Warehouse operator XPO Logistics is to deploy 5,000 intelligent robots throughout its logistics sites in North America and Europe in a move aimed at dramatically improving fulfillment times and cutting costs.
The robots, which are designed to collaborate with humans, will supplement XPO’s existing workforce and support future growth. The implementation is part of the company’s planned US$450m investment in technology this year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
XPO, which has worked for fashion retail chains including House of Fraser, 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 UK and eight European countries.
“We’ve developed our logistics technology to integrate the latest intelligent automation and adapt it at lightning speed,” says Bradley Jacobs, CEO of XPO Logistics. “This allows us to dramatically improve fulfillment time and cut costs. 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 omnichannel retail sectors, where order speed and accuracy are essential ways to compete.”
The autonomous robots are part of a modular goods-to-person system that also includes mobile storage racks and fulfillment stations. Each robot can move a rack weighing approximately 1,000lbs to 3,500 lbs, bringing it to a station where a worker fulfills up to 48 orders simultaneously. The entire process is controlled by XPO’s proprietary warehouse management system. The high-speed, flexible solution supports same-day and next-day deliveries by shortening order-to-shipment times and helping workers minimise walk-time and manual errors.
Other recent innovations by the warehouse firm 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.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData
