Necessity is the mother of invention, and for warehouses, that necessity is efficiency. The evolution of warehouse automation and the shift from Person-to-Goods (PTG) to Goods-to-Person (GTP) systems is a prime example of how the need to improve warehouse processes is driving technological breakthroughs. As a result, various Goods-To-Person models have emerged to further enhance operations.
This overview explores these models, spotlighting inVia’s innovation that is reshaping how warehouses function and thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
What is Goods-to-Person (GTP) Automation?
Goods-to-Person (GTP) automation brings products directly to employees, reducing the need for extensive walking across large warehouse spaces. It streamlines the picking process by bringing everything workers need to their pick station. In contrast, Person-to-Goods (PTG) automation supports manual picking, requiring employees to navigate aisles and select items.
There are various Goods-to-Person technologies available, ranging from large, fixed robotic systems like AS/RS to mobile automation solutions that use Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). AS/RS systems deliver high productivity rates, reduce foot traffic for warehouse workers, and provide high storage density. However, they are expensive and require significant infrastructure investment. Mobile GTP automation, on the other hand, is more scalable and flexible. AMRs require far less capital investment and can adapt to existing warehouse infrastructures. As a result, AMR Goods-to-Person automation is increasingly recognized as a more efficient and scalable solution for warehouse and distribution operations.
What is Tote-to-Person Automation?
Goods-to-Person (GTP) automation comes in various forms, including Tote-to-Person, where AMRs deliver totes to employees; Rack-to-Person, which involves moving entire racks to workers; and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), which automate the storage and retrieval of goods using fixed machinery.
Image: Tote-to-Person, inVia Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR)
While Goods-to-Person (GTP) has already set new efficiency standards, Tote-to-Person technology takes it even further. With the Rack-to-Person approach, synchronization between humans and machines isn’t always perfect—racks may accumulate as robots continue to deliver them, leading to bottlenecks. In contrast, the Tote-to-Person system efficiently fetches and delivers individual totes—not entire racks—from the shelves directly to associates. This means no waiting around for busy workers and no racks piling up unused.
inVia’s Innovation: Tote-to-PickerWall Automation
Delivering a single tote with a product to the employee is a major efficiency improvement. inVia’s automation system goes even further by eliminating the main cause of bottlenecks: the people-robot dependency.
Video: inVia PickerWall Goods-to-Person (GTP) robotic automation
In the Tote-to-PickerWall automation, inVia Picker robots deliver totes to inVia PickerWall, building a dynamic pick/put wall with today’s orders. People work on the other side of the wall pulling products and sorting them into order bins. They are able work in bursts and rotate freely across other warehouse tasks, while robots do their non-stop work.
— No people-robot dependency
inVia’s unique and patented workflow eliminates interdependencies between robots and people, leading to increased productivity rates. This is because the robots do not wait on people, and people do not wait on robots. The system leverages the strengths of both people and machines.
— 90% less warehouse walking
The PickerWall condenses picking area down 75% or more. This reduces walking through the warehouse by as much as 90%. Workers walk on average less than 1 mile to pick SKUs from the inVia PickerWall versus 12 miles in traditional picking.
— 5X+ increase in productivity
inVia PickerWall system results in an average 350-450 UPH pick rate and can help realize bursts up to 1,000 UPH.
— 99.9% order accuracy
Order accuracy is a key benefit of GTP systems which deliver the correct product directly to the workstations of order pickers, reducing the chances for mis-picks. inVia’s AMRs robotic precision ensures 99.9% accuracy.
— Minimized CapEx and quick ROI
Mobile Goods-to-Person automation offers unmatched scalability and flexibility. inVia’s robotic automation does not require changes to the infrastructure, while the RaaS subscription-based model further minimizes CapEx, providing a pay-per-performance approach that delivers near real-time ROI.
Additionally, inVia Pickers are mobile and adaptable, unlike traditional shuttle systems. They can be easily relocated to different zones or facilities without extensive reengineering.
PTG and GTP Automation Productivity Increase
Goods-to-Person (GTP) systems represent a significant advancement in warehouse automation. These systems are engineered to reduce the physical demands on warehouse staff while improving efficiency and throughput in order fulfillment. By automating the delivery of goods to workstations, GTP technology allows people to concentrate on more complex tasks, enhancing productivity and reducing errors. inVia Robotics Tote-to-PickerWall solution refines the GTP system by removing the dependency between human labor and robotic functions, which maximizes efficiency and capitalizes on the strengths of both.
To see how the inVia Robotics Tote-to-PickerWall solution can revolutionize your warehouse operations, we invite you to request a demo and discover firsthand how our innovative GTP systems can optimize your workflow and maximize efficiency.