Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

newsworthy

HighJump rolls out WCS as linchpin in the connected warehouse

Software leverages Korber portfolio to offer solutions for handling IoT data in the automated DC, firm says.

HighJump rolls out WCS as linchpin in the connected warehouse

Supply chain technology vendor HighJump Software Inc. has rolled out a warehouse control system (WCS) integrated with its warehouse management system (WMS) software to help users tap the capabilities of the connected and automated DC, the firm said Monday.

The new platform provides a single point of communication among material handling equipment (MHE), WCS, and WMS applications for users that need to deploy automation technologies—such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)—while gaining real-time visibility to enhance their complex workflows, HighJump says.


The WCS product will act as a "lunchbox application" mediating between new tools such as technology and robots and constraints like labor shortages, HighJump's vice president of professional services, Jackson Bilbrey, said in an interview at the CSCMP Edge conference in Nashville on Tuesday. By capturing internet of things (IoT) data, the system can produce insights that involve and improve warehouse operations, Bilbrey said.

In turn, that capability could help users handle pressing challenges like expanding e-commerce volumes, shorter delivery windows, and enhanced consumer expectations, the firm said.

The product leverages Minneapolis-based HighJump's relationship with its parent company Körber AG, the German logistics technology provider that acquired HighJump in 2017. Launching a standalone WCS is HighJump's latest step in extending its software to allow users to handle the rapid growth of warehouse automation. The firm had also launched a WMS software module for warehouse automation in March, saying that "Automation Aware WMS module" meshed the abilities of its WMS product family with aspects of the WCS platform from Inconso, another software vendor owned by Körber.

According to HighJump, the new WCS now complements other capabilities like HighJump's acquisition of Voiteq and Cirrus Logistics for voice-directed warehousing and advanced facility optimization. Together, those capabilities can help supply chain managers capture benefits of the automation-aware workflow, such as reduced cost and maximized throughput, HighJump CTO Sean Elliott said in a statement.

The Latest

More Stories

person using AI at a laptop

Gartner: GenAI set to impact procurement processes

Progress in generative AI (GenAI) is poised to impact business procurement processes through advancements in three areas—agentic reasoning, multimodality, and AI agents—according to Gartner Inc.

Those functions will redefine how procurement operates and significantly impact the agendas of chief procurement officers (CPOs). And 72% of procurement leaders are already prioritizing the integration of GenAI into their strategies, thus highlighting the recognition of its potential to drive significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, Gartner found in a survey conducted in July, 2024, with 258 global respondents.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Report: SMEs hopeful ahead of holiday peak

Report: SMEs hopeful ahead of holiday peak

Businesses are cautiously optimistic as peak holiday shipping season draws near, with many anticipating year-over-year sales increases as they continue to battle challenging supply chain conditions.

That’s according to the DHL 2024 Peak Season Shipping Survey, released today by express shipping service provider DHL Express U.S. The company surveyed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to gauge their holiday business outlook compared to last year and found that a mix of optimism and “strategic caution” prevail ahead of this year’s peak.

Keep ReadingShow less
retail store tech AI zebra

Retailers plan tech investments to stop theft and loss

Eight in 10 retail associates are concerned about the lack of technology deployed to spot safety threats or criminal activity on the job, according to a report from Zebra Technologies Corp.

That challenge is one of the reasons that fewer shoppers overall are satisfied with their shopping experiences lately, Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Zebra said in its “17th Annual Global Shopper Study.”th Annual Global Shopper Study.” While 85% of shoppers last year were satisfied with both the in-store and online experiences, only 81% in 2024 are satisfied with the in-store experience and just 79% with online shopping.

Keep ReadingShow less
warehouse automation systems

Cimcorp's new CEO sees growth in grocery and tire segments

Logistics automation systems integrator Cimcorp today named company insider Veli-Matti Hakala as its new CEO, saying he will cultivate growth in both the company and its clientele, specifically in the grocery retail and tire plant logistics sectors.

An eight-year veteran of the Georgia company, Hakala will begin his new role on January 1, when the current CEO, Tero Peltomäki, will retire after a long and noteworthy career, continuing as a member of the board of directors, Cimcorp said.

Keep ReadingShow less

Securing the last mile

Although many shoppers will return to physical stores this holiday season, online shopping remains a driving force behind peak-season shipping challenges, especially when it comes to the last mile. Consumers still want fast, free shipping if they can get it—without any delays or disruptions to their holiday deliveries.

One disruptor that gets a lot of headlines this time of year is package theft—committed by so-called “porch pirates.” These are thieves who snatch parcels from front stairs, side porches, and driveways in neighborhoods across the country. The problem adds up to billions of dollars in stolen merchandise each year—not to mention headaches for shippers, parcel delivery companies, and, of course, consumers.

Keep ReadingShow less