Addverb Technologies Ltd., a developer of robotics and warehouse automation, today said it has established a strategic partnership with logistics provider Mondial Relay. The partners have incorporated Addverb’s Zippy sorting robots into Mondial Relay’s distribution facility in La Roche-sur-Yon, France.
Mondial Relay specializes in parcel delivery and e-commerce systems. The Hauts-de-France-based company has a network of more than 23,000 pickup and drop-off (PUDO) points, and it works with more than 46,000 e-retailers throughout France and the Benelux region.
In France, Mondial Relay is the leading company in the out-of-home delivery market, with 11,000 points and more than 6,000 automated parcel machines (APMs). Last year, the company processed over 239.9 million parcels — 13 % more than in 2022.
Any automation system that Mondial Relay deploys must be reliable enough to not throw off such an extensive network.
Addverb supplies Zippy robots
Founded in 2016, Addverb offers AI-enabled fixed and flexible automation that it claimed allow clients to realize new levels of efficiency, reliability, and revenue. The Noida, India-based company designed its hardware and software to serve the global e-commerce, warehouse distribution, and manufacturing industries.
Addverb maintains multiple offices and client locations across Europe, with regional headquarters in the Netherlands. The company said Zippy is a state-of-the-art sorting robot, designed to handle a high volume of parcels.
Mondial Relay is using Zippy10 robots, which have a payload capacity of 10 kg (22 lb.) each. Addverb said they can perform 100% accurate SKU-level sortation for up to 30,000 sorts per hour.
The parcel-sorting system is made up of four infeed stations, where operators load parcels onto the Zippy10 robots. A barcode scanner scans each parcel before the Zippy10 robot uses algorithms to accurately sort it to a predefined destination.
This intricate sorting process unfolds within a system boasting five lanes and 28 destinations on each side, ensuring precision and efficiency at every step, according to the companies. The robots streamline the sorting process for Mondial Relay’s delivery operations, they said.
Mondial Relay expects flexibility, safety gains
“Our solution, featuring 62 Zippy robots, has notably bolstered sorting rates, accuracy, and overall efficiency,” stated Pieter Feenstra, CEO of Addverb EMEA. “We are proud to play a role in enhancing Mondial Relay’s operational excellence and look forward to further collaboration.”
Mondial Relay said the integration of the Zippy10 robots marks a milestone in the evolution of parcel logistics, underscoring its commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovation to its customers.
“We are pleased with the partnership between Mondial Relay and Addverb,” said Hoëlig Le Clainche, international director of engineering at Mondial Relay. “The solution has enabled us to improve working conditions by reducing the risk of MSDs [musculoskeletal disorders] and increase productivity by removing final sortation at our France facility.”
“To anticipate the peak season, we will increase to 3,000 sorts per hour just by increasing the number of robots on the same platform,” he said.