Micro Fulfillment Centers
As a partner of AutoStore, ALS StrongPoint offers hyper-efficient micro-fulfilment solutions.
All Online Grocery Orders Can Be Processed At World-class Levels of Efficiency.
Micro Fulfillment Centers (MFCs)
As an AutoStore partner, ALS StrongPoint offers hyper-efficient micro fulfillment solutions tailor-made for grocery retailers and other industries. By combining automated order picking with StrongPoint’s best-in-class manual order picking and last mile solutions, warehousing and
e-commerce can be executed at extraordinary levels of efficiency.
Hyper-Effiecient
MFC With A Frozen Zone
ALS StrongPoint is installing the world’s first AutoStore solution with an automated frozen zone. This saves hugely on energy and space and simplifies the picking workstream.
Background In Grocery Industry
Our background is in groceries which demands more complex solutions and integrations with last mile services.
Hyper-Efficient
Automated picking from Autostore is the fastest fulfilment solution per square foot.
Hyper Dense
The solution utilizes space optimally and has the highest storage density of any automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), making it ideal for small grocery stores and a variety of other space-restricted retailers.
What Is A Micro-Fulfillment Center?
A micro fulfilment center is a small-scale, often partially automated warehouse that can be placed in urban areas or even in the back of large stores. It is generally a smaller version of large customer fulfilment centers (CFC), which are typically placed in rural areas due to cost and space requirements.
An Automated Goods-To-Man Picking System Is Often Part Of An MFC.
The key reason to invest in an MFC is usually to be able to deliver more online orders to customers faster. Thereby reducing the labor hours and cost needed to fulfill an order.
AutoStore has the world’s densest automated picking solution for MFCs, allowing for the highest utlization of space possible. AutoStore’s automated picking system, together with StrongPoint’s software and set-up, allows for the items of an order to be picked automatically and incredibly fast.
Do you need to fit more items in your warehouse and have them automatically picked at incredible efficiency? Then an AutoStore MFC in cooperation with StrongPoint is something for you.
We Are Building The World’s First AutoStore Solution With A Frozen Food Zone!
ALS StrongPoint has been chosen to design and install the world’s first AutoStore solution purpose built for groceries with three temperature zones: ambient, chilled and now, frozen. This is based on AutoStore’s new solution to automate the storage and retrieval of frozen items.
How Does It Work?
Grocery retailers and wholesalers have often used manual picking for frozen items when automating their e-grocery fulfilment services.
Now grocery retailers can automate with AutoStore at all three temperature zones, boosting efficiency and significantly decreasing energy bills. In this world’s first installation, energy costs are expected to be reduced by more than 30%.
The First Grocery-Focused AutoStore Partner
ALS StrongPoint is the only grocery-focused AutoStore partner and is uniquely situated to maximize the potential for grocery retailers and wholesalers with our experience in the sector. How to set up the warehouse space, handle items of different temperature zones, integrate with seamless last mile options and combine with manual picking for some items are all part of our expertise areas. StrongPoint can ensure the operational speed in the entire process.
Last Mile Integration
ALS StrongPoint has the market’s most complete last mile solution portfolio, handling both all forms of click & collect and home delivery. Want to deliver products directly from the warehouse to the customer? We can integrate seamlessly the most efficient solutions in the market.
Energy Conserving
The robots used in the MFC requires extremely little energy. In fact, 10 robots use the same amount of energy as 1 vacuum cleaner. Smart innovations and avoiding unnecessary drains on energy consumption, such as light and heating, are key. With the new integrated frozen section, approximiately 30% of energy costs associated with frozen goods is reduced.
Consultancy Regarding Drawing The Entire Storage Plan And Operation
Profit from our experience! We can help plan how the storage facility could look like and where and how each part of the process can be executed for optimal efficiency. Having the full process in mind is what really separates us from the rest.
Smooth System Integration
The solution has been connected to hundreds of different warehouse management systems around the world with ready-made APIs.
Integration With Last Mile And Picking Non-Automated Items.
ALS StrongPoint’s automation offer can help boost the overall efficiency of an e-grocery solution beyond automation, and it can be tailored for non-food e-commerce too.
The Grid
When it comes to groceries, many SKUs are simply not appropriate for automation. From fast-movers to certain bulky items, it makes more sense to pick these manually.
And you still need to get those orders out of the warehouse door, fast. Perishable items need hyper-efficient last mile integration, from home delivery to click & collect. Many other e-commerce consumer goods, from home wares to clothing and books, also demand rapid fulfilment. We’ve got you covered there.
With ALS StrongPoint you get single-provider access to the world’s most efficient manual order-picking solutions and fully seamless integration into our multiple last mile options, from grocery lockers, quick-commerce pickup or home delivery, covering a range of goods and types.
One-stop-shop for all your e-grocery needs, from manual to automated to last mile.
The Parts That Make The Magic
There are a few parts that are essential for a productive and hyper-efficient micro-fulfilment. Here is a closer look at the specific components.
The Grid
The aluminum grid is what holds everything together. This is the infrastructure for bin placement and the rails which the robots use to maneuver around and find the rights bins with the right products. The size and shape of the grid is restricted only by the warehouse itself and can expand in all directions.
The Bins
The bins are the containers for your products. The bins used in our solution are a strong construction made from a durable material. With gentle robot handling they can last an unbelievable long time. Every bin is marked with a unique number that is stored in a database and printed on the label of the bin. The bins are available in different heights and materials, you can even divide a bin into different compartments in order to store different products in the same bin.
The Robots
The robots are the actual workers of the system. They race back and forth along the grid and collects the products you need. They work around the clock and are charged automatically every time they brake or lower a bin.
When more charging is necessay, the robots to this themselves at the right time to avoid excessive charging. This results in a healthy battery and the robots have been working tirelessly for over 15 years. The robots diagnose themselves every second and will report the smallest inconsistency of their data. Should a robot get called to the service mezzanine, it will automatically be replaced by another robot.
The Manual Picking
When automating a micro fulfilment center for groceries, you are bound to meet some obstacles, such as for certain products that need to be picked manually: oversized items and some fruits and vegetables. These often account for a significant part of an online order. Fortunately, this part of the fulfillment process can be optimized using StrongPoint’s Order Picking solution, which has been purpose-built for maximizing the efficiency of manual picking.
The Workstations
The workstations is the area where users receive the products from the MFC. The workstation could either be one simple conveyor port, a carousel port, a swing port or be a modular workstation.
The workstations are designed to be as easy as possible to use, while being ergonomically adapted with the highest user safety. Smart covering and sensors keep the operation safe for both your products and staff, as the movement and technical solution have been optimized through millions of tests. Both at AutoStore Labs and live installations.
The Controller
The controller is the command center of the micro fulfillment center. It controls the traffic, plans and schedules tasks, logs robots and bin positions, provides access control to service personnel and much more. Perhaps most importantly, the controller is in charge of directing the movement of the robots and is continously calculating the smartest way to work.
Integrations, Support And Analytics
At this point you might be wondering how this solution connects to your existing solutions and IT infrastructure. After all, the systems need to speak together. Fortunately, we have made that as easy as possible.
Standard APIs For Integration
The solution software can be integrated to your existing e-commerce, ERP or other system you would like. That is done through ready-made API’s provided by StrongPoint. We will further assist with anything you need for the smoothest operation possible.
Customer Support
At the IT department, you don’t want to spend unnecessary time troubleshooting in the rare cases that something doesn’t work properly. With StrongPoint, you can get around the clock customer support to save you time and unnecessary headache.
Dashboard And Analytics
Once the solutions is installed you naturally want to keep track of it as well. StrongPoint’s software runs on a cloud-based solution and the back-office is accessed through a web interface. Here you will be able to see the efficiency, number of orders processed and more.
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