Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.12
…necessary in SLAM line automation? Stretar: It's like the “Amazon effect”—SLA expectations for fulfillment are down from two days to hours, depending on micro-fulfillment centers and distribution networks. We want to take away as much manual intervention as we can, but there will always be some level of human support. The differentiation between “Can a robot make that decision?” and manual operation is real. I'll be speaking with [enVista] Senior Director Cal Petty at the Parcel Forum in September about the merger of automation and labor. Where would you like to see improvement? Andre: SLAM line automation is a blend…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.84
…distribution needs. On top of it all, add the Amazon effect. Households around the world have come to expect everything to be delivered to their door with a few mouse clicks. To support all this and compete reasonably in such a go-go world, new innovations and technologies are quickly being embraced. AMRs are such an innovation that help build efficiency and can pay for themselves in due time - especially for a busy facility or other logistics landscape that can make great strides when properly programmed AMRs come into their facility. Retail also stands to benefit from AMRs It's not…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 16.92
…all about the application, product, and market. Does the “Amazon effect” still apply? Amazon helped create the mobile robot category with its purchase of Kiva Systems in 2012, and its picking challenges advanced the state of the art for that task. Nieves: In addition to supporting their own operations, Amazon's advances serve to describe to the broader industry the art of the possible. For example, with its Cardinal project, Amazon showed loading and unloading of roller carts, which are like pallets with three walls. We're seeing a lot of interest in truck unloading at this ProMat, with four or five…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 15.72
…cover the following robotics trends and topics: How the robotics market has grown to meet logistics challenges, including the “Amazon effect” and the COVID-19 pandemic Why collecting and using data is critical for global supply chains, as well as managing innovation Addverb's value proposition as “the Tesla of integrators” Maturing hardware and software equal automation nimbleness When to integrate automation with enterprise systems Addverb's entry into the U.S. market and its priority of building relationships Whether competition, specialization, and quality matter in the warehouse space Why scaling support matters Don't worry about humanoid robots; automation is here to help Tune…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 16.15
…cover the following robotics trends and topics: How the robotics market has grown to meet logistics challenges, including the “Amazon effect” and the COVID-19 pandemic Why collecting and using data is critical for global supply chains, as well as managing innovation Addverb's value proposition as “the Tesla of integrators” Maturing hardware and software equal automation nimbleness When to integrate automation with enterprise systems Addverb's entry into the U.S. market and its priority of building relationships Whether competition, specialization, and quality matter in the warehouse space Why scaling support matters Don't worry about humanoid robots; automation is here to help Tune…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.65
…Yanovsky, CRO & EVP, Caja Robotics “Then there's the 'Amazon effect,' as the industry pioneer acquired Kiva Systems in 2012 and helped create a category and expectations,” she told Robotics 24/7. “People now expect same-day delivery, and micro-fulfillment centers can help operators maximize real estate.” “The third trend is a shortage of labor, especially in the U.S., Israel, Europe, and Australia,” Yanovsky said. “Warehouse workers walk 10 miles per day and lift heavy boxes. Those [tasks] are better for robots to do, and we want to put people in other tasks.” “All of these trends brought customers to understand that…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.89
…with the need for increased efficiency.” Automation for workforce, 'Amazon effect' challenges Before the pandemic, factors like record-low unemployment and rising wage rates had already made robotic lift trucks attractive to some operations, said Kevin Paramore, emerging technology commercialization manager at Yale Materials Handling Corp. The labor situation is different now, but due to social distancing measures and health and safety policies requiring workers who are feeling ill to stay home, distribution centers may still have difficulty maintaining their workforce. The end effect is that more operations will see automation as part of the answer to labor shortages. “When you…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 23.73
…both robots and people for rapid order fulfillment. The “Amazon effect” is the attempt by others to also harness automation for supply chain success. What Amazon Robotics does In 2012, Amazon acquired mobile robot maker Kiva Systems Inc. At the time, most fulfillment centers were outfitted with conveyor systems and a steady-state, steady flow of corrugated cartons, goods, bins, totes, and interspersed people. The Kiva system offered to flexibly and efficiently help fulfill orders without a lot of additional infrastructure. Software locates the nearest automated guided vehicle (AGV) or autonomous mobile robot (AMR) and dispatches it to a location. The…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.00
…Not only are companies with DC operations feeling the “Amazon effect” of filling orders faster and cheaper, but a growing importance has been placed on warehouse fulfillment among C-level leaders as a competitive lever, says John Sidell, CEO and principal with consulting firm New Course. “Chief supply chain officer is now a title in many large organizations,” says Sidell. “There is broad realization of just how important supply chain fulfillment is, because in many ways it’s the most crucial touchpoint with the customer.” The money has been pouring into DC-focused robotics and AI startups in recent years, with funding coming…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.32
…labor rates as part of what some call the Amazon effect, that makes the return on investment timeframe shorter for robotic lift trucks, down to two years or less for multi-shift operations,” says Paramore. “As a result of all these trends, we expect to see sales of robotic lift trucks increase going forward into the remainder of the year and into 2021 and beyond.” Companies considering robotic trucks do face a much higher price tag for a robotic unit versus a conventional equivalent, but in effect, it’s unrealistic to compare unit costs, explains Paramore, since robotic units are a system…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.98
…Technology Trends 2020 to Stay Competitive E-commerce and the Amazon Effect continue to stand apart in the global supply chain. As the value of e-commerce moves to take a larger market share in retail, shippers need to know how to leverage technology to reap greater rewards and value. The right applications of technology, inclusive of analytics, advanced TMS solutions, and automation, will make the biggest difference and help shippers stay competitive and survive. Will 2020 - the presumed “Golden Era of Supply Chain Technology” - finally bring balance to the forces of logistics? All indicators say, “yes,” but only if…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 16.21
…increased competition may reduce our sales and profits. The Amazon Effect is Hitting Amazon’s Bottomline Amazon Prime’s free two-day shipping burst onto the ecommerce scene when it felt like the best we could expect for an affordable price got us our items in 1-3 weeks. Now, consumers want their shipping free and their products fast because that is the standard Amazon set. Amazon almost single-handedly disrupted the way people shop in 2005 with the introduction of Amazon Prime. Those ripples are still being felt. Businesses of every size have to offer fast and free shipping to compete and survive. In…