For more than 25 years, Lucas Systems has helped companies dramatically increase worker productivity, operational agility, and customer satisfaction, through smart software utilising AI and voice technologies. Our solutions feature Jennifer™, the brain, voice, and orchestration engine that drives performance improvement gains.
Rick Day, Business Development Executive at Lucas Systems, speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
Long before Alexa and Siri, Lucas delivered Jennifer™: voice-directed mobile applications on multiple hardware platforms. We pioneered the use of Android wearables in the DC, and introduced AI-based optimisation tools when AI was barely spoken of in supply chain circles. We innovate in three vital areas: AI and machine learning; speech and mobile applications; and technology-enabled process optimisation.
Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?
Since our inception in 1998, we have forged collaborative alliances with numerous enterprises, ranging from Fortune 50 corporations to individual site distributors in a large variety of business verticals. Over time we’ve built a deep industry expertise for the unique challenges and requirements each type of business is faced with. Among our valued customers are prominent industry trailblazers in sectors including beverage, foodservice, healthcare, industrial, retail, and e-commerce.
What are your most recent product innovations?
Utilising an exclusive AI-based process called Dynamic Work Optimisation, Lucas has helped customers reduce travel 30-50% by optimising assignments of work and by defining optimal pick sequences or pick paths. Dynamic Work Optimisation has allowed customers to more than double picking productivity and cut labour hours in half without making any changes to their warehouse layout or adding expensive automation or robotics.
In addition, we have been working with customers to introduce more dynamic slotting solutions using AI and a real time “always on” approach to eliminate the traditional time-consuming engineering, manual complex modeling, and high cost required to do warehouse re-slotting. Our solution makes slotting smart, simple, and dynamic so warehouse operators get the benefits of re-slotting as often as they want. Those benefits include greater throughput, higher pick densities resulting in higher pick rates, and less travel and stress on warehouse workers.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
As newer generations enter the workforce, it’s essential for employers to stay ahead in a competitive environment marked by high demand and a limited pool of potential workers. Our recent Voice of the Warehouse Worker study uncovered surprising insights into how warehouse workers perceive the integration of technology into their roles. Notably, 74% of workers express a willingness to accept a salary reduction to join a company that offers advanced technological tools to enhance their daily tasks. The adoption of more advanced technology not only contributes to a positive work-life balance but also eases the challenges of manual labour, creating a more flexible and appealing environment for on-floor workers. And it can be done without a huge capital investment, while providing a fast return on investment. Making life easier for on-floor workers and managers has always been our primary focus, and continues to drive our innovation going forward.
Did you take part in any major trade shows this year? Will you be exhibiting next year?
We have maintained a considerable presence within the tradeshow arena, including engagement at notable events such as IntraLogisteX 2023, Warehouse and Logistics Forum 2023, and the IWLEX event. We look forward to an active 2024 and continually welcome the opportunity to foster discussions with like-minded professionals and organisations on warehouse efficiency and present our unique solutions and explorations on topics including, dramatically reducing worker on-floor travel, the optimisation of human and robotic workflows, and more dynaic slotting processes.
Lucas Systems
t: 0289 600 2852
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