Two thirds of today’s global warehouse operations are underpinned by terminal emulation (TE) software. Even though your TE solution may be 30 years old, you can still enhance your order picking processes without making changes to your backend system, says Padraig Regan, Chief Product Officer at StayLinked. If you are suffering from dropped sessions due to poor network connectivity, change your TE solution immediately to one that eliminates all dropped sessions. If you are still using Windows Mobile or CE devices, you should migrate to Android as this will open up a host of new opportunities. Running the right TE solution on Android devices now enables you to augment your existing workflows by including appropriate new technologies that can significantly improve the productivity and efficiency of your employees.
This article was first published in the December 1st 2022 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
Norway’s leading wholesaler of industrial parts for heating, plumbing and ventilation is reaping the benefits of robotic fulfilment as part of a new automated solution from KNAPP. Picking of goods from the store is performed either at the three goods-to-person workstations that are equipped with pick-to-light technology or by the Pick-it-Easy Robot. With the help of AI software developed by the Silicon Valley start-up, Covariant, KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Robot picks orders with a high degree of accuracy at speeds equivalent to manual picking stations, with the ability to maintain these speeds over much longer periods.
Vanderlande launched a new robot picking solution – Auto Induct – at the Parcel & Post Expo 2022 on 18 October in Frankfurt, Germany. Developed in collaboration with machine builder and robotics expert, AWL, Auto Induct allows for the robotic picking of small items from a bulk flow of parcels. The smart solution is designed to pick items weighing between 20g and 5kg, and place them on a belt for further sortation – this is known as the “singulation process”.
Geek+, the global leader in autonomous mobile robots, is proud to announce that it has won the Digital Transformation Award at the 2022 Supply Chain Excellence Awards in recognition of their automation project implemented by strategic partner Breathe Technologies for online UK retailer RangePlus. RangePlus achieved a 300% improvement in picking rate and order picking time, as well as a 25% reduction in operating costs. They also maximised their warehouse capacity by stocking 50% more SKUs in the same space while reducing error rates and minimising waste.
Last month Amazon unveiled ‘Sparrow’ at the Delivering the Future conference in the US, where the e-commerce giant showcased new robotics, transportation and last-mile delivery technologies. Sparrow is a robotic arm that can pick millions of items of varying shapes and sizes, using computer vision and artificial intelligence to move products before they’re packaged. Previously, robots were able to pick up and move boxes of a uniform size, but more complex picks remained the domain of human beings, according to UKWA.
It is satisfying to witness the advances in technology, which will allow robots to take on repetitive order picking tasks, while people focus on skills that are uniquely human.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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