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Tag: order picking

Automated Robotic Pick and Place

Posted on by David Priestman

Order picking is complex and cost-intensive, whether in e-commerce or at OEMs. Traditional automation technology reaches its limits here. The Stuttgart-based company Sereact solves this challenge with a complete solution consisting of AI software and robotics: robots understand their environment situationally, develop solution strategies for an efficient pick and place process and implement these autonomously.

Sereact Pick and Place identifies products in real time based on their appearance and selects the appropriate picking method, taking into account object characteristics such as shape, colour or texture – even for complex products such as food, textiles or fragile objects. It then automatically switches between different gripper types such as suction cup or two-finger grippers.

One of Sereact’s own new developments is a patented gripper consisting of three individually functioning vacuum grippers with which the robots can pick up a wide range of products of different dimensions. In addition, the software determines a sensible order for the picks so that they are picked according to size, weight and fragility. The placement algorithm ensures optimum space utilization in the target containers.

Even in complex environments, the software detects the scope and context of tasks. If objects are on top of each other or too close to the edge of the container, the robot moves them into a position where it can grip them ideally. The technology also detects anomalies and can therefore recognize and sort out damaged items. It is also possible to differentiate between packaging material and products. This makes the solution suitable for quality assurance during order processing and also enables it to be used in the areas of inventory optimization and returns processing.

The Sereact Pick and Place product is based on a Vision Language Action Model that enables robots to analyze, understand and act. It is designed to recognize and interpret unknown situations without prior training. This also makes it possible to control the robots in natural language using voice or text commands, which simplifies interaction with the robot and can be implemented without programming knowledge.

As a total solution provider for turnkey robot cells, Sereact selects the optimum system for the specific application. The software is compatible with a wide range of hardware components and robots that can be seamlessly integrated into existing warehouse systems. The result is full flexibility of the entire pick and place process as well as highly efficient and fully automated order processing.

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Avoiding Christmas Peak Overload with Robotics

Posted on by David Priestman

Robotic solutions for automated storage and retrieval, as well as order picking, provide the secret to successfully hitting seasonal peaks – and can give a competitive edge at this crucial time of trading, writes Stefan Pieters, CEO of Movu Robotics.

Imagine having the technology that gives you the ability to meet Christmas peaks successfully. Flexible robotic automated warehousing solutions are fulfilling many Christmas wishes by helping retailers and logistics operations overcome the challenges of peak trading season, in addition to gaining a competitive edge.

Over recent years, the seasonal peak in demand for many sectors has stretched into what has become known as the ‘Golden Quarter’, which runs through a series of festivals including the seemingly ever-growing event of Halloween, the post-Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza that is Black Friday and on into Christmas.

This peak season may well be spreading even further. Research by McKinsey found that US consumers’ holiday shopping is starting earlier and lasting longer this year, with most starting in October or earlier and 40% intending to start in November, compared with 35 percent in 2022.

Forrester is forecasting that total end of year holiday retail sales in the US will reach $969 billion, reflecting a 4.3% year on year (YoY) increase. Retailers are at the sharp end of the Golden Quarter when they generally make most of their sales. For many, it generates more revenue than the first three quarters of the year combined. The volume of goods to process to meet this demand can suddenly increase on average, depending on sector, by around 40%.

Christmas itself is the summit of the peak period. According to Statista, among the three leading European countries, the total value of Christmas spending in 2023 – both online and instore – is forecast to be the highest in the United Kingdom (UK) with almost £85 billion followed by Germany at nearly £74 bn and France at £62.83 bn.

This boom in trading has the potential to overload supporting logistics operations lacking in preparedness, creating a balancing act between driving sales and maintaining profitability. A recent survey led by Deposco of 200 supply chain leaders working for European retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers or 3PL/4PL firms found that 41% of European supply chain executives expect this year’s peak retail season to be more challenging than that of 2022, with only 18% believing it will be less difficult.

Adding to this is the requirement to handle an ever more complex assortment of goods to fulfil ever growing numbers of ever smaller orders. Customer expectations on lead times are shrinking from days to just hours, placing pressure on businesses to stock, pick, pack and ship from smaller, local facilities, and efficiency in handling returns is gaining far greater prominence as retailers battle to protect margins.

With profit margins under intense pressure and given the crucial role warehouse operations play in ensuring that customers are not let down, retailers are looking for flexible and cost effective intralogistics solutions that can help to improve their bottom line and achieve their priorities – including continuity of customer service levels. Competition is so intense that there are no second chances for a late or erroneous shipment and brand value can be swiftly eroded through poor delivery experiences.

So, it’s all hands to the pumps – except there aren’t enough available hands. Staff are generally not plentiful on potentially expensive agency books. Many among a company’s existing staff will have booked holidays, there may be an increase in sick days over the festive period, or staff may simply not be keen to work unscheduled overtime.

How to cope

Forward planning and flexible intralogistics are essential to meet demand and cope with an unexpected influx. To support the need for flexible intralogistics processes it makes sense to have in place easily adaptable, robust and reliable equipment that not only performs everyday functions, but can also be scaled up whenever necessary to meet peak demand.

A growing number of companies are adopting robotic solutions in their logistics processes. They provide far greater flexibility than conventional automated handling systems, and can seriously boost productivity, throughput and operational accuracy, even in ‘steady state’ operations. Pallet and bin shuttle systems for automated storage and retrieval are a prime example. With modular design, acting as a set of building blocks to minimise complexity and cost of upgrading, these systems are highly scalable –installations can start small and then expand or, if needed, they can downsize just as easily.

Shuttle systems provide a high density, multi-pallet position automated storage and retrieval system that maximises storage capacity while also removing manual handling, helping to reduce both personnel risk and picking errors. Self-powered robot carriers transport pallets on the rails within the storage lanes of the racking where the pallets are housed, and on the rails of the main lane that runs across the storage lanes it serves. Software manages the shuttle traffic within the system, issuing orders from a Warehouse Management System (WMS).

Using picking robots at the workstations of bin shuttle storage systems add to this flexibility. So will using Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) systems for pallets and additional load carriers to provide flexible transport to and from the shuttle systems, as well as used as ‘cobots’ to support order picking operations.

The benefit in terms of handling peaks is the ability to add individual robots – either shuttles, AMRs or picking arms, as demand requires. Much easier than complex reconfiguration of conventional, stacker crane-based automated systems. In addition, with shuttle systems, robots can be moved between the levels of a system to optimise throughput.

With these kind of robotics systems, the joy for companies coping with seasonal peaks is that you don’t have to use, and incur the expense of, the whole capacity. At low volume times, just use a few robots – at the peak, introduce the whole fleet.

Bringing automation to all warehouses

Robotics in the form of shuttle systems and AMRs, such as those offered by Movu Robotics, bring easier automation solutions to all warehouses. In particular, they provide opportunities for SMEs, with as few as 5000 pallet locations, to steal a march on larger retail organisations that may have committed to less than flexible, fixed automated systems. With the combination of intelligent software and advanced robot technology, SMEs can leverage the flexibility, speed and performance of this kind of goods-to-person automation as a low-CapEx project. This ensures that when it comes to opportunities for automation, no warehouse is left behind.

Simple, standardised plug and play solutions for warehouse automation and robotics are more accessible and more scalable. They also create an impressive business case for companies. Even operating ‘off-peak’ at well below capacity there is a rapid Return On Investment with labour redeployed to other tasks, such as picking. But it is at peak times when these systems really come into their own, ramping up throughput without any corresponding increase in labour, and minimising the burden on dispatch and delivery operations. Movu recently installed an atlas 2D robotic shuttle system for a company serving the Chocolate industry, for which Christmas is a significant peak alongside Easter. The flexibility that the shuttle system provides not only helps it to manage these peaks but also facilitates future growth.

By choosing Intelligently designed and flexibly integrated robotic automated warehouse solutions, retailers, manufacturers and logistics operations can meet their fulfilment promises, even during peaks, while saving money. And, importantly, automation isn’t ‘just for Christmas’. It can be scaled and flexed to give benefits throughout the year, in both peak and slack seasons, bringing a multitude of savings. This kind of wise deployment of automation enables a business to not just simply survive, but to thrive.

Robotic Fulfilment Provider Doubles Picks in 11 Months

Posted on by David Priestman

Locus Robotics, a global leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for warehouse automation, has announced that its AMR solutions have now picked more than two billion units, reinforcing the company’s position as a premier robotic fulfilment provider for the warehouse and logistics industry. This new milestone comes just 11 months after reaching the industry-first landmark of 1 billion picks in 2022.

“Achieving the two billion picks milestone is an incredible accomplishment for our company and for our customers,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “This event is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our incredible team and the dramatic productivity improvements we deliver to drive our customers’ growth and success.”

Reaching this milestone took just 358 days, with the last 100 million picks taking just 27 days – an average of 3.7 million picks per day. By comparison, it took more than six years to make the first billion picks, and 1,542 days to pick the first 100 million units. LocusBots have now traveled more than 37 million miles in customers’ warehouses, the equivalent of more than 1,370 times around the Earth or 77 round trips to the Moon.

“Achieving the remarkable milestone of two billion picks demonstrates how Locus’s intelligent automation solution can transform warehouse operations,” said Keith Price, CIO of Concordance Healthcare. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Locus team to leverage the power of advanced robotics and automation to drive even greater warehouse fulfillment optimisation in the years ahead.”

“Locus’s consistent innovation, user-centric approach, and genuine dedication to customer relationships puts them at the forefront of warehouse automation,” said Alan McDonald, vice president of continuous improvement at Geodis. “This milestone is a testament to its technological leadership and synergistic collaboration. We look forward to building on our work together and driving even greater efficiency improvements in the future.”

The AI and data science-driven LocusOne platform serves as an enterprise-level fleet manager, overseeing complex warehouse fulfilment workflows that support diverse use cases, clustering tasks to create optimal robot missions and reduce unproductive worker walking time. Locus’s unique multi-bot approach decouples workers from orders and tasks to dramatically improve worker productivity.

Proven at enterprise scale, labour-challenged 3PL, retail, health care, and manufacturing operators can seamlessly add robots to increase capacity or meet growth in any operation in just minutes to optimise productivity in their operations, reduce costs, and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape.

The LocusOne warehouse automation execution platform enables the smooth orchestration of multiple robotic form factors at enterprise-scale within a single coordinated platform. It provides real-time optimisation of tasks to be completed within the four walls and across multiple levels in warehousing and manufacturing environments. LocusOne optimises robotic task allocation, route planning, and resource use, while delivering real-time business insights into warehouse operations.

Locus Robotics is an enterprise-level, warehouse automation solution, incorporating powerful and intelligent, AI-driven autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to dramatically improve product movement and productivity 2–3X. Supporting more than 120+ of the world’s top brands and deployed at 270+ sites around the world, Locus Robotics enables retailers, 3PLs and specialty warehouses to efficiently meet and exceed the increasingly complex and demanding requirements of today’s fulfilment environments.

IFOY Test Report: NIMMSTA Light Tag

Posted on by Keith McKinley

As we enter the week when the IFOY Awards are handed out in Dortmund (on Thursday June 22nd), we continue our look at all of the 2023 finalists and share the verdict from the IFOY test conducted during the evaluation by an expert jury in March. Our next entry is the Light Tag pick-by-light solution from NIMMSTA GmbH.

The NIMMSTA Light Tags represent a completely new approach to a pick-by-light solution that achieves up to 80% more efficiency without integration effort and in combination with the NIMMSTA Industrial Smart Watch.

IFOY category: Special of the Year

IFOY Test Report

NIMMSTA had set up a shelf at its booth where visitors to IFOY TEST DAYS could try their hand as a picker. So what could be more natural than putting on one of the company’s hand straps and getting started? The task for visitors was to pick five products. Without assistance from NIMMSTA’s system, it took the tester 112 seconds. But it can be even better. With support from the Light Tags, the time could be reduced to 74 seconds.

The approach to the solution is completely new, because the “Light Tags” contain only battery-powered LEDs (battery life: three to five years) that light up in different colours and patterns. All the logic is in the NIMMSTA wearable, which personnel wear directly on their bodies. This combination makes all intralogistics processes digital and more efficient.

Via Bluetooth, a position is assigned once to each light tag in the NIMMSTA app. The light tag is then attached to the corresponding storage location with an adhesive strip. As soon as the picker is sent to position 1 via the NIMMSTA smart watch and the picker approaches position 1 within a radius of 10m, the smart watch and the light tag light up in the same colour and pattern. Based on the Freehand workflows and the pick-by-light solution with the light tags, the processes run up to 80% more efficiently, because the storage location is additionally immediately visually recognisable for the personnel. In the process, the wearable creates the conditions for up to a 50% percent increase in efficiency and the light tags contribute up to 30%.

Remarkably, no integration effort is required to use the system. Alternative pick-by-light systems are complex and costly to implement, both on the software side and the electronics or wiring at the racks. NIMMSTA’s pick-by-light solution is simple and smart: the intelligence is not in the display system, but in the industrial smart watch, which only addresses the corresponding light tag. With the help of this solution, processes can be transformed into freehand workflows.

IFOY test verdict: The potential for the solution in intralogistics and production is considerable. The provider’s goal is to optimize not just one process step, but the entire value chain. The focus is on creating more efficiency for the user, increasing process quality, and consequently securing the user’s productivity and growth. At the same time, however, the working environment of the personnel in intralogistics and production is to be improved.

IFOY Innovation Check

Market relevance: With increasing turnover figures in the mail order business, the topic of picking efficiency is gaining in importance. With the combination of “Industrial Smart Watch” with scanner as well as the “Light Tags”, NIMMSTA offers a cost-efficient solution to achieve a significantly higher picking speed than with handgun scanners when manually assembling consignments of goods. The market relevance is particularly high for small and medium-sized warehouses (in SMEs) where no investment in automation solutions is planned. However, the solution also scales into large warehouses and can pay for itself within 4 to 8 months.

Customer benefit: In addition to the 50% increase in efficiency already measured in customer applications using the wearable, the light tags are expected to improve search time at the shelf by a further 30% while reducing picking errors. Since the battery-operated light tags are only stuck to the shelf and integrated into the system with a one-time scan, setup is extremely simple and also very cost-effective compared to other solutions.

Novelty / Innovation: The combination of wearable with a pick/put-by-light solution without cabling effort and with very simple installation can be considered as a special novelty, which promises high efficiency increases in manual picking with very low investments and costs at the same time.

Functionality / Type of implementation: In terms of functionality, great importance was attached to simple usability in all relevant processes. Starting with the quick installation by simple sticking and one-time booking in the system, over the stringent user guidance via wearable and display of the next product by the light tags in the colours of the picker up to the replacement of the AAA batteries after the 3 to 5 years’ runtime in the tags for uninterrupted operation. The high battery life is achieved through extremely low-power communication strategies between the light tags and the wearable, and because no data processing takes place in the tags. By concentrating all intelligent functions in the wearable and via its cloud connection, a wide variety of other processes (goods receipt booking, inventory, stock transfer) can be added.

Verdict: The NIMMSTA pick-by-light solution enables a significant increase in efficiency of manual picking and putting processes, innovatively implemented through a technically simple display technology for the shelves in the warehouse that can be easily integrated by sticking and scanning. Due to the high level of user-friendliness, the comprehensive connection to a wide range of warehouse management systems and the very short payback period of usually a few months, the system is considered to have very high market potential.

Market relevance ++
Customer benefit ++
Novelty / Innovation +
Functionality / Type of implementation ++
[KEY: ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available]

Mecalux to Automate Manitou DC

Posted on by David Priestman

Manitou Group, supplier of handling, aerial work platform and earth moving equipment, has opened a new automated warehouse at its spare parts centre in Ancenis, France. The innovative solution consists of the Shuttle System from Mecalux.

Manitou Group, headquartered in Ancenis, has showcased its new automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). Mecalux has outfitted the French group’s logistics centre with the Shuttle System. This AS/RS — which houses more than 20,000 containers in just 560 m² — responds to the logistics centre’s space constraints. Two high-performance pick stations complete the solution installed. This innovative system increases productivity when it comes to picking the group’s small, high-turnover parts comprising nearly 16,000 SKUs.

The project began in 2021. It took shape in August 2021 with the installation of the structure, and the entire warehouse was put into service in April 2022. Today, with just two operators, this AS/RS can prepare 500 order lines an hour.

“Mecalux has implemented the latest storage and order picking technologies in Manitou Group’s logistics center. The Shuttle System automates the movement of goods to two high-performance pick stations, which boost operator throughput,” says Daniel Joly, General Manager of Mecalux France.

Maxime Deroch, President of Manitou Group’s Services & Solutions division, explains why the company chose Mecalux as a provider: “To better serve our customers, we reduce the preparation time of orders received and to be shipped at the end of the day. We were looking for a solution that would leverage the latest technological innovations to optimise deliveries of rush orders. The Mecalux project team understood that our storage capacity issues would be solved by deploying a high-density solution, and this clinched our decision. Thanks to the top quality of our service, we’re constantly improving our customer satisfaction.”

This two-aisle AS/RS is also scalable. That is, a third aisle can be added to handle a higher order picking volume in the medium and long term.

The Mecalux Group, with headquarters in Chicago and Barcelona, is one of the world’s leading companies in the warehousing technology and logistics software market. With over 50 years of experience, Mecalux develops automated storage, warehouse management system and metal racking solutions for all industries. The multinational has an extensive worldwide distribution network, 11 production plants, 7 R&D centres for technological development and a workforce of 5,000 employees.

Kiabi selects Dematic for stock picking enhancement

Posted on by David Priestman

Dematic has recently been selected by French clothing producer and retailer Kiabi to enhance its stock picking processes with a focus on the family apparel specialist’s e-commerce business. The contract calls for Dematic to supply a fully automated system run with Dematic software.

Initially, the solution is to consist of 12 multishuttle lanes equipped with ergonomic goods-to-person (GTP) stations and a cutting-edge handling system. The site where the installation is set to take place is in the town of Lauwin-Planque in northern France and covers 66,000 sq m. The work is scheduled to begin with immediate effect and is slated for completion in 2024.

The facility had been initially automated by another provider with Dematic brought in to supplement the current set-up in terms of its e-commerce business, including apparel for the entire family and other products dedicated to the company’s online business. The French apparel company, whose corporate vision states a goal to “make life easier for families by weaving together responsible fashion and sustainable solutions”, is committed to providing customers with a feel-good fashion journey along with a renewed omnichannel shopping experience through its 553 points of contact in 25 countries and its e-shop. In this context, according to Kiabi, Dematic’s flexible omnichannel solution was a strong reason for the selection of the warehouse automation and software specialist.

Dematic’s solution makes it possible to feed both the e-commerce and store flows in an optimised and agile way. “This new installation means that we can increase our preparation and distribution capacities five-fold for our web and local collections in Northern Europe. The choice of Dematic was based on the quality of the solution they proposed, which was worked on at length in the pre-sales phase by the Dematic teams,” explains Marine Pomart, Kiabi’s supply chain director, adding, “The agile solution is also capable of navigating web preparation constraints, store and reserve storage in the defined requirements. Finally, its evolution allows us to meet our growth challenges and our stated vision in the medium and short term.”

“Kiabi, which continues its development in France and internationally, has just granted us its confidence for the years to come, by entrusting us with its new omnichannel order preparation unit. It is also for Dematic a chance to demonstrate our capacity to integrate and interface with tools already in place on the retailer’s logistics flagship,” says Alain Bussod, head of France Dematic.

 

Dutch wholesaler picks Vanderlande GtP system

Posted on by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered a highly automated FASTPICK goods-to-person (GtP) solution to De Bondt BV, a global haberdashery and yarn wholesaler. The system, which incorporates innovative ADAPTO shuttle technology, has been installed in the company’s existing warehouse in Tynaarlo, The Netherlands and went operational in September 2022.

The family-owned business, known for its brand Scheepjes, is delivering to retailers and resellers in more than 70 countries worldwide, and expects strong growth. In order to support the increased demand, De Bondt BV selected a flexible and scalable solution that will increase picking and packing efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of mistakes. With FASTPICK, De Bondt BV is ready for the future.

A significant part of De Bondt BV’s warehouse is automated with Vanderlande’s shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS) system, ADAPTO. The system supplies order lines in multi-compartment totes in a strict order sequence to the ergonomic pick stations. This offers De Bondt BV an increased storage density of over 20,000 locations, enabling a picking performance of up to 1,200 items per hour in peak periods.

The packing process is automated with a carton erector, pack list inserter, carton closing machine and label applicators, enabling operators to directly pick orders into cartons and ensuring a single touch process. Packing in this way also minimises shipping volumes and reduces the need for extra box-filling by operators.

“By using FASTPICK, we optimise the quality of service for our customers, enabling us to not only process orders in a more accurate and efficient way, but also to use less packaging material,” says Job De Bondt, Managing Director De Bondt BV. “With this investment, we are more than ready for the future!”

Vanderlande’s Vice President Warehouse Solutions Terry Verkuijlen adds: “We are delighted to be working with one of the key players in this sector, and to have supplied our innovative FASTPICK solution. We believe that this will help De Bondt BV to not only remain as one of the market leaders, but also provide its customers with the high service levels they’ve come to expect. FASTPICK is an ideal match for De Bondt BV’s requirements and it is now ready for future growth.”

 

LYDIA Voice becomes #1 Android voice solution

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has seen its LYDIA Voice application take the crown as the world’s number one pick-by-voice solution on Android devices. Over the past 12 months, EPG has secured a number of major customers from across industry, including merchandise management, food and beverage, global retail giants and manufacturing. Thanks to these new implementations on Android devices, LYDIA Voice has now become the voice solution of choice.

EPG has sealed a number of major contracts in the past 12 months, with a number of global retailers and producers of general goods, food and specialities as well as beverages, healthcare products and industrial components now placing their trust in the innovative LYDIA Voice software.

“Our business in Europe has been growing solidly for many years, and last year we were also able to gain a number of large-scale US clients with global operations,” explains Tim Just, CEO Voice Solutions at EPG. “As such, we sold a huge amount of LYDIA Voice users to warehouses, distribution hubs and fulfilment centres. Given the number of Android devices that our clients use to run the LYDIA Voice software, our technology is now the world’s most frequently used pick-by-voice solution.”

The noticeable surge in implementations is due to the fact that LYDIA Voice has become the leading voice recognition technology, he explains. LYDIA Voice is the world’s only pick-by-voice solution to feature voice recognition based on neural networks and deep learning, therefore delivering outstanding results.

In combination with the VOXTER Vantage, the perfect hardware for LYDIA Voice, EPG offers the most advanced all-in-one package on the voice market. The mobile voice computer works in perfect harmony with the software and is based on an optimised version of the Android operating system. The device is designed to be used for 100% voice-controlled processes.

Alongside developing its own voice hardware, EPG also places a great deal of importance on device independence – an aspect that Just sees as additional driver behind the growth. The company’s close collaboration with Zebra Technologies also contributed to the growing success, he suggests.

“Unlike other suppliers of voice-controlled picking software who require customers to use their hardware, we give our customers the freedom and flexibility to choose the optimal device platform for their workflows and processes,” explains Just.

LYDIA Voice underwent successful testing on a variety of mobile devices offered by leading providers, such as Zebra and Samsung. Most devices support multi-modal use, meaning they can be used for various applications in different parts of a company. The advantage for companies is that it’s easier to manage, maintain and update even a high number of devices.

“Customers can continue using the hardware they already have and just implement the LYDIA Voice users on their existing Android devices, provided they support these voice applications. For many of our customers, this is a big advantage in terms of investment costs, administration and maintenance,” explains Just.

In addition to supporting various Android devices, LYDIA Voice can also be used in combination with the LYDIA VoiceWear picking vest, which eliminates the need for headsets. This offers additional important benefits that also contributed to the technology’s market dominance.

“With our patented LYDIA VoiceWear technology, we’re the only pick-by-voice provider to offer a reliable solution without headsets,” Just says. The smart solution further enhances the overall user experience for employees,” explains Just, noting how companies are having to work increasingly hard to attract and retain staff over the long term.

“LYDIA Voice delivers near-perfect voice recognition rates for over 50 different languages. Users of other voice applications are still faced with outdated, lengthy voice training sessions for each employee. But we haven’t needed anything like that for over a decade,” explains Just.

“That’s why LYDIA Voice offers huge benefits, especially at companies where staff speak many different languages or regional dialects. Our system delivers outstanding voice recognition performance, enabling new staff to be onboarded much faster – even if they don’t, or only partly, speak the official language.”

As part of numerous pilot projects, customers compared LYDIA Voice with older-generation voice solutions. “All users of the older systems confirmed that LYDIA Voice delivered a productivity boost of 8-15%,” says Just.

EPG customers who have switched to LYDIA Voice have all reported noticeable improvements in voice recognition and overall staff satisfaction. The technology also provides companies with flexibility in their deployment of seasonal and temporary workers. In addition, LYDIA Voice can be seamlessly connected to all ERP and WMS systems.

Rydale improves e-commerce efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

British clothing brand Rydale has expanded and improved its e-commerce offering thanks to the deployment of Despatch Cloud’s software technology.

Rydale is a brand that has moved to the forefront of the country clothing industry in recent years. It was a love for the great outdoors that drove the founder, John Nichols, to create this iconic brand, and the company prides itself on creating quality, reliable clothing that stands up against the unexpected weather and rugged terrain of the great British countryside.

Since its founding 68 years ago, as a small business creating items for local outdoor enthusiasts, Rydale has grown into an internationally recognised and established brand.

Alex Moore, e-commerce Manager at Rydale, speaks about the rise of the business: “Rydale is proud to be from Yorkshire. We couldn’t think of a better place to test and develop our clothing range. We’ve always been eager to grow the brand by attending events all over the country, but the rise of e-commerce presented an opportunity to expand our operation rapidly.

“However, just as for any traditional retailer, the birth of e-commerce also changed everything. We had to adapt to a whole new way of running a business and work out how to manage it, and that’s where Despatch Cloud came in.”

After an acquaintance suggested getting in touch, Moore and the team were immediately impressed with what Despatch Cloud had to offer, stating: “It was really great to speak to people who actually knew what operating a busy warehouse was like. We shared many qualities and we jumped at the chance to adopt their software.”

Full warehouse package

Rydale took on Despatch Cloud’s full Warehouse package, and the results were immediate. Moore  explains: “Many of our orders are for multiple items. For example, people will buy a shirt and jacket together. A lot of the time these items are racked on opposite ends of the warehouse, which makes picking a real chore, and time consuming. When the team at Despatch Cloud introduced us to the bulk and sort picking method, we couldn’t believe the difference it made.”

The toting functionality involves collecting all products allocated to a sale, and placing them in a pick bin. This is then taken to a sorting wall, where all the totes are assigned to orders, waiting to be filled.

Moore explains: “Each of our pickers could pick 12 orders at once with our previous system. So on a day where we had, let’s say, 144 orders, that meant either we used 12 members of staff to pick, or a picker walked around the warehouse 12 times. Bulk and sort was a revelation. It now only takes one picker to collect all 144 orders. Our warehouse efficiency went through the roof and the number of orders we could fulfil increased tenfold.”

It wasn’t just the new picking method that improved the fulfilment process, Despatch Cloud’s end-to-end barcode verification software was another feature that seemed tailor-made for Rydale’s needs. Moore elaborates: “When selling clothing, many products are similar. For example, you may have a royal blue shirt next to a navy shirt. It’s easy for a picker to collect the wrong one, but it can be really damaging to customer relationships when they do. Since adopting a triple barcode checking system, every item is scanned at the point of picking, when it is being sorted, and when it is being packed. Our rate of human error in picking is now less than 0.001%.”

This wasn’t just beneficial for eliminating errors: “This system made finding products in the warehouse simpler. All we now have to do is search on the system and we can see if an order has been picked, if it’s waiting to be sorted, or if it’s already been packed. It’s made life so much easier and means we can respond to customers quickly in relation to queries regarding their purchase, which is always a positive.”

Another customer-based benefit was Despatch Cloud’s integrated helpdesk solution. The system is linked to the warehouse management software, which means orders and customer correspondence can be linked. Moore comments: “We found our former system wasn’t optimal for us, so when Despatch Cloud showcased their software, we jumped at the chance to adopt it. Having the order linking technology means that if a customer gets in touch via email, they will be automatically linked to their order, and their full order history. This saves us a lot of time, and the positive customer reaction to our quick responses has been a real pleasure to see.”

Returns system

Another feature that has proved invaluable for Rydale is the Despatch Cloud Returns System. Moore speaks about the way the returns portal has helped Rydale: “It used to be a huge operation to get returns processed and back into stock. We did it the traditional way of placing returns together and then gradually returning them to their shelves, which could take days.

“With the new system, all that has changed. We now have 100 small bins near our returns area, into which we put any returned parcels. These returns are processed and stay in the bins where they can be picked for orders. Basically, if they pass quality control they are immediately placed back into the system.

“We prioritise picking from these bins, which saves the time and effort of returning items to their warehouse inventory location before they are picked for a new order. We call it direct-to-pick. As orders come in for items in the return bins, that product is taken out, and the bin is empty again. It’s working well for us so far and has really sped up not just our returns, but our entire order processing.”

The expansion of e-commerce shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s now more important than ever that businesses retail their products across multiple sales channels. This comes with some difficulty though, as Rydale experienced. Moore states: “Our previous system wasn’t the best for handling stock across multiple channels. We had to manually split our stock, so we would assign 50 products to one channel, 50 to another, and we had to constantly check them to make sure we had enough. This was a nightmare. Big sales events are important to us and often result in high order volumes. Trying to juggle our stock when it was selling quickly across different channels was getting tricky and we were always running the risk of overselling.”

Moore describes how Despatch Cloud helped solve this issue: “The whole team was blown away at the speed of stock updates with Despatch Cloud. We organised big sales events with huge reductions on items that meant our stock levels were in a constant state of flux, and the Despatch Cloud technology handled it with ease. The feeling of having a system you trust can’t be understated. It allows us the freedom to launch sales and promotional events without a nagging fear at the back of our minds of overselling. It’s provided us with the freedom to grow, knowing we have a system to back us up.”

Matthew Dunne, founder and CTO of Despatch Cloud, speaks fondly of his relationship with the team at Rydale, saying: “It has been a pleasure working with Rydale. To see another business from our region making such huge progress in their industry is really positive. From the start, the team at Despatch Cloud has enjoyed seeing how our technology has improved their logistic operations and we look forward to seeing what the future holds.”

Rydale continues to expand its collections of country clothing, footwear, gifts and accessories and reach new customers. Still working with Despatch Cloud, the future certainly looks bright for this British country clothing brand.

 

New model offers “300% faster” voice recognition

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) says it is taking voice-directed processes in the logistics sector to the next level with its new hardware solution, VOXTER Vantage. The latest generation of mobile voice computer, which was developed for the innovative LYDIA Voice technology, is setting new standards in terms of overall performance, stability and durability.

In comparison to its predecessor model, the VOXTER Vantage enables 300% faster voice recognition, is equipped with the optimised enterprise operating system Android Industrial+ and offers considerably improved WiFi performance.

Seamless interaction between hardware and software is the key to a successful voice solution in a logistics environment. The innovative software LYDIA Voice harnesses artificial intelligence for its voice recognition.

“Customers who switch from other voice systems to LYDIA Voice witness a 6-18% increase in productivity on average,” explains Tim Just, CEO Voice Solutions at EPG. “In VOXTER Vantage, LYDIA Voice customers are now receiving a hardware solution that increases productivity and performance even further, leading to greater overall performance.”

VOXTER says its Vantage solution impresses with its unique and particularly low-maintenance design as well as new technical components that offer significant performance gains. Its computing power, for instance, is six times greater than that of its predecessor model. It also uses the state-of-the-art enterprise operating system Android Industrial+, which has been optimised especially for VOXTER Vantage.

“VOXTER Vantage works in perfect harmony with LYDIA software,” stresses Just. “They combine many years of development expertise with the latest hardware and software technology. EPG is therefore offering the most advanced package currently available on the voice technology market. A 300% increase in voice recognition speed can be achieved simply by switching to the new VOXTER Vantage model.”

The enterprise operating system Android Industrial+ offers the modern and future-proof software ecosystem of a standard Android system, but has been specifically optimised for the much greater requirements in logistics and industrial environments. It supports reliable and fast data transmission via WiFi, NFC or Bluetooth in accordance with the latest transmission standards. It also guarantees a high level of data security, as it does not use the services of third parties.

Moreover, the product offers greater control over settings that are relevant for voice applications. This includes the automatic calibration of microphone sensitivity, smart LYDIA Voice software features and extended configuration options. In combination with the latest technical components, a high-power WiFi card and the advanced operating system Android Industrial+, this helps ensure a much more stable WiFi performance.

According to EPG, VOXTER series products are extremely durable and low-maintenance. Mechanical moving parts are purposely not incorporated into their design. When in use, the products can be operated by voice command alone. This prevents wear and tear and minimises the need for repairs. For the first time, EPG has been able to statistically prove just how durable VOXTER hardware is in practice.

The mean time to failure (MTTF) metric indicates how long devices can be used on average until repairs are necessary. “The MTTF for our VOXTER series is 8.9 years,” explains Just. “This is an outstanding figure that attests to the stability of our hardware and its enormously long life cycle.”

EPG guarantees a life cycle of at least 10  years for the VOXTER Vantage. The hardware is available for at least five years and support is guaranteed for at least a further five years. Thanks to the VOXTER SafeGuard guarantee, the technology is also supplied with updates and security patches for the entirety of its life cycle.

VOXTER Vantage also offers a real advantage in term of costs. Over the course of the product’s life cycle, EPG says total costs are lower than for comparable devices on the market. An additional advantage for established customers is that the mobile voice computer is compatible with existing equipment from the VOXTER series, including the LYDIA VoiceWear order picking vest.

 

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