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Month: February 2025

Migros Expands OPM Warehouse System

Posted on by David Priestman

The national logistics division of Swiss food retailer Migros is expanding its highly automated dry goods distribution center in Suhr with WITRON. The integration of 14 additional COM machines into the existing solution during ongoing operations is claimed to be a logistical, architectural, and sustainable masterpiece.

The logistics area required for this is being built on the roof of the dispatch station, which is adjacent to Migros Verteilbetrieb AG (MVB), Suhr so that no additional space needs to be sealed for the expansion. Starting in the third quarter of 2027, the additional technology will enable MVB to pick almost 132,000 additional cases onto store pallets fully automatically every day. The facility in Suhr will then pick more than 560,000 cases on a peak day using a total of 47 COM machines in combination with WITRON’s DPS and ATS solutions.

The project known as “FOODTURA” was a challenging task for WITRON’s logistics designers, as only 7,000 square meters were available for the expansion. A total of 14 fully automated picking machines, 116,000 tray storage locations, 28 stacker cranes, 6 depalletizers, and 4 stretch-wrappers had to be integrated – spread over two levels. Given these specifications, MVB and all architects involved have elaborated a solution that sets standards in terms of both functionality and design.

Integration of 14 additional COM machines

The new logistics area will be connected to the existing one via a compact conveyor system network. “MVB has been storing and picking dry goods in Suhr since mid-2011 with a WITRON OPM system at Champions League level”, explains Alexander Schweizer, Head of Engineering and IT at MVB. “From there, we currently supply more than 700 stores with 315,000+ cases daily.” At the end of 2015, an automated solution for the fresh produce and convenience sectors was integrated into the existing building, enabling almost 120,000 cases to be picked every day.

“With the OPM solution, we have achieved a high level of cost-efficiency and store service in recent years – and, as a result, a high level of customer satisfaction. Due to the expected growth, the decision was made to integrate 14 additional COM machines into the dry goods sector. This will enable MVB to pick an additional 132,000 cases per day in future”, explains Schweizer.

Migros Verteilbetrieb AG in Suhr is already operating 28 COM machines in the dry product range and 5 COM machines in the convenience sector. “By the end of 2027, a total of 47 COM machines – in combination with WITRON’s DPS (Dynamic Picking System) and ATS (Automated Tote System) solutions – will be stacking more than 560,000 cases onto pallets and roll containers every day almost error-free, store-friendly, ergonomic, and sustainable. Nearly 100 percent of the product range will be picked automatically”, says Schweizer.

Extensive IT project in Neuendorf

In addition to the OPM expansion at the Suhr site, the two companies also signed a contract for a comprehensive IT project at the Neuendorf site.

At the beginning of 2021, WITRON successfully implemented one of the world’s most efficient omni-channel distribution centers there as part of a challenging greenfield / brownfield project. The highly dynamic facility supplies more than 700 stores and many thousands of home shopping customers from a wide near-food / non-food range of 100,000+ different items p.a. On a peak day, WITRON’s OPM, AIO, and CPS systems pick 470,000+ cases, pieces, and bulky parts, which are dispatched both by truck and by rail. The facility also started the operation of a frozen goods warehouse, which uses OPM technology at minus 25 degrees Celsius to supply more than 1,400 stores from a range of 2,200 products and stack up to 100,000 cases daily store-friendly onto pallets and roll containers.

Intelligent software suite replaces existing solution

While the automated logistics areas in Neuendorf are already controlled by a WITRON WMS, the upstream and downstream logistics areas (receiving / shipping / returns handling) as well as all interfaces to the Migros SAP system and other higher-level systems (e.g. route planning, container pool management, statistics tools, etc.) have not yet been integrated into the WITRON platform.

As part of the end-of-life process, the existing solution in the near-food / non-food sector is now being successively replaced by a state-of-the-art WITRON WMS during ongoing operations. The future software suite is impressive end-to-end both functionally due to a high level of warehouse intelligence and through a high degree of usability and user experience – individually adapted to the tasks of the respective worker. This project should also be completed by mid-2027.

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20 Years of OPM Automation

 

Matthews International Announces Partnership with MiR

Posted on by David Priestman

Matthews International has announced a global commercial partnership between its Automation Solutions business segment and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), a manufacturer of collaborative autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and part of Teradyne Robotics, a division of Teradyne, Inc.

The new partnership combines Matthews’ proven warehouse automation technologies with MiR’s advanced AMRs uniquely suited for internal transportation and material handling tasks in a variety of settings. This collaboration positions both companies to capitalize on the projected 30% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) in the AGV/AMR market by 2028, driven by rising demand in e-commerce and the flexibility of AMRs to deploy without major infrastructure changes.

The Matthews–MiR partnership promises to provide complete, integrated warehouse automation solutions that streamline picking, packing, and material movement. Matthews’ Warehouse Execution System (WES) software, picking systems, and automation expertise will complement MiR’s best-in-class AMRs, offering customers a new level of customization, flexibility, and performance. The partnership will enable businesses to seamlessly scale and optimize their operations, from production floors to distribution centres, ensuring a competitive edge in an increasingly complex marketplace.

“We are excited to partner with MiR to broaden our automation capabilities,” said Lars Vöcking, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Matthews Industrial Automation EMEA. “Our customers face rapidly changing demands in their supply chains and distribution networks. By integrating MiR’s AMRs into our existing suite of material handling solutions, we can help them unlock new efficiencies and build a more resilient, future-ready operation.”

To date, Matthews’ Warehouse Automation solutions have been deployed in over 2,000 manufacturing and distribution centers globally, helping customers boost productivity, improve quality, and reduce operational costs.

“With its strong customer relations and significant experience servicing global brands across multiple industries, Matthews International is the perfect partner for MiR,” said Jean-Pierre Hathout, President of MiR. “Modern automation is all about cross-technology collaboration and integrability and this partnership will make it easier for operations to integrate and utilize AMRs in their business.”

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How Tech can Attract the Next Generation

Posted on by David Priestman

The leaders of physical operations-led organisations in the UK and Ireland reveal how putting technology at the centre of their business strategy is transforming the workplace to meet the demands of a new generation while creating safer and more efficient organisations. That’s according to a new State of Connected Operations Report — Building for the Next Generation: Workforce Trends in Physical Operations— from Samsara, the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Cloud, which includes insights from 1,550 physical operations leaders across seven countries, including 300 in the UK and Ireland.

“It’s no secret, the labour market can be tough in industries like transportation, construction, and field services but we’re seeing technology make a real difference in how younger talent views their career opportunities,” said Meagen Eisenberg, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsara. “Our research shows that technology is not only making these industries more attractive, but also helping retain workers for the long term. The ROI is impressive and yet, there’s so much potential ahead as many are at the beginning of their digital transformation.”

Modern Technology Tools are a Must-Have for the Workforce

The majority (91%) of leaders in the UK and Ireland agree that modern technology tools have made their industries more desirable to younger workers. Many also report increased employee morale, improved productivity, and lower turnover. Recognising their value in protecting workers from not-at-fault incidents and false claims, leaders ranked automation and robotics as the top technology for improving recruitment and retention. Personalised safety scorecards closely followed, reflecting younger workers’ emphasis on job safety and their comfort with technology that enhances safety.

Despite investments, many workers aren’t yet satisfied, as 79% of leaders in the UK and Ireland report they frequently hear feedback about the need for greater investments in safety and security. To address this, all respondents plan to increase investments in workforce safety and security technologies over the next five years, with many prioritising IoT-enabled safety devices, automation that reduces worker exposure to hazards, and predictive safety analytics.

Technology Investments Drive Financial Returns and Unlock New Efficiencies

Leaders state their technology strategies are driving significant financial benefits, as almost half (49%) report their safety-focused technology investments have saved their organisation more than £800,000. All respondents in the UK and Ireland confirmed that technology has empowered the workforce to shift their focus toward higher-value tasks, including preventative maintenance, safety checks, and valuable upskilling opportunities. The research also revealed widespread adoption of e-learning platforms, with 84% of organisations already using these tools. Leaders cite interpersonal and team relations as well as feedback and assessment as the top benefits.

To discover more insights from the State of Connected Operations Report: Building for the Next Generation: Workforce Trends in Physical Operations visit here.

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FuturMaster and PlaniSense Join Forces

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A strategic merger in the supply chain software industry has been announced, between FuturMaster and PlaniSense. Three months after its acquisition by Sagard NewGen, FuturMaster, supplier of SaaS Supply Chain Planning and Revenue Growth Management, has acquired PlaniSense, a specialist in scheduling and production planning.

Thanks to this partnership, FuturMaster integrates PlaniSense’s advanced scheduling capabilities directly into its Bloom platform, offering a market solution that covers strategic planning, process optimization, and real-time scheduling. This combination delivers enhanced precision, increased responsiveness, and complete control over the supply chain, ensuring greater operational performance for manufacturers.

A Major Breakthrough for the Industrial Sector and Its Clients

This merger also embodies a shared vision. By bringing together artificial intelligence, digital twins, and algorithmic excellence, FuturMaster and PlaniSense aim to create a powerful ecosystem that pushes the boundaries of industrial optimization. Companies in the food, luxury, automotive, and distribution sectors could benefit from an integrated, scalable, and high-performance solution, enabling them to: reduce costs, anticipate disruptions, and maximize operational reliability.

Among the companies that use FuturMaster and PlaniSense are Heineken, L’Oréal, Forvia, LVMH, and Bel. The new platform is deployed in over 90 countries, providing businesses with a proven infrastructure tailored to today’s market challenges.

A Global Ambition Driven by Accelerated Growth

With nearly 40 employees and strong technological expertise, PlaniSense is now part of FuturMaster. This acquisition aligns with an ambitious growth strategy, strengthening the group’s presence in Europe, North America, and Asia. In 2024, FuturMaster and PlaniSense jointly welcomed 25 new clients, confirming a trajectory of continuous growth. Supported by Sagard NewGen, FuturMaster continues its international expansion while accelerating the development of innovative solutions.

By joining forces, FuturMaster and PlaniSense provide a more comprehensive response to planning and operational optimization challenges, giving businesses greater control over their supply chains.

Leaders Committed to a Shared Vision

Nazim Nachi, CEO of PlaniSense, states: “The alliance with FuturMaster represents a strategic and natural alignment between our complementary products and teams. We are confident that this collaboration will offer our clients an expanded range of solutions, allowing them to address their Supply Chain management needs even more effectively. Together, we aim to transform the industry by redefining performance and innovation standards.”

Yacine Zeroual, CEO of FuturMaster, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome Nazim and his team. The complementarity between the FuturMaster group and PlaniSense is even more evident as we know each other well and have already built a successful partnership. This merger is a decisive step in realizing our ambitions. We share a common value proposition: transforming complexity into a competitive advantage. Together, we provide businesses worldwide with an unparalleled offer in terms of performance, completeness, and agility.”

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Körber Supply Chain Software joins Zero100 Community

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Körber Supply Chain Software, a joint venture between Körber AG and KKR, and a global provider of adaptable supply chain execution solutions, has joined Zero100, a membership-based intelligence company connecting, informing, and inspiring the world’s supply chain leaders to accelerate progress on digital supply chain transformation.

As Körber Supply Chain Software transitions to its new brand – Infios – this collaboration will accelerate Infios’s artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability initiatives, driving forward its commitment to providing adaptable supply chain execution solutions that evolve with customer needs, and helping businesses reduce their environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency.

As a member of the community, Infios will leverage Zero100’s expertise to integrate innovative sustainability practices and digital tools into its adaptable solutions. By harnessing advanced technologies such as AI and data analytics and providing businesses with the right level of flexibility and control to evolve and adapt solutions to their needs, Infios can help its customers optimize their entire supply chain ecosystem and create a more optimistic outlook.

“We are excited to partner with Zero100 to execute on our vision and our commitment to relentlessly make supply chains better,” said Ed Auriemma, Chief Executive Officer at Infios. “By growing with our customers, delivering adaptable solutions, thinking ahead, and purposefully innovating, we are equipping businesses with the tools to optimize operations, enhance resilience, and drive measurable sustainability impact. Together, we are shaping the future of smarter, more efficient, and more responsible supply chains.”

Infios’s comprehensive suite of solutions, including order management, warehousing and fulfillment, and transportation management, will be enhanced through access to Zero100’s data-driven research insights and advisory.

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Strong Year of Dealmaking in Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Deal volumes in the UK logistics and supply chain management sector hit a record high in 2024 in a strong year of dealmaking, with 93 deals completed in the logistics sector. This is a 15% increase on deals completed in 2023.

Transaction volumes in Q4 2024 fell to 19 deals, compared to a quarterly five-year high of 27 seen in the previous quarter. However, there remains a strong appetite for deals, particularly from international investors. Total disclosed deal value for Q4 2024 was also considerably lower than the previous quarter. This is largely attributable to a high value in Q3 driven by the acquisition of Evri by Apollo Global Management Inc for £2.7bn.

According to the latest report from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, the ‘UK M&A Update – Q4 2024, Logistics and Supply Chain Management’, in the final quarter of the year, the majority of transactions in Q4 were trade deals and 58% were cross-border – an increase from 44% in Q3.

Notable transactions were Green Fulfilment’s acquisition of Omni Channel Fulfilment; InPost SA’s acquisition of the remaining 70% shareholding in Menzies Distribution group; and Schenk’s acquisition of Suttons Tankers. Private equity appetite in the sector continued and there were several direct investments, whilst several of the trade acquisitions were by PE-backed businesses.

The report also showed that technology remains a key driver in the sector, with 42% of deals tech-related.

Jason Whitworth, M&A partner at BDO LLP (pictured), explained: “The drop in deal activity in Q4 undoubtedly reflects a forward pull on deals to complete ahead of the Autumn Budget. The market was also digesting the budget announcements, notably the impact of the increased costs that will be incurred by businesses in the form of higher National Insurance Contributions and minimum wages. That being said, there remains a strong appetite for deals, particularly from international investors accessing and consolidating in the UK.”

Jason Whitworth, BDO

Prominent cross-border Q4 deals included Aptean Inc acquiring Indigo Software Ltd; while Deutsche Post and Fracht AG also acquired in the UK, snapping up Brandpath Group and Quality Freight Ltd respectively.

Whitworth said: “As we get into the full swing of 2025, the improving confidence highlighted in our UK Logistics Confidence survey in October 2024 appears to have been dented. Increased costs and the less benign economic outlook have increased the pressure on the industry. Alongside other significant operational changes, 2025 looks like it will be particularly challenging.”

Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, UK businesses are being urged to prepare for potential supply chain disruptions and rising trade costs, as uncertainty looms over future US trade policies. A recent BDO survey of 500 mid-market businesses revealed that supply chain disruptions are amongst the top challenges UK businesses face and it is expected that mitigating supply chain risks will become a key priority in the coming 12 months.

Whitworth added: “With this continued uncertainty and challenge comes opportunity for those building on effective and quality service, and we anticipate that capital rich investors and trade will continue to drive increased investment activity as the focus shifts to increased technology enablement and consolidation of supply chain services to drive efficiencies.”

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FedEx Acquires RouteSmart Technologies

Posted on by David Priestman

FedEx Corp. has announced that it has acquired RouteSmart Technologies, a provider of route optimization solutions with over 40 years of expertise, providing mission-critical technology to newspaper, postal & parcel, public works, utilities & field service, and waste collection organizations worldwide.

The combination of RouteSmart’s leading technology solutions with FedEx’s physical and data networks will enable one of the world’s largest express transportation providers to further drive efficiency across its own global operations, while also strengthening the company’s suite of technology solutions.

“This is yet another step on our journey to make supply chains smarter for everyone as we revolutionize logistics,” said Raj Subramaniam, President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx Corporation. “Our physical network generates terabytes of data that contain invaluable insights about the global supply chain. Through this acquisition, we will use RouteSmart’s expertise and proven technology platform to accelerate the deployment of a common route optimization capability for FedEx operations that will enable our team members to work safer and smarter as they deliver superior service to our customers.”

The two companies expect a seamless integration as they build upon many years of collaboration. FedEx has been a long-standing customer of RouteSmart, using its Routing as a Service (RaaS) product in its ground operations for many years. RaaS serves as the backbone for the internal FedEx Route Optimization (FRO) tool, which the company is rolling out globally as part of its ongoing network transformation.

“We are excited to tighten our strategic relationship with FedEx as we further drive efficiency throughout FedEx’s global operations and accelerate our solutions for all clients we serve,” said Larry Levy, president, RouteSmart Technologies.

RouteSmart will continue to work with customers across a broad range of industries. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, RouteSmart will operate as a standalone entity under FedEx Dataworks, which is a direct subsidiary of Federal Express Corporation.

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Delivery Efficiency is Paramount for Profitability

Posted on by David Priestman

The outlook for 2025 is challenging for any business involved in the retail fulfilment process – from online retailers to logistics providers. The changes to UK National Insurance and the National Living Wage made in the November 2024 budget has had serious financial ramifications for companies already operating on wafer-thin margins. Furthermore, consumer demand has also stalled, with the UK braced for weak consumer spending throughout the next 12 months as public confidence falls.

So how will the industry react? Where can retailers look to improve fortunes throughout 2025? Is it possible to cut costs without compromising the high level of experience customers now demand? Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing, Descartes explores.

Impossible Squeeze

Britain’s largest retailers are warning of potentially thousands of job cuts this year as the industry braces for higher taxes and employment costs. A bleak Christmas shopping season failed to alleviate concerns about the outlook for 2025, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) confirming sales growth over the “golden quarter” between October and December came close to flatlining. Consumer confidence is low. The UK’s economic growth projections have been downgraded. Retailers, therefore, have tough decisions to make. Not all will have the confidence and sheer size of brands such as Next which has said it will increase prices by 1% this year to help offset a £67m rise in wage costs driven by budget tax changes.

At the same time, of course, customers’ expectations continue to rise. If consumers are to be enticed into spending, they want to enjoy every aspect of the transaction – both online and in person. There is no tolerance for delivery mistakes. As the Home Delivery Consumer Sentiment Study 2024 confirms, problems such as expensive electrical items left on the doorstep in the rain or delivery confirmation photographs of someone else’s doorstep are a fast track to customer loss.

Workforce Shortages
Andrew Tavener, Descartes

How will companies respond to this squeeze? Where are the opportunities to impose tighter cost control while also providing an exceptional customer experience and, of course, attaining legislative sustainability goals while accommodating customers’ environmental expectations for green delivery?

Optimise and Communicate

For an industry already operating on tight margins, these new financial pressures are potentially devastating. However, there are clear opportunities to improve performance whilst also improving the customer experience. The simplest, quickest and least expensive step is to ensure customers are kept informed at every stage of the fulfilment process, especially the last mile.

Managing delivery expectations effectively not only improves customer satisfaction it also reduces the missed deliveries that are so costly for any logistics business. In addition to minimising the number of expensive redeliveries, improving first time delivery performance avoids the risk of product damage or loss that can occur when customers are not at home. Leveraging notifications to reduce costs and improve the customer experience should be a key objective for any retailer over the next 12 months.

The entire delivery operation can also be significantly improved through intelligent, real-time route optimisation that improves delivery density. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will also play an increasing role throughout 2025 to further maximise the value of the existing fleet. By comparing planned delivery schedules with the actual performance over a period of time, AI can highlight specific addresses that cause problems – from a certain location that demands additional time to make the delivery to the impact of school drop off on local roads – to achieve far more delivery certainty.

Companies actively including essential driver feedback – such as potholes slowing down traffic – into the mix, can also avoid delays and improve overall delivery performance.

Encourage Behavioural Change

A key trend throughout 2025 will be the move towards driving behavioural change at the checkout to further enhance delivery cost effectiveness. Retailers can leverage up-to-date delivery information at the checkout to provide customers with intelligent date and time choices that support more efficient delivery schedules. Encouraging a customer to opt for the same delivery time as a neighbour by offering a low cost, even free delivery, for example, radically reduces travel distance and allows the retailer to be far more sophisticated about maximising capacity and sharing resources across defined geographic regions. Adopting this approach has enabled John Lewis to increase delivery capacity by 35% without adding vehicles or drivers and reduce fulfilment costs by £1.8 million.

As retailers gain confidence in exploring intelligence to meet different economic goals and customer expectations, the model will become ever more sophisticated. From matching delivery offers to customer delivery personas to including information around clean air zones and traffic restrictions within the routing model, retailers can ensure customer promises can be achieved without incurring profit denting fines. Sustainability goals can also be automatically factored into the process, allowing retailers to continually amend delivery options and prices, using low cost local ‘green’ deliveries to further improve customer perception and environmental performance in decarbonising fleet operations.

Critically, this process allows retailers to encourage customers towards delivery options that suit existing delivery schedules. This not only improves delivery density and gains operational cost benefits without adding stress to drivers, it enables retailers to meet rising customer expectations without resorting to the over-promising that can lead to disappointment.

Retailers have been improving their delivery performance year on year but the new financial pressures facing businesses throughout 2025 are raising the stakes. The letter written by over 80 UK retailers to UK chancellor Rachel Reeves in November 2024 predicted the challenges created by changes to National Insurance, the National Living Wage, and the ongoing packaging levy. With the latest BRC sales figures confirming their worst fears and the economic outlook for the UK looking bleak, efficient, effective and timely operational performance is now critical.

Real-time optimisation, in tandem with the use of intelligence to drive changes in consumer behaviour, will be key to achieving essential operational change. Using AI to continually assess both delivery performance and consumer persona response will allow retailers to further refine the process. How do customers respond to low-cost delivery offers in January following the festive overspend compared to peak season? Are consumers more likely to embrace green delivery slots if the retailer shares CO2 calculations or are price and convenience bigger incentives? The ability to leverage customers’ desires and behaviours will become an increasingly key weapon this year as retailers push to control costs without compromising experience.

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[Podcast] Electric Freightway: Decarbonising the UK’s HGVs

Posted on by David Priestman

In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter McLeod speaks with Colm Gallagher, Chief Data Scientist at Hitachi ZeroCarbon, about the ambitious Electric Freightway initiative. With heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) responsible for 20% of UK transport emissions, Hitachi ZeroCarbon, in collaboration with Gridserve and other key industry players, is spearheading a data-driven transition towards electric HGVs.

Colm explains how this initiative tackles the “chicken-and-egg” dilemma between charging infrastructure and vehicle adoption, ensuring a synchronized rollout of electric HGVs and public/private charging networks. The discussion explores the role of real-world telemetry data in optimizing fleet operations, reducing costs, and informing industry-wide decarbonization strategies.

Key topics include

The economic viability of electric HGVs, the challenges of scaling up infrastructure, and the behavioural shift required within the logistics sector. Colm also shares insights into Hitachi’s role in analysing fleet performance, supporting operators in making data-driven decisions, and driving policy development for the UK’s 2040 diesel ban.

Tune in to discover how Electric Freightway is shaping the future of sustainable logistics, and what it means for fleet operators, policymakers, and the wider supply chain. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights from industry leaders tackling today’s most pressing logistics challenges!

Click here to listen to this episode and more…

Strategic Partnership Drives Automation Innovation

Posted on by David Priestman

Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, is leveraging SEER Robotics’ technology to transform its logistics and production processes through a strategic partnership. With a strong presence in energy efficiency and automation, Schneider Electric continues to push the envelope in smart manufacturing by integrating intelligent robots and advanced logistics management systems into its global operations.

Schneider Electric: A Pioneer in Smart Manufacturing

Schneider Electric’s commitment to innovation has earned several of its global production facilities the prestigious title of “Lighthouse Factories,” which are recognized as the benchmarks of the industry. These factories stand as a testament to Schneider Electric’s unwavering dedication to advancing automation and smart manufacturing.

But the journey to becoming an industry leader doesn’t end with technology—it’s about how they leverage that technology to improve operational efficiency and safety across their operations. That’s where SEER Robotics enters the picture, providing vital support in optimizing logistics and warehouse automation.

Driving the Future of Logistics

Since 2021, Schneider Electric has been gradually introducing SEER Robotics’ smart logistics solutions into its core factories in Shanghai, Wuxi, and beyond. These solutions are designed to optimize production workflows, drive efficiency, and reduce operational costs, ensuring that the company maintains its competitive edge.

In 2024, Schneider Electric took another significant step forward by partnering with SEER Robotics at its U.S. manufacturing site in Tennessee. The collaboration introduced SEER Robotics’ Laser SLAM-powered intelligent forklifts and the M4 Smart Logistics Management System to optimize warehouse operations. These technologies are enabling Schneider Electric to streamline its warehouse processes, reduce manual labor, and enhance overall productivity—empowering them to maintain a smooth flow from semi-finished product lines to storage.

Smart Solutions for a Smarter Future

Here’s a look at the key benefits of this smart logistics solution:

1. Laser SLAM Navigation for Greater Flexibility

SEER Robotics’ forklifts are equipped with Laser SLAM navigation technology, which ensures that they can operate in diverse and dynamic factory environments without the need for extensive site modifications. These autonomous forklifts boast an impressive repeat positioning accuracy of up to ±5mm, allowing them to perform precise tasks, such as moving goods across the factory floor, with ease.

2. Enhanced Safety with Refined Obstacle Avoidance

Safety is paramount when it comes to human-robot interaction. At Schneider Electric’s U.S. site, where smart forklifts frequently interact with human-operated ones, SEER Robotics’ system takes safety to the next level. The obstacle avoidance system was specifically optimized to meet the challenges of the warehouse environment, improving the accuracy of obstacle detection and ensuring that both workers and robots can operate safely side by side.

3. Interconnected Systems for Efficient Operations

The M4 Smart Logistics Management System integrates fleet management, task management, and warehouse management into a seamless, all-in-one solution. By linking the intelligent forklifts with the roller production lines, it ensures real-time coordination and boosts operational efficiency across the entire factory floor. This level of interconnectivity is transforming how Schneider Electric manages its production processes.

4. Adaptive Solutions for Non-Standard Applications

Industrial environments often come with unique challenges that require tailored solutions. SEER Robotics meets this challenge with standardized products that can be quickly adapted to different operational needs. At Schneider Electric’s U.S. facility, the forklift’s routing system was dynamically adjusted to optimize the movement of goods. Additionally, special attachments were added to pallets to allow seamless integration with robots and other smart devices, ensuring maximum efficiency across operations.

A Vision for the Future of Smart Logistics

This collaboration between SEER Robotics and Schneider Electric is more than just a technological integration. It’s a vision for the future of smart logistics. With advanced robotics and intelligent systems working in harmony, Schneider Electric is setting the stage for a new era of manufacturing that is efficient, safe, and adaptable to the evolving needs of the industry.

As more companies look to integrate smart solutions into their operations, Schneider Electric’s approach—backed by SEER Robotics’ innovations—demonstrates how technology is helping businesses not only meet today’s challenges but also prepare for the future.

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