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Category: Uncategorised

Compact and Scalable Sorting System

Posted on by Keith McKinley

At the end of last year, Collo-X, an innovative company based in the Netherlands, launched a new sorting system: the MicroSorter. This compact sorting system is capable of sorting up to 1,500 products per hour per unit, with a maximum number of outputs in a very small area. The system is versatile and can process a wide range of products including clothing, shoe boxes, accessories, office supplies, Post and Parcels.

FarmaSort and Collo-X

The company from Wijchen is part of FarmaSort, a producer of sorting solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, with a special focus on pharmacies. Since its founding in 2017, FarmaSort has launched a series of innovative products, including EasyFilling, RotoFilling, and SpeedFilling. With about 100 implemented sorting solutions, FarmaSort supports around 300 pharmacies across the Netherlands in sorting medications down to prescription level. This has firmly positioned the company as a market leader in sorting solutions for the pharmaceutical sector in the Netherlands.

Key Figures of the MicroSorter

The MicroSorter, a compact and scalable sorting system, is specifically designed to efficiently and systematically handle orders and Parcels. Each MicroSorter unit, depending on the configuration, can process up to 1,500 items per hour to a maximum number of outputs on a very small area. The types of outputs that can be sorted to are diverse, including bags, roll containers, bins/crates, carton boxes, gravity rollers, conveyors, and chutes.

The MicroSorter can handle products from 75 x 50 x 5 mm to 575 x 375 x 300 mm, with the maximum weight of the items being sorted at 10 kg. The MicroSorter can be operated as a standalone unit or can be linked with Pusher-, Shoe-, and Crossbelt Sorters for secondary sorting.

After the successful introduction of the MicroSorter at LogiMat 2024 in Stuttgart, the MicroSorter has proven to be suitable for a wide range of companies – from webshops and logistics fulfillment centres to any company involved in post and parcel sorting.

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Scalable, Safe and Reliable Racking

 

LogiMAT ’24 Has Your Back

Posted on by David Priestman

Exhibitors from nearly every sector of the industry are coming to LogiMAT 2024 to present their latest products and solutions for ergonomically optimized intralogistics processes, healthy workplaces, and injury prevention. The spectrum ranges from modular workstation designs and systems to hoists not yet exhibited anywhere in the world, software-driven language-based picking processes with smart glasses, and new accessories and assistance systems for forklift operators. An Expert Forum taking place during LogiMAT presents tools and solutions for the ergonomic design of workstations and processes.

The intralogistics industry has not been spared the ravaging effects of demographic change and labor shortages. Some 100,000 logistics-related jobs in Germany alone remain unfilled. This makes ergonomics a topic of growing importance for businesses. Higher-quality workstations, improvements in how physical activities are performed, smart workstations designed with the help of digital technology, human-robot collaboration, and devices to ease the physical strain on workers: These are just some of the tools that can make workflows more efficient and the field of intralogistics more attractive. To cite just one example, a study published in late 2023 on the introduction of wearable exoskeletons found that they could reduce muscle strain in workers with the most strenuous jobs by up to 30 percent. Accuracy rose 27 percent, and speed was up 10 percent. Workplace safety improved while illness-related absences fell. “Ergonomics is an important element of intralogistics. Ergonomic workstations ensure the future of intralogistics and make it easier for the industry to compete for talent,” explains Exhibition Director Michael Ruchty from event organizer EUROEXPO Messe- und Kongress-GmbH in Munich. “LogiMAT, in its role as a barometer for intralogistics industry trends, is the primary platform for presenting the latest developments in this sphere. That’s why we’ve embraced this topic as one of the three areas of focus at this year’s event, as captured in our theme ‘SHAPING CHANGE TOGETHER: Sustainability – AI – Ergonomics.’”

Veronika Kretschmer, Senior Scientist for Assistance Systems and Human-Technology Interaction at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, highlights possible solutions for ergonomically realigning workstations and workflows in her Expert Forum in the East Entrance Atrium, taking place on the second day of LogiMAT 2024. The forum’s content is aligned with Fraunhofer IML’s “Social Networked Industry”—a vision for the workplace of tomorrow in which people and new technologies work together collaboratively in an atmosphere of safety and trust. The tools introduced to support this vision range from exoskeletons and pick-by systems providing cognitive support for pickers to AI-based analytics of movement data for the optimization of intralogistics processes.

Human-machine collaborative workstation

Exhibitors from every sector of the intralogistics industry are also coming to LogiMAT in Stuttgart, March 19–21, to showcase their latest innovations for reducing physical strain and ergonomically optimizing how workstations are designed and equipped. Systems integrators and industrial machinery and equipment manufacturers in Halls 1, 3, 5, and 7 will exhibit new products for the ergonomically optimized design of picking and sorting stations, such as those used in AutoStore systems. The theme greets visitors as soon as they arrive through the East Entrance with the design for a manual picking and packing workstation, presented in the live demonstration of an assembly line innovation that includes custom packing tables and a centralized robotics system that supplies material and removes empty containers.

Exhibitors in Halls 4 and 5 are presenting various new workstation systems for modern assembly, logistics, and warehouse operations. Optimized ergonomics, flexibility, functionality, and a customized modular concept are the hallmarks here. This makes it possible to easily adapt individual components such as shelves, holders, packing tables, and worktables to different body sizes and processes, and to implement upgrades and extensions or integrate new digital technologies at any time. The result is ergonomically efficient systems for logistics jobs with long-term viability. New automated packaging solutions offer customized packing processes that optimize the use of resources and reduce the number of tasks that still need to be performed manually.

The world’s first fully mobile manipulator

Hall 7 will give visitors the opportunity to test new products never yet exhibited anywhere in the world, innovative wire rope hoist and workstation crane systems, and new modular lifting devices for ergonomic, easy, effortless handling. The modular concept lets workers configure their mobile or stationary industrial lifting equipment to match their individual needs. The assistance systems for simplified manual load handling on display in Hall 7 will also include innovative new suction grippers for cardboard packaging and bags. Visitors should also keep an eye open for the world’s first fully mobile manipulator for handling cartons, crates, packages, and containers.

For the manufacturers of industrial trucks and attachments in Halls 9 and 10, ergonomics is focused primarily on providing a comfortable workstation for forklift operators and easy-to-use, multifunctional attachments. Visitors to LogiMAT can look forward to experiencing innovations in equipment and assistance systems. One example is the first-in-Europe live demo of a combination package for forklifts with both location- and event-related features designed to automatically identify and avoid any dangers to people, vehicles, or loads—for enhanced safety and a more comfortable ride. New concepts for improved human-machine interaction and machine learning in the use of autonomous devices will also be presented. A new eurobin tug on display in Hall 9 is an ergonomic lifting and transport solution that gives workers a powered boost in moving eurobins weighing up to 300 kg in an optimal, upright working position, significantly reducing physical strain.

Vision picking for the digital warehouse

Many of the software developers in Hall 8 are showcasing new features and applications in their systems that reflect the role IT solutions can play in the ergonomic planning and design of facility layouts and workflows. A vision picking solution featuring smart glasses illustrates how the integration of cutting-edge technology in ergonomically optimized workflows can support digital warehouse logistics.

Next door in Hall 6, visitors can experience the latest innovations for collaborative workflows in the human-machine interface with automated guided vehicle systems and all the latest robotic solutions: cobots, stationary industrial robots, mobile picking robots, and autonomous mobile robot transport systems. The focus here is on sensor-based safety and ergonomic workstation design at transfer points and the periphery of the line, for example. Sensor technology and convenient identification solutions are also a defining feature in the new products and solutions presented by the specialists for automatic identification and data capture (AIDC), concentrated this year in Hall 2. Smart labels whose data can be read and modified by stationary and mobile readers, and cloud apps with automated interfaces and features for direct printing: These are just a couple examples of how AIDC solutions cut down on walking distances and make life easier for warehouse workers.

“Ergonomics in intralogistics helps maintain worker health and prevent injuries and excess physical strain, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of intralogistics processes,” Ruchty concludes. “Exhibitors at LogiMAT 2024 are presenting a wide range of state-of-the-art solutions for ergonomically optimized workstations. Integrating this cutting-edge technology improves working conditions in the intralogistics industry, and this can enhance the image of logistics-related careers.”

St. Modwen Logistics Lets DC in Wales

Posted on by Keith McKinley

St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading industrial and logistics developers and managers, has leased an additional 76,000 sq ft of logistics space at St. Modwen Park Newport, Gwent in Wales as an increasing number of businesses seek to capitalise on its strong location for distribution and manufacturing.

Solus, the Aviva-owned accident repair group, has leased a 24,000 sq ft unit to be used as a centre for paint repair work, whilst a separate 52,500 sq ft unit at the park has also been let to an unnamed ecommerce business.

The units, which form part of the c.345,000 sq ft of space delivered at St. Modwen Park Newport to date, have been built to St. Modwen’s ‘Swan Standard’ of sustainable development and incorporate various energy efficiency features including LED lighting and PV panels, achieving an EPC ‘A’ rating as a result. The scheme’s existing units also support customers on their own journeys to net zero by facilitating electric vehicle charging and providing occupiers with the necessary tools to limit their operational carbon emissions, including low-energy lighting.

St. Modwen Park Newport is strategically located just two miles from Junction 23A of the M4 motorway, providing excellent connectivity to South Wales and South West England. The Park’s location between major urban centres either side of the Severn Bridge, and the quality of space delivered at the scheme, is encouraging a diverse range of manufacturing and distribution businesses to choose Newport as their preferred location to facilitate their growth.

Solus joins a number of other high-profile occupiers at St. Modwen Park Newport including Amazon, Genpower, Mitel and Ureka Global.

Ben Quarrie, Development Director at St. Modwen Logistics, commented: “We are pleased to be welcoming Solus to St. Modwen Park Newport, with this deal adding to the growing number of businesses already operating at the park. We know how important access to the national transport infrastructure is for our customers and being placed at the gateway to South Wales makes Newport an ideal location for Solus and our community of businesses to thrive.

“There remains an acute undersupply of suitable logistics space in the region and we are continuing to explore opportunities to deliver even more space, including the possibility of a variety of bespoke, build-to-suit units upto 600,000 sq ft for interested companies.”

Creating Safe Conveyor Transitions

Posted on by David Priestman

At LogiMAT this year Flexco Europe will showcase innovative solutions for safe belt conveyor transport. LogiMAT 2024 will take place in Stuttgart from March 19th to 21st. Flexco Europe is a specialist for mechanical belt conveyor fastening systems and will once again focus on its transfer solutions at this year’s trade show. The new transfer plates for roller conveyors will be showcased together with the proven segmented transfer plates. Flexco Europe will be demonstrating how the individual solutions are used in Hall 5, Stand 5G52, using a demonstration model.

At LogiMAT, Flexco Europe will present its new roller conveyor transfer plates (RCTP) to a specialist public. The RCTPs can be installed in belt driven, line shaft driven, chain-driven and motorized drive roller conveyors. This solution ensures that envelopes, polybags, and small parcels do not get lost between the rollers – a common problem in conveyor systems. The RCTP covers the gap between two rollers. With the new solution, conveyors are not only more productive, but also safer, because employees no longer have to reach between the rollers to pull out products, reducing the risk of injury. The roller conveyor transfer plates are suitable for large quantities of packaged products that can differ greatly, ranging from soft and flexible to dense and compact.

Visitors to the trade show will also see Flexco’s Segmented Transfer Plates for conveyor systems. With a low coefficient of friction, they work together to provide reliable transfer points where items can easily slide from belt to belt or to the transfer hopper to transport packages and cartons safely. Conveyed material frequently accumulates at transfer points and falls to the ground, especially at airports. This can damage the contents of packages. The Segmented Transfer Plates allow the material to slide easily over the transfer plate. Flexco Europe has two transfer plate variants, suitable for belts of up to 1,524 millimeters and gaps of 100 250 or 38 75 millimeters. The bright yellow color of the segments helps maintenance personnel monitor them and replace them quickly if necessary.

Flexco Europe will also exhibit another practical solution for transferring conveyed material safely – ‘Hitch Guard’. The Hitch Guard ensures that no small objects can become lodged at the critical points of the conveyor belts, preventing damage to the belt. If foreign bodies become lodged along the belt profile, individual segments become detached from the support bar. However, the other segments do not move. The result is a high level of operational efficiency. The segments are easy to install. Flexco Europe can also provide an optional mounting design if optical scanners are used in the systems.

The supplier will use a belt model at the trade fair to demonstrate how the Segmented Transfer Plates, the Hitch Guard on the conveyor belt, and the new Transfer Plates for roller belt conveyors work in actual practice. The various solutions are designed to work together.

Supply Chain Fund Announces First Closing

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prequel Ventures, Europe’s first independent pre-seed venture capital fund focusing on pioneering supply chain technology start-ups, announces its first closing. Among the early investors are Gero Decker (Co-Founder and CEO of SAP Signavio), Prof. Dr. Roland Fassauer (CODE University, CEO of aifinyo AG, Co-Founder of l1r1.ai) and a number of supply chain experts.

The fund focuses on supporting start-ups that develop transformative solutions for the challenges in global supply chains in their earliest phase. This includes technologies for optimizing logistics processes, supply chain management, decarbonization and compliance, real-time tracking and data-driven decision making.

“We are thrilled with the confidence and support we have received through the successful first closing,” said Mathias Bosse and Markus Börner, General Partners of Prequel Ventures. “Europe is home to a huge potential of innovative supply chain technologies and Prequel Ventures is determined to accompany and strengthen these startups on their growth path.”

In its first fund generation, Prequel is aiming for a volume of EUR 10 million and is positioning itself as a co-investor that creates added value beyond its investment, above all with a deep industry network. The team is supported by an experienced advisory board consisting of industry executives and successful founders of supply chain scale-ups. Among them are Gregor Stühler
(Scoutbee), Pierre Khoury (Shippeo) and Alex Leichter (Byrd) as well as Sabine Müller (CEO, DHL Consulting).

Insights Platform

With Prequel Insights, the team has created its own platform for screening and monitoring supply chain tech start-ups and currently has more than 480 start-ups on its radar. The network of companies, founders and consultants in the supply chain and logistics sector is growing continuously.

Prequel Ventures already participated in the first financing rounds during the founding phase and began to build up a portfolio of seven promising supply chain start-ups. For example, the fund was involved in the financing of the multi-modal transportation platform rouvia and the customs AI solution Traide from Berlin. Since the first closing, three further investments have already been added – the topics range from medical drone logistics to the management of CO2 taxes in international trade.

Through targeted investments, strategic partnerships and comprehensive mentoring and networking support, Prequel Ventures helps accelerate the development of these companies and pave their way to success. With the successful first closing, Prequel Ventures is now well positioned to continue investing in innovative technologies that are shaping the future of supply chain management.

Peru Operations Expand with Racking

Posted on by Keith McKinley

OXXO, the convenience store chain has taken a significant step forward in its growth in the Peruvian market. In collaboration with AR Racking, industrial storage solutions supplier, OXXO has successfully completed an ambitious expansion and optimisation project of its logistics operations in Villa el Salvador, Peru. This initiative involved the installation of 1000 PAL positions and 98 picking spaces, significantly improving its storage capacity and operating efficiency.

The warehouses involved in this project cover a total of 5000 square metres, divided into a 4000 square metre extension of an existing facility and the construction of a new 1000 square metre warehouse. In the extension, 250 adjustable pallet racking positions have been added with 59 picking levels, while in the new warehouse, 750 adjustable pallet racking positions with 39 picking levels have been installed.

One of the most notable characteristics of this project has been the implementation of 1000 adjustable pallet racking positions with 100 picking levels. Despite the challenges that this project presented, including the need for an urgent installation without any interruptions in OXXO’s logistics operations, AR Racking managed to complete the project using its stock two days before the agreed deadline, resulting in the customer’s full satisfaction.

Peru Operations

José Luis Vásquez Samamé, Regional Manager of OXXO LATAM Logistics Operations, expressed his satisfaction with the project: “We are very pleased to have collaborated with AR Racking in this important expansion project. The installation of 1000 adjustable pallet racking positions and 98 picking spaces has significantly improved our storage capacity and product management efficiency. We thank the entire AR Racking team for its commitment and professionalism in the execution of this project.”

This successful project represents a significant step forward in OXXO’s expansion in the Peruvian market and strengthens AR Racking’s position as leader in industrial storage solutions in the region. The collaboration between these two companies has proven to be a model of success in logistics management and optimisation of storage spaces. “This project has been an exciting challenge for us. The urgent installation and early delivery show our commitment to customer satisfaction and excellence in the execution of logistics projects. We are proud to have contributed to the continuous success of OXXO in the region.” confirmed Omar Durand, Project Manager in AR Racking.

AR Racking is part of Grupo Arania, an industrial group of companies with extensive experience and scope, and with a multi-sectoral activity based on the transformation of steel that dates back more than 80 years. AR Racking provides the market with a wide range of solutions with high certified quality standards and a comprehensive project management service. AR Racking’s industrial storage systems stand out for their innovation, reliability and optimum efficiency.

Logistics Portfolio Finalises Development

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Cain International, a privately held investment firm, has completed the development phase of its first logistics portfolio, less than two years on from its acquisition, following practical completion of Sherburn42, a 659,310 sq. ft. site in North Yorkshire, UK.

Sherburn42 contains four standalone Grade A industrial units ranging from 57,750 sq. ft. to 280,000 sq. ft. and excellent connectivity to 1.1 million potential customers within a 30-mile radius, as well as the U.K. logistics network via major motorways and ports.

The completion marks a significant milestone for the portfolio which Cain acquired in March 2022 for £550 million from Firethorn Trust. The portfolio, consisting of seven sites totalling 3.19M sq. ft. across 24 units, has already attracted leading brands such as Next and Taylor Wimpey.

Logistics Portfolio

Tim Brazier, Senior Vice President at Cain International, said: “Reaching practical completion across the portfolio, despite the wider market challenges, represents a significant achievement. All of the assets have been designed to meet the evolving needs of occupiers, delivering quality space, with a focus on ESG and flexibility, which will support businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in the U.K.”

The site is being delivered by Firethorn Trust on behalf of Cain. Colliers, Lambert Smith Hampton and Carter Towler are acting as lettings agents.

Mastering Supply Chain Resilience with Data

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In the aftermath of the pandemic, businesses faced unprecedented disruptions, laying bare vulnerabilities within their supply chains, writes Suki Dhuphar (pictured), Head of International Business, Tamr.

The question that arises is: What steps can leaders take to prevent future catastrophes in the supply chain? The solution lies in a robust approach that leverages data to bolster resilience. Proactive data utilisation not only mitigates present risks but also equips companies to navigate future disruptions with agility and foresight. By extracting invaluable insights, companies can authentically confront supply chain challenges.

Let’s explore six strategic approaches that can empower business leaders to harness data effectively, guaranteeing a fortified and optimised supply chain.

1. Finding Alternatives Quickly
Inaccurate or incomplete data about parts and suppliers can lead to the selection of inappropriate alternatives, causing production delays and added costs. To address this challenge, implementing data validation processes is essential to ensure the accuracy of parts and supplier information. This includes regularly updating and cleansing the data to remove duplicates and errors.
2. Locating the Entire Supply Chain
Incomplete or outdated supplier data can result in a lack of visibility into the supply chain, making it difficult to identify vulnerabilities. To enhance this visibility, it’s crucial to continuously verify and update supplier information. Additionally, consider investing in data enrichment services to gather comprehensive data about suppliers, their subsidiaries, and distribution networks.
3. Streamlining Supplier Onboarding
Inaccurate data during the onboarding process can lead to compliance issues, delays, and misunderstandings with new suppliers. You can mitigate these risks with data enrichment services that enhance supplier data with additional information. This can include real-time verification of tax IDs, business registration numbers, and compliance with industry regulations.
4. Tracking Price Changes
Inaccurate or delayed data on price changes of raw materials needed for production can lead to incorrect financial projections and hinder the ability to adapt to market fluctuations. To address this issue effectively, it is essential to implement real-time data feeds for pricing information. Additionally, verifying the accuracy and timeliness of data sources is crucial to ensure reliable price tracking and enable timely and informed decision-making.
5. Building Collaborative Networks
Inaccurate data about distributors can lead to poor partner selection and collaboration inefficiencies. To maintain accurate distributor information, you should regularly update data and gather insights into your performance and capabilities. Data enrichment processes can also be employed here to enhance the accuracy and completeness of distributor details.
6. Optimising Procurement Resourcing
Inaccurate spending category data can lead to misallocation of resources and missed opportunities for optimisation. To ensure its accuracy, continuous auditing and validation processes are vital. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms can rigorously identify anomalies, guaranteeing the data accurately reflects spending categories and their unique characteristics. This enables more effective resource allocation, unlocking hidden optimisation opportunities.

Data-driven resilience

In safeguarding your business from supply chain disruptions, a comprehensive grasp of your supply chain is crucial. Utilising accurate and well-maintained data on suppliers, costs, and materials empowers you to anticipate and navigate risks effectively. This data not only promotes collaboration within and beyond your organisation but serves as the paramount resource for mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities. By harnessing clean, curated and reliable data, you not only enhance adaptability but also fortify the resilience of your supply chain, ensuring a proactive and efficient response to evolving challenges.

Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In times of increasing competitive pressures there is a need for optimal productivity, it is essential for companies to guarantee the permanent operational readiness of their automated storage and retrieval systems in the warehouse.

“Kardex customers don’t just seek the perfect solution, they crave the assurance that it’s smooth sailing all the way. Because let’s face it, in the fast-paced world of logistics, even if a hiccup occurs, business must go on. True success lies in seamlessly integrating business and process continuity into every solution we offer,” says Michael Tyler, LCS Director at Kardex.

Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance with Remote Support from Kardex is a digital solution that helps companies ensure the optimal productivity and operational readiness of their automated storage and retrieval systems in the warehouse. It includes two main features: Remote Assistance and Remote Analytics.

Remote Assistance allows operators to continuously monitor their Kardex Remstar automated storage and retrieval systems. They can request technical support directly from the storage unit, providing all the relevant information to the support team. The support team can then assist in solving any problems remotely. If the system is down, it automatically reports the issue, ensuring quick reaction times and efficient assistance. Simple user errors can be fixed remotely, and if a part is needed for repair, the remote service technician is aware in advance, eliminating long wait times for spare parts and reducing system downtime.

Remote Analytics provides users with access to all unit data on an online service portal. This allows them to view the data of their networked systems from anywhere via a web browser. They can use the live overview to verify the status of the units at any time. The data includes information on the status of the machines, system performance metrics such as the number of cycles, and any potential error history. By tracking the number of cycles, users can determine when system maintenance should be performed based on actual usage, rather than relying on factory standards or averages.

Monitoring and Maintenance
Monitoring and Maintenance

Kardex ensures the security of sensitive data by implementing measures such as two-factor authentication, secure storage of data, and data transmission channels protected by state-of-the-art firewalls. Remote Support is an important part of Kardex’s service offering to guarantee maximum success in storage logistics operations. It helps customers maximise the efficiency of their units and ensures business continuity by minimising system downtime and optimising maintenance schedules.

See How Kardex Remote Support Works: Video Animation

Intelligent Sorting for Tunisian Post

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In Africa, e-commerce revenues are expected to exceed $46 billion in 2025, up from $28 billion in 2021, and 500 million online shoppers in 2025, up from 350 million in 2022, according to the latest study by consulting firm TechCabal Insights. Launched in 2016 by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the Ecom@Africa project aims to develop intra-African and international e-commerce through the postal network in each of the five major African regions. The objective is to facilitate and accelerate the e-commerce activities of artisans, microenterprises, and small and medium-sized enterprises in this geographical area, enabling them to access local and international markets.

There are many challenges to overcome for the signatory African countries, from implementing a virtual e-commerce platform to designing a parcel receiving and sending logistics platform, as well as establishing a local distribution network and harmonizing practices. Among the first countries to experiment with this initiative, Tunisia aims to become the e-commerce hub for the North African region, according to an ambitious IT and logistics project roadmap. In this context, the Tunisian Post, a member of the UPU since 1878, has selected ISITEC International’s intelligent incoming and outgoing parcel sorting solution to equip its international e-commerce logistics platform, Ecom@Africa, through a tender process. Located on the outskirts of Tunis-Carthage Airport, it will be operational in January 2024.

Automating, ensuring reliability, and accelerating parcel sorting

Facing the decline of traditional postal services, the Tunisian Post aspires to seize the opportunities offered by the unprecedented growth of e-commerce, positioning itself as a key player in the management and optimization of associated services and logistics flows. It is currently establishing a state-of-the-art international logistics platform, Ecom@Africa, to optimize the processing of incoming and outgoing e-commerce parcels, as part of the UPU’s regional pilot program for the development of trade exchanges in Africa. To handle a growing volume of parcels, driven by e-commerce growth, the Tunisian Post aims to implement an automated sorting solution in 2022 to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and agility, while reducing labor costs and human error.

This new equipment must address various challenges: automating, ensuring reliability, and optimizing the parcel sorting process to reduce processing and, consequently, delivery times; easily handling peak periods such as year-end holidays and Ramadan; providing seamless parcel traceability at every stage, ensuring transparency and customer satisfaction; and guaranteeing flexibility in sorting parcels of all sizes and shapes.

Sami Inoubli, PMO of the Ecom@Africa program at the Tunisian Post, summarizes: “The installation of an automated parcel sorting machine aims primarily to improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase sorting accuracy, and better manage capacity to cope with the exponential growth in parcel volume associated with the rise of e-commerce.”

As Inoubli, PMO of the Ecom@Africa program, reveals: “In our tender, we focused on identifying the key competencies required to find a company capable of providing us with a truly tailor-made solution that can be easily integrated into our IT systems, technical expertise, and maintenance and support services.” Ten criteria were defined: the capability to design and manufacture customized solutions that meet specific parcel sorting requirements (postal IT, size, shape, and volume of parcels), engineering capacity ensuring equipment quality, reliability, and durability, deployment of advanced automation technologies (computer vision, barcodes), and control software, integration with the existing postal information system, responsive maintenance and support, employee training, compliance with applicable standards and regulations, references, and a track record.

As an expert in optimizing postal and logistics flows worldwide, the French company ISITEC International stood out and won the tender from the Tunisian Post in December 2021. Inoubli adds, “In the context of our public procurement tender, the choice of ISITEC International was based on the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their intelligent parcel sorting solution. It is important, in our view, to evaluate a solution based on its total cost of ownership over its entire lifespan, from purchase and operation costs to maintenance and upgrades.”

Moreover, numerous strengths of ISITEC International’s proposal confirmed the Tunisian Post’s choice: performance, customization and scalability of the equipment, easy integration with existing IT and logistics systems, availability of technical support and after-sales service. The collaboration started in January 2022.

Inoubli said, “Our project requires close communication and careful planning with ISITEC International’s team to ensure that our equipment meets our needs and operates optimally.” Among the highlights of the collaboration with ISITEC International are the functional analysis stage, where the teams from ISITEC International and the Tunisian Post worked together to design and customize the parcel sorting machine according to specific needs, technical adaptations imposed by the facility’s area, options for customized sorting, and integration with existing systems. The installation, commissioning, and real-world testing of the ISITEC International solution were completed in September 2023.

Once the Ecom@Africa Hub becomes operational in 2024, ISITEC International’s intelligent sorting solution is expected to provide the Tunisian Post with greater operational efficiency through swift and precise sorting, ensuring high-quality service. The automation of parcel sorting is also expected to reduce labor costs, minimize sorting errors, and consequently reduce costs related to returns and re-shipments. ISITEC International’s solution will also significantly contribute to rigorous traceability. The equipment allows for precise tracking of parcel locations at every stage of processing within the Ecom@Africa e-commerce logistics platform.

In the coming months, the Tunisian Post will undertake a key step in its Ecom@Africa roadmap, the design and implementation of an Integrated Logistics Centre, which will cover all logistics aspects of national e-commerce, including inventory management, order preparation, and returns management. Once again, storage, automated sorting, and order preparation systems will be necessary.

Inoubli concludes: “Based on the quality of the relationship established, from contract signing to provisional acceptance, and including functional analysis, we have a partnership with ISITEC International rather than a customer-supplier relationship. In this partnership, we aspire to work together to optimize parcel sorting efficiency and achieve our goals. This necessarily involves close communication, faultless technical support, and regular equipment updates by ISITEC International.” The collaboration between the Tunisian Post and ISITEC International will span seven years, with two years of warranty period and five years under the maintenance contract.

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