To ensure a smooth transition, Dematic will provide on-site support from trained technicians and engineers during the start-up phase, assisting with system optimisation and throughput performance. This period will also allow for hands-on training of Eren Perakende operations, supervisory, and support staff, ensuring they are fully equipped to maximise the benefits of the new automation solution.

Dematic is collaborating with its trusted local partner, ILA Otomasyon Yazılım A.Ş, to ensure seamless implementation and ongoing service support within Türkiye. Additionally, leading supply chain and logistics engineering consultancy company, SDZ GmbH, has played a crucial role as the planning consultant on behalf of Eren Perakende, contributing to the design and integration of the new automation system. SDZ Türkiye Team will support Eren Perakende project team during realisation and go-live phase with their global expertise.

“This investment underscores our commitment to innovation and operational excellence,” says Yunus Emre Koç, CLO of Eren Perakende. “This project is a true collaboration, and we’re excited to be working with Dematic, ILA, and SDZ to bring this advanced solution to our distribution operations. This marks an important step in building a smarter, more agile supply chain for the future.”

The automation project is currently in its early stages, with implementation set to commence in June 2025.

Within warehouse and distribution centres, picking stands out as one of the most labour-intensive tasks, particularly when it comes to eaches or item picking. In manual operations, this process can consume a significant portion of staff time, with up to 65% of employees dedicated to picking tasks. However, much of this time is inefficiently spent travelling between locations rather than the actual picking task.

To address this inefficiency, GTP systems emerged to optimise the picking process by eliminating unnecessary travel. In GTP systems, workers remain stationed at designated picking areas while items are automatically delivered to them from storage as needed, precisely sequenced for efficient fulfilment. These systems can accommodate various picking methods, including discrete or batch picking, and can be tailored to fulfil different types of orders, whether that’s store shelves or online purchases.

While GTP solutions like Multishuttle, AutoStore, AMR Bin-to-Picker and AMR Shelf-to-Picker operate on similar principles, they differ in their storage and pick station technologies, resulting in variations in operator pick rates, ergonomics, suitable products, storage density, throughput flexibility, security features, scalability, and maintenance requirements. Therefore, when implementing a GTP system, it's crucial to consider these factors alongside specific business and operational needs to design the most effective solution for the operation.

The AMR Bin-to-Picker systems represent the cutting edge in Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) technology, designed for order picking tasks. These systems feature an AMR tower unit responsible for storing and retrieving totes from shelves, transferring them to an AMR tote mover, and ultimately delivering them to a designated pick station. Key features include storage height up to 10 metres high in shelves and single or double-deep configurations.

Pros:

• Quick system implementation, reducing setup times.
• Pick rates from 400 order lines per hour per picker.
• Exceptional accuracy in order fulfilment.
• Flexibility to adjust throughput by adding or removing AMRs.
• Scalability, enabling easy expansion to accommodate growing storage and throughput demands.
• Maintenance-friendly design allows for easy rotation of AMRs for servicing.
• Robots have low energy requirements.

Cons:

• Storage height capped at 10 metres.
• Lower storage density than Autostore.
• Pick rates may not match those of some Multishuttle GTP systems.

AMR Shelf-to-Person systems are the original AMR order fulfilment solution, where AMRs bring a shelf of products to an operator for picking. The shelves can be used to store a variety of items, such as small units, large items in cartons, through to hanging garments.

With storage in shelves, Shelf-to-Person systems are limited to storage heights of less than 3 metres, with pick slots ranging from ankle height to upper slots requiring a small step ladder for access. If higher warehouse headroom utilisation is required to maximise capacity, companies typically utilise mezzanines for additional Shelf-to-Person modules (or other storage solutions if applicable to a particular storage and order profile).

As pickers pick items from shelves in this solution, AMR Shelf-to-Person systems tend to have the lowest pick rates of the four main GTP systems. With pickers having to find and select the correct storage slot in the shelves, there is also more room for error.

With these factors in mind, AMR Shelf-to-Person systems are typically applicable in small order fulfilment systems or where headroom utilisation, storage capacity, pick rates, and ergonomics are less of a consideration.

Pros:

• Potentially fastest implementation times.
• Lower cost for smaller systems.

Cons:

• Pick rates typically at 150 order lines/hour, the slowest of the four GTP solutions.
• Headroom utilisation.
• Mezzanines, if required, add considerable capital costs.
• Lower accuracy – can be addressed with product scan, which impedes pick rates.
• Picking ergonomics are not optimal.

AutoStore is an all-in-one storage buffer and order fulfilment solution. Offering ultra-high-density automation storage for small items, an AutoStore system can reduce space requirements down to 25% compared to conventional shelf storage. With a flexible, modular design, AutoStore systems can fit into existing facilities, around building columns and in compact spaces, and be readily expanded as required. The storage is in a cubic grid up to 24 bins high and it self-organises products according to throughput.

Pros:

• Highest storage density of any GTP solution.
• Ultra-high accuracy.
• Robots have low energy requirements.
• Easily expandable.
• Flexible system layout.
• Throughput and storage scalability independent of each other – can increase throughput by adding robots or increase storage by expanding the grid.
• High product security as storage locations accessible only by robots.

Cons:

• Flat SKU profiles can reduce robot efficiency if they spend more time ‘digging’ relative to ‘delivering’.
• May pose challenges to fire regulations in certain situations.

Multishuttle Goods-to-Person systems integrate advanced pick stations with Dematic Multishuttle systems, employing multiple shuttles within an aisle to store and retrieve products for seamless delivery to pickers. With exceptional throughput capabilities, this solution offers the highest pick rates among all GTP systems. With the patented Dematic Inter-Aisle Transfer (iAT) technology for enhanced storage, retrieval, and picking flexibility, these systems offer optimal height utilisation of up to 20 metres and can store products in single, double, and triple-deep storage configurations.

Pros:

• Pick rates exceeding 600 order lines per hour per station, the highest among GTP solutions.
• Significant return on investment (ROI) despite higher system costs, thanks to unparalleled productivity gains and potentially lower building expenses.
• Dematic iAT technology enables product redirection to any pick station, reducing the need for connecting conveyors and resulting in a reduced building footprint.
• Maximised headroom utilisation.

Cons:

• Longer system implementation time compared to other GTP solutions.

Each automation solution offers unique advantages and considerations, making it essential for businesses to carefully evaluate their options before making a decision. AMR Bin-to-Picker systems prioritise speed and flexibility, making them ideal for dynamic environments with fluctuating order volumes. AutoStore excels in maximising storage density and space optimisation, making it suitable for businesses with space constraints. Multishuttle systems prioritise throughput and scalability, making them ideal for high-volume fulfilment centres where productivity is of utmost importance, and with the capability to go high, they potentially provide the highest storage capacity in tall warehouses.

Selecting the right automation solution requires careful consideration and collaboration with a trusted partner. Working closely with suppliers like Dematic, who offer all the leading GTP technologies, ensures businesses receive tailored solutions that address their specific needs and objectives. By leveraging the expertise of experienced providers, businesses can navigate the complexities of supply chain automation and gain a competitive advantage.

Automated GTP solutions offer tremendous potential for enhancing supply chain efficiency and agility. In an era defined by rapid change and intense competition, automation is not just a luxury but a necessity for businesses seeking to thrive in the modern marketplace.