Steve Greenfield的动态

Excited to announce that Nimble has closed a $106 Million Series C Funding Round at a $1 billion valuation. We have also entered a commercial agreement to scale the FedEx Fulfillment service using Nimble’s intelligent general-purpose warehouse robots and fully autonomous 3PL model. Fei-Fei Li, AI pioneer and Nimble Board Director summarizes our breakthrough. “By collecting a large-scale data set, training state-of-the-art AI models, and engineering custom mobile manipulator robot hardware, Nimble has unlocked a new generation of fully autonomous turnkey fulfillment centers that are simple, reliable and more cost-efficient.” Nimble develops next-generation autonomous e-commerce fulfillment centers — end-to-end turnkey warehouses that operate at a fraction of the cost and complexity of today’s leading goods-to-person based warehouses. Nimble’s core technology is an intelligent, general-purpose warehouse robot that can perform all core fulfillment tasks including storage and retrieval, picking, packing and sorting. Paired with the Nimble Cloud Logistics Platform, the solution replaces dozens of complex fulfillment systems, resulting in warehouses that are simpler, more reliable and easier to install, operate, maintain, and scale. The new capital will be strategically deployed to scale robot manufacturing and system deployments while enabling further investments in R&D towards Nimble’s mission of inventing autonomous logistics. Nimble’s board of directors includes AI and robotics pioneers?Fei-Fei Li?(former Chief Scientist of AI at Google),?Marc Raibert?(Founder and Chairman of Boston Dynamics), and?Sebastian Thrun?(Founder of Google X and Waymo). https://lnkd.in/gbzZw8YD

This look at Amazon's robotic fulfillment center is a wondrous feat that uses new technology to transform e-commerce options at scale. While this industry was not the first to begin implementing robotics at scale, it is the one to gain the most value out of automation over the past year. We can expect other similar industries across the supply chain to move forward with similar plans, further demonstrating the competitive advantages inherent to innovation in robotics and the software therein. #Robotics #Innovation #Ecommerce

WAL CHANGE Walmart’s four ‘vending machine’ factories with robots will ship packages faster than other companies The shipping facilities hold a staggering one million square feet of goods https://lnkd.in/eA3yseEm

?? Exciting news from PIMM . The Texas-based AI robotics and autonomous e-commerce fulfillment technology company has announced a strategic alliance with @Dutyfreezone and @Duty Free Food. This partnership aims to scale DutyFreeZone.com’s fulfillment centers using a fully autonomous 3PL model, with an undisclosed financial investment from DutyFreeZone.com. ?? Through this collaboration, Pimm.com will leverage its cutting-edge AI robotics and autonomous systems to enhance fulfillment operations across North America, expanding its footprint in the e-commerce space. With over 48 fulfillment centers and plans to add new nodes in Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta by 2025, Pimm.com continues to push the boundaries of autonomous logistics. ?? Read More: https://lnkd.in/eyxkKtwm ?? #3PL #AI #Logistics #Fulfillment #Shipping #Warehouse #eCommerce #Automation #PIMM #RacklifyNews

Contact me for more detail on how FedEx & Nimble can help scale your Ecommerce Fulfillment!

?? EXCLUSIVE ?? PROJECT JUPITER: INSIDE AMAZON'S SECRET MICRO-FULFILLMENT AND MOBILE FULFILLMENT STRATEGY According to a recent podcast featuring Tye Brady, Chief Technologist at Amazon Robotics, Brady stated: [Amazon's use of AI robots isn't limited to its warehouses. Robotics and AI are being applied across the entire supply chain, from the "first mile" where goods are stored and prepared for shipping, through the "middle mile" of sorting and regional distribution, to the "last mile" of delivery to the customer's door.] Project Jupiter is focused on the creation of automated micro-fulfillment centers (MFC) that can be installed inside grocery stores, retail stores, and logistics facilities. MFCs hold inventory of retail products, and different types of robots pick products from the MFC to fulfill online orders. MFCs are very important to Amazon. However, COVID disrupted the team responsible for building MFCs resulting in a pause of 2.5 years. Meanwhile, Amazon has been piloting an MFC from AutoStore?, and is in the process of installing a system from Fulfil, inside a Whole Foods store. What hasn't been previously reported is that Amazon has built a fully-functioning MFC referred to internally as an LVM for Local Vending Machine. Amazon has created a HIVE-based MFC configuration that generates high pick rates and exceptional flexibility in terms of building MFCs that are 5,000 square feet or 50,000 square feet or more. Amazon has built shuttle-based and cube-based LVMs. LVMs do not have the same vertical limitations as AutoStore and other MFCs. This is not a video of an LVM but it is very close to what an LVM can do: https://lnkd.in/gnQ3cwy3 Amazon will have their first LVM Alpha Site up and running in February. General Availability (GA) will be Q3 or Q4 2025. By 2026, Amazon will be able to meet all of their MFC needs utilizing their own LVM. I am considered an expert on the topic of logistics and MFCs. The LVM is a game changer for the logistics automation industry. Amazon is going to license the use of the LVM to companies across different industries for a fraction of the cost charged by MFC vendors. Amazon is going to have a ripple effect across multiple industries including systems integrators who charge a fee to install the leading third-party automation systems. I believe in the importance of Mobile Retail and Mobile Fulfillment Centers. In 2023, I wrote this article to challenge Amazon to leverage automation inside Rivian vans for mobile retail and automated package delivery. I coined the phrase "Hail a store" to describe a process of customers being able to hail a van to come to their location and purchase items on the van. https://lnkd.in/gnQX4Zr2 Amazon did it. I reviewed Rivian vans using vertical racks with trays for Mobile Retail and Fulfillment. See Comment ???? RIVIAN MOBILE RETAIL ???? Great job, Amazon. #retail #robotics #microfulfillment #management https://lnkd.in/gz38afdg

How has Amazon incorporated robots into existing workflows in its current fulfillment centers? Amazon has effectively integrated robots into its fulfillment centers to streamline workflows, enhance efficiency, and improve order fulfillment processes. Here are some key ways in which robots have been incorporated: Kiva Robots (Amazon Robotics): These mobile robots transport shelves of products directly to human pickers. This reduces the need for workers to walk long distances to retrieve items, significantly speeding up the picking process. Automated Inventory Management: Robots help manage inventory by moving items in and out of storage locations. They assist in organizing products based on demand, ensuring that popular items are easily accessible for faster fulfillment. Robotic Arms: Automated robotic arms are used for tasks such as packing and sorting. These arms can efficiently handle different sizes and shapes of products, increasing packing speed and accuracy. Sortation Systems: Robots are employed in sortation processes to quickly categorize and organize packages based on their destination. This optimizes the flow of packages within the fulfillment center. Palletizing and De-Palletizing: Robotic systems are used for palletizing (stacking products on pallets) and de-palletizing (removing products from pallets), automating labor-intensive tasks and improving throughput. Collaborative Robots (Cobots): These robots work alongside human workers to assist with various tasks, such as lifting heavy items or handling repetitive motions, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing physical strain on employees. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs): AGVs transport goods between different areas within the fulfillment center, optimizing logistics and ensuring that items are delivered to the right locations quickly and efficiently. Vision Systems: Robots equipped with advanced vision systems can scan items for quality control and sort products based on size or weight, enhancing accuracy in the fulfillment process. Data-Driven Optimization: Amazon uses AI and robotics data to continually optimize workflows, adjusting routes and processes based on real-time conditions to improve overall efficiency. Safety and Ergonomics: The incorporation of robots helps improve workplace safety by taking on hazardous tasks and reducing the physical demands placed on human workers, creating a safer working environment. By seamlessly integrating these robotic systems into existing workflows, Amazon has been able to enhance operational efficiency, reduce order processing times, and maintain a high level of accuracy in its fulfillment centers, ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction.

In this week's Retail Insights column I reflect on my recent visit to an #Amazon #robotic fulfillment center:

GreyOrange, an AI-driven fulfillment automation company, has expanded its Intralogistics and Case Pick Ranger Portfolio to address the growing need for advanced automation. They introduced new autonomous forklifts capable of handling closed pallets and managing multiple pallets or trolleys concurrently, which significantly enhance operational efficiency and throughput. The new Ranger Forklift XXL for case picking and the Ranger Forklift AnyPallet for closed pallet handling provide quick implementation within a few weeks and offer substantial productivity increases. Supported by GreyMatter’s pick assist and intralogistics services, these forklifts are now key intellectual properties in high demand due to their immediate return on investment and efficiency. Akash Gupta, GreyOrange’s co-founder and CEO, highlighted that these solutions are unique in the market for handling heavy payloads, capable of lifting up to four trolleys with a combined weight of 3000 kg. These autonomous mobile robot (AMR) variants not only streamline operations but also open new business opportunities, strengthening GreyOrange's competitive advantage. These forklifts are designed to enhance operational safety and reduce costs, making them ideal replacements for traditional forklifts in various industries such as retail, food and beverage, consumer goods and electronics, pharmaceuticals, auto spare parts, and home improvement. This announcement follows GreyOrange’s recent $135 million Series D funding and a partnership with Cypher Robotics to release the Captis AGV for industrial scanning, further solidifying their position in the automation market. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTQDFyst

#Warehouses have long been the unsung heroes of #SupplyChain management—working tirelessly as the vital link between #manufacturers and #consumers. But today, they’re stepping into the spotlight, evolving into more advanced, automated, and flexible spaces to meet the demands of modern #commerce. #IndustrialRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #Warehousing #CRETrends #Automation #BigBoxWarehouses #Robotics #ECommerce #CRECommunity https://lnkd.in/gkdQEAGq