AtomBeam surpasses $1.3M in investments on StartEngine
AtomBeam Technologies Inc., whose game-changing product has the potential to revolutionize how data is sent and stored, announces today that it has raised $1.3M in its current crowdfunding campaign AtomBeam, whose compaction product massively drives efficiency in data transmission and storage, has announced that it has raised $1.3 million in its current crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the company and its growing investor community. “We are thrilled to see the continued support of our investors, who recognize the potential of AtomBeam’s technology to revolutionize how virtually every machine talks to another machine,” said Charles Yeomans, CEO of AtomBeam. “This successful raise brings us one step closer to achieving our engineering goals and driving adoption of our technology.” AtomBeam’s Compaction is poised to disrupt how connected machines, the Internet of Things, communicate. With its ability to reduce the amount of data that needs to be transmitted by an average of 75%, AtomBeam’s technology offers significant cost and efficiency benefits to businesses and consumers alike. “Imagine your phone could send and receive data four times faster just with a software upgrade,” Mr. Yeomans said. “Compaction does that by squeezing out all the inefficiencies in data transmission, and it does it so fast all you experience is, ‘Wow!’” AtomBeam invites investors to join its growing community on StartEngine and be a part of the company’s exciting journey. The company is committed to developing cutting-edge solutions that solve real-world problems and create meaningful impact. Investors interested in learning more about AtomBeam and its innovative technology can visit the crowdfunding campaign page at https://www.startengine.com/offering/atombeam.
Episode 376: Meter delivers fast, secure, and reliable Wi-Fi for warehouses
Anil Varanasi, CEO and Co-Founder at Meter, joins The New Warehouse to discuss fast, secure, and reliable wireless connectivity for industrial spaces. Meter makes it easy for warehouses, 3PLs, and distribution centers to come online with internet networking Wi-Fi. With Meter, warehouses can be up and running in weeks, all while saving CapEx and Opex in the process. If you need to get your warehouse connected or improve your existing services, this is an episode you do not want to miss. Meter: Making Internet Networking for Warehouses Easy and Cost-Effective Setting up an internet network can be challenging and expensive when opening a new fulfillment center, distribution center, or warehouse. Companies must choose an ISP, decide on the hardware, and determine who will install and maintain it. This process can take months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Meter offers a complete package for internet networking in warehouses. With their expertise in hardware operating systems, Meter ensures fast, secure, and reliable connections for bandwidth-intensive operations that demand low-latency connections. Their unique pricing model charges only a fixed monthly fee for ISPs, hardware installation & maintenance, cabling, and testing without any upfront costs. With Meter, warehouse companies can easily manage their internet networking, Wi-Fi, and other systems in new locations without the headache of building out a networking team everywhere. Their approach to internet networking follows the same concept as cloud services like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud – pay for what you use without building a big team. All companies need to do is provide Meter with an address and a floor plan, and they will handle everything from there. Meter’s software and teams manage everything for the companies, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum uptime for all their networking needs. They partner with all major ISPs and ensure the proper connections come in from primary and backup pipes. They build all the racks for routing and switching and install all the hardware needed for great Wi-Fi throughout the space. Moreover, Meter’s approach to redundancy is unique in the industry. With additional redundancy built into the system and leveraging insights from data centers, proactively preventing hardware failure and total capacity usage is accounted for from day one. Save Time and Remove Burden from IT Teams with Meter’s Expertise Setting up internet networking for a new warehouse or distribution center traditionally takes months and requires considerable time and resources from IT teams. With companies asking more of IT teams and the complexity increasing in multi-location warehouse companies, this burden on IT departments is becoming significant. Meter solves this problem by offering quick and hassle-free installations, saving companies valuable time and resources. For Meter, speed is critical, and they can install the hardware and software in weeks instead of months, allowing their clients to be productive and profitable as soon as possible. The primary reason for their fast installation is their software and hardware operating systems expertise. With their software, they can design networks, deploy networks, and procure ISP connections faster, taking the burden off the IT departments. Secondly, Meter operates at scale. They have deployed millions of square feet with millions of customers, allowing them to do this repeatedly every day, week, and month. Their installations are repeatable, and they have built-out processes and repeatable runbooks to get out any edge cases, allowing for a smoother installation process. Lastly, Meter’s relationships with ISPs are essential to its success. They purchase extensive connections, enabling them to have the right relationships when push comes to shove. This ability to craft the right relationships ensures they can deliver on their promise of fast and reliable installations. Connectivity in Warehouses Today: How Meter Ensures Redundancy, ROI, and Uptime Connectivity is crucial in today’s warehouses, particularly with the growing adoption of automation and robotics. Investing in new technologies such as WMS systems, pick-and-place robotics, sensors, printers, and drones can improve productivity and ultimately lead to a better warehouse ROI. However, these services require reliable, secure, and fast connectivity to work correctly. Meter understands the critical role connectivity plays in warehouse operations and takes an approach that prioritizes redundancy to ensure maximum uptime and optimal connectivity. The company installs more hardware than is typically required to plan for full capacity from day one. Their hardware has LTE built-in, which means there is redundancy within the system even if the primary or secondary connections fail. Meter also designs its systems to prevent hardware failure, drawing insights from data centers and implementing redundancy to ensure that one piece of hardware doesn’t bring down the entire network or cause disruptions. Moreover, they make choices based on their customers’ best interests by ensuring that even if the internet goes down, their production does not stop. Key Takeaways Meter offers solutions for warehousing, logistics, and distribution centers to reduce CapEx and Opex related to networking with cost-effective solutions. Customers benefit from reduced costs and minimal downtime due to Meter’s unique pricing model that charges based on the size of the space. As the warehouse industry progresses, robotics, automation, logistics, and fully automated companies are investing in Wi-Fi over other connectivity options. They understand that Wi-Fi connectivity within the warehouse provides greater reliability and efficiency than bringing signals from the outside. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 376: Meter Delivers Fast, Secure, and Reliable Wi-Fi for Warehouses
New Director of Product & Engineering to lead global shop solutions into the future
Success in the highly-competitive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software market requires continual development of new tools and technology advancements that simplify manufacturing. Global Shop Solutions, a solutions provider in ERP software for manufacturers around the globe, is proud to announce the promotion of Trent Maynard to Director of Product & Engineering. “Our primary focus at Global Shop Solutions has always been to simplify manufacturing for our customers,” says Dusty Alexander, President & CEO. “From Trent’s first day with us, he demonstrated a relentless attitude for finding new product advancements and technology to make our customers’ lives easier. That’s exactly the kind of person I want leading our product into the future.” Maynard began his career in the manufacturing industry working for a company that was a customer of Global Shop Solutions ERP software. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a position at Global Shop Solutions providing software implementation and training for new and existing customers. He then transitioned to an operations and technical consultant and business analyst, where he designed and created tailored solutions for existing and potential customer challenges. Prior to this promotion, Maynard served as an R&D Manager and created some of Global Shop Solutions most impactful product advancements in terms of meeting customer needs and positioning the company for new growth. “My focus has been three-fold,” says Maynard. “Number one: hired and retained a team with some of our smartest people to position our ERP product as a technical leader in the industry. Number two: organized our base code to make our product run tighter, faster, and more efficiently, while also enabling customers to implement customizations without having to change the underlying code. Number three: simplified the process for customers to upgrade to new versions.” Serving Internal and External Customers As Director of Product & Engineering, Maynard wants to make sure Global Shop Solutions creates an ERP product their customers love to use because it helps them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. He also wants to attract new customers by offering a better product than they’re currently using. “Ultimately, it’s all about making sure our product ticks all the boxes for our customers,” says Maynard. “Often they don’t know what is possible, so we have to listen and understand what they’re trying to accomplish and then figure out how the software can solve their pain points. We also want to build a product that appeals to our employees, that our engineers can enjoy working on and be proud of and that attracts top talent to Global Shop Solutions.” Full Speed Ahead to the Future One shift popular for ERP software is the ability to integrate with outside software and technologies. Maynard’s responsibilities will include implementing artificial intelligence (AI) testing tools and best practices and modernizing Global Shop Solutions’ software interfaces and tech stack. “How we build our tech stack has significant implications for what happens downstream with our customers, and I can’t think of a better person to lead the way than Trent,” says Alexander. Mike Melzer, VP of Operations & Service at Global Shop Solutions, agrees. “It’s rare to find someone so talented in the technical field who also has extensive shop experience,” he says. “The one thing we’ve been really good about doing as a company is listening when our customers give us ideas on where we can get better. Trent is open to listening and then guiding the ship where we need to go. I trust his knowledge and experience, and his background gives us a huge advantage in our marketplace as our company continues to move forward.”
Seeq announces the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager
The new solution enables sustainability teams to leverage advanced analytics to accelerate organizational efforts to record, report and reduce emissions Seeq Corporation, a provider of manufacturing and industrial Internet of Things advanced analytics software, has announced the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager. The solution enables sustainability teams to extend the power of Microsoft Sustainability Manager, a Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability solution, to integrate time series process data preparation, analysis, and continuous improvement, reducing the environmental impact of process industry operations. Analyzing time series data from equipment sensors is critical for measuring sustainability impact at process manufacturing companies. Microsoft Sustainability Manager enables these organizations to unify their data to record, report and reduce their environmental impact. By leveraging the new Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager, these organizations can extend this experience by radically decreasing data connectivity, preparation, and analytics efforts. With the solution, the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability data model is incorporated into the Seeq workflow for consistency of emissions data. Process experts leverage Seeq’s live data connectivity and auditable data cleansing and contextualization capabilities to enrich their time series emissions data, reducing manual data preparation time by up to 80 percent. Sustainability teams can seamlessly access this contextualized data within Microsoft Sustainability Manager to track direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions for reports and to set and track accurate emissions reduction goals. “As a Microsoft Partner, Seeq is committed to help our shared customers navigate their infrastructure and data challenges to achieve measurable sustainability gains,” says Megan Buntain, VP of Cloud Transformation at Seeq. “The Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager is the latest of our solutions built on the Seeq platform to make time series data insights available to all stakeholders for improved outcomes in process manufacturing.” In addition to providing access to the operational data for the corporate sustainability teams, Seeq solution empowers subject matter experts to identify root causes of issues and opportunities for optimization on an asset operations level. These insights provide continuous-improvement feedback as reports and system-wide emissions views are assembled and utilized by corporate teams in Microsoft Sustainability Manager. Real-time collaboration capabilities within Seeq enable asset operations teams to streamline communications with the broader organization, improving cross-functional awareness and emissions management. “Seeq adds value to our mutual customers by integrating their solutions with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability,” says Dominik Wee, CVP, of Manufacturing and Mobility Industry, Microsoft. “The Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager addresses a variety of pain points related to emissions’ data availability recording, reporting, and reduction and enables customers to accelerate the success of their sustainability initiatives.” Within the Microsoft booth at Hannover Messe in Hall 17 Stand G06 from April 17-21, the Seeq team will showcase the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager and demonstrate how to process manufacturers can leverage Seeq in the Microsoft Cloud to uncover insights to achieve sustainability and reliability goals. Seeq has been available as a SaaS application in the Azure Marketplace since 2019, with support for many Azure cloud services including Synapse, Azure Data Lake, and Active Directory. Seeq also supports connectivity to Azure Data Explorer, Time Series Insights, and Power BI.
Toshiba promotes Steven Sauer to Chief Revenue Officer
Toshiba America Business Solutions has promoted its president of Toshiba Business Solutions Steven Sauer to the role of Chief Revenue Officer. The 28-year industry veteran and 19-year Toshiba executive is now primarily responsible for increasing the company’s revenue and profitability via its United States direct and indirect sales channels. With a background in corporate banking, Sauer began his career in the industry as the chief operating officer of Business Methods, Inc., a reseller of multifunction printers, commercial audio-visual systems, and IT solutions in Rochester, N.Y. He soon after became president and owner, during which time he more than doubled revenues to $30 million and grew the business to a highly profitable and reputable local dealership. Upon selling the business to Toshiba in 2004, Sauer became president of TBS New York. Sauer has held a variety of sales positions regionally and nationally at Toshiba. For the past three years, Sauer oversaw sales, professional services, and operational management of TBS’ four regions with nearly 100 locations across the United States. In this role, he successfully navigated Toshiba’s direct sales channel through the pandemic while also dramatically increasing the company’s managed print as a service, software solutions, and major account businesses. “Steven’s impact spanning his time with us at Toshiba is immeasurable,” states Toshiba America Business Solutions President and Chief Executive Officer Larry White. “Steven brought the best practices he learned as a dealer to our own offices and business. He and his teams consistently expanded our sales operations while elevating our profitability. I’m thrilled by the greater impact he can make since he understands how to drive success both at the independent dealer level and at the national level.” “Truly looking forward to engaging with our entire reseller community while ultimately providing Toshiba’s clients with premium technology that enables them to operate as efficiently as possible,” says Sauer. “I’m here to collaboratively lead our sales organizations while providing the best possible support to these teams.” Toshiba’s newly minted CRO has received recognition as a Rochester, New York Chamber of Commerce ‘Small Businessperson of the Year,’ Rochester Business Journal Forty Under 40 recipient, Mental Health Association of Rochester/Monroe County ‘Volunteer of the Year,’ and ENX Magazine Difference Maker. Sauer is also highly involved in elevating Rochester by serving on the community board of Genesee Regional Bank. He has additionally served as vice chairman of Unity Health System, president of the Mental Health Association of Rochester/Monroe County, chairperson of the Young Entrepreneur Organization, and spent a decade coaching a Rochester youth hockey team. Sauer holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Education Owner/President Management Program.
Episode 373: SnapFulfil at ProMat 2023
Brian Kirst, Chief Customer Officer, and Smitha Raphael, Chief Product and Delivery Officer at SnapFulfil join The New Warehouse to discuss their product and an exciting new solution called SnapControl. SnapFulfil is a cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS) that provides an all-in-one package for customers worldwide. The service caters to three main categories of clients— third-party logistics providers (3PLs), business-to-business (B2B) clients, and e-commerce clients—across various industries. Be sure to tune in to this episode to learn more about SnapFulfil’s innovative technology, their efforts in the ProMat conference this year, and how they are helping customers save time and money with their software. SnapFulfil Provides Flexible and Scalable Warehouse Management Smitha and Brian believe SnapFulfil’s speed, flexibility, and scalability make it a standout platform for businesses looking to improve their warehouse management capabilities. The platform can be configured and implemented in just 45 to 70 days. This is particularly valuable for businesses with multiple sites, as they can roll out the system at their own pace. Brian adds the systems can accommodate small warehouses with just a few users and large multi-site implementations with hundreds of users. From SnapFulfil Customer to Chief Customer Officer Brian brings a unique perspective to SnapFulfil, as he was a customer for eight years before joining the team. As a customer, he co-founded two successful third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and relied heavily on SnapFulfil to scale their operations efficiently. He shares some impressive results using the product, and his experience as a customer reinforces SnapFulfil’s value proposition and capacity to drive growth for businesses across various industries. SnapControl Provides Speed and Control for Automation Resources Brian and Smitha share an exciting new product from SnapFulfil called SnapControl. SnapControl is a multi-agent orchestration layer embedded within SnapFulfil to control all the automation resources within the warehouse environment. This automation-agnostic solution can integrate with AMRs, sortation, carton-making machines, and more. SnapControl has enabled smaller and mid-size companies to automate their operations on a shorter timeline. Key Takeaways SnapControl by SnapFulfil removes a barrier of entry for smaller or mid-sized companies looking to automate their warehouse management systems by integrating with automation resources. Smitha recommends before adopting automation, companies should understand their operation and associated pain points; implement automation in stages rather than all at once; be aware of vendor & WMS flexibility and customizability; and consider how automation might affect product sizes/profiles. One differentiator for Snapfulfil is speed to value, with implementation in 45-70 days. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 373: SnapFulfil at ProMat 2023
Synergy launches SnapControl – the future of warehouse automation connectivity
The experts behind leading-edge cloud-based WMS software, SnapFulfil, have unveiled a breakthrough tech solution that orchestrates all automation devices and robotic systems within the warehouse from one centralized and convenient platform. As a multiagent, rather than just a point solution, SnapControl brings a more uniform approach to automation, which also makes this pioneering orchestration platform completely device and technology agnostic. Synergy has successfully delivered the solution in an expanding customer DC, featuring AMRs and automated packaging systems, where SnapControl was deployed in just weeks, without major software upheavals. This deployment is the first of many as more businesses explore the need for many different types of automation in their warehouses. Rich Pirrotta, Group CEO said: “As businesses adopt new technologies and automation to mitigate labor challenges and make warehouses more efficient and productive, the ability to rapidly integrate and operate these investments is critical. Synergy is one of the very few WMS providers with an integrated, holistic, and high-value solution that can be deployed quickly, cost-effectively, and with minimum disruption.” SnapControl orchestrates the prioritization of work, automatically allocates tasks and workflows, evaluates which robotic devices best match specific operations, and enables data capture to assess the value each device yields – all with a low total cost of ownership and rapid time to value. Equally, it connects to all types of devices, including RF, AMRs, Conveyors, Palletizers, Putwalls, ASRS, etc, plus in any possible transport method (API, CSV, etc,) – and if one type stops working, you can switch over to another device quickly and in real-time. SnapControl uniquely promotes bi-directional MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) messaging and conversational decision-making between the WMS and remote warehouse devices, which typically have a small code footprint and minimal network bandwidth. “In other words, SnapControl speaks to the devices, and the devices talk back, enabling the most efficient warehouse decisions to be made automatically,” explained Pirrotta. Consequently, it’s the ideal solution for a mixed portfolio and multiple vendors offering both AMRs and other autonomous/manual systems, plus it works hand in hand with SnapFulfil and any other incumbent WMS, OMS, or e-commerce front-end system – both in the cloud or locally. This latest technological differentiator from Synergy facilitates a much more efficient and adaptable warehouse that accelerates integration and gives customers the freedom to choose automation and robotic devices that best fit specific operational needs and can futureproof the business and workforce needs. Additional benefits due to the power of SnapFulfil’s Tier 1 WMS rules engine functionality include the capacity to make adjustments for expiry dates and traceability, create buffers for delaying tasks and manage exceptions without downtime. Pirrotta concludes: “Single-point integrations prolong onboarding time, slow growth, and often operate within ineffective and separate silos. In today’s especially challenging times the ability to rapidly augment and orchestrate your technology investments, without unnecessary service fees, has never been more important. It’s now mission critical to harness control with 24/7 visibility from one centralized system.” To download a free handy guide explaining multiagent orchestration and its many benefits visit here.
ISS inks distribution deal with TD SYNNEX
ISS (Intelligent Security Systems), a global provider of video intelligence and data awareness solutions, announced today that it recently entered into a distribution partnership with TD SYNNEX, a global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. Under the terms of the agreement, TD SYNNEX will provide the full suite of ISS high-trust video analytics and associated intelligent hardware and software products to its extensive network of integrator customers across North America. “TD SYNNEX allows us to bring our solutions to segments of the market that previously haven’t had access to video intelligence-based products, such as AI, analytics, and automated decision management,” said Matt Powell, Managing Director for North America at ISS. “More than just a distributor, they will become an important part of the value chain in delivering our solutions to their clients, from hardware to service. We are excited to further develop the relationship with TD SYNNEX in North America.” Headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., and Fremont, Calif., TD SYNNEX has over 150,000 customers in more than 100 countries globally who depend on the company to connect them with products, services, and solutions from a vast ecosystem of best-in-class technology vendors. Founded in 1996 and based in Woodbridge, N.J., ISS is the pioneer and leading developer of high-trust, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video analytics with more than 30 patents and trademarks to its name. “ISS is proud to have partnered with TD SYNNEX in order to bring our high-trust video analytics to their partner ecosystem,” said Charles Vancheri, Associate Director of Distribution Partnerships for North America at ISS. “They will prove extremely valuable as they bring their leadership as a solutions aggregator to market in collaboration with the ISS offering. This partnership will facilitate continued growth for ISS in North America, effectively solving customer pain points, while providing world-class support. I could not be more excited to see where this collaboration takes us.” “TD SYNNEX is committed to uniting IT solutions that deliver business outcomes today and unlock growth for the future,” said Sandi Stambaugh, Senior Vice-President, Product Management, TD SYNNEX. “With ISS added to our portfolio of vendor partners, we’re able to bring a dedicated, high-trust AI solution that has the potential to make an impact across many industries, including our Smart City, healthcare, and manufacturing verticals.” This is already the fourth distribution agreement formally announced by ISS so far in 2023. In January, the company announced a partnership with Utilicom Supply Associates that will equip contractors across the southeastern U.S. with ISS solutions designed to address the needs of the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) market. Earlier this month, ISS also announced partnerships with The PSA Network and Computacenter.
Synergy launches SnapControl – the future of warehouse automation connectivity
The experts behind leading edge cloud-based WMS software, SnapFulfil, have unveiled a breakthrough tech solution that orchestrates all automation devices and robotic systems within the warehouse from one centralized and convenient platform. SnapControl brings a more uniform approach to automation, which also makes this pioneering orchestration platform completely device and technology agnostic. Synergy has successfully delivered the solution in an expanding customer DC, featuring AMRs and automated packaging systems, where SnapControl was deployed in just weeks, without major software upheavals. This deployment is the first of many as more businesses explore the need for many different types of automation in their warehouses. Rich Pirrotta, Group CEO said: “As businesses adopt new technologies and automation to mitigate labor challenges and make warehouses more efficient and productive, the ability to rapidly integrate and operate these investments is critical. Synergy is one of the very few WMS providers with an integrated, holistic and high-value solution that can be deployed quickly, cost-effectively and with minimum disruption.” SnapControl orchestrates the prioritization of work, automatically allocates tasks and workflows, evaluates which robotic devices best match specific operations, and enables data capture to assess the value each device yields – all with a low total cost of ownership and rapid time to value. Equally, it connects to all types of devices, including RF, AMRs, Conveyors, Palletizers, Putwalls, ASRS, etc, plus in any possible transport method (API, CSV, etc,) – and if one type stops working, you can switch over to another device quickly and in real-time. SnapControl uniquely promotes bi-directional MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) messaging and conversational decision-making between the WMS and remote warehouse devices, which typically have a small code footprint and minimal network bandwidth. “In other words, SnapControl speaks to the devices and the devices talk back, enabling the most efficient warehouse decisions to be made automatically,” explained Pirrotta. Consequently, it’s the ideal solution for mixed portfolios and multiple vendors offering both AMRs and other autonomous/manual systems, plus it works hand in hand with SnapFulfil and any other incumbent WMS, OMS or e-commerce front-end system – both in the cloud or locally. This latest technological differentiator from Synergy facilitates a much more efficient and adaptable warehouse that accelerates integration and gives customers the freedom to choose automation and robotic devices that best fit specific operational needs and can futureproof the business and workforce needs. Additional benefits due to the power of SnapFulfil’s Tier 1 WMS rules engine functionality include the capacity to make adjustments for expiry dates and traceability, create buffers for delaying tasks and manage exceptions without downtime. Pirrotta concludes: “Single-point integrations prolong onboarding time, slow growth and often operate within ineffective and separate silos. In today’s especially challenging times the ability to rapidly augment and orchestrate your technology investments, without unnecessary service fees, has never been more important. It’s now mission critical to harness control with 24/7 visibility from one centralized system.” To download a free handy guide explaining multiagent orchestration and its many benefits visit here.
Siemens creates new vertical market dedicated to Intralogistics in the U.S.
The Intralogistics segment will provide a holistic, systematic approach to materials handling Siemens recently announced the formation of the new Intralogistics vertical that brings best-in-class material handling thought leadership, hardware automation, software, and service solutions to customers in the United States. Siemens is leveraging its broad technology to address the market needs for digital transformation, cybersecurity, safety, and sustainability. This new group will operate both as a vertical industry group and a horizontal business operation. It will reside within the Siemens Digital Industries — Motion Control business and functions in tandem with the organization’s existing additive manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, food-and-beverage, and other industry verticals. Joel Thomas is the head of the Intralogistics vertical. Besides the management of the group, Thomas will also work closely with trade associations that serve the intralogistics industry and will foster programs at Siemens to educate the next generation of engineers, programmers, software developers, and plant operations personnel who will manage the warehouses of the future. This new group will serve machine builders and end-customers alike. For example, using the Siemens TIA Portal, a warehouse facility or postal clearing house will be able to integrate all its motion control hardware, software systems, and communications protocols, internal and external, as needed. Additionally, Siemens digital twin and simulation technologies allow a warehouse or manufacturing operation to test all the “what ifs” before taking action on a material handling challenge. Further, notes Joel Thomas, “The goal for all companies should be smart manufacturing and automated material flow, which is adaptable to changing market and technology conditions. This is especially challenging in older brownfield operations, where the legacy equipment might not handle the needs of the company, tomorrow or even today.” Predictive analytics and predictive maintenance will also be among the key drivers for the Siemens Intralogistics business, as it strives to offer users the needed system components to maximize productivity and gather the data needed to monitor and maintain the operation. The biggest challenge for this new group, according to Thomas, is to identify and bring the necessary skills and solutions to the resident knowledge base for each customer. He notes this varies considerably based on each company’s size and onboard skill sets. Thomas also comments on how sustainability, which involves energy consumption and the ability to anticipate what equipment and software will be needed in the future to keep the plant running at maximum efficiency, will be a critical factor in the service package provided to customers. Lastly, with the use of this digital-to-real-world technology, the Intralogistics business will help companies achieve a more productive eco-system and, with various Siemens solutions and services, a homogenous environment in the future-proofing of their operations.
End-to-End System Optimization and Visibility
Matthews Automation showcases the latest advances in warehouse execution systems, pick-to-light, put walls, and other integrated technologies at ProMat 2023 Matthews‘ warehouse automation brands deliver innovative material handling solutions and proven results for major corporations worldwide. At MHI-sponsored ProMat 2023, from March 20–23, 2023, Matthews Automation’s exhibit displays advanced, best-of-breed solutions that deliver agile, fully-integrated applications. Matthews’ ProMat Booth S4307 will highlight the following technologies: Warehouse Execution System (WES): Upon entering the booth, visitors can learn about NEXUS, Matthews’ next-generation Warehouse Execution System for centralized system control. NEXUS uses real-time data and adaptive learning to make intelligent decisions, balance workflow, eliminate bottlenecks, and increase visibility throughout a distribution center’s operations. The software automates and optimizes order fulfillment tasks, such as picking, sortation, packing, and finishing. A web-based front end and customizable dashboard give full process visibility and management. Projection Picking and Put Wall: The latest advances in projection picking and put-to-light sortation are here. The front corner section of the booth shows the newest light-directed technologies, using a demo Lightning Pick put wall and conveyor. Visitors can watch or perform two live demonstrations in the demo area: Projection picking from a goods-to-person-delivered, divided tote, sorting robotically picked (AMR- or ASRS-picked) items into the put wall. A scan-and-put process sorting batches of single tote, mixed-SKU merchandise into individual eCommerce orders, with pack-out on the back of the two-sided put wall. See a wide variety of different colors and sizes of light modules, including advanced functionality modules such as photo-eye sensors that enable operators to confirm a put without pushing a button, modules with error-proofing, automated opening/closing cubby doors, and bin illumination for visual redundancy. As evidenced by the demonstrations, Matthews’ leading hardware with Lightning Pick software allows for myriad customization possibilities to fit any complex sortation application. Light-Directed Picking and Assembly: With multiple stations throughout the booth to experience Lightning Pick, visitors can build a complimentary LED flashlight using a pick-to-light interactive display designed to show error-proofing of parts picking, kitting, assembly, and sequencing. Optional image viewer technology shown on a monitor mounted to the work area displays assembly instructions, part images, tool tips, and more. Robotics and Autonomous Mobile Robot Cart Topper: Robotics integration takes central stage in the booth, with robotic systems as part of our holistic view of warehouse automation solutions, both to increase efficiency and address labor challenges. As experts in mobile pick-to-light cart picking, Matthews’ new robot-assisted picking solutions and cart toppers serve as goods-to-person technology, enabling operators to concentrate on their main task—picking—without walking long distances or carrying heavy loads. Specialized material handling AMR attachments are shown, each designed to address a specific application and distribution center need. Software Integration: All Matthews software products can be integrated with any WMS/MES/ERP systems and material handling equipment, such as conveyors, carts, autonomous mobile robots, ASRS, and other robotic systems. Lightning Pick’s software integrates directly with a customer’s existing warehouse management system (WMS) or warehouse execution system, such as NEXUS. As the consumer fulfillment landscape evolves, Matthews is uniquely positioned to help fulfillment operations apply the right combinations of automation, software and robotics to their specific needs and challenges today, with the flexibility and scalability to meet the changing needs of tomorrow.
Episode 358: Ware2Go at Manifest 2023
Don’t miss out on this episode of The New Warehouse, where our guest is Stephen Denton, CEO at Ware2Go. Steve discussed how Ware2Go threads together a network of 45 warehouses across the country on one standard technology platform that allows merchants to access an enterprise-grade supply chain with a sustainable pay-as-you-go model. Be sure to tune in to hear some great insights on the competitive advantages of a robust supply chain. Key Takeaways Ware2Go recently partnered with Gap to offer other retailers access to Gap’s automated and modernized supply chain network. Stephen explains how this partnership enables small and mid-sized apparel merchants to take advantage of this technology integration without having to invest in warehouses or capital, allowing them access at scale while still providing personalized services for each customer. Steve discusses the changing landscape of enterprise fulfillment, emphasizing mid-market and SMB businesses. He noted that it is becoming increasingly important to have access to better technology and rates to succeed. Ware2Go believes in enabling these SMBs to compete and win. Kevin and Stephen discuss the great diversity of companies at the Manifest show this year. Companies offering robotics automation services, same-day delivery, business analytics, WMS, orchestration, carriers, trucks, etc., show how complex this industry can be. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 358: Ware2Go at Manifest 2023
AutoScheduler CEO Keith Moore named recipient of Food Logistics 2023 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain Award
This award recognizes influential individuals in the industry whose achievements, hard work, and vision have shaped the global cold food supply chain AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Management System (WMS) accelerator, announces that CEO Keith Moore is the recipient of Food Logistics 2023 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain Award. Food Logistics is the only publication dedicated to covering product movement through the global cold food supply chain. This award recognizes influential individuals in the industry whose achievements, hard work, and vision have shaped the global cold food supply chain. Keith wins because he understands the challenges of the food logistics market and knows how to drive operational excellence within distribution centers for customers. “As the brains of a distribution operation, AutoScheduler helps food and beverage companies decrease touches, increase capacity per headcount, overcome volatility, and improve customer satisfaction,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler. AI “I’m thrilled to be named a Rock Star. Even at a mid-sized distribution center, the activities that AutoScheduler orchestrates can add up to millions of dollars in capacity growth and savings.” “Not all rock stars are famous musicians. There are several rock stars right here in the cold chain, promoting workforce development, solving supply chain disruptions, mitigating risks, and helping to heal the supply chain,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. AutoScheduler is a warehouse resource planning and optimization platform that dynamically orchestrates all activities within the warehouse in conjunction with a WMS. Using capacity-constrained schedules, AutoScheduler will solve problems such as poor on-time in full deliveries, dock schedule conflicts, inventory shortages, inefficient workforce allocation, and the struggle to meet carrier appointment times. AutoScheduler.ai helps businesses manage what they need today to succeed while predicting what they need in the future to meet the increased demand in labor, space, and time. Many of the Rock Star award winners are actively involved in understanding customers’ needs, creating problem-solving solutions, ensuring the safe transport of cold food and beverages, and adopting sustainable measures. The words used to describe their range from strategic, motivated, and dedicated to passionate, educator, and transformative. “These rock stars rock. Period. They’re shaping the future of our global cold chains. And they’re doing so in a way that’s both humble and pragmatic. Every year, I’m honored to celebrate these go-getters, and this year is no exception,” Mayer says. Recipients of this year’s award are profiled in Food Logistics’ Jan/Feb 2023 print issue. Go to https://foodl.me/5rwho7 to view the complete list of winners. Go to https://www.foodlogistics.com/awards to learn more about other Food Logistics awards.
Manufacturing Technology Orders total $5.5 Billion in 2022; Third-Best Year recorded by USMTO
New orders of manufacturing technology totaled $434.1 million in December 2022, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. December 2022 orders were down 1.7% from November 2022 and down 27% from December 2021. Total orders for all of 2022 came to $5.54 billion, a 6% decrease from total orders in 2021. “For yet another month in 2022, and now for the whole year, we can report that while orders were down, the manufacturing technology industry is doing great,” said Patrick W. McGibbon, chief knowledge officer at AMT. “The industry recorded its third-best year in 2022. Despite the reduction in orders from 2021, it is hard to find a negative story about the manufacturing technology industry. The recession that pundits have been predicting for months is now being termed a ‘rolling recession,’ where some industries grow while others contract at different rates. We in the manufacturing industry call that business as usual, and 2022 proved no different.” The continued demand for capacity from domestic manufacturers was a critical driver in the success of 2022. Machine shops generally account for the largest share of orders in a given month, and their level of investment can be seen as a leading indicator of economic conditions. While they have modestly decreased orders from 2021 levels, machine shops are still nearly 23% over their 2019 order levels. Likewise, agricultural machinery manufacturers decreased orders in 2022 after a dramatic increase in 2021; however, the 2022 orders are still more than double their 2019 levels. Investment from the aerospace sector is situated for growth in 2023. While consistently growing over the last two years, the annual averages between 2020 and 2022 are still about 7% short of their 2019 investment. “Of the 27 customer industries tracked by USMTO, the number who are underperforming 2019 could almost be counted on a single hand,” said McGibbon. “Over the last two years, we have been pointing out potential hurdles that could upend the historic run of order activity. Each time, the industry responded by taking in more orders than expected, which is a testament to the health of the United States manufacturing sector and a great way to begin 2023.”
JLT Mobile Computers unlocks greater operational efficiencies for warehouse forklift fleets with innovative software dashboard
JLT Mobile Computers, a developer of reliable computing solutions for demanding environments, has launched JLT Insights, a new data-driven software dashboard for industries with warehouses. The customizable software solution enables warehouse and IT managers to monitor their vehicle-mount terminals (VMT) and gain greater operational insights. Based on various data points collected from within the IT device and its sensors, JLT Insights empowers customers to optimize the daily operations of their harsh work environments as well as their host vehicles. These new capabilities are made possible thanks to information delivered by sensors embedded in the JLT6012 Series VMTs. As well as informing users of the health of their IT assets, accelerometers, and other sensors within the VMTs can deliver information relating to forklift movement, speed, acceleration, impact, location, and time. Access to this digital data opens huge possibilities for warehouse and IT managers to streamline and enhance their picking and logistic operations. By identifying bottlenecks, network connectivity issues, high-traffic areas, driving dynamics, accident-prone zones, and various IT health signals, uptime can be optimized, flow can be improved, and general operations enhanced with regard to both efficiency and safety. Impacts are a fact of life in forklift operations. But when you combine impacts with location data, you can ascertain higher safety risk areas and/or physical bottlenecks within logistic operations. Combine impacts with time and JLT Insights users can identify shift patterns, while time and location will highlight overly long local dwell times or indicate heavy traffic areas. According to Andreas Nivard, General Manager at JLT Software Solutions: “The JLT6012 Series VMTs from JLT Mobile Computers incorporate sensor technology similar to what you would find in a cellphone. By leveraging the data generated by these sensors, we are now delivering even more value-add features through software solutions. “The real power behind JLT’s new hard- and software-combined approach,” he continues, “comes from using JLT Insights to combine and contextualize the data captured via the sensors. This data can then be compared before displaying the results in an easy-to-use and -understand digital dashboard, full of useful information for warehouse and IT managers.” The software is configurable to the customer’s application. JLT engineers will help users to define which data is most useful to capture and formulate the queries which indicate the most relevant actionable information. The identified data points can be configured by JLT, local partners, or customers themselves to add the biggest operational value for continued improvement. There are multiple possibilities for operational improvement, but the primary driver behind the dashboard’s development is to increase uptime, by highlighting and predicting issues before they occur. This gives companies the ability to develop and deliver remedies before these issues turn into far more costly downtime. “The ability to spot problems before they result in downtime is a huge plus for us,” explains Fredrik Edvardsen, IT Manager at IV Produkt, a company based in Växjö, Sweden that develops and manufactures innovative solutions for air handling. “We now have proactive insights into many more operational features, including power supplies, disk space, forklift run times, and service intervals.” JLT Insights is available today for new and existing users of JLT6012 Windows 10 VMTs on a per-month and device-cost basis. “The dashboard comes in two tiers,” Andreas explains. “The first gives all the essential information from the IT and dynamics sensors, including event-based notifications, while the next tier up adds statistics and allows users to write queries that can compare and action one dataset versus another.” For new JLT6012 VMT buyers, the software will be preinstalled on the units. Existing owners can contact JLT via the website for downloading the software. In addition to the JLT6012 unit, JLT Insights can be used with other Windows 10 VMTs from JLT, albeit with limited functionality because previous generations do not include built-in sensors. Support for the Android-based JLT6012A™ VMT is in development and will be released in the first half of next year. Many more features are on the roadmap, and JLT is accepting suggestions from its user base. “We’ve worked closely with JLT in testing out the software and suggesting features as part of their pilot program,” says Martin Carlsson, Warehouse Manager at IV Produkt. “We feel like JLT has really listened to our needs and we now eagerly anticipate using JLT Insights over the next 6 months to make data-driven decisions to increase productivity in our warehouse.” Visit JLT Mobile Computers at ProMat 2023, Booth S3275, March 20-23, 2023, Chicago, USA
Episode 356: ProGlove
Ilhan Kolko, Chief Product Officer and President of North America at ProGlove, joins the latest episode of The New Warehouse. ProGlove is a human-centered industrial technology company that connects IoT with humans through wearable solutions. Kevin and Ilhan discuss their recent round of funding, product development, and why Ilhan believes ProGlove has developed the best wearable scanner ever. Key Takeaways ProGlove’s flagship product, Mark 3, is a multi-range variable barcode scanner the size of a matchbox that allows for hands-free scanning and eliminates distractions from putting devices down to pick up products. Ilhan shares how they continue to improve their products while ensuring integration into the ecosystem is entirely zero-touch. ProGlove’s wearable scanners, akin to ‘Fitbits,’ are designed to collect valuable data and apply it to different areas of the working process. This information allows Proglove’s team of data engineers and scientists to do deep dives into the collected data to find patterns that can improve efficiency on the shop floor. Customer reaction has been positive overall due to Proglove’s end-to-end approach toward collecting homogeneous datasets that are trustworthy enough for complex pattern analysis. When discussing trends in wearable technology, Ilhan shares that according to a recent survey by ProGlove, worker safety, and well-being are becoming higher priorities for wearable tech development moving forward. To further develop its products for the future, ProGlove will continue partnerships with robotics companies and other SaaS solutions providers who focus on collaborative technologies. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 356: ProGlove
Episode 354: ICPMobile
Jeff Scott, CEO of ICPMobile, joins The New Warehouse Podcast this week to discuss wearable devices for warehousing and fulfillment. Infinite Peripherals provides hardware and software solutions for healthcare, retail, supply chain, logistics, and more. In this episode, Jeff gives a sneak peek of their new HaloRing Scanner that just recently released. Key Takeaways The NexusConnect device from ICPMobile uses the Otterbox uniVERSE rail system allowing it to work with Android and IOS devices. With the IP65 rating, long and short-range scanning, and wireless charging, NexusConnect transforms familiar mobile devices into powerful, ergonomically friendly warehouse scanning devices. The HaloRing Scanner is the first wearable device from ICPMobile and has recently just become available. The all-in-one Android device weighs only three ounces, has an OLED display, and allows the user to scan and take action instead of requiring an additional device. Jeff discusses how this scanner is a more natural motion ergonomically for users and frees up both hands to perform tasks. Jeff shares how ICPMobile began performing point-of-sale receipt printers nearly thirty years ago, which evolved into capturing signatures, collecting mobile payments, and eventually inventory management. In 2009, Infinite Peripherals developed a device for Apple that could scan barcodes, read card payments, and had a protective case and battery backup for extended use. Interestingly, Apple found that stores using the easy devices from Infinite sold more accessories and Apple Care through the easy payment solution. Jeff and Kevin discuss the benefits of leveraging existing technology, such as smartphones, to reduce training and simplify everyday tasks. Jeff shares a story of replacing an antiquated hole punch system with staff having an average tenure of thirty-five years. Replacing a one-hundred-year-old process came with resistance, but at the end of the pilot, none of the participants wanted to return the devices that made their jobs easier. Jeff explains how the relationships with ICPMobile and its customers provide valuable insights regarding what the customer wants. These insights lead Infinite to take on creating software in addition to hardware devices. He adds that customers want one device for multiple capabilities, such as collecting payments, performing cycle counts, or inventory management. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 354: ICPMobile
Combat rising IT security costs with IT Asset Management
Pity the poor Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). On one hand, their needs are real: emergent cybersecurity threats are increasingly sophisticated and numerous. On the other hand, the cost of defending against these threats follows the same trajectory. Every organization’s resources are finite, but not investing in the right technology or tactics could place the organization in the same inauspicious gallery as Hollywood Presbyterian[1], Riviera Beach[2], or Colonial Pipeline[3]. Then again, what other value-add IT services should be cut? There is one group inside the department that is in a position to help: IT Asset Management (ITAM). Few CISO and cybersecurity professionals realize the “hand in glove” relationship ITSec and ITAM should have. In 2016, an article published in a technology research magazine insisted up to thirty percent (30%) of a corporation’s software budget could be cut by implementing a software asset management (SAM) program[4]. The article identifies three best practice activities that must be performed to achieve this remarkable return: Optimize Software Configurations — make sure to use the features and tools you pay for, and avoid paying for features and tools you do not use Recycle Software Licenses — remove unneeded software installations so the corresponding software license can be applied somewhere else Use SAM tools — invest in specialty license management systems that can accurately calculate complex software license rules and point out cost-saving opportunities In many organizations, software-related expenditures make up a significant portion of the overall IT budget. Any reduction in that line item would fund a number of other projects, so IT Security needs to present a good case to justify redirecting some of those funds to them. Interdepartmental budget strategy sessions can be cutthroat, but most will respect the “Little Red Hen” rule: you only get the bread if you help with the baking. If our intrepid CISO is going to ask for a part of the savings ITAM can deliver, they need to demonstrate how their team, tools, or data are actively helping in those three SAM practices. Most ITSec professionals are familiar with the ISO/IEC 27000 standards, which require an “asset inventory” to be made of the corporate computing environment. The trouble is, the methodology of ISO 27000 focuses on information security management and does not provide the necessary details and data attributes for effective SAM. But, dig deeper into the supporting standards and you will find ISO/IEC 19770[5], which specifically addresses ITAM and SAM process requirements. Last updated in 2017, it contains a maturity model constructed of three tiers: Tier 1: Trustworthy Data — knowing what you have so that you can manage it Tier 2: Life Cycle Integration — achieving greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness throughout the asset life cycle (i.e., purchasing, inventorying, using, recovering, and disposing of) Tier 3: Optimization — achieving greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness across functional management areas Fig.1 — ITAM Tiers In typical fashion, the ISO/IEC standards do not describe how “trustworthy data” is obtained or derived, but do describe four processes where ITAM will find “trustworthy data”: Change Management Data Management License Management, and Security Management This makes sense; if IT Security is maintaining an asset inventory (as mandated by ISO 27000), why not harvest reliant parts of their data to build out an asset inventory for a SAM tool just like the one prescribed in the aforementioned Gartner article? Is that enough, though, for a typical CISO to claim a portion of the ITAM savings for their own expenditures? Maybe not, but let’s consider the second cost-saving source from the Gartner article: recycling software licenses. Typical security vulnerability tools are licensed by either the software agents deployed and installed on objects discovered within the computing environment or by total found objects discovered in a passive sweep of IP address ranges. Unfortunately, IT Security might not catch and remove retired, duplicated, or incorrect records from its own asset inventory lists. That, in turn, risks an over-count of needed licenses and an over-charge to IT Security’s budget. However, if IT Security partners with ITAM and purges recovered and disposed asset inventory records from its vulnerability tools, the overall total cost of ownership for IT Security’s tooling can be significantly reduced. And those savings will unarguably return to IT Security. The final factor — optimizing software configurations — might seem like a stretch, but IT Security does have a say in the matter. Consider this example: while advising a client a few years ago, the IT Security department identified a number of high-risk security vulnerabilities in the corporate-standard PDF viewer. The CISO recommended removing the standard-issued software outright before the next phishing attack successfully exploited the known bugs within the tool. The IT Service Support team resisted, arguing re-platforming to the IT Security recommendation would be too costly and could be rejected by the end-user community. The ITAM team stepped in, and identified a comparable tool with more features than currently offered (satisfying the end-users), with a better vulnerability score (satisfying IT Security’s concerns), and at a total-cost-of-ownership of 60% less than the current PDF standard (more than covering the cost of deploying the new tool). The moral of the story: simply by engaging ITAM, the CISO was able to improve the security position of his organization without incurring any extra cost to his department or the rest of the organization. Modern IT Security initiatives are necessary and expensive. Smart CISOs should always be on the lookout for cost-reduction and spend-justification opportunities. Both best business practice proponents and independent researchers identify the IT Asset Management team as a willing partner. By working together, ITAM and ITSec can improve the overall organization’s security position and simultaneously reduce the overall cost of ownership for IT. About the Author: Jeremy L. Boerger, the ITAM Coach, founded BOERGER CONSULTING with the idea of helping organizations “cut their software budget without buying less software”. He also speaks professionally to pass along his 20+ years of experience to the next generation of ITAM and SAM professionals. His book, “Rethinking Information Technology Asset
Episode 354: ICPMobile
Jeff Scott, CEO of ICPMobile, joins The New Warehouse Podcast this week to discuss wearable devices for warehousing and fulfillment. Infinite Peripherals provides hardware and software solutions for healthcare, retail, supply chain, logistics, and more. In this episode, Jeff gives a sneak peek of their new HaloRing Scanner that just recently released. Key Takeaways The NexusConnect device from ICPMobile uses the Otterbox uniVERSE rail system allowing it to work with Android and IOS devices. With the IP65 rating, long and short-range scanning, and wireless charging, NexusConnect transforms familiar mobile devices into powerful, ergonomically friendly warehouse scanning devices. The HaloRing Scanner is the first wearable device from ICPMobile and has recently just become available. The all-in-one Android device weighs only three ounces, has an OLED display, and allows the user to scan and take action instead of requiring an additional device. Jeff discusses how this scanner is a more natural motion ergonomically for users and frees up both hands to perform tasks. Jeff shares how ICPMobile began performing point-of-sale receipt printers nearly thirty years ago, which evolved into capturing signatures, collecting mobile payments, and eventually inventory management. In 2009, Infinite Peripherals developed a device for Apple that could scan barcodes, read card payments, had a protective case and battery backup for extended use. Interestingly, Apple found that stores using the easy devices from Infinite sold more accessories and Apple Care through the easy payment solution. Jeff and Kevin discuss the benefits of leveraging existing technology, such as smartphones, to reduce training and simplify everyday tasks. Jeff shares a story of replacing an antiquated hole punch system with staff having an average tenure of thirty-five years. Replacing a one-hundred-year-old process came with resistance, but at the end of the pilot, none of the participants wanted to return the devices that made their jobs easier. Jeff explains how the relationships with ICPMobile and its customers provide valuable insights regarding what the customer wants. These insights lead Infinite to take on creating software in addition to hardware devices. He adds that customers want one device for multiple capabilities, such as collecting payments, performing cycle counts, or inventory management. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 354: ICPMobile
One user interface for all devices in the warehouse from Picavi
Picavi will be highlighting their software at ProMat 2023: One of the main topics at booth S3459 is the user interface of the pick-by-vision specialist. Independent of the higher-level system, users can operate this not only on smart glasses but also on many other devices if required. To increase productivity and minimize errors, more and more companies are supporting their warehouse staff with wearables, for example in picking or returns management. At ProMat, pick-by-vision expert Picavi will show how users can deploy the user interface on a wide range of devices. Whether it is smart glasses, MDE, smartphone, or tablet – Picavi ensures device-independent intuitive usability and clear work processes. With Picavi, warehouse managers have a single point of contact for the entire software infrastructure of their wearables in their logistics operations. The Picavi software integrates seamlessly into existing IT infrastructure and communicates with all higher-level ERP and warehouse management systems. Especially for 3PL companies who serve different clients and often use multiple soft- and hardware, this brings numerous advantages: Picavi supports all common interfaces such as SAP, various web services, HTML, and Telnet connections. This eliminates the need for cost- and resource-intensive programming of special solutions. Employees work with the same user interface across devices and interfaces, which increases process reliability and productivity. The simple language and the targeted use of icons and images make Picavi’s user interface intuitive to use. Interactions with the software, also fully controllable via voice commands, are designed to be understood by everyone immediately. This minimizes training and ramp-up times. At ProMat, Picavi will demonstrate with real-life examples how the company helps logistics professionals improve their performance sustainably. Attendees can also try out the Picavi solutions for themselves at booth S3459.