEVATE, a new partner programme offering three key pillars to support businesses throughout the IoT ecosystem and to cement the industry’s future growth.

The first pillar is a development programme for IoT solution providers, system integrators, machinery manufacturers, and OEMs looking to scale, who will be able to take advantage of Inmarsat’s ELERA satellite network and footprint.

The second pillar is a partner ecosystem, enabling organisations to access each other’s knowledge and collaborate with other organisations within the satellite IoT sector.

The third pillar is an online marketplace to promote IoT solutions that work seamlessly anywhere in the world, no matter how remote – to ensure every business can benefit.

In the next five years, the goal of Inmarsat ELEVATE is to help partners achieve double digit growth – as well as establishing Inmarsat ELEVATE as the leading IoT marketplace for solutions that work anywhere in the world.

Mike Carter, President at Inmarsat Enterprise, said: “The satellite IoT market has been steadily growing for years – and now is the time to up the ante and kickstart its next stage of more rapid growth. Inmarsat ELEVATE will help our customers realise the promise of IoT anywhere, while empowering the wider satellite IoT ecosystem to make it a reality. The ELEVATE community will play an active role in addressing the planet’s really big challenges, helping build a more sustainable, efficient and safe global supply chain.

“Inmarsat’s ELERA network provides an essential backbone to IoT innovation, so our development partners will be able to scale and grow their operations backed by its reliability and seamless global connectivity. Our partner ecosystem will enable knowledge-sharing and collaboration at an unprecedented scale, between parties of all sizes, in all geographies and industries, while our online marketplace will promote IoT solutions for any and every business need.

“Launching a programme like Inmarsat ELEVATE is about using our expertise and technological strength for the good of our customers – and we’re confident that it will have a huge impact on the organisations that need it most. We’re excited to work with as many new partners as possible, and to see what we can achieve together – as individual businesses, and as an innovative, game-changing industry.”

Partners will benefit from Inmarsat’s global footprint, empowering them to take advantage of opportunities beyond their existing operational regions. Inmarsat will also support building customised growth plans for each partner, and help businesses make sense of global regulations and market access.

ELEVATE partners will be able to harness these new commercial opportunities and scale faster than ever thanks to Inmarsat’s ELERA network, the world’s most reliable satellite network for IoT and secure narrowband connectivity. ELERA offers more global spectrum than any L-band provider, with Inmarsat’s recently launched I-6 F1 satellite (and I-6 F2 launching in Q1 2023) making the best use of the available spectrum and providing 50% more capacity per beam.

What’s more, dedicated technical teams will be on hand to help new partners test, integrate and optimise their satellite connectivity investments, to ensure their success. For those struggling to access the capital they need to support this growth, the ecosystem will also offer smaller companies new opportunities to access funding through its financial community – further strengthening the industry’s growth.

Space-saving packaging system at LogiMAT

Maximum freedom at the end of the packaging line despite limited space: MOSCA is showing what flexible end-of-line solutions can look like at its LogiMAT stand (A31 Hall 4) from 31 May to 1 June 2022. The fully automated end-of-line scenario consists of a KZV-321 pallet strapping machine and autonomous guided vehicles (AGV) from GEBHARDT Intralogistics. This system can be easily adapted to production conditions and optimises the use of available space – an ideal solution for fast-growing companies with size-limited production environments.

Predefined pathways and bulky conveyors – the end of a production line is often inflexible. This makes it difficult for companies to grow in tight production spaces. MOSCA is tackling this challenge with a flexible solution presented at LogiMAT in cooperation with GEBHARDT Intralogistics. The live simulation links the MOSCA KZV-321 pallet strapping machine with a Gebhardt KARIS autonomous guided vehicle system.

Johannes Wieder, Sales Manager Logistics at MOSCA, explains: “We are presenting just one of numerous set-up options. Thanks to the many possible combinations of AGVs with our strapping machines, applications can be easily adapted to different requirements and used, for example, to secure packages for transport in the food or construction industries.”

The application shown at the company’s exhibition stand illustrates the savings potential of this machine combination. Since the self-propelled vehicles from Gebhardt can flexibly approach various machines, strapping machines with a higher throughput do not have to adapt to the slower speed of upstream machines. Instead, they can utilise their full performance potential and strap products from several lines at the same time.

Efficiently securing double-stacked pallets

In the application, autonomous guided vehicles transport loaded pallets to the KZV-321. These AGVs can reach speeds of up to 1.2m/s and transport loads weighing up to 120kg. The KZV-321 then straps the pallets using MOSCA SoniXs ultrasonic technology with zero emissions and no warm-up phase. The machine can also efficiently secure stacked pallets for transport.

After the pallets have been strapped and the second pallet has been placed on top, for example, by a pallet doubler, the strap lances of the KZV-321 pass through the deck boards of both pallets again to ensure a bond that protects the goods and saves resources. If necessary, the stack can be separated quickly and easily without loosening the straps on the individual pallets.

The high-performance KZV-321 machine is ideal for strapping a variety of packages ranging from plastic containers to cartons, sacks or other soft packaging. Thanks to the machine’s compact design and its ability to adjust strapping to the product height with six strap lances, the KZV-321 is suitable for use in many different sectors, including the agricultural industry or intralogistics. The strapping machine enables users to maximise available space – horizontally and vertically.

Bringing digitalisation to strapping

The MOSCA EVOLUTION SoniXs TR-6 Pro is also on display at the company’s exhibition stand. This high-performance strapping machine processes up to 45 packages per minute and can keep up with fast production speeds at the end of the packaging line.

In addition to high throughput, the SoniXs TR-6 Pro scores points with a wide range of control options. Various parameters and strapping programs can be manually adjusted using an HMI touch panel on the machine. Thanks to an integrated network communication interface, the machine can also be controlled via a WebHMI.

Additionally, machine-relevant information like availability, performance and quality can be monitored in real time. This enables operators to check the machine status regardless of time and location and to respond quickly if necessary. It also avoids malfunctions and expensive interruptions – and ensures the uncomplicated optimisation of packaging processes.

Space-saving packaging system at LogiMAT

Maximum freedom at the end of the packaging line despite limited space: MOSCA is showing what flexible end-of-line solutions can look like at its LogiMAT stand (A31 Hall 4) from 31 May to 1 June 2022. The fully automated end-of-line scenario consists of a KZV-321 pallet strapping machine and autonomous guided vehicles (AGV) from GEBHARDT Intralogistics. This system can be easily adapted to production conditions and optimises the use of available space – an ideal solution for fast-growing companies with size-limited production environments.

Predefined pathways and bulky conveyors – the end of a production line is often inflexible. This makes it difficult for companies to grow in tight production spaces. MOSCA is tackling this challenge with a flexible solution presented at LogiMAT in cooperation with GEBHARDT Intralogistics. The live simulation links the MOSCA KZV-321 pallet strapping machine with a Gebhardt KARIS autonomous guided vehicle system.

Johannes Wieder, Sales Manager Logistics at MOSCA, explains: “We are presenting just one of numerous set-up options. Thanks to the many possible combinations of AGVs with our strapping machines, applications can be easily adapted to different requirements and used, for example, to secure packages for transport in the food or construction industries.”

The application shown at the company’s exhibition stand illustrates the savings potential of this machine combination. Since the self-propelled vehicles from Gebhardt can flexibly approach various machines, strapping machines with a higher throughput do not have to adapt to the slower speed of upstream machines. Instead, they can utilise their full performance potential and strap products from several lines at the same time.

Efficiently securing double-stacked pallets

In the application, autonomous guided vehicles transport loaded pallets to the KZV-321. These AGVs can reach speeds of up to 1.2m/s and transport loads weighing up to 120kg. The KZV-321 then straps the pallets using MOSCA SoniXs ultrasonic technology with zero emissions and no warm-up phase. The machine can also efficiently secure stacked pallets for transport.

After the pallets have been strapped and the second pallet has been placed on top, for example, by a pallet doubler, the strap lances of the KZV-321 pass through the deck boards of both pallets again to ensure a bond that protects the goods and saves resources. If necessary, the stack can be separated quickly and easily without loosening the straps on the individual pallets.

The high-performance KZV-321 machine is ideal for strapping a variety of packages ranging from plastic containers to cartons, sacks or other soft packaging. Thanks to the machine’s compact design and its ability to adjust strapping to the product height with six strap lances, the KZV-321 is suitable for use in many different sectors, including the agricultural industry or intralogistics. The strapping machine enables users to maximise available space – horizontally and vertically.

Bringing digitalisation to strapping

The MOSCA EVOLUTION SoniXs TR-6 Pro is also on display at the company’s exhibition stand. This high-performance strapping machine processes up to 45 packages per minute and can keep up with fast production speeds at the end of the packaging line.

In addition to high throughput, the SoniXs TR-6 Pro scores points with a wide range of control options. Various parameters and strapping programs can be manually adjusted using an HMI touch panel on the machine. Thanks to an integrated network communication interface, the machine can also be controlled via a WebHMI.

Additionally, machine-relevant information like availability, performance and quality can be monitored in real time. This enables operators to check the machine status regardless of time and location and to respond quickly if necessary. It also avoids malfunctions and expensive interruptions – and ensures the uncomplicated optimisation of packaging processes.

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