The warehouse of the future at CES 2017
4min read
27/11/2019
We’re going to take a look at some of the innovations, patents and projects in progress that will revolutionise logistics – or not.
The opening of CES 2017, the annual temple of technological innovation, is an opportunity for the media to present future consumer products that may be part of our daily lives. But what about the daily lives of our customers (logisticians, procurement managers, warehouse managers, supply chain directors, etc.)? Here is a non-exhaustive overview of the start-ups and innovations that have the ambition to revolutionise logistics
Feel free to add other initiatives in the comments, we will update this article with your suggestions!
car manufacturers, future players in logistics
2016 saw the arrival in force of car manufacturers in the logistics innovation sector.
The Vision Van from Mercedes-Benz: a “logistics centre on wheels”
Take a look at the official video of the Vision Van
this is the most visible initiative of its AdVANce project, which represents an investment of 500 million euros over the next five years! The Mercedes-Benz group is clearly announcing that it wants to become a major player in transverse logistics transport (software solution, vehicle, etc.). The group is working with start-ups such as Starship Technologies and is integrating its mini delivery robots into its Vision Van.
Hyundai’s exoskeleton: mechanising order-pickers
The Korean manufacturer’s robotics section wants to make the work of pickers easier with the help of an exoskeleton. There are many benefits: tenfold increase in strength, better productivity, reduction in work-related accidents (RSI), space saving, etc. It should be pointed out that Panasonic is also interested in mechanising order-pickers. So the competition has started!
From left to right, top to bottom: 1 and 2 (photo credit: Hyundai) 3 Engadget’s journalist lifts 20 kilo test bins effortlessly (photo credit: Engadget); 4 below test organised at Panasonic (photo credit: Panasonic)
the warehouse is entering the era of robotics
They (robots) are there to facilitate or replace humans in the warehouse. This is a logic that players in the logistics sector are aware of, as was the case for the president of e-Logik, whom we interviewed at the e-commerce Paris 2016 trade show. Here is a brief overview of the innovations that are going to revolutionise warehouses.Toru: the warehouse robot from the German start-up Magazino “with autonomous movement and decision-making”. Thanks to its lasers, the robot adapts itself to the warehouse, requiring no work. Another advantage is that it works in collaboration with humans, allowing for an incremental integration
soly: the parcel sorting robot. As e-commerce activity is set to increase, it is essential for logisticians and postal services to sort parcels more quickly. This is where Soly comes in
exo System: A collaborative robotic solution to facilitate order preparation and thus meet the demand for rapid delivery by e-retailers. After raising €3.3 million in October 2016, the company is launching the industrialisation of its solution
eyesee: the drone manufactured by Squadrone System takes real-time inventory of your warehouse. The first tests have been carried out in the warehouse of logistics provider FM Logistic. An initiative is also underway on the side of Delta Drone and Geodis
scallog: a complete robotisation of warehouses (based on the model of Amazon’s automated warehouses by Kiva) which however requires a complete restructuring of the storage space
flying warehouses?
Amazon is seriously thinking about it. The e-commerce and logistics giant has filed a patent referring to flying warehouses that would send delivery drones into a defined aerial zone.
Is it realistic? Bouygues Construction believes in drones and is thinking about how tomorrow’s buildings will accommodate landing areas for drones and kiosks for autonomous cars.
And yet… in the warehouse some things won’t change
So you will still need shelving, packaging machines to support the effort of the order pickers,safety equipment and all the equipment available in our RAJAPRO range.
Delivery today and tomorrow
The mailbox
One of the current problems of e-commerce and transporters is the actual receipt of the order by the final customer
- Tedibear has designed its mattresses and packaging for e-commerce with delivery and return within 100 days.
- And very recently, the British company garçon.club launched a flat bottle that fits in the mailbox!
Drones and robots
Tests have multiplied. While some were almost a publicity stunt, La Poste is testing, via its subsidiary DPD Group , a first delivery line by drone in a raised area of the Var. While on the road, Starship Technologies is testing delivery by robot in the streets of the United Kingdom.
Which technology will make the breakthrough? It is difficult to predict at present. What is certain is that the warehouse in 15 years will not resemble the one we have known. At Amazon, already 1 in 7 “employees” is a robot.
