When you got thousand of vacancies remaining to be filled every year since the past few decade, you realize that you are in some deep labor crunch. This is the case with the logistics industry across the globe. We are struggling to fill in the crucial job roles in the logistics industry with a dedicated workforce who can handle the pressure. Since the influx of more working population into the industry is not becoming as feasible in the near future as it should be, we are looking out for more options. With robotic solutions taking the world by storm and predictions of competitive robotic solutions becoming a norm by 2027, the answers seems to be coming up in the form of robots for the workforce crunch issues.

As per the statistics mentioned in the DHL trend report for 2016, 80% of the warehouses are currently using no significant automation process, 15% are mechanized and only 5% are automated with the crucial positions still managed by human authorities. This clearly states us far away from a completely automated future. But being far doesn’t necessarily means that we are going to take decades in adapting a robot oriented transport software solutions. With the aggravating labor problem, the motivation towards a transition to automated transport software solutions is also increasing. This gives us higher confidence in exploring the innovative yet cost effective business processes which function on robot transport software solutions. The quest has already begun. In 2015, Amazon offered a $20,000 prize for the robot which can be fastest and most accurate in picking objects from shelves using its Kiva system. This proves that logistics giants are looking out to minimize the manual labor expenditure incurred via implementation of robotic solutions in transport software solutions. In large warehouses and distribution centers, the manual handling of goods for packaging and dispatch can employ as much as 1000 employees at once. Logistics companies are trying to automate these function with the help of following automated transport software solutions.

80% of the warehouses are currently using no significant automation process, 15% are mechanized and…
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LOGISTICS IS LOOKING AT A ROBOTIC FUTURE FOR TRANSPORT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Container & Trailer handling

Manual loading and unloading are the conventional norms in the logistics industry. In this process of manual sorting and stacking the labor involved not only increases the expenses on pay hours but also increases the total time taken to finish the process due to physical limitations. But the robotic transport software solution alternatives are far more efficient in this regard as they are able to produce manifold results with the minimal cost incurred over maintenance and operations. For an instance, the DHL parcel robot can unload the average sized parcel boxes at the rate of 500 boxes per hour which is far higher count that can be achieved via manual unloading.

DHL parcel robot can unload the average sized parcel boxes at the rate of 500 boxes per hour
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To save the manual labor of unloading, stacking and loading operations involved in the warehouse functions, the companies are looking for two types of robotic assistance. Stationary piece picking robots and mobile piece picking robots, both can be utilized in an average warehouse. A picker in a warehouse travels anywhere between 7 to 15 miles in a single shift. The stationary piece picking robots can significantly reduce this distance and thereby time invested by the picker in traveling. But it still needs the goods to be picked from the automatically filled mobile shelves. Therefore the companies are also looking out for the robotic arms features to automate the boring process of picking and stacking. This is called a goods-to-picker method. The opposite of this uses mobile piece picking robots. Here the mobile robots can traverse the warehouse in order to pick and arrange the goods in an order tote. These fetch robots are thus performing the two major yet repetitive operations performed in a warehouse with greater efficiency and speed. These robots can again be connected with the transport software solutions to manage the tasks remotely.

A picker in a warehouse travels anywhere between 7 to 15 miles in a single shift.
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Co-Packing & customization tasks

Co- packing and customized packaging tasks adds up to the overall revenue generated by becoming a crucial sales tactic. But the same involves a lot of significant hard work which precisely involves adding relevant stickers and pairing items according to the deals involved. This needs higher human precision and the specific set of items needs to be bundled with the other pairs as per the deals suggests, this makes tasks less repetitive and thus consumes more time than the normal packaging units. Retailers often push these last minute packaging detailing to the suppliers to save their regular operations from getting delayed. Thus co-packaging or customized packaging occurs at the supplier’s part where the items are again assembled and packed as per the sales deals.

DHL employs Baxter robots which are priced at $30,000 for similar tasks. These robots are easy to train and track via transport software solutions. The supervisor can simply lead the Baxter through the arm to program him for simple tasks of packaging. Thus, suppliers too can have a viable assistance for the co-packing and customized packaging tasks with a one-time investment in the robots.  

Last mile delivery Robots

We saw drones and autonomous trucks becoming a reality in 2016 with Amazon and Otto pushing the respective initiatives into the commercial market successfully. But now few other startups have come up with the prototypes which can completely automate the last mile delivery with transport software solutions for the small stores too. Prototype from Starship can deliver packages as heavy as 2 grocery bags directly up to the customer door at the rate of 6 km/hr. Aerial delivery methods with the advancement in drone technology are still spearheading the unmanned delivery initiatives for the stores. But with successful real world tests conducted in 2016 in California, Starship prototypes will soon be introduced in the commercial delivery chains.  

Prototype from Starship can deliver packages as heavy as 2 grocery bags directly up to the customer…
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These were the few examples where automated transport software solutions are changing the transportation scenario across the globe. We are still in the process of figuring out the true potential of transport software solutions for logistics. Apart from these mentioned solutions, unique customizations are also needed which is catered by Dreamorbit for its clients depending on the needs suggested. This needs lateral thinking and first-hand knowledge of the contemporary technologies changing the transport software solutions market. With the help, if ingenious minds and curious attitude, we are doing exactly that for our customers.

About DreamOrbit:

DreamOrbit is a Logistics and Supply Chain Technology Development company. We have been creating meaningful and reliable software products for the industry which is “Always on the go” for the past half decade. We are highly motivated team aimed at innovation. Our philosophy is to “keep challenging the potential within”.  With the support of our happy customers and dedicated team, we strive to provide best possible solutions to industry problems. Visit our website to know more about DreamOrbit.

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