XPO Logistics has announced plans to deploy 5,000 intelligent robots throughout its logistics sites in North America and Europe. The robots, which are designed to collaborate with humans, will supplement XPO’s existing workforce and support future growth. XPO has a strategic partnership with robotics manufacturer GreyOrange Pte. Ltd. that makes XPO the exclusive logistics provider for use of its robots in North America, the United Kingdom and eight European countries.
The autonomous robots are part of a modular goods-to-person system that also includes mobile storage racks and fulfilment stations. Each robot can move a rack weighing approximately 1,000 to 3,500 lbs. bringing it to a station where a worker fulfils up to 48 orders simultaneously. The entire process is controlled by XPO’s proprietary warehouse management system. This system is trying to improve same-day and next-day deliveries by shortening order-to-shipment times and helping workers minimize walk-time and manual errors.
XPO’s latest robotics implementation is part of the company’s planned $450m investment in technology in 2018. 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.
Bradley Jacobs, CEO of XPO Logistics, said: “The addition of 5,000 collaborative robots will make our logistics operations safer and more productive in picking, packing and sortation. 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.”
Source: XPO Logistics
