EDITION-2 | SEPTEMBER 2019
OIG NEWSLETTER
Stop worrying about robots
Even while humans aren’t going away in the
warehouse, there are not enough of them to fill the
number of slots needed to accommodate growing
warehouse volume. Supply chain workers are part
of the larger U.S. labor story of shortages across all
sectors, with unemployment at a low level. It
demands that warehousing workers focus on tasks
that bring the highest value and productivity to the
company, leaving more rote tasks to a robot, or
adding the support of a cobot.
The logistics sector continues to benefit from
structural changes, such as online retailing
and evolving consumer behaviors, transforming
global supply chains. E-commerce operators require
up to three times more space than traditional
warehouse users due to a greater diversity in
products handled and the need to have them
immediately accessible. Global investors have
caught on and are keen on adding industrial assets
to their portfolios.
ARTICLE
OVERVIEW:
Warehousing of the future will
survive by combining the unique,
strategic thinking of humans with
the efficiencies that automation and
AI offer. Automated processes, in
which a robot can pick items in
super-sized warehouses, will help
control costs and enhance the
competitiveness of the retailer. At
the same time, humans can begin to
make more use of voice-enabled
and wearable mobile technology to
make picking and receiving more
efficient. This will create a ‘bionic’
worker using technology to become
more productive.
 Challenges in "From Maersk's partners
Farm To Home" - with BlackBuck
Ninjakart
NinjaCart is currently
operational in seven cities . On
the back of funding rounds
from marquee investors such
as Tiger Global, debt venture
fund Trifecta Capital, the
company is bracing for the next
phase of growth.
The supply chain startup has
been working diligently to
solve optimisation issues
through its vehicle routing
system to track vehicle
movement in real-time.
Through an evolving farmer
harvest calendar, NinjaCart
helps farmers get insight into
the demand in the market, so
they can adjust their
harvesting accordingly, and
also tailor the farm
production to the volume of
the demand.
AMAZON'S DRONE
DELIVERY SYSTEM
Maersk announced a However, grocers are investing
partnership with BlackBuck, an in rapid digital transformation
online freight that could drive a compound
booking and trucking services annual growth rate (CAGR) of
company, this week to launch 13% through 2024, for a total of
an online $162 billion  by the end of the
marketplace for containerized forecast period.
trucking logistics in India.
Although driven by
SECTOR WATCH- competition, the companies are
not simply throwing
Online grocery money at the problem, but are
Online grocery sales currently seeking to curb their
total just 3.25% of the global investment in the complex
grocery sector, or $91 billion of supply chains that come with
the $2.8 trillion  annual sales of delivery services, even as they
strive to continuously attract
the food & beverage category;
shoppers to physical stores.
ambient groceries, fresh
To hit both goals at once, many
groceries,  carbonated drinks, retailers are investing in fast,
fruit drinks, water, hot store-based fulfillment or are
beverages, beers, wines and teaming up with third parties
spirits. for improved last-mile
logistics.
 ROBOTS AS A SERVICE
(RAAS)
Following the trends of the software as a service (SaaS)
industry,robotics companies are now offering robotics as
a service (RaaS) solutions that make robot deployments
more feasible than ever. Much like companies that use
SaaS to efficiently adopt software solutions, RaaS models
offer a cost-effective, less risky and scalable way to adopt
robotics in warehouses with no additional infrastructure
requirements and little training.

ABI Research says the concept will tip the scale in robot
adoption and estimates there will be more than 1.3 million
RaaS deployments worldwide by 2026 with the largest
installations in logistics, manufacturing and
hospitality.  RaaS revenues and deployments are rapidly
eclipsing those from robot purchases, as end users
discover more value in securing robotic solutions rather
than just equipment, according to ABI.

Quick deployment with little infrastructure requirements RaaS warehouse solutions require little infrastructure
and can be flexibly deployed in any facility, Parks said. InVia Robotics offers an automated picking system to
manage a network of picker robots that can autonomously move inventory from one point to another. The
compact robots are two feet tall by two feet wide, can reach up to eight feet high and can carry standard totes
weighing up to 40 pounds. In addition to improving efficiency, RaaS can also help support the human workforce in
the supply chain where labor shortages have become a growing issue. RaaS can enable warehouses to more easily
extend hours and handle surges during peak seasons without the complexity of adding more staff,
and it can help cover work when staffing is light.
Uber Freight sets up
shop in Germany
Last month, Uber Freight, a subsidiary of the
ubiquitous, ride-sharing service Uber, whose
proprietary app matches
trucking companies with loads to haul,
announced it has expanded into
Germany.

“A more efficient and transparent freight

marketplace is something Uber Freight
can bring to the table that will
benefit carriers and shippers, as well as
reduce wasted miles and fuel,”
said Uber Freight in a blog posting.

"German trucking market dealing with a

severe driver shortage, which the World
Bank expects to triple by 2028!"

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