The Robotic Transformation of Fulfillment Operations

The modern consumer is always connected. Mobile devices enable constant access to information and instant gratification. Consumers are making online purchases at all hours of the day, from any location, but still expect to receive their goods faster than ever.

This surge in demand, paired with high consumer expectations, has pushed e-retailers to their limits in terms of timely order fulfillment and adds to the pile of business challenges they face. And while many e-retailers have moved to implement automation to address these issues, the robotic solutions to date have yet to meet the needs of a complex warehouse environment.

‘Old school’ fixed automation and standard robotic arms do not adapt well to the dynamic warehouse environment Prior solutions have been focused on filling the gaps in these traditional systems, rather than focusing on the ideal method. Fixed automation requires huge infrastructure spending to update systems and install customized fixtures to feed new items into the workspace. These solutions require the creation of a fixed world, instead of focusing on technology that can adapt and thrive in the existing environment. Warehouse environments require smarter solutions centered on scalability, adaptability and flexibility, not rigid, inflexible statues of a previous era.

In this session, Lior Elazary, CEO, inVia Robotics, will explore how new technical advancements, such as vision and artificial intelligence algorithms are reinvigorating industrial robotics. The cost of these advancements has been decreasing rapidly, making robotic systems to truly attainable for companies of all growth stages and size. Furthermore, software advancements have created products that anyone can use, allowing the plant floor worker to evolve into the robot manager. Companies no longer need to create an entire team or department to incorporate robotics in their operations. Additionally, Robotics as a Service (RaaS) business model enables companies to compete and scale without a large CAPEX. We have witnessed the rapid acceleration toward the fourth Industrial revolution (I4.0) with the connection of these advancements. Furthermore, Lior will discuss how this kind of robotic system is particularly well-suited for e-retailers, to meet consumers’ growing demands and compete with larger e-commerce giants.

Full presentation will be made available following the event at Automate on Wednesday, April 5th at 3:00CT