AMR Warehouse Robots – The Labor Shortage Solution

Smart Technology is a No-Brainer Solution for Warehouse Workforce Challenges

The labor challenges in the warehousing industry have had a substantial impact on business operations. From rising labor costs to scarcity of workers, it’s abundantly clear that we need to reduce our dependence on physical labor wherever possible. In addition, the uptick in smaller, more individualized e-commerce orders demands that most businesses make the shift to automation at least in some way. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) warehouse robots have come into their own just in time to present a highly productive and ultimately cost-effective option to consider. 

The Fleet Has Arrived

AMRs are intelligent machines that receive commands through secure cloud-based software that is easy to integrate into your operations. They navigate through the warehouse without being controlled by an operator, connected to a wire, or set on a specific route. All you need to supply is a map of your facility. AMRs use sensors that allow them to avoid people and obstacles to move around the warehouse safely. They can find the most efficient route between two points to accomplish the task, i.e., collecting palletized and packaged inventory and bringing it to a pack station. 

There are a variety of AMR warehouse robots that can help alleviate your labor and demand challenges. Most fall into these categories:

AMR Warehouse Robots 

• Goods-to-Person
• Autonomous Picking Carts
• Robot-to-Goods Picking

Goods-to-Person Robots – a cost-effective option for individual and small order processing in high-volume, high-SKU operations. AMR systems boost pick rates while eliminating travel costs associated with workers moving between pick and pack areas. Instead, robots move autonomously through the facility, pick items and bring them to a dedicated packing station. Some goods-to-person AMRs glide underneath shelves and deliver the whole rack to the packer. Pick-to-light or other picking technology can help the packer quickly locate and accurately make the pick. Then the AMR is sent back to return the shelf. Alternatively, some AMRs retrieve individual cartons and take them to the packing station. A goods-to-person robot system can achieve 600 picks per hour.

Autonomous Picking Carts – self-driving picking carts move with pickers to pick locations to support a batch picking function. Carts can be equipped with lights, scanners, tablets, etc., to aid the picker in quickly and accurately make the pick.

Robot-to-Goods Picking – autonomous robots move between pickers stationed in distinct pick locations. The AMR uses an interactive interface to indicate the SKU, location, and quantity needing to be picked. The picker places the inventory on the automated unit, and the robot continues until the order or orders is complete then navigates to the packing area.

Low-Maintenance, High Reward

AMRs are battery-operated and require charging, so you will need a dedicated charging area. The chargers are typically low-profile, and the machines automatically return to the dock, making them a very low-maintenance workforce.

When to Let Intelligent Humans Take Over

Installing an autonomous fleet is not a small investment, and it’s important to get it right. The Warehouse Optimizers, Inc. (WOI) team can help you evaluate the areas of your operation that are best suited for automation and navigate the options to find the most cost-effective solution. Give us a call, and let’s get to work solving your warehouse labor challenges. 

The WOI team walks you through every stage of the process and provides expert customer service to deliver outstanding results and peace of mind. We call it our 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™.

WOI will:

1. Listen to your needs
2. Execute your project with special attention to your unique application
3. Stick to project timelines
4. Ensure a safe environment
5. Pay close attention to the detail  of the finished product

Call Storage Solutions today to start finding your Labor Shortage Solution. Call (865) 540-4004 for a prompt response. We proudly serve customers throughout the Southeast, including KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA.