It is not exaggerated to state that the percentage of e-commerce in retail has continuously grown in the last ten to fifteen years. And more importantly, is still growing because of the restrictions during the pandemic. Lots of new customer groups, for example the elderly, have newly discovered the conveniences of online shopping and are very likely to keep using them.
This puts retailers in front of new challenges. They need to set up an easy-to-navigate online shop and connect the systems seamlessly to their warehouse processes. Customers expect quick deliveries within a few days, which requires maximum efficiency regarding picking and packing processes. Warehouses that are solely operated manually cannot meet the fast-changing requirements of the high-volume business that is e-commerce.
Caja Robotics has developed a state-of-the-art warehouse automation system consisting of robots, highly advanced software and picking stations.
“Caja” – Spanish for box or carton, and “Robotics”. Stay modest on the name, stack high in the warehouse – that is the approach of the eight-year-old Israel based company. Caja believes software should be at the forefront of warehouse automation and therefore designed a cutting-edge solution that handles high and low throughput and can be deployed in only a matter of days. The flexible and adaptable solution can be deployed in a small section of the warehouse and scaled up along with operations.
Caja Robotics offers its customers a robot-supported solution for order processing according to the goods-to-man principle. For this purpose, the company has developed two robot models, the “CART” and the “LIFT”. The two robots help transform manual warehouses into highly automated logistics spaces. “CART” is the smaller robot that covers the ways between warehouse shelves and picking stations and can transport boxes weighing up to 30 kilograms. The task of “LIFT”, on the other hand, is to continuously optimise the stock levels; fast-moving items, for example, are shuffled to more accessible locations to make “CART” work easier. It can therefore reach shelf locations at heights of up to 5.2 metres. The robots do the picking swiftly and securely and deliver the goods to picking stations that can handle both retail and e-commerce operations. Thus, significant amounts of time can be saved, as employees are relieved from the task of walking up and down the aisles during the picking process. The picking stations are designed to meet high ergonomic criteria, saving them lots of walking and lifting goods.
Especially now, as labour markets everywhere are under growing pressure due to a lack of employees, the introduction of robots in the warehouse can be a relevant asset in reducing this pressure.
The process of setting up the Caja Robotics solution is very cost efficient. Thanks to the SAU – the shelving adapter unit – no additional shelf decks are needed. The SAU is optimised to facilitate the work of the robots, so that different sizes of boxes can be picked and transported. Usually, the most common box size is 60 x 40 centimetres, whereas there is no height limitation. Even hanging clothes could be handled and transported by the Caja robots, as long as the box weight does not exceed 30 kilograms. This highlights the high aptitude for e-commerce clients offering smaller articles or apparel like clothes and shoes.
However, the heart of the solution is not the futuristic robots, but the complex software that optimises warehouse operations using Artificial Intelligence. With a centralised system, powered by sophisticated algorithms, Caja’s solution is continuously active in both long-range planning and reacting to real-time events, offering immediate results. This is accomplished through the three main factors of Caja’s swarm management: order management, bins management, and fleet management. Caja Robotics’ cloud-based software continuously processes a vast amount of data vital for warehouse swarm management. Included in the data that is important to make optimised decisions for the fulfilment process are order clustering options, order priorities, the abilities of each robot, battery charging, order status, charge levels, working load on stations, use of sync/async picking stations, and more.
Caja Robotics’ simulations are accurate to the second. As the backend system controls every aspect of the warehouse operation, including each robot’s navigation, the Machine Learning concept begins optimising the operation before the warehouse even exists.
Another key feature of the solution is the preliminary simulation and emulation process. Both simulation and emulation try to mimic the real warehouse in a virtual world, but while simulation mimics the basic behavior and configurations of a device, emulation means a complete imitation of the real thing by duplicating all the hardware and software features of a real device to a virtual world. Instead of just estimating the outcome of several orders, SKUs, etc. that will be collected during the operation, Caja is able to deliver an exact amount. Since Caja’s swarm management is conducted by the backend software and not by the robots, it is possible to run the same live scenarios as for the already operating robotic automated warehouse.
“The boom in e-commerce is a reason for many of our customers to automate their logistics. Sometimes this must happen very quickly, which is why we have designed our solution in such a way that it can be set up and put into operation as easily and quickly as possible”, explains Hanna Yanovsky, General Manager of Caja Robotics. Within two weeks, the Caja Robotics solution can be implemented in a warehouse. The special advantage: this is also possible in brownfield warehouses. Existing shelves can be used, and no additional adjustments to the floor are necessary.”
Caja Robotics operates several robotics warehouses in the US and in the Middle East and is continuously partnering with with leading integrators in Germany, Italy and the USA.
Comments are closed.