Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs): Flexible automation for scalable order fulfillment and product transport
As e-commerce growth accelerates, so do expectations for faster, more accurate delivery. The challenge? Scaling operations for future growth within existing facility layouts while optimizing labor resources. To meet this challenge, retailers must look to intelligent automated solutions like AMRs to provide the flexible and scalable technology necessary to grow their operations.
AMRs are industrial robots that lift and transport materials within your facility without relying on fixed infrastructure. They reliably navigate throughout the workspace by reading QR codes on the facility floor, responding to changing traffic conditions and adapting accordingly. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanners mounted on the AMRs allow them to sense and avoid obstructions.
Typical applications and uses of AMRs
AMRs provide flexible automation for a wide range of applications across various industries that can be implemented based on customer needs. Dematic features two types of AMR solutions:
- Goods-to-Person Fulfillment: AMRs transport inventory to and from workstations to support good-to-person picking operations, reducing picker travel and accelerating order cycle times. These AMRs carry either bins or shelves.
- Point-to-Point Transport: AMRs transport materials between different areas within warehouses or distribution centers, improving efficiency and reducing labor costs. These AMRs transport materials in totes or on pallets.
Key benefits of AMRs in supply chain automation
Supply chain automation solutions that feature AMRs come with several advantages:
Increased flexibility
AMR solutions scale up or scale down operations as needed to accommodate changes, growth, or processes. They do not require fixed routes, so they adjust quickly to new layouts.
Improved order fulfillment cycle times
Real-time optimization of labor and automation ensures faster, more efficient workflows so operations can adjust quickly to changing demands.
Built-in safety
LiDAR technology on each AMR detects and avoids obstructions. AMRs are certified to meet health, safety, and environmental standards to share workspaces safely with people.
Software-defined agility
Software provides real-time route optimization, workload balancing, and faster decision-making.
Labor resource versatility
AMRs perform repetitive tasks so limited labor resources can be applied to value-added tasks.
Faster go-live/faster ROI
Implementing an AMR solution is minimally disruptive to an operation, requiring less time and effort than traditional automated solutions. Operating and maintaining AMR solutions costs less to operate and maintain than using manual fork trucks.
In addition, when considering the features and benefits of an AMR solution, it's vitally important to choose a trusted partner with the depth of experience and resources to design, deliver, and support your flexible automation operation.
Types of Dematic AMRs
Goods-to-Person AMRs
Goods-to-Person AMRs automate the retrieval and transport of goods directly to workstations where workers can quickly pick items as part of an order fulfillment. This contrasts with traditional systems where workers travel to pick items from shelves or storage locations.
What are Bin-to-Picker AMRs?
Bin-to-Picker AMRs automatically lift and transport product SKUs in totes to and from workstations. They are a key part of a flexible and cost-effective goods-to-person process that efficiently handles order fulfillment operations and can scale quickly to meet rapid changes in business needs and customer demand.
Key features and benefits of Bin-to-Picker AMR solutions
- Reduced Order Fulfillment Cycle Times: Real-time data supports an on-demand approach that continuously balances workflows for the most efficient mix of labor and automation.
- Increased Operational Efficiencies: Adapts to changing operational needs to support highly efficient order fulfillment, maximizing use of resources and providing clear visibility into operations.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: Accelerates order processing and quickly adapts to changing priorities to provide the speed and flexibility necessary to meet consumer expectations for order delivery.
Applications and use cases of Bin-to-Picker AMR solutions
- Decanting: When inventory is received into a facility, Bin-to-Picker AMRs automatically moves totes from decanting workstations to storage.
- Storage and Retrieval: When inventory needs to be stored or retrieved, Bin-to-Picker AMRs equipped with masts automatically place totes into storage racking or take them from storage racking.
- Picking/Outbound: When inventory needs to be brought to picking workstations, Bin-to-Picker AMRs brings totes to the workstations so workers can pick the required number of SKUs into outbound packages.
What are Shelf-to-Picker AMRs?
Shelf-to-Picker AMRs automatically lift and transport entire shevling racks containing mulitple SKUs and delivers them to picking workstations where workers can assemble orders. These AMRs are particularly beneficial in environments such as warehouses and fulfillment centers where efficiency and speed are crucial for order fulfillment.
Key features and benefits of Shelf-to-Picker AMR solutions
- Order Fulfillment Efficiency: Automates inventory retrieval by transporting inventory to workstations—this increases throughput, ensures high inventory accuracy, and eliminates the need for workers to travel throughout their facility to find items.
- Modular Design: Adapts easily to a variety of warehouse layouts and workflows with customizable attachments and flexible configurations to meet changing operational needs.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: Reduces cycle times and quickly adapts to changing priorities to provide the speed and flexibility necessary to meet consumer expectations for order delivery.
Applications and use cases of Shelf-to-Picker AMR solutions
- Storage and Retrieval: When inventory is to be stored or retrieved, Shelf-to-Picker AMRs navigate the inventory area to retrieve or return shelving racks, streamlining access to SKUs and reducing manual handling.
- Order Picking and Packing: Shelf-to-Picker AMRs transport inventory to packing stations, significantly speeding up the order fulfillment process. They can handle multiple orders simultaneously, optimizing efficiency.
- Restocking and Replenishment: Shelf-to-Picker AMRs replenish inventory by transporting returned or restocked items back to storage locations, which helps maintain an efficient inventory flow.
What are Pallet-to-Picker AMRs?
Pallet-to-Picker AMRs automate the movement of full or partial pallets from storage areas to picking zones, delivering palletized goods directly to ergonomic picking stations. These AMRs are ideal for high-volume fulfillment centers and operations handling bulky or heavy items.
Key features and benefits of Pallet-to-Picker AMR solutions
- Streamlined Fulfillment Workflows: Delivers palletized goods directly to picking zones, reducing congestion, manual handling, and reliance on additional equipment.
- High Throughput: Provides efficient picking of bulk goods or layered cases with minimal travel, improving cycle times and pick rates.
- Worker Safety and Ergonomics: Reduces need for forklifts and physical handling of heavy loads, improving safety and reducing risk of injury.
Applications and use cases of Pallet-to-Picker AMR solutions
- Pallet Staging for High-Volume Picking: Pallet-to-Picker AMRs position pallets of fast-moving SKUs near picking zones to support rapid order assembly.
- Zone-Based Fulfillment: Pallet-to-Picker AMRs transport pallets between distinct picking zones based on order profiles to optimize material flow.
- Batch Picking Enablement: Pallet-to-Picker AMRs deliver full or partial pallets to support multiple order picks simultaneously, typically for B2B (business-to-business) or wholesale operations.
EBook
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AMR Transport
AMR Transport moves materials within environments such as warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers. Unlike traditional material handling solutions, these AMRs do not rely on fixed paths or predefined routes. Instead, they use advanced navigation technology to operate autonomously and navigate around obstacles in real time.
What is AMR Tote Transport?
AMR Tote Transport automatically moves totes, containers, or bins within various operational environments, such as warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. They autonomously navigate predefined paths or adapt to changing environments, helping streamline the movement of goods, materials, and inventories.
Key features and benefits of AMR Tote Transport solutions
- Increased Operational Efficiency: Significantly improve the speed and productivity of material handling operations, increasing overall throughput by operating without breaks.
- Enhanced Accuracy: Minimize manual touchpoints to reduce the likelihood of human errors in material handling and order fulfillment, which results in improved inventory accuracy.
- Improved Workplace Safety: Handle heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, which can reduce the physical strain on workers and instances of workplace injuries. Obstacle detection and collision avoidance provide safe operation around people and equipment.
Applications and use cases of AMR Tote Transport solutions
- Inbound Logistics: AMR Tote Transport moves incoming totes from receiving docks to storage locations, reducing manual handling and improving the speed of inventory management.
- Sorting and Staging: In distribution centers, AMR Tote Transport moves totes from one area to another based on sorting requirements, ensuring that items are organized efficiently for shipping.
- Work-in-Progress (WIP) Management: In manufacturing facilities, AMR Tote Transport moves WIP totes between various stages of production, helping maintain an organized workflow and eliminating bottlenecks
What is AMR Pallet Transport?
AMR Pallet Transport automatically moves pallets within warehouses, distribution centers, factories, and other storage facilities. They are part of the broader category of automated material handling systems aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and productivity in supply chain operations.
Key features and benefits of AMR Pallet Transport solutions
- Smarter Material Flow: Optimize pallet movement for tasks like replenishment, put-away, and cross-docking — ensure just-in-time delivery across the facility to reduce process delays.
- Increased Operational Efficiency: Provide greater efficiency by automating split-case and full-case order fulfillment, optimizing material flows to meet operational demands.
- Enhanced Accuracy: Minimize manual touchpoints to reduce the likelihood of human errors in material handling, which results in improved inventory accuracy.
- Improved Workplace Safety: Handle heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, which can reduce workplace injuries. Obstacle detection and collision avoidance provide safe operation around people and equipment.
Applications and use cases of AMR Pallet Transport solutions
- Pallet Transportation: AMR Pallet Transport autonomously moves palletized goods within warehouses, optimizing workflows by taking items from receiving docks to storage areas or from storage to shipping zones.
- Picking Support: AMR Pallet Transport assists picking operations by delivering pallets with required items to designated picking locations, reducing travel time for manually operated processes.
- Cross-Docking: AMR Pallet Transport supports cross-docking operations by ensuring that incoming goods are quickly moved to outgoing transportation areas without lengthy storage times.
Compare AMR solutions
| Bin-to-Picker AMR | Shelf-to-Picker AMR | Pallet-to-Picker AMR | AMR Transport | |
| Facility Fit/Infrastructure Requirements |
|
Flexible solution that adapts to a variety of facility layouts without major modifications |
|
|
| Optimal Use Case | High-throughput picking of small, fast-moving items in totes or bins | Medium-volume operations requiring access to full shelves or racks | High-volume picking from full pallets — ideal for bulky or heavy items | Efficient transport of pallets, cases, or goods between zones or processes without picking |
| Automation Level | Automated: AMRs deliver totes/bins to static pick workstations |
Semi-automated: AMRs deliver mobile shelving to workers |
Semi-automated: AMRs deliver pallets to pick zones, workers pick from pallet |
Automated: AMRs move goods independently between points without interaction with people |
| Order Volume | High: Frequent, small SKU orders |
Medium to high: Ideal for batch or wave picking |
High: Consistent movement of palletized SKUs |
Various: Scalable for continuous or batch transport needs |
| SKU Variety | High Well-suited for e-commerce or retail assortments |
Moderate to high Shelves can store many SKU types |
Moderate Typically one SKU per pallet, but supports pick-from-mixed pallet |
Not a direct factor Transports goods or pallets regardless of SKU |
| Worker Travel Time | Greatly reduced Goods come directly to picker |
Reduced Workers remain at workstations while shelves are brought to them |
Reduced Pallets delivered to workers to minimize travel to racking |
Eliminated Workers freed for higher-value activities |
| Storage Flexibility | High Supports dynamic storage with compact tote/bin arrangements |
High Mobile shelving is configurable and re-deployable |
Medium Requires pallet staging zones, with layout planning for AMR navigation |
High AMRs can navigate multiple paths and adjust routes as needed |
| Speed & Efficiency | Very high Continuous delivery of bins enables rapid picking cycles |
Moderate to high Depends on shelf size, robot traffic, and picker performance |
High Allows high throughput when matched to ergonomic picking setups and intelligent routing |
High Transport throughput optimizes material flow across warehouse zones |
Why you should choose Dematic AMR solutions
Dematic is a trusted partner with deep experience in advanced robotics, warehouse systems, and intelligent software. Dematic’s end-to-end approach optimizes workflows and maximizes operational agility.
Dematic AMR solutions specifically reduce costs, boost efficiency, and pave the way for a smarter future.
Dematic is a trusted partner throughout the entire process, from developing a strategy through implementation and operation. Dematic provides solutions that meet your specific challenges, combining standardized sub-systems with deep industry knowledge to deliver integrated hardware, intelligent software, and end-to-end services.
Dematic works with you at every step to grow your business, win customer loyalty, and deliver at speed and scale worldwide.