ForwardX Technology Co. has formed a strategic partnership with ShipSage Inc. The logistics provider was looking to automate processes at its warehouse in Tracy, Calif.
ShipSage’s pain points included long picking distances, high labor intensity from heavy cargo, and the need to flexibly handle mixed SKUs of varying sizes.
With sites in California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Georgia, the company needed to ensure its customers’ products are stored safely and ready to be shipped whenever an order comes in. ShipSage said its Tracy location is particularly important because it is a key hub in Northern California and is near major transportation routes.
Inside ForwardX’s autonomous system
ShipSage deployed 10 of FowardX’s Max 600-L robots in its California facility. The robots automate case-picking tasks by navigating through dynamic, complex areas. These include inbound, picking, and outbound sections.
ForwardX’s system works by first assigning the Max 600-L autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to pick empty pallets and take them to designated picking areas. Here, the AMRs collaborate with human workers who use PDAs to receive picking assignments, print labels, scan barcodes, load items, and verify items.
The on-site printed labels are made possible by a handheld Bluetooth printer.
After loading, the AMRs transport the pallets to the unloading area, where they are either packed or directly moved to outbound logistics.
ForwardX’s f(x) Fleet Manager integrates with ShipSage’s existing systems, serving as the orchestration engine for the case picking.
The AMRs are also capable of autonomously charging, returning to their stations when battery levels drop to a level set by ShipSage’s preferences. The companies said this ensures the operation runs with no downtime.
ForwardX said its AMRs and fleet management software can help warehouse and factory operations achieve higher performance. It has deployed more than 3,000 mobile robots in over 150 facilities across four continents.
In 2022, ForwardX won an RBR50 Innovation Award for its first AMR deployment using a 5G network.
ShipSage sees increases in productivity, accuracy
ShipSage reported that the ForwardX system has significantly boosted productivity, stability, and reliability while eliminating unproductive and wasteful walking time. The third-party logistics provider (3PL) said that work is now easier, faster, and more accurate.
Its warehouse workers no longer have to push heavy carts or follow slow-moving robots. This allows them to focus on more valuable tasks, said ShipSage.
The company also said its deployment of ForwardX AMRs has led to an improvement of more than 80% in units picked per Hour (UPH). In addition, it achieved 99.99% picking accuracy across its 8,235 sq. m (88,640.8 sq. ft.) warehouse.
By automating labor-intensive tasks, ShipSage said it can now focus on high-value activities, ensuring enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability in its distribution center. The company added that the partnership supports its decision to be an early adopter of AMR technology as it showcases the power of smart warehousing systems.