Dive Brief:
- Maersk is advancing its warehouse automation solutions and real-time inventory data at its Mira Loma, California facility, the carrier announced in March 15 press release.
- The ocean carrier and robotics company BionicHIVE are four months into an automation pilot using Bionic’s SqUID solution that sorts, selects and puts away packages, according to the release. The pilot is expected to run for an additional four months.
- “By integrating BionicHIVE’s SqUID solution into our warehouse operations, we will be able to optimize processes and better serve our customers in a rapidly evolving market,” Global Head of Innovation for Logistics and Services Erez Agmoni said in a statement.
Dive Insight:
Maersk is working to elevate warehouse services through technology investments "to increase efficiency and add more flexibility to supply chains,” Agmoni said.
BionicHIVE’s SqUID will aid in easing warehouse operations. It can move around warehouse floors and climb racks to sort, pick and replenish cartons from any spot on the rack. The software also integrates into warehouse management systems, providing real-time inventory data.
“The solution is scalable with minimal changes to the existing warehouse and provides flexibility to handle any box from any location and deliver it anywhere with no height limitations,” BionicHIVE CEO and Founder Liran Raizer said in a statement.
Maersk has been building up its efforts for automated inventory management as it looks to become an end-to-end supply chain service provider. In January, the carrier piloted autonomous drones to track inventory in select warehouses, with plans for further deployment in 2023.
As of 2022 the carrier has a footprint of about 65 million square feet across more than 452 warehouses, according to the company's 2022 annual report.
