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Tag: Dexory

Dexory Secures Funding to Drive Global Expansion Goals

Posted on by David Priestman

Dexory, a leading robotics and data intelligence company, today announced it has successfully closed an $80 million Series B funding round. The round was led by DTCP, with participation from Latitude Ventures, Wave-X and Bootstrap Europe, along with existing investors Atomico, Lakestar, Capnamic and several angels from the logistics industry. As part of this investment, DTCP’s Michael Rager joins Dexory’s board of directors.

The new funding, made up of a mix of equity and growth debt, will support an expansion of their artificial intelligence (AI) powered features across the DexoryView platform, grow its global team and accelerate the deployment of its autonomous robots with customers like GXO, Maersk, DB Schenker and beyond. A significant focus continues to be on expanding across the US market, where Dexory is already live with customers in seven states. The Series B will also enhance development and production facilities at its UK headquarters.

With the close of the round, Dexory has now raised $120 million over the past three years. The company has demonstrated incredible growth since the first commercial launch of their autonomous warehouse robots and software platform for the logistics space only 18 months ago.

Dexory’s continued innovation of warehouse optimisation technology will ensure that the firm remains a leader in this space. It is setting new standards and unlocking new value for the warehouse of the future, as businesses continue to manage myriad challenges across their supply chains, amidst cost and service pressures.

The global logistics automation market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% by 2030. The market size will reach around $90bn by 2030. Additionally, the market value for digital twin technologies is set to rise by a CAGR of 35.7% by 2030, representing a revenue forecast of $155.83bn. Dexory’s innovative solutions are ideally placed in the market to capitalise on the market trends, whilst ensuring warehouse and supply chain professionals can deliver exceptional accuracy and service levels for even the most high-paced and demanding of operations.

Dexory directly addresses the logistics market’s urgent need to maximise operating efficiencies across national and global networks. The company’s product, DexoryView, provides comprehensive real-time visibility across warehouses of any size through its autonomous mobile robots and AI. Through unique data sets generated from far-reaching sensor and image data, continuous scanning and the latest AI developments, Dexory unlocks new levels of optimization and seamless efficiency.

“We are incredibly excited about the momentum we’ve built over the past 18 months,” said Andrei Danescu, CEO and co-founder of Dexory. “DexoryView is proving to be an unrivalled technology for driving real digital transformation and delivering better business outcomes in the warehousing and supply chain industries. AI is clearly at the forefront of business leaders’ minds. With the quality of the data we are extracting and the powerful insights into operations that we generate, DexoryView will deliver commercial success for our customers and investors alike.”

“We are very impressed by the progress Dexory has made in transforming warehouse operations with its cutting-edge technology,” said Michael Rager, Partner – Growth Equity at DTCP and board member at Dexory. “The company is perfectly positioned at the intersection of our investment thesis on digitisation and automation. Its ability to capture detailed, actionable data from physical spaces and integrate it seamlessly into the supply chain is impressive. We are confident in its vision and excited to support their product innovation and expansion into global markets.”

Dexory’s platform is already making a significant impact in leading distribution companies such as GXO, Unipart, Yusen Logistics, as well as manufacturing players such as GE Appliances and Denso. By providing 360-degree visibility into warehouse operations, DexoryView enhances inventory management and operational decision making. The platform’s capability to perform rapid warehouse scans and create digital twins of warehouse spaces allows for optimised performance and future scenario simulations. Organisations such as DB Schenker have been able to increase their inventory accuracy by 6% and maintain it daily, whereas businesses like ID Logistics have been able to reduce manual inventory investigations by 41% in just two months to free up valuable time for other critical tasks.

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Dexory Raises $19M for Warehouse Visibility

 

Visibility Platform for Warehouse Optimisation and Accuracy

Posted on by David Priestman

Unipart, the supply chain solutions and performance improvement technologies partner, provides advanced warehousing solutions to deliver dynamic multi-channel fulfilment. To ensure it continues to meet customer demands and to provide real-time visibility of its warehouse operations at its Nuneaton site, the company has deployed global visibility platform DexoryView, from Dexory, a global leader in AI-powered robotics and visibility solutions. In the first few months since deployment, Unipart no longer needs to carry out manual, time-intensive tasks, allowing the company to use its resources more efficiently.

Since implementing DexoryView, Unipart is able to scan its entire warehouse overnight, ensuring the team has up-to-date data available to them for the start of the next day. This level of accuracy was not possible before with the stock team performing random checks of up to 20 locations. With DexoryView, Unipart can scan more than 10,000 locations per hour, which has resulted in greater efficiency and allows the company to use its resources better to ensure Unipart provides the highest standards of efficiency and reliability to its customers.

“The deployment of DexoryView allows us to gain further insights into our operations,” says James Hayden, automation engineering manager at Unipart. “This strategic investment underscores Unipart’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive tangible value for our customers. Dexory has provided us with transformative technology that ensures we have real-time data at our fingertips. This enables us to optimise our space utilisation to be even more efficient in fulfilling customer orders. In turn this enhances Unipart’s reputation for excellence in supply chain management.”

The deployment of Dexory’s technology reflects Unipart’s ongoing commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in warehouse management practices. As the company looks ahead to the future of supply chain logistics, it remains steadfast in its mission to deliver innovative solutions that drive sustainable growth and create value for its stakeholders.

“Working with forward-thinking organisations, such as Unipart, highlights the importance of achieving visibility in their warehouse operations,” says Dexory Chief Commercial and Product Officer and Co-Founder, Oana Jinga. “Together, Dexory and Unipart are setting new standards of efficiency and productivity in warehouse operations, empowering businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Their commitment to innovation and relentless pursuit of excellence aligns seamlessly with our own values.”

In the future, Unipart is exploring opportunities for further integration of DexoryView across its warehouses in the United Kingdom.

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Dexory Raises $19M for Warehouse Visibility

 

Yusen Logistics Improves Visibility and Efficiency with DexoryView

Posted on by David Priestman

Yusen Logistics, a global supply chain solution company, provides businesses with ocean and air freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution services and supply chain management that provide reliability, excellence and value. The company is constantly looking for ways in which it can improve its services to its end customers, including leading electronics manufacturers. Yusen Logistics has implemented a global visibility platform, DexoryView from Dexory, the global leader in AI-powered robotics and visibility solutions.

As a result of the deployment, Yusen Logistics is now able to conduct wall-to-wall scans of its entire warehouse within two hours each day. This process used to take over one and a half weeks each month and over 100 hours of manual labour. Previously, Yusen Logistics carried out two annual wall-to-wall checks of the entire warehouse, but through generating real-time data each day, the company has also been able to remove this task completely, saving an additional 205 hours of work annually.

The implementation of the Dexory technology will play a pivotal role in Yusen Logistics’ efforts in streamlining warehouse operations whilst ensuring seamless order fulfilment processes. Just one of the benefits means it can now analyse the entire warehouse and see how errors impact the overall workflow in the warehouse.

“Yusen Logistics are investing in digitisation and automation to provide our customers with real time visibility of their inventory. The use of robotics and automation helps to optimise our warehouse space, which reduces costs, improves performance and stock accuracy, and removes down time for manual stock takes,” said Darren Felstead, Head of Contract Logistics.

The collaboration between Yusen Logistics and Dexory represents a strategic alignment of expertise and innovation, with both companies at the forefront of transforming the industry. As Yusen Logistics looks ahead, it remains committed to leveraging the latest technologies and forging partnerships that further drive operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

“Third party logistics providers need to be able to execute on customer strategies and provide innovation and efficiency to drive both theirs and their customers’ businesses forwards,” says Oana Jinga, Chief Commercial and Product Officer and Co-Founder at Dexory. “Together, Dexory and Yusen Logistics are paving the way for a new era of supply chain management, powered by real-time data and our global visibility platform, that further enhance the value provision to their end customers.”

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Autonomous Robots, Data Intelligence

 

 

AI and IoT are Redefining the future of Supply Chains

Posted on by David Priestman

AI and IoT are redefining the future of supply chains and revolutionising logistics, writes Adrian Negoita (pictured below), CTO and Co-Founder of Dexory.

In the warehousing industry, every detail matters and precision is paramount. Any business involved in the selling of physical goods needs efficient supply chain management. However, the dynamic nature of the business environment, currently characterised by geopolitical tensions, fierce competition, and increasing costs, has meant supply chain disruptions have become a major obstacle.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and The Internet of Things (IoT) brings about a paradigm shift, providing real-time insights and revolutionising the way businesses manage their logistics. Thanks to these technologies, businesses can better react to challenges, improving their resilience and streamlining operations like never before.

What distinguishes AI from the Internet of Things?

AI and IoT work harmoniously but have unique functions and capabilities. AI is a machine’s capability to emulate the intelligence we typically associate with human minds. In the context of logistics, algorithms analyse vast data sets, garner insights, predict outcomes and make informed decisions based on the collected data. This process happens continuously, meaning performance can be enhanced over time. For instance, AI-powered solutions enhance operational efficiency through improved inventory management, space optimisation and forward planning. Businesses that can rapidly learn from previous operation patterns up to the present can make adjustments simultaneously, improving their resilience.

The Internet of Things describes when objects are fitted with sensors, software and other technologies to connect and exchange data over the Internet. In warehousing, IoT sensors and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags can be used to provide insights into the supply chain’s inventory, assets and environmental conditions.

The advantages of AI and IoT in collaboration

Ultimately, the integration of AI and IoT results in warehouse systems that are more agile, responsive, and efficient. An essential advantage is the provision of real-time data insights. IoT devices consistently transmit data, offering insights into inventory levels, asset performance, and environmental conditions of the warehouse. Following this, AI algorithms analyse the data, providing logistics managers with actionable insights that facilitate prompt and effective decision-making.

AI is capable of processing and anticipating future fluctuations in demand using historical IoT data. This helps to identify any potential constraints and disruptions. All this means warehouses can adapt quickly to overcome obstacles.

IoT and AI also enhance traceability and transparency. Tracking devices powered by IoT illustrate the movement of products throughout the supply chain. AI compiles and then uses this data to adjust inventory levels appropriately, monitor goods, and enhance delivery precision. It also can monitor the whereabouts of shipments, thereby enabling logistics firms to provide the best possible customer service, giving accurate information and comprehensive delivery predictions to customers.

Optimising visibility

The lack of visibility in supply chains is a critical factor impeding operational efficiency, exposing organisations to potential risks and inefficiencies. An over-reliance on outdated data means warehouses respond too slowly to challenges. To attain true resilience, supply chains require the availability of dependable information.

The implementation of autonomous mobile robotics substantially increases productivity. Enhanced sensors and digital twin technology, which simulates the physical environment, in conjunction with industry-leading robotics, provide unprecedented visibility and control. Technological innovations have brought about a paradigm shift in warehouse operations by enhancing problem identification and resolution, in addition to environmental monitoring. The faster a problem or technical issue can be identified and resolved, the higher all-around efficiency is in response to complex and ever changing demands placed on the warehouse industry.

Conventional systems fail to adequately handle the volume and speed of data, resulting in decisions made from outdated or incomplete information. Nevertheless, by integrating AI-powered analytics and IoT real-time data, organisations can enhance operational resilience, predict results, and make well-informed decisions. As these technologies continue to advance, warehousing will evolve alongside them.

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The future of warehousing: automation, robotics and energy efficiency

 

Warehouse Management with DexoryView

Posted on by David Priestman

Dexory, a data intelligence company, today announced it has deployed DexoryView, its cutting-edge AI and robotics solution, at the state-of-the-art warehouse facility of FLX Logistics, part of the Freshlinc Group, in Peterborough, United Kingdom. By using robotics and digital twin technologies, FLX Logistics, specialists in ambient logistics management, will be able to drive efficiencies and confirms the company’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

“At FLX Logistics, we are always looking for ways to enhance efficiency and accuracy across our operations,” says Sam Goodger, General Manager for FLX Logistics site at Peterborough. “Using DexoryView from the outset at our new facility provides us with unparalleled real-time data on stock accuracy that empowers our team to drive the business forward.”

In a recent successful implementation, at FLX Logistics’ brand new facility, spanning an impressive 140,000 square feet and housing products ranging from diverse food products, raw materials and finished goods, Dexory unveiled its DexoryView solution, featuring state-of-the-art autonomous mobile robotics (AMRs) and a seamlessly integrated digital twin. FLX Logistics was able to generate data from the outset to ensure it has stock accuracy from the opening of the new warehouse. This combined with having access to real-time data of the warehouse on an ongoing basis, allows the business to elevate the efficiency of its warehouse operations to an unprecedented level.

“We are thrilled to be working with FLX Logistics in revolutionising their warehouse operations,” says Oana Jinga, Chief Commercial and Product Officer & Co-Founder at Dexory. “Having implemented DexoryView from the outset shows that FLX Logistics is a forward thinking business and sees the benefit in utilising real-time data and insights to better drive efficiency across its operations. We have already seen the company use the data to effectively manage and transform its day-to-day operations thanks to the insights they are able to glean from DexoryView.”

Dexory captures real-time insights into warehouse operations using fully autonomous robots and Artificial Intelligence. Using autonomous technology to unlock data and drive insights through all levels of business operations, helping companies boost their performance and unlock their full potential. Instant access to real-time data helps optimise the present, de-risk the future and discover the intractable in each location and at every stage of the product journey through the warehouse and onto dispatch.

Founded in 2015, by three founders, Andrei, Oana and Adrian, and is based in the UK. The founders are school friends from Romania, who moved to the UK a decade ago with experience accumulated across engineering and tech roles at Formula 1, Google, and IBM. Combining commercial nous with deep technical expertise, the three founders are now working together to help transform warehouse management practices worldwide.

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Maersk Expands DexoryView Partnership

 

New AI Technology for Warehouse Optimization

Posted on by David Priestman

UK-based robotics and data intelligence company Dexory is introducing a first of its kind, AI-powered logistics engine to help warehouses maximize operational efficiency, optimize inventory management, and enhance the overall warehouse agility and responsiveness.

Through its multi-site, digital twin platform, DexoryView, Dexory will now enable warehouse operatives to process millions of precise data sets captured daily across warehouses via its autonomous robots, providing real-time access to insights and predictive analytics that enable businesses to make smarter, faster decisions.

The combination of computer vision, machine learning, NLP (natural language processing) and LLM (large language models) will allow warehouse operators to maximize efficiency across critical drivers such as space utilization, inventory, working time and machinery utilization.

AI-powered applications will transform three key parts of the users’ business:

• Warehouse performance: Implementation of slotting methods, consolidation of stock, space optimization and path planning will maximize warehouse value to enhance revenue and drive cost optimization. Rapid audit and analysis of inventory across reserve, pick and bulk locations will drive operational efficiency by saving thousands of hours yearly.
• Advanced issue detection and response: State of the art image analysis and machine learning models will automatically detect and address issues like damaged stock, fallen inventory and rack infrastructure damage to enhance compliance.
• Environmental monitoring: Sensor fusion across various data sets, including temperature, humidity and gas detection will track and address critical surrounding factors over time to control if goods are stored in the correct conditions.

Global challenges such as the pandemic and geopolitical issues, require businesses to operate highly resilient supply chains. Yet, according to Gartner, 60% of leaders say their supply chains have never been designed for resiliency. Traditional systems have severe limitations on both the volume and frequency of data captured, forcing blind decisions, based on stale or incomplete data, resulting in a growing data gap – the Visibility GapTM. Last year, the global research and advisory firm IHL Group estimated the combined cost of stock mismanagement at $1.77 trillion.
Eliminating this gap helps companies react faster and make fact-based decisions on how to manage supply chain disruptions and where to focus their investments (Accenture).

The new AI functionality unlocks the next level of intelligence in DexoryView. The platform combines the use of autonomous robots to scan warehouses of 1 million sq ft and over 100 000 pallets in a day, providing accurate, instant, real time information on goods and assets across the sites it operates in. Leveraging AI algorithms, alongside the use of enhanced sensors across Dexory’s robots, DexoryView will now power logistics teams with accelerated time to insight and action to make better data-driven informed decisions on operations, expanding outside of inventory – all through one intuitive and interactive cloud platform.

“Traditionally the logistics industry relies heavily on historical data snapshots, making it highly reactive and prone to error,” says Andrei Danescu, CEO and Co-founder at Dexory. “The pandemic started a major shift towards real-time, actionable insights. Our autonomous robots already give an unprecedented level of visibility on inventory within warehouses. Now combined with AI, we’re allowing our customers to enter a new era of efficiency and productivity. Dexory is thrilled to be leading this transformation.”

By addressing critical use cases with cutting-edge technologies, Dexory is helping to propel the industry forward, making supply chains more efficient, agile, and responsive to emerging challenges.

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Dexory Raises $19M for Warehouse Visibility

 

Dexory Robotics and AI into USA

Posted on by David Priestman

Dexory, a leading provider of cutting-edge AI and robotics solutions announced the first deployment of its robotics and artificial intelligence solution in the United States. Dexory’s technology is now in use at one of DB Schenker’s significant sites in Utah. This follows Dexory’s strategic expansion announcement into the North American market in early February.

In a swift and efficient implementation, Dexory unveiled its cutting-edge DexoryView solution, featuring state-of-the-art autonomous mobile robotics (AMRs) and a seamlessly integrated digital twin. The rapid deployment has resulted in the generation of real-time data points, providing DB Schenker with immediate insights into its operations.

DB Schenker, a global leader in logistics and supply chain management, is to leverage Dexory’s technology to enhance its real-time visibility of stock and occupancy tracking capabilities. With a focus on promoting efficiency and optimizing resource utilisation, the DexoryView solution scans the Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) area of the site, covering a staggering 40,000 pallet locations daily.

Leveraging advanced computer vision and AI, DexoryView provides clear, visual insights for every shelf and height level. This eliminates the need for manually checking discrepancies and ensures important operational information is easily accessible. It emphasizes priority actions, helping to make operations more efficient.

Daniel Spencer, Director – Solutions & Engineering at DB Schenker Americas comments “We are excited to introduce Dexory’s promising technology in our warehouses. The deployment of Dexory’s robotics and AI solution underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and highlights our pursuit of operational excellence.”

Digital Twin

The collaboration between Dexory and DB Schenker teams has been instrumental in ensuring a comprehensive success of the integration and utilization of the DexoryView solution. Working in tandem, both teams are committed to maximizing the potential of the collected data, enabling the effective deployment of robotics and AI in the logistics and supply chain industry.

“This live deployment signifies a major step forward in Dexory’s mission to revolutionise how businesses approach logistics and operational efficiency. The progress achieved with DB Schenker serves as a testament to the power of innovative technology in transforming traditional practices, ushering in a new era of precision, speed, and insight in the world of logistics”, says Oana Jinga, Chief Commercial & Product Officer at Dexory.

Dexory looks forward to further collaborations and deployments that will continue to redefine industry standards and drive operational excellence. To find out more for yourself, Dexory will be exhibiting at MODEX in Atlanta from March 11-14 alongside representatives of DB Schenker at booth #B708.

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Dexory Raises $19M for Warehouse Visibility

 

AI and Robotic Solution into Warehouses

Posted on by David Priestman

Dexory, a leading provider of cutting-edge AI and robotics solutions, today announced its partnership with Iron Mountain, a global leader in information management, innovative storage, data centre infrastructure, and asset lifecycle management.

Since 2021, Iron Mountain has expanded into a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, disrupting the Warehouse & Logistics industry with its innovative and agile solutions. The company has chosen to adopt DexoryView as its preferred inventory and tracking solution at four strategic Iron Mountain warehouses across Kettering Symmetry Park, Lutterworth Magna Park North and Rugby Symmetry Park.

Iron Mountain, which is trusted by more than 225,000 customers around the world, was looking for an automated solution to inventory management and space optimisation for these warehouses, rather than opting for a more traditional and manual intensive route. Using Dexory’s technology, combining powerful analytics with autonomous robots, Iron Mountain will be able to scan 15,000 locations per hour, without impacting its day-to-day operations. This allows the company to analyse its pallet lifecycle within its warehouses, leading to a more robust operational efficiencies. In addition, Iron Mountain is able to gather full visibility of stock and track inventory movements – providing greater insights for continuous improvements across all of the sites.

DexoryView is introduced into four UK sites

Maria Torrent-March, Warehousing & Logistics Strategy Director at Iron Mountain, says: “Implementing a future-proof, innovative inventory solution is key to our warehousing strategic direction. Dexory’s technology enables our vision for automation and efficiency, especially where we have large rotations of stock, reducing our overall operational costs.”

Dexory’s robots measure, count, track and find inventory across warehouses as they navigate the racks, without workflow disruption. The data is pushed in real-time to the DexoryView warehouse digital twin platform, offering end-to-end visibility across the state of the warehouse operations. By implementing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and AI-powered, DexoryView platform, Iron Mountain is able to further improve its process compliance, accuracy in stock counting and improve the response time from its inventory team.

Oana Jinga, Dexory’s Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “We’re thrilled to have Iron Mountain adopt our data-driven technology for these warehouses in the UK. Introducing DexoryView will provide them with the ability to deliver greater efficiencies and accurate stock management.” Dexory provides the only system on the market that combines inventory-scanning robots with powerful warehouse analytics, all built and maintained in-house.

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Autonomous Robots, Data Intelligence

 

Sexify Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Red Bull’s Formula One HQ in Milton Keynes is an appropriate and impressive backdrop to learn why data is fuel in logistics. David Priestman attended Dexory’s Supply Chain Fast Track conference.

High performance in logistics can be maintained by extracting insights from data and taking practical steps. “Data itself has no value,” states Rob Smedley, former Ferrari, Jordan and Williams F1 race engineer, “insight is everything. Complexity requires having a data strategy.” Warehouses may be less glamorous than race tracks, but they are also hubs of innovation.

Polycrisis logistics

When multiple supply chain disruptive events happen concurrently how can they be tackled? “Resilience planning is key,” says Mike Fahy, CEO of Neovia, a contract logistics provider operating in 20 countries and with 80 hub facilities and 8000 employees. The 3PL specialises in service parts logistics for automotive, industrial and tech customers, formerly being Caterpillar Logistics Services.

Fahy advises logisticians to tackle ‘polycrises’ by multi-sourcing, embracing technology and strong cybersecurity. “We’re not back to just-in-time yet, after the pandemic. We’re still at just-in-case for supply. Warehouse space is relaxing a bit, depending on the location.” Neovia use Dexory to create a ‘digital twin’ of each warehouse, providing visualization and interpretation of inventory stock. For example, the Dexory View dashboard enables pick face analysis of volumes.

Neovia use other tech, like Protex AI’s warehouse CCTV system, which reduced safety incidents by 80%. “New tech creates disruption,” Fahy emphasises, “being part of change is key.” He also praised Athingz – an autonomous supply chain service utilising machine learning to aid sales inventory optimisation, planning and execution. Real-time analytics with a virtual control tower helps forecasting freight lanes, both inbound and outbound. Extended reality, or VR, is used by Neovia for training, using tech from Elm Park Labs. Apple’s Vision Pro is tipped by Fahy to become a handy tool.

Supply chain design, of the number and location of distribution centres, leads to a tech-based materials handling approach. Simulation can be used prior to construction to study the average flow, slow days and peak operations. “Maximising cubic optimisation is key,” according to Fahy, and robotics is paramount. His company are piloting self-driven HGV lorries, remote driving of warehouse reach trucks and remote monitoring of assets.

Visibility gap

Only 6% of supply chain managers claim to have full global visibility. Gaps can lead to out-of-stock or over-stocking issues. The distribution centre is where some visibility is lost, due to damage, loss, theft or errors that occur. The visibility gap is an intelligence gap. An estimated 6500 hours per year can be spent on stock checks for a typical DC, say Dexory. Starting accuracy for their customers is 91-95%, with 24 minutes on average taken to resolve discrepancies. Dexory’s solution claims to increase accuracy to over 99%, which is better than warehouse drones can achieve.
GE Appliances are one of many manufacturers using temporary, overflow warehouses. “That can make it harder to maintain accuracy,” Harry Chase, GE Senior Director for Central Materials, says. “The quality and timeliness of data is crucial.” Dexory can be used for better slotting and stock consolidation, by freeing-up space and identifying bottlenecks.

Machine help?

Generative AI may create new strategies in logistics, for example in transport routing. Chris Coote of Dexory says AI is less intuitive than a human but provides fast answers and concepts. “Embrace limitless possibilities to build a smarter, safer ecosystem in the DC,” he exhorts.

Wincanton, a 99 year-old British third party logistics operator with 21000 staff, are in the process of being acquired by CEVA Logistics, part of the giant French shipping line CMA CGM. Paul Durkin, Chief Customer and Innovation Officer, has a practical view of robotics and automation. Companies should invest in tech, he argues, because labour costs are rising, automation costs are falling and there is a demand for short lead times in logistics. “There’s no longer a long payback time for this equipment,” he says, looking for a 20% return of capital deployed.

The downsides to such investment are the interest on capital expenditure, competing demands for investment and the proliferation of software and hardware, which makes it difficult to be certain what to purchase. “Retail customers spend on their ‘front of house’ (shops and stores). We’re ‘back of house’,” adds Durkin. Wincanton has re-organised itself to lean towards IT and technology, seeing 3PL as a service. Owning the IP of software in-house is important for the company. “We can’t rely on being an asset-based business, with just trucks and sheds,” he adds. Automation can solve customer problems. “Commercialize it. Value creation leads to long-term success.”

Industrial collaboration is a good thing, according to Durkin, who was speaking on the day the CEVA deal was being finalised. “There’s room for it. Warehouses haven’t evolved that much. We all need to accelerate our journey and get slicker. Wincanton need 30 upgrade projects a year, but only have the bandwidth for half that.“

Generation logistics

Getting the organization’s design right is key. “Size isn’t everything. Start small with automation and robotics, get used to it, be prepared to fail,” he advises. Wincanton work with smaller, nimble suppliers, including Dexory. “Now we have proof-of-concept on-site we can invest further. There are no guarantees, but we have created headroom.”

Automation and robotics can inspire colleagues and attract young people into the sector. It can lead to upskilling of existing staff. ‘Generation logistics’ is a slogan aimed to elevate the industry, make it sexier. New entrants to the market, like Hived and everstox, backed with venture capital by investors including Maersk, are on a fast track, fuelled by data to innovate and increase competition in logistics. Our industry is en vogue. Make hay and rejoice.

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Dexory Announces new Investors

 

Optimising Supply Chains Post Peak Periods

Posted on by David Priestman

As holiday seasons wind down each year, supply chains and retail businesses face a new challenge: getting back on track post-peak shopping periods, writes Andrei Danescu, (pictured left) CEO and Co-Founder, Dexory. Having navigated the busy period successfully, businesses now shift focus to streamlining operations and enhancing productivity for the upcoming year. The transition from the peak to a quieter season provides an opportunity to reflect on the highs and lows of the recent busy period. It’s a cyclical rhythm in the supply chain landscape, where each busy season is followed by a period of relative calm. This quieter time offers a chance for supply chains to assess what strategies worked well during the peak and what areas need refinement. It’s a pivotal moment to plan and strategize for the forthcoming cycles of peak and quieter seasons, ensuring a continuous process of improvement and adaptation.

Fine-Tuning Inventory

Once the rush calms down, the main aim is to make the necessary inventory changes and recalibrate strategies. Moving away from a high-demand period, the focus is now on efficiently managing existing inventory. This involves doing a thorough review, a strategic evaluation of stock, pinpointing surplus items, and aligning inventories with predicted consumer demands. This also opens the opportunity for businesses to re-organise and optimise their warehouse space, thus ensuring that space utilisation is back to normal.

During this time, it is also an opportune moment for warehouses to analyse how stock moved during the peak period and understand how to better future proof. To gain an even better understanding of space utilisation and fluctuations, organisations should look into investing technologies that give them real-time visibility of stock movement and space.

Finally, this period also presents an opportunity to re-evaluate supplier relationships and explore potential enhancements or alternatives that could boost future resilience.

Predicting Customer Needs

Proactively anticipating and planning for customer needs at any time during the year is important. The integration of flexible forecasting tools, powered by advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning, becomes vital for understanding the shift in customer preferences. This flexibility allows businesses to swiftly adapt strategies to effectively meet changing customer requirements. Moreover, leveraging data analytics to understand the return patterns and reasons can provide invaluable insights, helping to refine future inventory management processes.

Optimising Return Processes

Once peak periods are over, returns pour in, which highlights the necessity of implementing a robust returns system. Streamlining this process not only minimises costs but also makes the most out of returned items. Optimising return policies and processes becomes essential to effectively handle this influx, potentially transforming what could be perceived as losses into opportunities for resale, or recycling.

Leveraging Technological Insights

Undoubtedly, technology is a major factor in optimising supply chains for the year ahead. Real-time insights supplied by state-of-the-art supply chain analytics and inventory management systems offer a crucial edge. These insights enable data-driven decision-making, facilitating agile adaptations to swiftly respond to changing demand patterns and operational obstacles. Embracing innovative technologies for enhanced traceability or for real-time tracking, provides opportunities for further strengthening supply chains during this recovery phase.

The period of recovery following peak periods is a great opportunity for supply chains to realign and fortify their foundations. Strengthening operations lays the groundwork for year-round customer satisfaction and sustained efficiency by harnessing advanced technologies and learning from peak seasons.

To summarise, the post-holiday phase is more than just rest and recovery; it is also a time for optimisation and fortification. Readjusting the supply chain at this time of year can set the path for long-term success beyond the holiday rush by leveraging technological advancements, quickly responding to changing customer demands, and embedding resilience into their operational frameworks.

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