Zebra Technologies adds cart-based AMR to Symmetry Fulfillment

Warehouse digital technology and automation systems provider Zebra Technologies Corporation recently announced an expansion to its Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment system.

Symmetry Fulfillment is a comprehensive system that uses the company’s new Zebra Connect Fulfillment autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), wearable technologies, software, and analytics designed to help increase productivity and reduce costs in warehouse operations.

This AI-enabled system combines the functions of a warehouse execution system (WES) with robot fleet management and data analytics software.

The new Zebra Symmetry Connect Fulfillment cobot AMR enables warehouse workers in person-to-goods (P2G) operations to load and unload orders to and from carts without requiring AMRs to remain permanently attached to each cart. Zebra said this workflow can increase utilization and reduce the number of AMRs required in the fulfillment system.

Team Intelligence, detachable carts can improve efficiency

Adopting Zebra’s Team Intelligence methodology, Symmetry Fulfillment enables human pickers to pick more items in less time by coordinating each picker with a team of robots in a precise, directed workflow. Team Intelligence can improve throughput by routing robots ahead of pickers, so the right AMR is always where it needs to be when a picker arrives. Zebra said this approach can improve throughput and empowers operational decision making in fulfillment workflows.

Matthew Wicks, Zebra Technologies vice president and general manager of robotics automation.

Source: Zebra Technologies

“The Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is designed to help warehouse operations maximize the benefits of AMR-assisted picking to reduce costs and boost productivity,” said Matthew Wicks, Zebra Technologies vice president and general manager of robotics automation. “We are excited to bring intelligent automation to our warehouse customers to help ensure every movement is purposeful, every task is completed with precision, and throughput reaches its peak as this solution helps them optimize their labor and robotics resources.”

Using detachable carts with increased cubic capacity allows pickers to handle a wider range of product sizes and up to 300% more volume, Zebra said. The cart-based system can also increase pick density and reduce AMRs wait times.

In addition, the ability to decouple AMRs from carts at key points in the operation such as induction and pack-out stations allows AMRs to immediately return to supporting the picking operation without waiting for orders to be unloaded or inducted. Zebra said all these efficiency improvements have the potential to reduce the total number of robots required in order fulfillment operations by up to 30%.

3PL customers to deploy AI-enabled Symmetry Fulfillment

Some Zebra customers using Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment to increase picking efficiency within their warehouse operations include CTL Global Solutions and Encore Fulfillment. These 3PL providers are deploying Zebra’s pick-assist fulfillment technology in early 2025.

“Having an efficient, cost-effective robotics solution is crucial for our operations,” said Alex O’Dell, CTL SVP of integrated operations,. “We believe the Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution will transform our workflows with its innovative AMR technology, which will allow us to achieve optimal efficiency with fewer robots. It will also free up resources and reduce costs, enhancing productivity and increasing profitability.”

“Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment with Team Intelligence removes the guesswork by integrating Zebra AMRs with robust, lightweight mobile computers and data-capture devices, enabling a fully directed workflow,” said Kyle Thompson, Encore co-founder. “We are eager to fully implement this innovative approach, combining frontline workers and robots in a streamlined partnership to significantly reduce our costs while enhancing throughput, accuracy, and performance.”

Enabled by AI for sequencing and allocating work, Team Intelligence is designed to improve AMR-assisted picking through intelligently planned order-picking paths. Zebra said AI-enabled path planning can help reduce the time pickers waste trying to find the right robots and minimizes the time robots spend waiting for pickers to find them.

As noted in Zebra’s Warehouse Vision Study, almost 70% of warehouse decision-makers are planning to automate their workflows with the use of collaborative AMRs, and over 88% agree that implementing robotics will help attract and retain skilled workers to help combat supply chain labor shortages.

Check out Robotics 24/7’s original story on Zebra Symmetry Connect Fulfillment cobots