GEODIS commits investment in Autonomous Mobile Robots for its distribution centre in Hong Kong, SAR China

HONG
KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 November 2021 – GEODIS
today announced the deployment of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) from Geek+, a global technology company specialized in
smart logistics through advanced robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), at
its Yuen Long Warehouse Distribution Centre (YLDC) in Hong Kong, SAR China. The
YLDC will be provided with an exclusive AMR operating area with QR coding to
guide automated operations.  The smart facility underlines GEODIS’
digital-first outlook to future operations.

GEODIS commits
investment in Autonomous Mobile Robots for its distribution centre in Hong
Kong, SAR China

Onno
Boots, Regional President & CEO, Asia Pacific said: “Our investments in
this AI-driven automation system brings substantial value to GEODIS’ eCommerce
and retail customers by addressing some of the key challenges they face today.
These solutions not only bring long-term cost-savings, operational
efficiencies, and safety, but also enable us to maintain high-quality control
standards while providing customers greater speed and flexibility of movement
of goods.”

GEODIS’
initial project AMR deployment features customized storage racks and shelves
that do not require aisles in between while parked. This high-density storage
buffer allows GEODIS to maximize its storage capacity for improved customer
fulfillment processes. Furthermore, the Geek+ robots will be used for locating,
tracking, and moving inventory through “Goods-to-Person Picking” solutions.
This method allows orders to be delivered directly to pick and pack stations,
eliminating any movement time needed by operators to search for items.

In
addition to improved real estate utilization, AMR adoption minimizes manual
labor and reduces the risk of human error—improving picking accuracy and
reducing inventory count errors. The use of AMR will also mitigate some of the
challenges brought on by COVID-19, such as social distancing protocols in
warehouses.

“Today’s
announcement demonstrates GEODIS’ continued commitment to innovation and its
momentum in addressing the increasingly complex production and challenges in
the Hong Kong Contract Logistics (HKCL) landscape in the last two years.” Chris
Cahill, Managing Director, North Asia Sub-Region said. “In the long run,
digital solutions and technologies like robotics and AI give us more data and
insights so we can continue to finesse our operations to fulfill the needs of
our customers.”

“The announcement reveals Geek+’
determination to support companies worldwide with technologies that can
streamline operations, transforming the global supply chain to address
increasingly complex logistics challenges.” Lit Fung, VP and Managing
Director of Geek+ APAC, UK and Americas, said. “We will continue help
GEODIS better manage changes in demand, quickly scale in line with business
growth, and provide customers with better products and service
capabilities.”

The
Geek+ solution advances GEODIS’ goal of boosting its smart logistics portfolio
and provides a competitive edge to meet the rising demands for agility and
accuracy amidst soaring demand in the eCommerce, retail and FMCG segments.
GEODIS has around 250 autonomous mobile robots worldwide.