Geek+ is looking to make its mark in grocery supply chain operations with its new highly efficient cross-docking solution, meaning supermarkets are now able to get goods with short shelf lives out to locations for their customers in record time. The inventory storage period is short, the picking speed is fast, and the solution is ideal for meeting the same-day delivery needs of mainstream e-commerce, retail, fresh food, and other scenarios where shelf lives are short.
In the distribution centre, especially, time is at a premium, with orders waiting to be filled as soon as goods are received. Whereas traditional cross-docking approaches could handle volumes of 150-200 cases received and dispatched per hour, Geek+ P800 robots process inventory at a rate of 300-500 cases an hour while retaining order fulfilment accuracy of 99.99%. This puts food and other perishables onto supermarket shelves as quickly as possible and minimises waste while delivering the freshest, best-quality ingredients to consumers.
“AMR-driven cross-docking is a major boon to supermarket operations everywhere,” commented Kai Liu, Geek+ Co-founder & Vice President of Picking and Smart Warehouse. “By entrusting this crucial step of the supply chain to robotics technology, we can minimise the time foodstuffs spend in storage and maximise the time they are on the shelves where people can enjoy them. This is another example of how AMRs can improve our quality of life.”
Geek+’s AMRs greatly simplify cross-docking operations. Whole pallets are received and directly put away and picked without unstacking. Algorithms manage the inventory, compile order pallets, and then automatically deliver them to collection points. The solution’s flexibility allows temporary storage and order collection to be done simultaneously in the same area. The reduction in space and overall steps between receiving and distribution possible means that one terminal can support more stores.
The solution can be implemented and operational in just two months, meaning that the boost in productivity and return on investment can be realised extremely quickly. Two global top 10 supermarket chains have already successfully implemented Geek+’s new cross-docking technology in their DCs.
