Smart glasses for order picking: Picavi, a developer of pick-by-vision solutions for the warehouse sector, has expanded its portfolio with Glass Enterprise Edition 2, a wearable computing device for order picking (see photo above). The updated glasses come with new technical specifications. These include a Qualcomm quad-core processor and the Android 8.1 operating system, also known as Android Oreo. The new hardware makes the glasses faster and increases battery life, the manufacturer says.
The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 is also part of the Android Open Source platform, making the glasses easy to customize, the company says. (Picavi GmbH)
Cloud-based damage-monitoring solution: SpotSee, an Internet of Things end-to-end solution provider that enables customers to spot damage in their operations and see it in real time, has added temperature-threshold monitoring capabilities to its SpotBot Cellular impact-monitoring device.
With this additional information accessible anywhere through the SpotSee Cloud, users are able to ensure that temperature-sensitive items, such as food and beverage products, are not exposed to conditions that compromise quality, the company says.
SpotBot is a real-time damage-monitoring solution that helps quality, plant, and supply chain managers as well as forwarders and truckers easily see where and when impacts or temperature deviations occur and the potential severity of the damage. This allows possibly damaged shipments to be stopped and properly addressed before delivery. (SpotSee)
Mobile crane:
Material handling and automated equipment manufacturer Air Technical Industries has developed the "MIRA" (mobile industrial robotic arm) mobile crane. The robotic knuckle boom has nine axes of articulation that allow it to perform a multitude of tasks that are difficult or dangerous for humans to perform.
The unit has an extended reach of 156 inches and height of 192 inches. Its functional capabilities are mobility, steering, mast rotation, main-arm lift, knuckle reach, automatic and effector leveling function, pitch, roll, and gripper. Optional attachments include a round ram for lifting coils, a scoop to pick up bulk items, and lifting forks.
MIRA is battery powered and has joystick- and pushbutton-operated radio controls. It can be equipped with a searchlight and camera so that the operator can remotely see all the tasks at hand.
The robotic arm is available in capacities of 250, 400, and 1,000 pounds and arm lengths of 96, 120, and 156 inches. (Air Technical Industries)
Mobile computer: Honeywell, a manufacturer of safety and productivity solutions, has introduced the next-generation Dolphin CT40 mobile computer, an enhanced version of its go-to mobile computing solution for retail store associates and highly mobile workers.
The computer is a full-touch device for retail, light transportation and logistics, and direct store delivery applications. The CT40 is built on Honeywell's Mobility Edge platform, which provides a unified hardware architecture and set of software tools that streamline deployment and management of mobility solutions. The scalable platform allows IT departments to develop and certify a software application a single time before deploying to enterprise mobile devices.
The new enterprise-class CT40 is now push-to-talk- and VoIP-ready, eliminating the need to have multiple devices for in-store communications and inventory management. The CT40 is an Android Enterprise Recommended device, meaning that it has been validated by a Google-led initiative that helps businesses select, deploy, and manage Android devices and services best suited to their enterprise needs.
The mobile computer can be connected to Honeywell Operational Intelligence, a cloud-based software solution that tracks, manages, and optimizes mobile computers across all locations throughout the operational lifecycle and the return-to-manufacturer authorization process. (Honeywell)
Pick-to-light workstation:
Creform Corp. has designed a new workstation that is suitable for assembly operations that require light-guide picking to control process flow and help reduce errors.
Parts for an assembly operation can be presented on shelves or gravity-flow lanes above and below the work surface. Each part location features a light for guided picking. Each light features a three-digit display for quantity information as well as a pushbutton or infrared sensor for pick acknowledgment. The pick-to-light system is self-contained in the workstation and is powered by a basic PC and a controller mounted to the side of the workstation.
Picking job "recipes" are easily created and maintained using simple and easy-to-understand and -manipulate Excel templates. A recipe is initiated with a bar-code scan.
This station can be configured for a stand-up or a sit-down position. Secured to each of the workstation's four vertical legs is a hydraulic cylinder so the work surface's height can be adjusted to optimize the ergonomics for each worker.
The workstation measures 67 inches wide by 26 inches deep by 81 inches high but can be easily reconfigured to meet the client's needs, the company says. (Creform)
Specifically, the new global average robot density has reached a record 162 units per 10,000 employees in 2023, which is more than double the mark of 74 units measured seven years ago.
Broken into geographical regions, the European Union has a robot density of 219 units per 10,000 employees, an increase of 5.2%, with Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia in the global top ten. Next, North America’s robot density is 197 units per 10,000 employees – up 4.2%. And Asia has a robot density of 182 units per 10,000 persons employed in manufacturing - an increase of 7.6%. The economies of Korea, Singapore, mainland China and Japan are among the top ten most automated countries.
Broken into individual countries, the U.S. ranked in 10th place in 2023, with a robot density of 295 units. Higher up on the list, the top five are:
The Republic of Korea, with 1,012 robot units, showing a 5% increase on average each year since 2018 thanks to its strong electronics and automotive industries.
Singapore had 770 robot units, in part because it is a small country with a very low number of employees in the manufacturing industry, so it can reach a high robot density with a relatively small operational stock.
China took third place in 2023, surpassing Germany and Japan with a mark of 470 robot units as the nation has managed to double its robot density within four years.
Germany ranks fourth with 429 robot units for a 5% CAGR since 2018.
Japan is in fifth place with 419 robot units, showing growth of 7% on average each year from 2018 to 2023.
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.
Gartner defined the new functions as follows:
Agentic reasoning in GenAI allows for advanced decision-making processes that mimic human-like cognition. This capability will enable procurement functions to leverage GenAI to analyze complex scenarios and make informed decisions with greater accuracy and speed.
Multimodality refers to the ability of GenAI to process and integrate multiple forms of data, such as text, images, and audio. This will make GenAI more intuitively consumable to users and enhance procurement's ability to gather and analyze diverse information sources, leading to more comprehensive insights and better-informed strategies.
AI agents are autonomous systems that can perform tasks and make decisions on behalf of human operators. In procurement, these agents will automate procurement tasks and activities, freeing up human resources to focus on strategic initiatives, complex problem-solving and edge cases.
As CPOs look to maximize the value of GenAI in procurement, the study recommended three starting points: double down on data governance, develop and incorporate privacy standards into contracts, and increase procurement thresholds.
“These advancements will usher procurement into an era where the distance between ideas, insights, and actions will shorten rapidly,” Ryan Polk, senior director analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice, said in a release. "Procurement leaders who build their foundation now through a focus on data quality, privacy and risk management have the potential to reap new levels of productivity and strategic value from the technology."
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.
Nearly half (48%) of the SMEs surveyed said they expect higher holiday sales compared to 2023, while 44% said they expect sales to remain on par with last year, and just 8% said they foresee a decline. Respondents said the main challenges to hitting those goals are supply chain problems (35%), inflation and fluctuating consumer demand (34%), staffing (16%), and inventory challenges (14%).
But respondents said they have strategies in place to tackle those issues. Many said they began preparing for holiday season earlier this year—with 45% saying they started planning in Q2 or earlier, up from 39% last year. Other strategies include expanding into international markets (35%) and leveraging holiday discounts (32%).
Sixty percent of respondents said they will prioritize personalized customer service as a way to enhance customer interactions and loyalty this year. Still others said they will invest in enhanced web and mobile experiences (23%) and eco-friendly practices (13%) to draw customers this holiday season.
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.
In response, most retailers (78%) say they are investing in technology tools that can help both frontline workers and those watching operations from behind the scenes to minimize theft and loss, Zebra said.
Just 38% of retailers currently use AI-based prescriptive analytics for loss prevention, but a much larger 50% say they plan to use it in the next 1-3 years. That was followed by self-checkout cameras and sensors (45%), computer vision (46%), and RFID tags and readers (42%) that are planned for use within the next three years, specifically for loss prevention.
Those strategies could help improve the brick and mortar shopping experience, since 78% of shoppers say it’s annoying when products are locked up or secured within cases. Adding to that frustration is that it’s hard to find an associate while shopping in stores these days, according to 70% of consumers. In response, some just walk out; one in five shoppers has left a store without getting what they needed because a retail associate wasn’t available to help, an increase over the past two years.
The survey also identified additional frustrations faced by retailers and associates:
challenges with offering easy options for click-and-collect or returns, despite high shopper demand for them
the struggle to confirm current inventory and pricing
lingering labor shortages and increasing loss incidents, even as shoppers return to stores
“Many retailers are laying the groundwork to build a modern store experience,” Matt Guiste, Global Retail Technology Strategist, Zebra Technologies, said in a release. “They are investing in mobile and intelligent automation technologies to help inform operational decisions and enable associates to do the things that keep shoppers happy.”
The survey was administered online by Azure Knowledge Corporation and included 4,200 adult shoppers (age 18+), decision-makers, and associates, who replied to questions about the topics of shopper experience, device and technology usage, and delivery and fulfillment in store and online.
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.
According to Hakala, automation is an inevitable course in Cimcorp’s core sectors, and the company’s end-to-end capabilities will be crucial for clients’ success. In the past, both the tire and grocery retail industries have automated individual machines and parts of their operations. In recent years, automation has spread throughout the facilities, as companies want to be able to see their entire operation with one look, utilize analytics, optimize processes, and lead with data.
“Cimcorp has always grown by starting small in the new business segments. We’ve created one solution first, and as we’ve gained more knowledge of our clients’ challenges, we have been able to expand,” Hakala said in a release. “In every phase, we aim to bring our experience to the table and even challenge the client’s initial perspective. We are interested in what our client does and how it could be done better and more efficiently.”