Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

newsworthy

HighJump sees voice-directed work as key to DC automation

Software firm continues building alliances with other tech providers owned by German parent Korber AG.

Supply chain technology vendor HighJump Software Inc. is continuing to emphasize voice-directed work platforms as a key enabling technology for warehouse automation and meeting rising consumer demands for e-commerce services, the company said today.

Voice-based picking may not be a cutting edge technology, but it offers a proven platform that can drive 10 to 15 percent improvements in warehouse productivity—a significant jump in a tight-margin business where managers are always on the lookouts for the slightest improvements—HighJump CEO Chad Collins said in remarks at the firm's Elevate user conference in San Antonio, Texas.


Encouraged by such results, users have been broadening their use of voice-based workflows from their traditional application in piece-picking to additional uses like safety, inspection, and maintenance, he said.

HighJump's focus on voice-direction operations is also part of the company's rolling effort to continue integrating its technology portfolio with that of its new corporate parent, the German logistics technology provider Körber AG, which purchased HighJump in 2017 from the private equity firm Accell-KKR.

That move was intended to expand Körber's capabilities as an enterprise software vendor and expand its U.S. footprint, while also giving Minneapolis-based HighJump an opportunity to address overseas markets. The acquisition also raised new challenges, however, requiring HighJump to integrate its software with many new siblings under the Körber umbrella, such as product solution providers Langhammer and Riantics, systems integrators Aberle and Consoveyo, and software vendors Cirrus, DMLogic, Inconso, and Voiteq.

In remarks at the user conference, Collins said the company has been making progress toward that goal by delivering software that is increasingly cloud-based—primarily through Oracle Corp.'s cloud platform—and built around application programming interfaces (APIs), the architecture that allows software platforms to communicate directly with each other instead of relying on third-party links.

HighJump's focus on voice-directed operations also echoes that trend, building on Körber's move in recent months to buy and merge two voice-tech providers, Vitech Business Group Inc. and Centriq Group's Voiteq.

Also in 2018, HighJump launched a warehouse control system (WCS) that provides a single point of communication among material handling equipment (MHE), warehouse management system (WMS), and WCS software, allowing users to deploy automation technologies—such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from Locus Robotics and Magazino—while gaining real-time visibility in the DC.

Together, those moves have helped HighJump record 2018 growth markers including hiring 85 people to bring its rolls to 450 employees, and adding 320 new customers including 71 percent that chose cloud-based software installation over the on-premise model, the firm said.

The Latest

More Stories

Freight Science dashboard screen
Freight Science

High-tech solution helps truckload carrier drive change

The trucking industry faces a range of challenges these days, particularly when it comes to load planning—a resource-intensive task that often results in suboptimal decisions, unnecessary empty miles, late deliveries, and inefficient asset utilization. What’s more, delays in decision-making due to a lack of real-time insights can hinder operational efficiency, making cost management a constant struggle.

Truckload carrier Paper Transport Inc. (PTI) experienced this firsthand when the company sought to expand its over the-road (OTR), intermodal, and brokerage offerings to include dedicated fleet services for high-volume shippers—adding a layer of complexity to the business. The additional personnel required for such a move would be extremely costly, leading PTI to investigate technology solutions that could help close the gap.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

indigo software screenshot WMS

Aptean adds British WMS vendor in latest acquisition

The Georgia-based enterprise software vendor Aptean today said it had acquired Indigo Software Ltd., a British provider of purpose-built warehouse management and logistics software solutions.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Aptean said the move will add new capabilities to its warehouse management and supply chain management offerings for manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and 3PLs. Aptean currently provides enterprise resource planning (ERP), transportation management systems (TMS), and product lifecycle management (PLM) platforms.

Keep ReadingShow less
schneider app screenshot for owner operators

Schneider seeks more business with owner-operators

Transportation and logistics service provider Schneider National Inc. is reaching out to owner-operators, encouraging them to do more business with the Wisconsin company using an updated digital platform.

Schneider says its FreightPower platform now offers owner-operators significantly more access to Schneider’s range of freight options. That can help drivers to generate revenue and strengthen their business through: increased access to freight, high drop and hook rates of over 95% of loads, and a trip planning feature that calculates road miles.

Keep ReadingShow less
trucks used by jillamy 3PL

Texas 3PL Mode Global acquires Jillamy’s freight brokerage arm

The Texas third-party logistics firm (3PL) Mode Global has acquired the freight brokerage business of supply chain service provider Jillamy, saying on Monday that the deal advances its strategy of expanding its national footprint.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Mode Global said it will now assume Jillamy's comprehensive logistics and freight management solutions, while Jillamy's warehousing, packaging and fulfillment services remain unchanged. Under the agreement, Mode Global will gain more than 200 employees and add facilities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, Maryland, and Ontario to its existing national footprint.

Keep ReadingShow less
Clorox partnership helps suppliers meet carbon reduction targets

Clorox partnership helps suppliers meet carbon reduction targets

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) provider The Clorox Co. has partnered with Manufacture 2030 (M2030) to help Clorox's suppliers meet their carbon reduction targets and advance the company's long-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

In addition to its flagship Clorox bleach product, Oakland, California-based Clorox manages a diverse catalog of brands including Hidden Valley Ranch, Glad, Pine-Sol, Burt’s Bees, Kingsford, Scoop Away, Fresh Step, 409, Brita, Liquid Plumr, and Tilex.

Keep ReadingShow less