Transport and logistics provider Geodis and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) company Locus Robotics will deploy a total of 1,000 LocusBots in Geodis’s warehouses over the next 24 months.
Geodis has currently deployed Locus AMRs at 14 sites around the world, including the US and Europe, serving a range of retail and consumer brands. The agreement will expand that footprint as new sites are deployed. With the increase in e-commerce and the ongoing labour shortage, Locus Robotics claims that adding robotics automation has become a critical, strategic need to meet customer demands. According to the companies, LocusBots help Geodis e-commerce warehouses manage order picking and inventory replenishment, increasing throughput to speed delivery processes. LocusBots are designed to reduce unproductive walking time, eliminate manoeuvring heavy manual carts through warehouses, lower the physical demands on employees and improve workplace ergonomics and quality.
Executive vice president of technology and engineering at Geodis in the Americas Eric Douglas said: “As we continue to navigate industry-wide challenges such as skyrocketing e-commerce demand and labour constraints, it is crucial we remain committed to implementing the most innovative and effective robotics automation solutions available into our warehouses to allow us to best serve our customers. Locus’s collaborative multi-bot approach has proved its effectiveness and reliability at each of our sites, giving us the ability to easily scale performance while providing a safe, smart working environment for our teammates. This new expansion agreement reinforces our clear and ongoing commitment to cutting-edge technology to meet our exploding customer volumes globally.”
CEO of Locus Robotics Rick Faulk added: “Locus’s built-in flexibility, scalability and fast ROI are helping Geodis to consistently meet and exceed their global customers’ expectations. This strategic expansion enables Geodis to meet the needs of today’s high-growth warehouses and we look forward to continuing to work together to drive operational efficiencies and growth.”
Source: GEODIS/Parcel and Postal Technology International
