GXO has announced it is using fleets of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to help customers improve productivity and safety. The company is using its fleets in the 28 countries where it operates. After successfully integrating AMRs into operations for e-commerce and retail customers, GXO is now deploying them for grocery and large-item customers. GXO will be introducing a fleet of AMRs in the U.K. and the Netherlands over the next few months.
“Over the past 18 months, we have accelerated our deployment of modular technologies,” GXO Vice President Phil Shaw commented: “Over the past 18 months, we have accelerated our deployment of modular technologies. Because these AMRs are small and mobile, they have significant advantages over heavier, fixed installations. You can easily add AMRs when volumes increase during peak seasons and then redeploy them elsewhere. During the final quarter of 2021, our use of AMRs helped our customers manage the ongoing shift toward ecommerce in consumer buying behaviour.”
According to GXO, AMRs can boost productivity up to 60.0%, improve accuracy and improve the end-consumer experience. For example, AMRs can reduce the time it takes to process an order, which means GXO customers can extend their cut-off time for receiving orders and still be able to fulfil early delivery for consumers. GXO stated that its deployment of AMRs also enhances safety, including the reduction of Material Handling Equipment movements in the warehouse.
At its warehouses around the world, GXO is ramping up its use of AMRs which are developed by 6 River Systems, Lowpad, iFollow and Locus. In one 40,000 sq m distribution centre in the Netherlands, GXO is using Lowpad robots to optimize operations in the traditionally manually focused Food & Beverage industry. These AMRs are guided by custom software and routing algorithms designed to optimize the distribution process.
In 2021, the company deployed more than 2,000 new pieces of technology across our sites, up 100.0% year-over-year. GXO is currently testing 200 new technologies from around 100 new suppliers.
Source: GXO
