Category Archives: Automation

15/05/2023 SolutionsPT Limited

Supported by long-time partner SolutionsPT | AVEVA Select UK & Ireland, NeoDynes PI System Partnership strengthens its position as a driving force for process improvements through automation.

NeoDyne, an Irish and UK company in its 25th year of delivering complex system integration across a wide range of industries, has recently achieved PI System Partner status from AVEVA, supported by SolutionsPT, AVEVA Select partner UK & Ireland. The specialism in PI systems builds on NeoDynes Endorsed SI status, the highest tier in AVEVAs Partner Network. The endorsed integrator is strategically located in Ireland (Cork, Dublin and Galway) and the UK (Hemel Hempstead and Chesterfield) to deliver solutions and services across life science, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods. NeoDyne has worked closely with SolutionsPT since its inception to be at the forefront of technology by supporting customers throughout their digital transformation journeys.

Brendan Kearney, Associate Director, NeoDyne, said, "We are delighted to join the PI System Partner community and to extend our relationship with SolutionsPT and AVEVA. This partnership marks a major milestone for our PI team and further strengthens our credentials in AVEVA's innovative portfolio of products. We are excited to help our customers gain real-time insights into their operational data across multiple layers. We fully expect this partnership to accelerate our ability to deliver world-class PI solutions that transform our customer's processes and eliminate inefficiencies.

Continuous learningBecoming a PI System Partner is a testament to the dedication and rigour of NeoDynes engineering teams and their commitment to ongoing learning.

Aidan Finnegan, Regional Manager, SolutionsPT said:System integrators are a vital part of our business and play a massive role in delivering digital transformation for our customers, and for that reason we are always seeking to work with the best. NeoDyne is a perfect example of what we expect from Endorsed System Integrators; they show a consistent dedication to embracing new technology and this recent PI System Partnership is just another example. NeoDyne is constantly growing their capability and this aligns well with SolutionsPTs ethos of combining technology and practical, real-world operability, ensuring digital transformation benefits the all-important human operator.

Highest levelThe AVEVA System Integrator Partner programme recognises participants by their technical excellence, customer service and integrity. Achieving PI System Partner status is no different, with NeoDyne having demonstrated their mastery of the product, delivery capability, and industry expertise.

System Integrators looking to seek new business, develop understanding of the latest technology, and deliver digital transformation shouldenquire about the partner programme here.

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Leading Ireland & UK Industrial Automation company NeoDyne ... - Process & Control Today

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Market Drivers:

The major drivers of the automation testing market include the following:

Market Segmentation:

The automation testing market is segmented based on component, type, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region. Based on component, the market is segmented into testing tools, services, and others. The testing tools segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period.

Based on type, the market is segmented into functional testing, non-functional testing, and others. The functional testing segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Based on deployment mode, the market is segmented into on-premises and cloud. The cloud segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period.

Based on organization size, the market is segmented into small and medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises. The large enterprise segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Based on vertical, the market is segmented into IT and telecom, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, BFSI, and others. The IT and telecom segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period.

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Regional Analysis:

The automation testing market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, and Latin America. North America dominated the market in 2020 due to the presence of major market players and the early adoption of automation testing in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the increasing adoption of automation testing in various industries in the region.

Recent Developments:

Some of the recent developments in the automation testing market include the following:

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Key Players:-

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Automation Testing Market: Industry Overview, Size, Share and ... - Digital Journal

Customer needs and market dynamics are constantly shifting from one moment to the next. There are thousands of business events flowing through every part of your organization every day. These events can provide a wealth of information about whats actually happening across your business at any moment in time.

Organizations that can capitalize on this continual stream of business intelligence can spot trends, issues and opportunities, address threats, and act quickly.

But operationalizing business events is challenging. First, events can be locked away across a variety of different data sources, applications and systems. Businesses need a way to unlock the value of their events while they are still actionable.

Second, huge volumes of new events constantly take place across the organization. Businesses need a way to sort, filter and identify the key events that matter most while new ones continue to pour in.

And finally, to make effective use of the event, the context in which it occurs is important. Events need to be processed and combined to identify and act on the business situations that matter. Businesses need a way to accelerate this work without being limited by a need for deep technical skill sets that may be in short supply.

Today, IBM is announcing IBM Event Automation, a composable solution designed to help organizations put events to work by enabling business and IT users to detect situations in real-time, act on them and trigger automations to help maximize their revenue potential.

With this new solution, you can help your organization become more responsive to customer needs and resilient in the face of shifting market dynamics.

IBM Event Automation provides an intuitive and integrated experience for distributing, discovering and processing business events across the organization:

IBM Event Automation will be generally available June 29, 2023. For more information, please visit the IBM Event Automation website or contact your local IBM representative or IBM Business Partner.

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Accelerate your speed of business with IBM Event Automation - IBM Newsroom

Exciting insights from Carl Doeksen, Global Robotics and Automation Director at 3M, on the changing landscape of robotics and automation.

Automation is the key to staying competitive in the B2B landscape. By fostering a culture of innovation, collaborating closely with customers, and leveraging diverse expertise, businesses can position themselves as leaders in their respective industries.

Understanding the Evolving Industry Landscape: Carl Doeksen kickstarted the conversation by emphasizing the role of 3M as an industrial company, known for its extensive range of industrial products, including tape, adhesives, and abrasives. With over 240 factories worldwide, 3M has developed a deep understanding of the manufacturing supply chain environment, propelling their foray into the automation space.

The Rise of Automation and Industry Collaboration: Automation gained significant traction in the past few years, as industrial customers approached 3M seeking solutions to replace manual and hazardous grinding processes with robotics. In response, 3M developed a vast ecosystem of industry partners to address customer needs, leveraging their expertise in programming, automation, and mechatronics. Technological breakthroughs, such as the declining cost of industrial robots and vision systems, have also played a crucial role in fueling this growth.

Active Compliant Force Control and Future Prospects: Carl highlighted active compliant force control as a critical technology in material removal applications, enabling robots to mimic human operators abilities. This technology, along with advancements in end effectors and vision systems, has made automation more accessible and efficient. Looking ahead, Carl predicts a growing interest in automation among small to medium-sized businesses, often overlooked in the past. By embracing fast setup, high mix, and low-volume applications, these businesses can enhance productivity and gain a competitive edge.

Emphasizing Safety, Quality, and Brand Image: During the discussion, Carl emphasized the need for a shift in focus within the automation industry. While productivity and cost savings are essential, safety and quality should take precedence. By leading with safety and quality, businesses can create a virtuous cycle that engages employees and enhances brand reputation. Carl further highlighted the importance of integrating automation and robotics into a companys brand image, with consumer preferences evolving to value products made with advanced technologies.

Support for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: Addressing the misconception that smaller businesses lack the capital for automation, Carl highlighted that many of these businesses already invest in expensive equipment, such as laser cutters and CNC routers. However, challenges arise in programming and utilizing robots effectively. To overcome this, Carl recommended exploring partnerships with companies like 3M or venturing into low-code or no-code automation solutions. Additionally, the availability of Robot as a Service (RaaS) models allows businesses to trial automation solutions without substantial upfront costs. Check out GrayMatter Robotics for more information there.

Conclusion: As the robotics and automation industry continues to evolve, Carl Doeksens insights shed light on the potential for small to medium-sized businesses to adopt automation and drive productivity. The convergence of affordable technology, active compliant force control, and an increasing interest in safety and quality opens up new avenues for growth. By embracing automation, businesses can enhance their brand image, improve product consistency, and drive long-term success in an ever-evolving market. As leaders in the industry, 3Ms dedication to innovation and collaboration paves the way for a future where automation becomes accessible to all.

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3M Brings Innovation to the Manufacturing Supply Chain Environment - MarketScale

ALAMEDA, Calif., May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jitterbit, a global leader for empowering transformation through automation, today announced the results of its 2023 State of Automation: How Low-Code Application Platforms Disrupt the IT Status Quo and Ignite Digital Growth survey. Available now, the report reveals a business landscape in which organizations are facing mounting pressure to drive digital transformation and achieve greater efficiency, yet often lack the tech resources to execute digital strategies effectively. To move the needle on digital innovation, businesses are increasingly turning to low-code application platforms (LCAPs), enabling non-IT and IT executives alike to build business apps without coding experience.

Based on responses from IT, marketing and human resources executives from more than 100 U.S.-based companies with 100 or more employees, the survey uncovered several key findings about the adoption and prioritization of LCAP solutions. According to 85% of survey respondents, building low-code applications is a top organizational priority.

This focus on LCAP is driven by several different factors, including a strong need for effective automation, concerns around the rise of unauthorized applications across devices and a real desire to address organizational challenges without extensive IT involvement.

Some of the other key findings uncovered include:

"Low-code application platforms are becoming increasingly vital to accelerate automation initiatives and keep up with the rapid pace of business. To stay competitive, executives recognize the need to prioritize LCAPs, however, they still remain cautious about the security, accessibility of data, and overall success of low-code applications, said Vito Salvaggio, senior vice president, product management, at Jitterbit. Robust LCAP solutions must address these concerns while meeting organizations needs for easy maintenance and deployment, simplicity of use, reduction of manual labor and lowered costs. When organizations can leverage LCAP solutions with confidence, their ability to drive digital innovation will be unmatched.

To gain insights from the complete survey findings, download the survey results at https://www.jitterbit.com/ebook/2023-state-of-automation.

About Jitterbit, Inc.Jitterbit empowers business transformation by automating critical business processes for faster, more informed decision-making. Jitterbit is the only provider to seamlessly combine and simplify the power of integration, APIM, and no-code app creation to amplify the value of your tech stack and speed up your digital journey. Organizations worldwide rely on Jitterbits experience and expertise to help them save time and money, while creating exceptional experiences, now and into the future. Learn how Jitterbit helps people work happier at http://www.jitterbit.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:jitterbit@bocacommunications.com

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Jitterbit Survey Reveals Low-Code Application Platforms Play an ... - GlobeNewswire

To evaluate a companys operational and financial health, leaders look at metrics like cash conversion cycles, which show how long it takes to turn resources into cash flow. When it comes to internal project management, we should be taking a similar approach to understanding how we turn our actions into value.

We need to interrogate how seamless our processes are throughout our projects by asking: Do we conduct monthly reviews of our progress? Which tasks take us the longest to finish and why? What frictions are stopping us from adding value more quickly? Which administrative tasks take the most time, and how can we streamline them?

But one of the roots of solving these issues is often the same: a lack of clarity and supportive technology. These can enable us to craft processes that ease common frustrations, provide greater transparency, and drive us towards key business goals.

However, implementing these changes requires a strong understanding of which approaches and solutions are suitable for your business. This can be especially difficult if, as a leader, you have multiple teams to manage and different strategies to keep in mind.

With worldwide IT spending forecasted to grow by 5.1% this year, knowing how to leverage digital opportunities without overwhelming your teams with unnecessary tech is crucial. After all, you dont want to end up with a tech stack that hinders team clarity instead of driving it.

Automation and AI adoption are two topics that are top of mind for many businesses today. How can businesses better use these technologies to support their strategic thinking, and how can they add them to their digital armoury to achieve greater transparency and productivity?

Introduce automation for asynchronous visibility

With so many of us working in a virtual environment for at least some of the week, ensuring that technology keeps us grounded with our colleagues and away from disjointed communication is a must.

In this digital world, we often find ourselves spread over multiple platforms and communication channels at once, which can make it challenging to keep the visibility of the overall project progress.

This decentralised system of communication can lead to lost time asking questions like Where did this go? or Did anyone pick this up? in the search for clarity. Without a strategy that can provide easy access to important information across time zones, simple tasks like finding template files could take 2-3 days. And, if someone sends the wrong one, or has a holiday in between, it could delay the whole teams progress.

Eliminating these communication frictions is essential to drive faster task completion and generate value for the business. This is where solutions like automation can be invaluable for tracking progress digitally.

Some people are worried that automation will automate out the interactions between teams that keep digital company culture alive. But thats not the case. Automation should be about boosting teams ability to do and appreciate more things they enjoy and value most about their job. It should help shorten the time spent on admin tasks and automatically send your colleagues notifications where and when their input is needed.

In asynchronous communication, automation can improve clarity by providing real-time visuals of who is working on what and the project progress helping you avoid mix-ups that occur with missing messages, mismatched time zones, or disjointed expectations.

Focus on the quality of input for truly intelligent AI

It may seem obvious that in order to create value, you must first define it. But this is often overlooked when it comes to aligning the entire team on the goals they should aim for.

Jumping straight into a new project without evaluating your success metrics, timelines, and expected outcomes can have a disastrous effect on your progress in the long term. The beginning stages are all about laying the groundwork that can help you more easily adapt to changes. So, its important to define value and build the team structure together based on your definition of value.

Once you have come up with this vision, you can make strategic choices about where you digitally store all this information and in what format. For example, apps and solutions that incorporate AI can help automate detailed plans for the project based on customer input and goals. This means that you spend less time manually drawing out plans.

Often, a lack of clarity arises when team members keep asking questions that you feel they should know the answer to. This suggests a lack of a central information hub for your project. To fix this, you can use AI to help summarise interactions and complex topics so that members of the team stay informed and in sync for each next step. This empowers everyone to take on their areas of responsibility confidently.

Convoluted and non-transparent processes are costing businesses much-needed money and time at the moment. So, understanding how to implement greater clarity and efficiency is key to empowering your employees and unburdening your business and using automation and AI to support this Is akey step in taking that project strategy to the next level.

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Turning value into actions: How leaders can use automation and AI ... - Elite Business Magazine

Article by: Mark Jenkins, CIO - MHR | Published: 15 May 2023

Mark Jenkins, CIO - MHR12 May 2023

In a world filled with technological advancements and tools designed to bring maximum efficiencies, it is surprising to find that many finance teams are still highly reliant on static spreadsheets. This news comes following a survey*which has revealed that over half (51%) of finance leaders depend solely on Excel for their processes. This figure certainly isnt an homage to the practicality or intuitiveness of the 30-year-old software tool, although it has served its purpose well over the decades. It is unfortunately a reflection of the industrys lack of tech investment.

For too long, finance leaders have been held back by time-consuming, laborious admin tasks that stand in the way of multiple opportunities to reshape their roles and actively drive the future directions of their industries. This valuable time could be better allocated towards facilitating fruitful business strategy conversations or expanding on the financial knowledge and expertise that could open further doors to growth and innovation. The time for this shift to happen is now, however it is only possible if finance professionals take charge and become true drivers of tech implementation.

Stuck on the spreadsheet treadmillThere is no doubt that Excel is deeply engraved in the culture of many finance departments. It is seen as a safe, already known tool, so why change it? Spreadsheets owe their ubiquity to organisations traditional reluctance to spend out on innovative tools and processes. It can be hard to say goodbye to the only business analytics tool you have ever known.

We must give it to Excel. It is great for rudimentary calculations. However, its shortcomings in todays interconnected global finance ecosystem are now more obvious than ever. In a world that is increasingly driven by collaboration and information sharing, Excel is simply incapable of providing the multi-user support and complex, real-time data analytics needed for successful financial modelling and forecasting.

There is also a crucial aspect of security, which Excel does not exactly help to support. We all remember the time when nearly 16,000 positive Covid cases vanished from Public Health Englands contact tracing system in a high-profileIT glitchas it had run out of numbers. With 31% of finance leaders considering unsaved spreadsheets and lost documents as the greatest risks of their role, such costly and embarrassing errors should prompt organisations to prioritise data integrity and move away from outdated tools.

Its time to reassess the valuesHigh dependency on legacy processes is also hindering the strategic growth of finance leaders and their teams. MHRs survey found that 44% of leaders are left out of business strategy conversations, as they find themselves overwhelmed with bulky manual processes. It is a simple time-wasting job of copying and pasting values that neither brings joy nor any efficiency. It stops skilled and talented finance professionals from realising their potential and proving their value to the business, as well as risks the whole organisation being left behind in the race towards the innovative future.

It is the technical debt and legacy mindsets that are holding finance teams back from flexing in their role and utilising their expertise to drive important strategic initiatives. This seems thoroughly at odds with the digital transformation happening across all industries. If finance leaders want to enable the data analytics revolution, they must leave Excel in the past and embrace smarter tools.

Automation will combat stagnationAs organisations accelerate their digital transformation journeys, finance teams need more suitable and easier ways of processing data. By implementing agile and collaborative scenario-planning solutions, finance departments can seamlessly plan andmodel for the future, allowing them to use their insights to shape longer-term business strategies.

This is where automation comes in, offering a golden key to future-proofed finance operations. Through automation professionals can free up the all-important time to undertake more business-critical endeavours and provide forward-thinking strategic advice at board level. Automated processes support teams in boosting their compliance, accuracy, anddata security, considerably lightening the load.

With a fit-for-purpose and integrated corporate performance management solution, financial teams can open themselves up to a whole new world of possibilities. Such solutions go beyond basic financial planning; they can help with extended planning and analysis, enabling finance leaders to make more efficient strategic decisions as they benefit from better visibility into the data. With not only the promise but the actual reality of much greater agility and improved efficiencies, it is time finance teams close their Excel spreadsheets for good and look towards a brighter technological future.

*Survey MHR

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Automation will combat stagnation | theHRD - The HR Director Magazine

MG Tech Unveils New Palletizer with Yaskawa Cobot and Rockwell Automation | Packaging Strategies This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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MG Tech Unveils New Palletizer with Yaskawa Cobot and Rockwell ... - Packaging Strategies

Singles Day, or 11.11, began as a cynical response to traditional couples-centric festivals such as Valentines Day, but has now grown to be one of the worlds largest online shopping days. In 2021, 1.16 billion parcels were transported in China during the November 11 event according to Statista, creating a logistical challenge for operators like Cainiao, the logistics arm of Chinas e-commerce behemoth Alibaba.

Cainiao has not disclosed its total parcel volume for the 2022 11.11 festival. However, chief strategy officer and general manager of Southeast Asia and Europe, William Xiong, says that in line with the companys goal to improve customer experience by focusing on expanding doorstep delivery service and coverage, Cainiao delivered more than 200,000,000 packages to consumers doorsteps in mainland China during the event.

Automation investments

To achieve these goals, the company is continuing to invest in digital technologies and automation systems that will help it build business resilience and readiness in the face of potential disruptions, enabling us to nimbly expand our capabilities to meet todays consumer expectations, according to Xiong.

Our distribution centers have advanced features such as automated sorting technologies, as well as Cainiaos proprietary warehouse management system leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the cloud and automation to manage the entire value chain spanning first-mile pickup, sorting and distribution in warehouses, last-mile deliveries and numerous other logistics scenarios.

William Xiong, Cainiaos chief strategy officer and general manager of Southeast Asia and Europe

Cainiao is equipping its warehouses with enhanced billing and order management systems, a warehouse operations management system (WOMS) and a traffic management and control system (TMCS) to provide greater visibility and control for inventory management. Xiong explains, Data and insights generated by these systems are updated in real time, allowing warehouse employees to quickly attend to sections and inventories that are causing bottlenecks, whether it is sorting product categories, inventory counts or distribution preparation. The efficiency gains help merchants minimize capital and inventory risks.

The use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in those warehouses is improving storage accuracy and pickup efficiency by reducing the distance traveled by employees. Furthermore, the companys proprietary pallet shuttle optimizes entire pallet storage shelves by adapting to warehouse layouts as needed, which effectively reduces operational inefficiencies. Operated in tandem with Cainiaos proprietary scheduling algorithm, we are able to address the efficiency of storage solutions in dense spaces, Xiong adds.

In March 2022, Cainiao partnered with Flash Express on the creation of a 20,000m2 smart warehouse in Thailand with 100 AGVs that enabled Flash Express to eliminate 90% of the distance traveled by warehouse employees and obtain an overall accuracy of 99% in sorting parcels, according to Xiong. These systems and solutions come together to ensure maximum operational utility, enabling our warehouses to efficiently handle high parcel volumes, no matter the time of the year, he adds.

Robots can free up human workers to focus on customer service and satisfaction

Improved operations and sustainability

For Xiong, investing in automation systems is a no-brainer, and the implications of those technologies can be far reaching. From optimizing resources to driving efficiency for merchants and consumers and generating more income for farmers in rural communities, the possibilities of automation are endless, he enthuses.

In fact, the almost limitless benefits of automation technology are driving the value of the APAC sortation systems market, which is currently expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.86% between 2021 and 2026, according to Mordor Intelligence.

Xiong believes that continuing labor shortages and increased economic uncertainty in APAC and around the world are catalysts for increased automation investment. Companies must strengthen their business resiliency and bolster the logistics industry by actively investing in digitalization efforts this includes reviewing their sustainability goals to reap the long-term benefits of decarbonization, such as lower utility costs.

Beyond augmenting the existing workforce, automation and predictive technology such as robotics and AI-driven systems can supersede skilled workers in areas such as interactive customer engagement (via chatbots) and even forklift operations. As the existing workforce focuses on customer experience and satisfaction, such smart technology platforms can not only increase overall warehouse efficiencies but also reduce manpower costs in the long run, he explains.

Automation technology is also coming into play in the sustainability arena. With the transportation industry being one of the largest carbon emitters in the world it accounted for 7.2Gt of CO2 emissions or roughly 21% of the global total in 2020, according to McKinsey & Company the logistics sector must find ways to reduce emissions and achieve its commitment to net zero, Xiong urges. Cainiaos carbon asset management system helps merchants forecast carbon emissions by offering carbon rating reports and accounting statistics in real time. Automating the analysis of carbon emissions within the supply chainenables executives to pinpoint issues and areas for improvement.

The company is committed to strengthening our green logistics capabilities and will continue toinvest in innovations to further our sustainability efforts across our end-to-end supply chain capabilities, including those of our warehouses. These efforts include implementing an AI-based smart packaging algorithm to accurately determine the optimum carton size for each parcel, and more strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the sector to raise awareness on how technological innovation can drive greater sustainability, Xiong explains. As the supply chain continues to digitalize, we will continue to take a data-driven approach to supply chain management and innovate in this area to better predict supply chain changes in real time.

The Little G Logistics Robot delivers parcels to employees at Alibabas Hangzhou headquarters

Investment decisions

With so much technology available, how do operators like Cainiao decide on the right solutions to invest in? Xiong believes that customers and employees are key considerations when deciding on new technologies to deploy.

We want to be intentional when we implement new technologies, he explains. Employees need to understand how the technology reduces manual labor, allowing them to dedicate more time and attention to higher-quality work that delivers greater value in the long run.

As a digital-first company with many digital natives, our employees appreciate the growing digitalization across our business as they make the necessary shifts to undertake more strategic and analytical work. A concerted approach is then taken to ensure that productivity is maximized when the automated solutions are deployed.

He concludes, The logistics industry is ever evolving and, as we have seen during the pandemic, prone to immense disruptions. There is thus no one-size-fits-all solution or automation technology that will effectively meet the requirements of today and in the future. As such, Cainiao prioritizes automation systems that are secure and scalable so that we can deploy these technologies quickly to meet the needs of our customers.

Automation supplier case studies

Beumers BG Pouch System frees up floor space in busy distribution centers

BEUMER

Beumers modern approach to pouch system technology helps CEP companies solve the problematic handling of duty parcels for cross-border customs inspection. With the continuing surge in cross-border e-commerce, the number of parcels passing through distribution centers requiring appropriate inspection and duty payment is becoming a growing problem for CEP businesses.

Many consumers buying online from abroad have little or no knowledge about the potential customs inspections and duties they may have to pay as soon as their parcel crosses the border. Typically, customs officials ask CEP companies about the source of parcels and request inspection of those coming from certain regions or countries. That inspection can occur at any time over an indefinite period that varies from minutes to weeks, so during that entire time the distribution hub needs to store and have fast and easy access to the parcels to be able to release them for inspection or to the recipient when the duty has been paid.

Most of todays e-commerce parcels are small, and most CEP companies establish separate parcel storage areas at each of their distribution centers. For many, this will be simple racking that may or may not include precise tracking of parcel positions. Others have one central storage space that services all their centers so that customs can deal with all the parcels in one place. Either way, storage affects the businesss capex and occupies space that could be used for sortation operations.

A further financial impact is due to the labor cost of manually handling duty items using traditional storage solutions, which adds to the businesss opex. In addition, customs authorities set the deadlines for duty payments according to local regulations, and if the recipient fails to make the payment on time,the parcel is returned to the sender at the CEP companys expense.

What is the answer to this logistical and potentially expensive problem? Beumer has redesigned its BG Pouch System for CEP hubs. This overhead storage and sortation system uses pouches to store, convey and sort parcels that weigh as little as 20g one pouch for each parcel. It is fully automatic and maintains a complete inventory to real-time control every parcel in the system.

Beumer has now made the solution even more versatile to offer a new approach to the duty parcels challenge for the CEP sector. Parcels enter the sortation system as usual, and those that are identified as attracting customs duty are diverted either to immediate customs inspection if customs officers areon duty or to duty storage.

Those selected for duty storage are automatically inducted into the overhead pouch system, which occupies no floor space in the distribution center. Each parcel is placed in its own pouch and married to the pouchs RFID, effectively creating a customs storage inventory. The RFID technology means that the system can deliver 100% accurate tracking and parcel identification, with access at any time to any parcel in the system.

A parcel can remain in the pouch storage until customs clears it, at which point the pouch can be brought down and the shipment released seamlessly into the parcel flow for final sorting and distribution. If customs officers wish to physically inspect the parcel, the pouch can easily be released.

The pouch system is an ideal solution for CEP operators looking to reduce the complexity of handling duty parcels. By moving them directly into the BG Pouch System, the distribution center can eliminate labor-intense storage and most of the manual handling costs without requiring additional floor space. It gives customs inspection officers direct and immediate access to any parcel with no additional manual handling, and removes several touchpoints that are costly and disturb the flow of the parcel operation.

Split Tray Sorters can handle 5,000-35,000 items per hour depending on the configuration

EUROSORT

With an ever-increasing flow of small parcels, many postal companies are looking for ways to handle them. These small parcels come in many shapes and sizes, which means they cannot be handled by the standard letter sorters that are widely used in most postal operations. Furthermore, they often cause flow slowdowns and disrupt operations.

With the supply of small parcels (mixed mail) growing rapidly for one large post and parcel company due to the increase in e-commerce, the need for a new sortation solution was high. This is where EuroSort came to the rescue.

Some of the customers key challenges included:

Increased parcel volume: Sharply increasing volumes across the entire product range required increased throughput;

Changing product mix: Traditional sorting equipment was unsuitable for the increased amounts of round and irregularly shaped items as well as polybags that needed to be processed;

High accuracy requirements: The quality and efficiency of sorting needed to improve, and the number of touches needed to decrease;

Small available footprint: The solution had to fit in with existing operations and the available footprint was very limited.

There were other ergonomic and maintenance requirements that also had to be met. EuroSort performed extensive analysis on which solution would fit best and it quickly became apparent that the Split Tray Sorter, with its unique features, was the best solution for this customer.

The variety of product shapes and materials fitted perfectly within the trays of the sorter and, by dropping the items underneath the sorter, the footprint was small enough to meet the requirements. Furthermore, with a capacity of 14,000 trays per hour, the increased volumes could easily be handled.

To reduce the number of touches, the emptying of the inbound containers was also mechanized through tippers. These drop the parcels on a conveyor system that feeds the induction stations of the sorter. This also means that the operator is never without parcels to sort, further increasing the efficiency of the process.

The exits are designed in such a way that they can handle multiple types of product carriers such as totes, but also postal bags and roll containers.

The induction stations were designed with maximum operator comfort in mind, so there is as little stress as possible on the operator. In combination with an operating noise of around 62dB, the operators enjoy working at this sorter.

The customer has rolled out the EuroSort solution in multiple sites and it is running to the full satisfaction of the management as well as the operators. The sorter has a proven record of minimal maintenance anda high degree of availability, resulting in a low total cost of ownership.

Wayzims fully automated sorting system can handle 96,000 parcels per hour

WAYZIM

In the field of express parcel sorting, Wayzims automation equipment has withstood the challenges of the market, and its core automation technology has been applied in SF Expresss General Integration Project, helping the logistics company reduce staff and increase operational efficiency. According tothe design requirements, the main line speed is 2m/s and the handling capacity of a single main line is more than 6,000 parcels per hour.

The 60,000m2 facility includes 10 main lines of rough distribution and unloading, two parcel return lines, two irregular parcel return lines, 12 main lines of fine distribution and loading, and two double-layer small parcel sorters. The whole site is equipped with automatic equipment such as Wayzims conveyor belt line, pivot wheel sorter and loading chute. The total length of the conveyor belt line is around 10,000m. The project also includes Wayzims crossbelt five-sided code reading system, which uses intelligent logistics visual technology that can achieve a code reading recognition rate of more than 99.9%; the error rate generated during manual sorting is about 1%, according to Wayzim.

SF Expresss General Integration Project has a daily average handling capacity of about 650,000 parcels. During peak e-commerce periods such as 11.11, the system can handle 1,300,000 parcels per day. Wayzims fully automated sorting equipment is designed to handle at least 96,000 parcels per hour. In the past, the parcel sorting mainly relied on manual work, averaging about 500 parcels per hour, and it took around 200 people one hour to sort 96,000 parcels.

The application of automation equipment in labor-intensive industries not only saves labor costs but also helps customers reduce error rates and improve work efficiency.

Wayzims automation equipment has been exported to Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Europe, North America, South America and other countries and regions.

This article was originally published in the March 2023 issue of Parcel and Postal Technology International magazine

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Accelerated business automation, a rediscovery of data governanceand a significant shift to customer experience activities are highlights of enterprise software and data management investment for IT buyers in the UK, according to the annual TechTarget/Computer Weekly IT priorities 2023 survey.

The 2023 iteration of the survey was carried out between November 2022 and February 2023. The UK cohort of the global survey comprised 156 technology decision-makers, of whom one-third were chief information officers, 30% were IT managers and 13% were other IT professionals.

The survey found that investment in business automation projects was up by 9% to 36%, compared with the 2022 research. Robotic process automation (RPA) projects were up by 81% to 20% of respondents saying those were investment priorities for 2023. Customer experience (CX) was also significantly up as an investment area, by 37% to 26%.

The research indicates 2023 to be the year of automation, from the use of super-hyped generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT to more traditional business and IT automation. Organisations in the EMEA region are planning to increase their use of automation more than North America and Asia-Pacific, according to the research.

But in terms of a specific area of business applications, customer experience is well to the fore of investment projects. Some 43% said they will invest in customer experience software spanning marketing, sales and contact centre management.

Stephanie Corby, practice director at TechTargets analyst division, Enterprise Strategy Group, says: CX is a top business driver for enterprise organisations ... but the reality is that most organisations are still in the early stages of CX maturity and strategy. The complexity of CX technology stacks has created integration and adoption challenges that will inevitably drive conversion to platforms.

Learning and skills development came in as a distant third to CX, at 32% of respondents. Enterprise resource planning, the core application of business applications, came in at 26%, while supply chain management was bottom of the pile at 15%, down from 23% in the UK cut of the same survey for 2022.

Supply chain management had been a high priority in 2022, at 23%. Many of the more complex companies, with inelastic global supply chains, had a torrid Covid-19 pandemic, and been forced into unexpected supply chain changes.

Customer analytics and customer service support are both growing in 2023 as against 2022, the research found. Significant numbers of respondents are increasing their investments in advanced customer understanding technologies: 26% are investing in customer journey mapping, 19% in marketing automation and KM, and 16% in chatbots.

HR software is another region growing in 2023 as against the previous year. Learning management and skills development was the top category for investment, at 35%. This may suggest organisations are proactively investing in in-house talent as a means to obviate such trends as quiet quitting or the great resignation of the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Similarly, another business applications area that organisations are planning to invest in heavily which might suggest a buttress against attrition is knowledge management, long considered a relic of the late 1990s. KM came out as third in the content management category, behind the more routine and mechanical areas of content management systems and e-signatures.

In terms of the emperor of business applications, ERP, this years research found that users of legacy systems are struggling to migrate to cloud delivery, but that more are willing to make the leap because of new functionalities that derive from artificial intelligence/machine learning, the internet of things, blockchain and better application integrations.

Better customer understanding and service is one of the use cases for real-time data analytics. Not coincidentally, that technology emerged as a top investment area from the research.

Stephen Catanzano, senior analyst at the Enterprise Strategy Group, said, apropos the research: In 2023, I see a significant shift toward the use of data for real-time decision-making becoming a reality for all sizes of companies, as technology in this space has innovated and matured over the past few years.

Three areas that emerged as growing in 2023 as against 2022 were: data science and machine learning platforms, at 23%; embedded analytics, at 19%; and data preparation, at 17%.

Data governance seems to be seeing a re-emergence as a new wave of regulation in the area of AI one example being the EUs AI Act comes into being.

2023 has been shaping up as the year of data value, as digital transformation and the underpinning digitisation of data has brought data governance, stewardship, data observability and IT Ops into the spotlight.

Growing this year as against 2022 as areas for investment are: data quality, at 36%; data governance, at 56; cloud data warehousing, at 19%; and data lakehouses, at 8%. The data lakehouse is a portmanteau term combining the data warehouse with the unstructured data lakes that emerged with and after the rise and fall of Hadoop, as a software framework for big data. It has mainly been the domain of Databricks, but has gained traction outside that particular supplier, for example, chez Cloudera.

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