CEVA Logistics and Berkshire Grey announced the implementation of AI-enabled robotic automation systems into CEVA’s supply chain operations in Canada, embedding robotic solutions at CEVA’s Vancouver e-commerce facility with the aim to maximize distribution centre capacity, optimise throughput and accelerate fulfilment processes.
Berkshire Grey’s Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model is said to enable CEVA to leverage intelligent robotic automation systems on behalf of its customers. This gives CEVA the ability to increase capacity, improve throughput, and speed up fulfilment across locations as consumer demand grows. The RaaS model aims to advance CEVA’s agility to scale and serve its customers and their businesses.
CEVA will be using the Berkshire Grey’s Robotic Product Sortation and Identification (RPSi) system at its Vancouver distribution centre to autonomously identify and sort e-commerce packages and parcels, streamlining distribution to 78 Canada Post destinations. The implementation, reportedly, has the capacity to process more than 5.5m packages annually with minimal operator intervention in a compact 93 sq m (1,000 sq ft) operating footprint. The RPSi system is said to be able to handle challenging parcels such as the polybags, tubes, padded mailers and envelopes, common in e-commerce shipping.
Dominik Dittrich, CEVA’s Executive Vice President of Contract Logistics, North America, said, “CEVA is committed to continuous improvement and innovation across its fulfilment, transportation and supply chain operations. The COVID-19 pandemic exponentially increased the fulfilment volume we needed to process shipments on behalf of our customers around the world. As we move forward, that volume is expected to remain strong. By partnering with Berkshire Grey and investing in its intelligent robotic automation systems, we can better operate our fulfilment facilities 24 hours per day to manage the excess volume, as well as scale our operations when needed.”
Jessica Moran, SVP and General Manager of 3PL and Parcel Businesses at Berkshire Grey, added “Berkshire Grey is excited to be a trusted partner to CEVA Logistics and provide the most innovative robotic technologies available today to help optimise their logistics and supply chain operations. Our AI-powered robotic solutions help businesses optimise labour while increasing throughput and capacity in their critical operations to better meet customer expectations.”
According to CEVA, the RPSi is powered by AI-enabled robotic picking and placing, linear sort shuttle technology, a pack-to-light user interface, and Berkshire Grey’s patented HyperScanner™ auto-identification module. The system uses the company’s proprietary hardware and software to identify, singulate, transport, sort and store small parcels in specific and re-definable end locations aligned to meet CEVA’s network sortation needs.
Source: CEVA Logistics
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