Hai Robotics Advocates Modular Automation for SKU Growth
Warehouse automation firm Hai Robotics is advising companies to adopt modular automation systems to handle SKU proliferation and omnichannel fulfillment demands. The company highlights a case study where a scalable redesign of a logistics hub enabled more flexible and efficient warehouse operations.
- The company's core technology is the HaiPick Autonomous Case-handling Robot (ACR) system, the first of its kind, which uses robots to handle individual cartons and totes instead of entire racks. This goods-to-person solution can increase warehouse operational efficiency by up to four times and achieve 99.9%+ order picking accuracy. - Hai Robotics' systems are designed to be retrofitted into existing facilities, with some solutions like the HaiPick Climb attaching directly to standard racking, minimizing the need for major infrastructure changes. This modularity allows for deployment in as little as one to two months. - In a case study with JD Logistics in California, the implementation of Hai Robotics' ACR system led to a 174.6% increase in orders fulfilled during Black Friday week and expanded SKU capacity from 70,000 to over 100,000. - The complete system includes more than just robots; it utilizes HaiStation workstations that can load 8 cases in 3 seconds and unload them in 5 seconds, creating an efficient interface between the robots and human operators. - The system's software, known as HaiQ, includes an Equipment Scheduling System (ESS) that manages and integrates various types of robots and equipment, and it features a flexible interface for communication with existing Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). - A key benefit of the modular design is the ability to increase storage density significantly, with robots capable of operating in narrow aisles and reaching heights of over 32 feet, potentially reducing a facility's storage footprint by up to 75%.
