CONNECTICUT's XPO Logistics plans to deploy 5,000 intelligent robots throughout its logistics sites in North America and Europe, reports the American Journal of Transportation.
The robots, designed to collaborate with humans, will supplement XPO's existing workforce, are made by Delhi-area robotics manufacturer GreyOrange Pte.
Said XPO chief executive Bradley Jacobs: 'We've developed our logistics technology to integrate the latest intelligent automation and at lightning speed. This allows us to dramatically improve fulfilment time and cut costs.'
Mr Jacobs said the addition of 5,000 robots will make operations safer and more productive in sorting, picking, and packing.
'These are important benefits for our customers - particularly in the e-commerce and omni channel retail sectors, where order speed and accuracy are essential ways to compete,' he said.
Each robot can move a rack weighing 1,000 to 3,500 lbs, bringing it to a station where a worker fulfils up to 48 orders simultaneously.
The high-speed system is designed to effect same-day and next-day deliveries by shortening order-to-shipment times, minimising worker walk-time and manual errors.
XPO's latest robotics implementation is part of the company's planned US$450 million investment in technology this year. Other recent innovations include the XPO Direct shared-space distribution network, voice integration with Amazon Echo and Google Home to track the last mile delivery of heavy goods, and the XPO Connect digital freight marketplace with multimodal infrastructure.
The robots, designed to collaborate with humans, will supplement XPO's existing workforce, are made by Delhi-area robotics manufacturer GreyOrange Pte.
Said XPO chief executive Bradley Jacobs: 'We've developed our logistics technology to integrate the latest intelligent automation and at lightning speed. This allows us to dramatically improve fulfilment time and cut costs.'
Mr Jacobs said the addition of 5,000 robots will make operations safer and more productive in sorting, picking, and packing.
'These are important benefits for our customers - particularly in the e-commerce and omni channel retail sectors, where order speed and accuracy are essential ways to compete,' he said.
Each robot can move a rack weighing 1,000 to 3,500 lbs, bringing it to a station where a worker fulfils up to 48 orders simultaneously.
The high-speed system is designed to effect same-day and next-day deliveries by shortening order-to-shipment times, minimising worker walk-time and manual errors.
XPO's latest robotics implementation is part of the company's planned US$450 million investment in technology this year. Other recent innovations include the XPO Direct shared-space distribution network, voice integration with Amazon Echo and Google Home to track the last mile delivery of heavy goods, and the XPO Connect digital freight marketplace with multimodal infrastructure.