Warehouse Space & Workforce Efficiency Workshop

Author: Christoph Buchmann, December 18 th 2023 Introduction:  The rise of warehouse automation has been nothing short of meteoric. Over the past decade, the sector has witnessed a growth of approximately 15% annually, driven largely by a global surge in e-commerce and the relentless quest for efficiency in supply chain operations. Yet, as we steer towards an era of seemingly boundless technological innovation, there remains a robust case for the integration of often overlooked semi-automated solutions in our warehousing strategies. The Limitations of Full Automation As tantalizing as the prospects of full automation may seem, it isn't always the golden ticket to operational excellence. Full automation demands immense capital, prolonged implementation periods, and oftentimes, a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure. Furthermore, certain tasks remain notoriously challenging for robots. Consider the intricacies of handling fragile ceramics or the unpredictability of packaging oddly shaped, bulky items. These are scenarios where the tactile sensitivity and adaptability of human hands, guided by purely human hand-eye coordination, can often outperform the most advanced robotic counterparts. It's an interplay between mechanized precision and human finesse. Entry-Level Technology: Taking the First Step For businesses that are cautious about diving headfirst into the world of automation, semi-automated systems present a prudent middle ground. These entry-level technologies, besides being more cost-effective, allow companies to dip their toes into automation without the commitment and complexities of a full-scale overhaul. Moreover, they significantly mitigate the risks associated with delays or teething problems that might arise during the integration of fully automated systems. Essentially, semi-automated solutions can act as a bridge, providing tangible benefits while also serving as a preparatory phase for potential future expansions. A Dive into Select Technologies Mobile Racks: These semi-automated storage solutions maximize space efficiency. While the racks move autonomously, the inventory selection and retrieval processes still necessitate human intervention, ensuring flexibility in handling a myriad of items. AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots): AMRs, unlike their fully automated counterparts, work alongside human employees, facilitating tasks like the transportation of goods within a warehouse. They enhance productivity without eradicating the human touch from the equation. Deep-Lane pallet radio shuttles: These are specialized storage solutions that autonomously navigate storage lanes. However, the loading and unloading processes are typically semi-automated, ensuring a seamless blend of speed and caution. VLMs (Vertical Lift Modules): VLMs are storage solutions that automatically deliver items to an access point. While the retrieval is automated, the picking process remains human-led, ensuring accuracy and care. A New Dawn for Small and Medium Enterprises As the curtain falls on this discussion, it's pivotal to underscore the transformative potential of semi-automated solutions, especially for smaller businesses. These enterprises often operate under tighter budget constraints, making the prospect of full automation daunting. However, with the suite of semi-automated technologies available, these businesses can now embark on their automation journey, reaping a plethora of benefits ranging from improved efficiency to enhanced accuracy. The fusion of man and machine, in many ways, holds the promise of an optimized, resilient, and dynamic warehousing future. Author: Christoph Buchmann December 18 th 2023 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this paper are solely the opinion of the writer and are not associated with any corporate entity. This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions presented are personal and belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people, institutions, or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any organization, company, or individual.

Cube storage systems, with their promise of dense storage and efficient space utilization, have rapidly evolved since their inception. This unique storage paradigm has witnessed various changes and improvements, driven by the constant endeavour to achieve better scalability, versatility, and speed. Let's dive deep into the evolution of these systems, tracing their journey from the early pioneers to today's cutting-edge solutions. The Dawn of a New Era: AutoStore The late 1990s marked the beginning of a revolution in cube storage with the introduction of AutoStore. Founded in 1996 in Norway, AutoStore pioneered the idea of using a grid system combined with robots on top. These robots, equipped with a mechanism to dive into the grid and retrieve bins, changed the landscape of warehousing. It optimized space like never before, with a promise of up to 60% increase in storage capacity compared to manual shelving. AutoStore's success lay in its revolutionary design that allowed it to make efficient use of both horizontal and vertical space, eliminating the need for aisles and making the most out of every square inch of a facility. Ocado's Leap Forward While AutoStore was making waves in Europe, on the other side of the North Sea, Ocado was beginning to make its mark. Established in 2000, the British online supermarket quickly recognized the potential of automated warehousing. Although initially it relied on traditional automation methods, by the mid-2010s, in collaboration with Tharsus, it had developed its own cube storage solution. The result was the Ocado Smart Platform, which showcased a three-dimensional grid system, with robots operating on top. These robots, capable of collaborative operation and making real-time decisions based on the system's needs, offered a fresh perspective on what cube storage could achieve. Their subsequent evolution to Intellistore further enhanced the cube storage philosophy, providing a more intelligent, dynamic, and flexible system. Intellistore This solution provided the much-needed improvement that AutoStore and Ocado didn’t have – instant access to totes. By removing the need to dig for totes, Intellistore offered a cube-based system with much higher performance. As SKU sets and profiles constantly change, it is important to have SKU selectivity, or in other words instant access to the product. Gone were the days of digging. Gebhardt's Entry and the StoreBiter 500 Gebhardt entered the arena with its StoreBiter 500 in the late 2010s. While the basic premise of a grid with robots on top remained consistent, Gebhardt introduced multi-level shuttles. These shuttles were capable of vertical movement within the grid, enhancing the system's speed and efficiency. With their patented technology, Gebhardt promised reduced processing times and better energy efficiency. The Attabotics Take Attabotics, a relatively newer entrant founded in 2015, took the cube storage system concept and gave it a unique spin. Instead of the conventional grid, Attabotics envisioned a system that mimicked the structure of an ant colony. Robots in this system could move both horizontally and vertically, ensuring faster retrieval times. Their compact system was not only space-efficient but also optimized for e-commerce operations, where speed and accuracy were paramount. Gridstore’s Vision Gridstore further expanded on the cube storage idea by emphasizing modularity. Their systems were designed to be scalable, catering to both small enterprises and large corporations. Gridstore's unique selling proposition was its ability to adapt and grow with a company's needs without significant overhauls. Benefits and the Evolutionary Drive So, what fueled this evolution in cube storage systems? The reasons are manifold: Space Optimization: Traditional warehousing methods, with their vast aisles and sprawling footprints, were inefficient. Cube storage systems, with their dense storage philosophy, revolutionized space utilization, a critical factor given the rising real estate costs. Scalability: Companies grew and so did their warehousing needs. Cube storage systems, with their modularity, allowed businesses to scale their operations without the need for massive infrastructural changes. Speed and Efficiency: The e-commerce boom demanded faster processing times. Cube storage systems, with their robotic retrievals, promised (and delivered) faster turnaround times, ensuring that orders could be processed in record times. Accuracy: Human errors in order picking or storage could have costly ramifications. Automated systems significantly reduced these errors, ensuring accurate order fulfillment. In conclusion, the evolution of cube storage systems showcases the warehousing industry's constant quest for better, faster, and more efficient solutions. From the pioneering efforts of AutoStore to the modern innovations of companies like Intellistore and Gridstore, the journey has been marked by innovation and a relentless drive to improve. For market insiders and observers, the cube storage system's story is a testament to the power of innovation and the promise of a more efficient future.

Why Selectivity Matters for Robotic Goods-to-Person Systems Debunking the myth that Cubic Storage systems don’t have to “dig” for bins as they rely on a natural ABC slotting algorithm Author: Christoph Buchmann, June 2 nd 2023  Introduction: Selectivity matters! Instant access to product (bins) is critical for the operational performance of any Goods-to-Person storage & order fulfillment system. Any multi deep storage configuration naturally leads to reshuffling the bins in front (or above, in case of vertical storage), taking up precious time and valuable performance capacity. In the past there have been claims that cubic storage systems, such as Ocado® or Autostore® do not have to “dig” frequently for bins, as the system relies on a self-generating natural ABC slotting algorithm. However, the math doesn’t support this statement! This white paper is intended to objectively illustrate why cubic storage systems inevitably have to dig for bins in any multi deep storage configuration, how that negatively impacts performance and explain why product (bin) selectivity in a Goods-to-Person system matters and directly influences operational throughput and system performance. It is important to understand that there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” Goods-to-Person system. Just like with cars, there is a wide variety of options built for many different applications. Many of the available Goods-to-Person technologies have their sweet-spot, depending on whether the operation is performance driven or storage driven, depending on ABC profiles, depending on the amount of replenishment storage and other operational factors that must be considered. So, the questions you have to ask yourself are, what are my operational needs and which system is the right one for me? The devil is in the details, but in this post, by using simple mathematical examples, we will help shine some light on the topic of “bin digging” and debunk the myth of “natural ABC slotting”. To dig or not to dig…?

The year is 2021. The year after our initiation to one of the most disruptive Black Swan events in history, - Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic has undeniably changed our world as we know it. While we as individuals look back at how we have adapted, from increasing our E-Commerce purchases to experiencing “zoom-fatigue” but also enjoying the convenience online shopping delivers, retailers are forced to question themselves whether they have to change their supply chain strategy. The question is not should they change how they do business, but how? The paradigm shift that the supply chain industry is experiencing can be summarized as the shift from centralized fulfillment to de-centralized fulfillment. But what is the right strategy? How do retailers leverage new techniques, such as Microfulfillment and last-mile delivery without risking too much, but enough to stay ahead of their competition? While for some it appears, the writing is on the wall, others may disagree. Let’s take a look. With centralization, a company elects to keep its entire inventory in one, or it opts to utilize a few major hubs that focus on a large region. Decentralization on the other hand utilizes numerous warehouses or stores that would concentrate on smaller geographic areas, bringing inventory forward and closer to the end customer. These locations are much smaller than a centralized warehouse, therefore less expensive and consequently offer better scalability and much faster order fulfillment. In short, the focus for retailers has shifted towards speed and convenience. In the aviation industry we have already seen this paradigm shift. The same logic applies to the supply chain industry, which brings us to Microfulfillment. As described by CB Insights: “Micro-fulfillment is a strategy retailers use to make the fulfillment process more efficient — from receiving an online order to packing it and in some cases offering last-mile delivery. The approach aims to take the speed of localized, in-store pick-up and combine it with the efficiency of large, automated warehouses. Further, placing micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) within cities can substantially reduce the distance between an ordered product and a customer, making last-mile delivery cheaper and quicker.” https://bit.ly/2NZ3RR4 The sheer growth in this specific niche market is mind-blowing! There are now over a dozen companies offering automation to empower retailers seeking to shift towards Microfulfillment. Just to name a few: The question retailers must ask themselves is should they embrace a Microfulfillment strategy? Both centralized and de-centralized fulfillment have merit. They are both proven strategies. However, the one major competitive advantage Microfulfillment boasts is the ability to add automation to fulfilment operations at a fraction of the cost of centralized fulfillment. Automation significantly reduces the cost of fulfilling orders and de-centralization closes the gap to last-mile-delivery. This advantage can be of strategic importance. Gone are the days where automation had to be a multi million-dollar investment. Now retailers can leverage the benefits of a de-centralized fulfillment strategy and add automation to their operations. This is a game changer and opens new possibilities for small to medium sized companies to develop ever more competitive operations. It is specifically these SMB’s that the automated system suppliers have ignored in the past. And that is about to change! After all, customers want speed and convenience. It is about time retailers rethink their supply chain strategy!

Micro-fulfillment can be described as the concept of combining warehouse automation and retail stores in urban areas to locally fulfill B2C eCommerce orders. The combination of automated order fulfillment technology, co-located in urban areas, brings inventory closer to the end-user, while leveraging the productivity and efficiency of automation.