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The Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Market is attracting warehousing as it will grow to $3.3 billion by 2028 by reducing the labour cost, increasing the throughput, and making it safer due to the lesser need for manual material handling.
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What is the primary use of AGVs?
The most advanced types of automated guided vehicles are used as sorting robots or robotic pallet movers. These robots will identify, classify, and separate items through the use of devices that sense, computer vision, and artificial intelligence in a way that will efficiently maximise operations.
Equipped with machine learning algorithms, these robots improve their accuracy progressively in sorting as data is evaluated over time and respective processes are refined over time.
They maximise resource utilisation and positively contribute to sustainability by ensuring a higher recycling rate and reduced operating costs.
Did you know?
According to the McKinsey report, automated processes include 82% for ground movement and material handling, 80% for receiving and storing items, 77% for material handling and forklifts, and 75% for sorting.
Flexible Robotic Sorter
Zippy, Addverb’s flexible robotic sorter revolutionizes warehouse and logistics sorting operations as a premium automated guided vehicle (AGV). It can handle a maximum payload of 40 kg, enabling ultrafast SKU-level sortation at an impressive rate of up to 30,000 sorts per hour.
This automated guided vehicle utilises intelligent sensors and AI algorithms to navigate predefined paths and execute specific tasks without human assistance. Its advanced capabilities allow seamless integration into existing workflows, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.
Zippy is part of a diverse family of sortation robots that includes various payload capacities (6, 10, 25, and 40 kg) and configurations (tug, X), each designed to meet distinct sortation and material handling needs.
Read More: 5 Reasons for Choosing Robots for Material Movement and Sortation
Fixed Robotic Sorter
This is a high-speed sortation system, known as SortIE, providing maximum accuracy in sorting individual packets to their destinations in the track at different levels.
Suitable for big businesses dealing with a large amount of merchandise, SortIE would be ideal for raising the efficiency of sortation and reverse logistics and put-away operations.
The result of its implementation is lower labour costs as well as higher accuracy and the optimization of space.
This automated guided vehicle is suited for companies requiring good sorting, organising, and management of bulk products. Its uses comprises:
- Sortation: It streamlines the product’s organisation and routing to improve workflow and minimise errors.
- Reverse Logistics: It enhances the return and sorting of products, ensuring efficient processing of returns coupled with the elimination of all costs.
- Put-away: The storage becomes streamlined as the items are directed to the appropriate place without a lot of space wastage hence controlling the inventory.
Key Benefits of Automated Guided Vehicles
High-Speed Sortation
Performance Metrics: Zippy’s ability to perform 30,000 sorts per hour symbolises its highest efficiency. It only means that accurate SKU-level sortation ensures minimum discrepancies and thus better inventory management and more satisfaction of the customer.
Increasing Warehouse Efficiency
- Reducing Human Power: By making repetitive sorting work redundant, Zippy, automated guided vehicle reduces the utilisation of human power and the people are employed in other strategic activities.
- Order Fulfillment Speed: Zippy high-speed sorting facilities improve the efficiency of the order processing cycle, hence timely delivery.
Streamlined Reverse Logistics
- Reverse Logistics: Zippy streamlined the reverse logistics, and sorted and routed the backward products for further processes.
- Efficiency in Cost- Savings and Customer Satisfaction: With an impact on cost-savings, this automation saves on its operating costs, while making the return process fast for a better customer experience.
Overall, the impact of such automation is efficiency in overall operations. The lot of time saved in such processing results in much higher throughput for the warehouse, thereby culminating in its overall operational efficacy.
Drawbacks of Automated Guided Vehicles
Narrow Scope in Navigability
The majority of automated guided vehicles work on fixed routes, not allowing any degree of flexibility, especially in environments that are prone to change. For instance, if the warehouse structure changes or there are unplanned obstructions in the AGV’s intended path, the AGVs may have difficulty in finding an alternative and effective route promptly.
As a result, this may cause some delays in service provision as well as causing some business interruptions. Such limitations could prove to be an obstacle, especially in environments that demand speed and light on their feet.
High Costs
When it comes to automated guided vehicles, there is a considerable amount of financial resources needed to purchase the technology and build the necessary structures. This means the purchase of the physical AGVs, the installation of the navigation systems, and the restructuring of the premises where they will be used.
For several companies, such a large start-up cost may deter them from entering the market, and this is particularly true for small companies that do not have the funds to spend.
Maintenance Challenges and Downtime
Although automated guided vehicles tend to operate in a reliable manner as intended, it still does not eliminate the need for maintenance if their operations are to be sustained. These may cause disturbances in operations which are not welcomed due to the influence on productivity.
Furthermore, since many of these repairs and maintenance may involve advanced technology, there could be a need for specialised labour creating additional expenses in management.
How does Addverb help?
When it comes to automated guided vehicles, we at Addverb go beyond standard offerings and provide customised solutions using advanced navigation systems.
Our automated guided vehicles work in harmony with other robotic systems, including Cobots, hence facilitating a smooth workflow.
There is also an option of Robot as a Service (RaaS), which helps companies benefit from sophisticated robotic systems without the need to make significant capital expenditures at once.
It is such a model that is successfully provided to the likes of Mondial Relay to allow scaling operations while incurring low cost risks.
With us, your business can achieve the level of performance that is required in today’s market.
Final Thoughts
Challenges such as limited adaptability, high initial investments, or upkeep can be expected with the use of automated guided vehicles.
However, the remarkable change they bring about in operational efficiency is simply priceless. These sophisticated solutions improve the processes, minimise mistakes, and greatly increase the efficiency of work processes, which is why they are essential for contemporary warehouses.
At Addverb, we take each one of these concerns as a challenge and resolve that it is going to be easy for you to implement and operate automated guided vehicles. Your business benefits from our bespoke solutions assembled around your needs, strong post-sales support and cutting-edge technology.
When you work with Addverb, you don’t have to worry about automation leading to inefficiencies or unnecessary expenses – you will have the opportunity to reap all the benefits that come with a more streamlined process.
Are you ready to take the logistics operations to the next level? Contact us today and discover how we can guide you in transforming your workflow!
FAQ
What are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)?
AGVs are driverless vehicles that use navigation systems to transport materials within a facility efficiently and safely.
What are the main advantages of AGVs?
AGVs offer increased productivity, reduced labour costs, improved accuracy, and enhanced workplace safety.
What are some challenges associated with using AGVs?
AGVs may have high upfront costs, limited flexibility in dynamic environments, and require significant infrastructure adjustments for implementation.
