Berkshire Grey Partners With Logistex to Deliver Logistics Automation in the U.K.

As labor shortages and logistics challenges continue to strain global supply chains, operators are looking for easier ways to adopt automation. Berkshire Grey Inc. last week said it has partnered with Logistex to serve Europe's leading pure-play e-commerce companies, retailers, and third-party logistics providers. The partners said they will combine Berkshire Grey's artificial intelligence and robots with Logistex's experience as a systems integrator.

“Berkshire Grey’s robotic solution portfolio is incredibly robust. By addressing some of the most labor-intensive warehouse processes and handling the broadest range of SKUs, their systems can solve operational challenges across our customer base,” stated Andy Branch, chief operating officer at Logistex. “Logistex has a long history of delivering transformative solutions, and across industries, we are seeing more customers ready to leverage intelligent robotic automation.”

Kettering, U.K.-based Logistex provides materials handling automation and warehouse management software (WMS). The company said it specializes in storage and retrieval, order forwarding, picking, and sorting systems. Logistex's services cover design and implementation, WMS and control systems, equipment refurbishment and maintenance, facilities management, and 24/7 hotline support and spares.

Berkshire Grey minds e-commerce gap

As more companies feel the pressures of e-commerce growth, enhanced consumer expectations, and persistent labor shortages, Berkshire Grey said its AI-powered mobile robots can help fill the gap. The Bedford, Mass.-based company offers systems for picking, packing, movement, storage, organizing, and sortation operations.

Berkshire Grey also claimed that its technologies can triple fulfillment throughput and improve labor efficiency by up to 70%. Its customers include Global 100 retailers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs).

“The demand for innovation to address operational challenges plaguing supply chains brought on by new connected-consumer buying behaviours for e-commerce and omnichannel purchasing is very strong in the U.K., and Berkshire Grey has the solutions the market needs to compete,” said Neil Berry, senior vice president and general manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Berkshire Grey.

A Berkshire Grey Mobile Robotic System with integrated goods-to-person picking fulfills a U.K. grocery order. Source: Berkshire Grey

Logistex provides rapid access to European users

“Partnering with Logistex allows us to deliver a comprehensive robotic automation portfolio to more customers faster, accelerate the adoption of AI and robotics across the U.K. market, and enable joint customers to rapidly realise the value of robotic automation,” Berry added.

Logistex said it innovation portfolio is evolving through its partnership with Berkshire Grey. Together, they said they expect to help companies streamline processes, improve employee productivity, and deliver flexible solutions that scale.

Berkshire Grey’s Partner Alliance program works with a select group of strategic partners to provide customers across retail, e-commerce, 3PL, grocery, and package-handling industries. They develop and offer systems to improve fulfilment throughput while driving down operational costs.

The company said it delivers a return on investment (ROI) faster than other providers in the industry. Its partner program enables customers to team up with the best consultants, integrators, technology providers, and material handling leaders to extend value-added solutions, said Berkshire Grey.