Distributors Turn to Robots for Cost-Savings, Efficiencies

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In a nation that seems to have an ample human workforce, many U.S. companies are turning to robots in the drive for cost savings and greater efficiencies.

Robots are cheaper to operate, make less mistakes, can be programed with digital omni-channel supply chain data, have increased accountability and offer speed of delivery such as in the use of drones and driverless cars, according to eft Supply Chain and Logistics Business Intelligence, which is part of Eyefortransport Ltd. (London, England).

Industrial Info is tracking seven Amazon.com Incorporated (Amazon) (NASDAQ:AMZN) (Seattle, Washington) distribution center projects worth more than $748.70 million, in which all are equipped with Kiva Robots (Amazon Robotics LLC). Amazon bought Kiva Robotics in 2012.

Robots also can perform inventory chores quicker than humans due to cameras that can automatically translate their positions. Drones can be automatically directed throughout a warehouse and can record barcode data on any warehouse management systems software.

Walmart Stores Incorporated (NYSE:WMT) (Bentonville, Arkansas) plans to use drones in its distribution centers, warehouses and retail stores, according to the Memphis Business Journal.

Industrial Info is tracking two active Walmart distribution projects worth more than $438.8 million that will include robotics. The vast store chain is also researching the use robotic shopping carts with Five Elements Robotics (Wall, New Jersey) as reported in Bloomberg. Walmart is even working on ways that customers could skip store checkout lines by using their cell phones to purchase items at a store scanner.

One thing robots are not able to do (yet) is their own maintenance and programing. This is helping to fuel new jobs in warehouse maintenance and programing that didn't exist earlier. Also, Quiet Logistics (Devens, Massachusetts) is developing robotics that can interact with people in the work place.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.