warehouse automation

Berkshire Grey, Swisslog combine forces on fulfillment automation

Berkshire Grey and Swisslog announced a global partnership on Tuesday that will see the two robotic companies work collaboratively to accelerate deployment of warehouse automation technologies.

The alliance will focus initially on the U.S. market and target grocery, e-grocery, e-commerce and retail customers. The AI-powered automation solutions will assist with real-time order fulfillment. Swisslog will become part of Berkshire Grey’s Partner Alliance program as a strategic Systems Integration...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/berkshire-grey-swisslog-combine-forces-on-fulfillment-automation

The Roaring ’20s are back thanks to ‘bingo wheel’ of disruptions

Few had a Russian invasion of Ukraine on their radar a few months ago, but the conflict in Eastern Europe became just the latest disruption to global markets following a long list of disruptors, from COVID-19 to maritime and trucking capacity constraints, from labor issues to product shortages.

Through it all, logistics providers have worked hard to maintain levels of service that resulted in some semblance of normalcy. Through these times, innovation seems to be prevailing.

“Supply chains are...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-roaring-20s-are-back-thanks-to-bingo-wheel-of-disruptions

Pitney Bowes to expand robotics, deploy AmbiSort tech in e-commerce hubs

Global parcel shipping firm Pitney Bowes is expanding its relationship with Ambi Robotics as it seeks to improve its e-commerce supply chain operations. The firm will spend $23 million to expand use of Ambi’s AmbiSort AI-powered robotics sorting systems in e-commerce hubs throughout the U.S.

“As we continue to scale our global e-commerce business, Pitney Bowes is working with some of the most innovative companies in the industry to configure new solutions that improve our service offerings and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/pitney-bowes-to-expand-robotics-deploy-ambisort-tech-in-e-commerce-hubs

M&A just one avenue of growth for GXO

Facility automation upgrades present incremental revenue stream on existing contracts

The need for warehouse space and the people and tech to run it is at an all-time high. Getting goods to consumers faster has become the equation every supply chain manager is trying to solve. However, industrial real estate vacancies are at record lows and skilled labor remains a pinch point across many parts of the world. The combination has created an abundance of opportunities for well-positioned logistics facility operators.

GXO (NYSE: GXO) is one such provider thriving in the space, growing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ma-just-one-avenue-of-growth-for-gxo

Warehouse workers weigh in on automation in the workplace

Breaking down Harvard Business Review's research, which asked warehouse workers and supervisors how they feel about automation

Automation is here to stay, whether warehouse workers like it or not. As of 2019, the market for warehouse automation –– devices that can pick, sort and simplify other tasks for human workers –– was worth around $15 billion, and that could double by 2026.

Conventional wisdom holds that a new wave of robots will render the U.S.’s 1.5 million warehouse and storage employees obsolete, tipping the scales in favor of employers who could theoretically replace their workers with a snap of their fingers.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/warehouse-workers-weigh-in-on-automation-in-the-workplace

GXO deploys 3D tech, automation to create custom-sized packaging

GXO deploys 3D tech and automation to right-size packages

One size fits all, except when it doesn’t.

Dimensional weight shipping rates have grown in popularity as e-commerce has taken off with customers. FedEx started charging the majority of its customers based on the size of the package in 2015. According to 2013 data from ShipMatrix, parcels delivered to residential addresses and weighing under 5 pounds had grown from 58% of ground package volume to 75%, contributing to the change. That mix has only grown since then thanks to e-commerce.

It is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gxo-deploys-3d-tech-automation-to-create-custom-sized-packaging

Warehouse robotics firm Exotec raises $335M, reaches $2B valuation

Exotec Skypicker warehouse robot

Operating in a market that is expected to grow at double-digit rates for the next five years to reach $9.1 billion by 2026 provides plenty of room for investment.

Exotec is the latest to benefit, closing a $335 million series D funding round led by the Growth Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management with follow-on investments from 83North and Dell Technologies Capital.

The funding values Exotec at $2 billion. The company’s last funding round was a $90 million round in September 2020....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/warehouse-robotics-firm-exotec-raises-335m-reaches-2b-valuation

Ricoh USA to provide customer support for 6 River Systems’ fulfillment robots

Ricoh USA announced Wednesday that it will provide technical and customer support infrastructure to 6 River Systems as it looks to scale its robotic fulfillment solutions.

Technicians from Ricoh Service Advantage will work with engineers from 6 River Systems to provide calibration and floor mapping as well as routine and preventive maintenance and retrofits to the company’s robots, called Chucks. Ricoh will also provide end-user operator training for Chucks that includes device charging,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/6-river-systems-inks-support-deal-for-fulfillment-robots-with-ricoh-usa

Berkshire Grey flips the switch on returns and reverse logistics

UPS said this week that it expects to handle 60 million returned packages through Jan. 22, a 10% increase over last year, with 25% of Americans expected to make at least one return.

That delivery strain reverberates throughout the entire supply chain, and inefficient and manual processes can cut into brands’ revenue as returned items sit in warehouses, unable to be resold.

Warehouse automation company Berkshire Grey is hoping to ease some of that pain with its new Reverse Logistics software...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/berkshire-grey-flips-the-switch-on-returns-and-reverse-logistics

Amazon is retail behemoth but isn’t keeping retailers up at night

The pandemic-fueled e-commerce boom is slowly starting to settle into a new normal, but for retailers, the challenges it created, and the gaps it exposed, have not disappeared. In fact, those issues, such as fulfillment capabilities, remain vexing problems in search of modern solutions.

Retail technology company Fabric surveyed 500 consumers and 200 retailers and brands for a report on the subject. “The 3 Biggest Last-Mile Challenges the Retail Industry is Facing Today” highlights these gaps and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-is-retail-behemoth-but-isnt-keeping-retailers-up-at-night

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