DHL launches software platform for implementing warehouse robots

Blue Yonder (formerly called JDA Software) and DHL Supply Chain have developed the platform built on Microsoft Azure. The first implementation at DHL warehouse in Madrid has reduced integration time by 60%. The ‘plug & play’ platform gives DHL’s customers greater flexibility in selecting and integrating different robotics vendors into a single solution. The platform also significantly reduces programming efforts to on-board new automation devices into warehouse facilities.

Markus Voss, Global CIO and COO at DHL Supply Chain said: “We have more than 2,000 operational sites across DHL Supply Chain, so we know how complex, time-consuming and costly it can be to integrate new robots into existing platforms and connect to our clients’ various warehouse management systems. This is exactly where the new platform is so effective. Our first implementation on the new platform with 6 River Systems at one of our Madrid sites is already showing a 60% reduction in integration times, but with subsequent deployments we foresee further improvements of up to 90%.”

The move comes after a significant investment in robotics from DHL earlier in the year. DHL signed a deal in March with provider Locus Robotics to deploy 1,000 robots from the company. Locus Robotics and Blue Yonder (then called JDA Software) signed a fulfilment partnership in 2019.