《ABI Research:2023年支持自动化微型履行中心白皮书(英文版)(13页).pdf》由会员分享,可在线阅读,更多相关《ABI Research:2023年支持自动化微型履行中心白皮书(英文版)(13页).pdf(13页珍藏版)》请在三个皮匠报告上搜索。
1、SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSSUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSGROWING NEED FOR AUTOMATION IN RETAILWhile the focus in automation has been on production with industrial robots for decades,the greatest opportunity for automation is increasingly found further down the su
2、pply chain at the level of storage,distribution,fulfillment,and retail.This trend is unsurprising,given the high rate of revenue growth in the global retail market.Based on Figure 1,from 2020 to 2030,global retail revenue is projected to grow from US$27.7 trillion to US$55.3 trillion,with a compound
3、 average growth rate(CAGR)of 8.8%over 10 years.An increasing percentage of this revenue is focused on e-commerce,growing from 15%of total worldwide retail revenue to 40%.This growth is attributable to several reasons,including competitive pricing,shopping experience,price comparisons,product ratings
4、,customer reviews,changing consumer habits accelerated by the pandemic,and the better-than-expected post-pandemic recovery.Figure 1:Online versus Brick and Mortar Retail Revenues World Markets:2019 to 2027(Source:ABI Research)2021 ABI Research The material contained herein is for the individual use
5、of the purchasing Licensee and may not be distributed to any other person or entity by such Licensee including,without limitation,to persons within the same corporate or other entity as such Licensee,without the express written permission of Licensor.3 CR-RICOH-102:SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFIL
6、LMENT CENTERS 1.GROWING NEED FOR AUTOMATION IN RETAIL While the focus in automation has been on production with industrial robots for decades,the greatest opportunity for automation is increasingly found further down the supply chain at the level of storage,distribution,fulfillment,and retail.This t
7、rend is unsurprising,given the high rate of revenue growth in the global retail market.Based on Figure 1,from 2020 to 2030,global retail revenue is projected to grow from US$25 trillion to US$55 trillion,with a compound average growth rate(CAGR)of 9.9%over 10 years.An increasing percentage of this r
8、evenue is focused on e-commerce,growing from 19%of total worldwide retail revenue to 39%.This growth is attributable to several reasons,including competitive pricing,shopping experience,price comparisons,product ratings,customer reviews,and changing consumer habits accelerated by the restrictions of
9、 COVID-19.Figure 1:Online versus Brick and Mortar Retail Revenues World Markets:2019 to 2027(Source:ABI Research)Fueled by a massive increase in demand,this growth places high pressure on the current supply chain infrastructure.This pressure is further exacerbated by declining labor participation an
10、d tight labor markets in the North America,European,and East Asia markets.Running concurrently with demand for more capacity,consumer expectations about product availability and delivery time continue to soar.As a result,all supply chain participants have to deliver more,faster,and maintain a wider
11、variety of stock-keeping units(SKUs)while maximizing throughput and expanding variety calls for more distributed supply chains.Hence older infrastructure is being supplemented and replaced with smaller fulfillment centers placed strategically closer to the customer base.202020224202520262
12、027202820292030-8%-6%-4%-2%0%2%4%6%8%10%12%-10 20 30 40 50 60%ChangeRevenue(US$Trillions)Brick&MortarE-Commerce RevenueYoY GrowthCONTENTSGROWING NEED FOR AUTOMATION IN RETAIL.2MICRO FULFILLMENT GROWTH.3DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MFC AND CENTRALIZED FULFILLMENT.5THE CURRENT AUTOMATED MFC MARKET.6Shuttle-base
13、d ASRS-Speed.7AGV-Based ASRS-Flexibility.8AMRs and AMMRs .8Cuboid ASRS-Density.8THE NEED FOR SERVICE LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT.9Basics of SLM.9Limited Supply of SLM for MFCs.11RICOH SERVICE ADVANTAGE.11The Challenge.11What is Service Advantage?.11What is the Competitive Advantage of Ricohs Offering?.11CO
14、NCLUSION.12Fueled by a massive increase in demand,this growth places high pressure on the current supply chain infrastructure.This pressure is further exacerbated by declining labor participation and tight labor markets in the North America,European,and East Asia markets.Running concurrently with de
15、mand for more capacity,consumer expectations about product availability and delivery time continue to soar.As a result,all supply chain participants have to deliver more,faster,and maintain a wider variety of stock-keeping units(SKUs)while maximizing throughput and expanding variety calls for more d
16、istributed supply chains.Hence older infrastructure is being supplemented and replaced with smaller fulfillment centers placed strategically closer to the customer SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSA further driver is competition.Pure etailers like Amazon have reshaped global retail,and
17、 through their expansion of highly automated greenfield sites,take up an ever-larger portion of global retail.As a result,traditional brick and mortar retailers,grocers,couriers,and 3PLs have to adapt and improve efficiency.Between increased demand,customer demands,and internal competition,the key p
18、layers in global retail are investing ever more in automation technologies.Importantly,these technologies are being deployed in retail and further up the supply chain for warehousing,distribution,and fulfillment.MICRO FULFILLMENT GROWTHThe supply chain is incredibly complex but can be broken down ro
19、ughly into five components;Production Logistics:Internal warehouses and logistics operations within manufacturing centers,factories,foundries,and workshops.The process often involves Automated Guided Vehicles(AGVs)or Autonomous Mobile Robots(AMRs)carrying pallets and larger goods from the local stor
20、age zone to and from the production line.Storage Warehouses:Public or private warehouses for mid-to-long-term storage rather than immediate distribution.Also includes production warehouses used for the storage of fully or partly manufactured goods.Robots and automation systems might be used for unlo
21、ading,loading,material handling,and inventory tracking.Distribution Centers:Regional facilities used for the reception,dispatch,or consolidation of goods en-masse or wholesale and non-consumer distribution.Conveyance remains common in this section.E-commerce Fulfilment Centers:Warehouses used for pr
22、ocessing individual customer orders for onward dispatch to the final destination.Amazons fulfillment centers,for example,are heavily automated and are home to over 350,000 AGVs.Last-Mile Delivery:The use of vehicles to transport the consumer to or near their residence.Mobile robotic systems like tho
23、se of Starship Technologies and Nuro are becoming more popular in this space.Vendors like Amazon are also seeking other channels of delivery via drone delivery pilots.While the traditional supply chain has focused on storage warehouses and distribution centers selling directly to retailers,there is
24、an undeniable shift to fulfillment centers.As shown in figure 2,the proportion of fulfillment centers relative to traditional storage and distribution will increase markedly,from 10%of all facilities in 2022 to 19%in 2027.This translates to an increase from 11,555 facilities to 28,974 globally.The r
25、apid growth highlights the urgency to create a more flexible supply SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSFigure 2:Online versus Brick and Mortar Retail Revenues World Markets:2022 to 2027(Source:ABI Research)Fulfillment centers can come in various sizes,but increasingly they are being deve
26、loped with space and location in mind,which lead to the popularization of Micro Fulfillment Centers(MFC).Typically considered a subcategory of fulfillment centers,MFC represents the next stage of the modern adaptive supply chain.They are generally located much closer to urban areas and can even be p
27、laced adjacent to stores for walk-in collection.Smaller in footprint than traditional fulfillment operations,these MFCs rely on verticality and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems(ASRS)for maximum throughput and density.The upcoming growth of MFC Fulfillment should be seen as an extension of bro
28、ader trends in the supply chain industry:A shortage of skills,space,and speed in the retail landscape.There is a lack of available and dependable labor to populate brick and mortar stores,and there is a need to improve speed within the current supply chain.The growing availability of cuboid automati
29、on solutions focused on fitting in a small space.Players like Autostore,Attabotics,and Alert Innovation are examples of companies that are already generating revenue and establishing themselves in the market.Percent of sales through the e-commerce channel increasing.MFC is an evolution of the strate
30、gic shift towards online orders.To keep up with this trend,the supply chain has to evolve.Long-tail customers want a more comprehensive range of SKUs to choose from as they need to move different types of goods within fulfillment centers.This challenge is exacerbated by the tightening of labor marke
31、ts but can be solved through robotic picking stations,cuboid ASRS,and mobile manipulation.Retailers seek to move closer to metro markets for faster response times to compete against Amazon(the Amazon purchase of Whole Foods acquisition)and defend market share.Driven by demand for hourly delivery of
32、groceries and next-day delivery of retail goods,MFCs help grocery retailers to achieve profitable same-day service for a large assortment of SKUs.2021 ABI Research The material contained herein is for the individual use of the purchasing Licensee and may not be distributed to any other person or ent
33、ity by such Licensee including,without limitation,to persons within the same corporate or other entity as such Licensee,without the express written permission of Licensor.5 CR-RICOH-102:SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERS from 11,555 facilities to 28,974 globally.The rapid growth highlig
34、hts the urgency to create a more flexible supply chain.Figure 2:Online versus Brick and Mortar Retail Revenues World Markets:2022 to 2027(Source:ABI Research)Fulfillment centers can come in various sizes,but increasingly they are being developed with space and location in mind,which lead to the popu
35、larization of Micro Fulfillment Centers(MFC).Typically considered a subcategory of fulfillment centers,MFC represents the next stage of the modern adaptive supply chain.They are generally located much closer to urban areas and can even be placed adjacent to stores for walk-in collection.Smaller in f
36、ootprint than traditional fulfillment operations,these MFCs rely on verticality and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems(ASRS)for maximum throughput and density.The upcoming growth of MFC Fulfillment should be seen as an extension of broader trends in the supply chain industry:A shortage of skill
37、s,space,and speed in the retail landscape.There is a lack of available and dependable labor to populate brick and mortar stores,and there is a need to improve speed within the current supply chain.The growing availability of cuboid automation solutions focused on fitting in a small space.Players lik
38、e Autostore,Attabotics,and Alert Innovation are examples of companies that are already generating revenue and establishing themselves in the market.Percent of sales through the e-commerce channel increasing.MFC is an evolution of the strategic shift towards online orders.To keep up with this trend,t
39、he supply chain has to evolve.02040608002024202520262027(000s)Storage WarehousesDistribution CentersE-CommerceFulfillment CSUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSAs etailers close larger rural distribution centers and increase their use of Fulfillment centers,many decid
40、e to build Micro-Fulfillment centers(MFCs)closer to population centers to expedite shipping.However,these MFCs rely heavily on vertical storage due to their smaller footprint and need to optimize space in expensive urban facilities.This leads to the significant use of fixed automation(AS/RS).A break
41、down of major distribution and fulfillment options can be seen below in Figure 3.Figure 3:Facility types for Distribution&Fulfillment(Source:ABI Research)DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MFC AND CENTRALIZED FULFILLMENTHow might an MFC-based automated solution be differentiated from standard fulfillment centers?MF
42、C solutions are understood to be goods to person picking systems that occupy under 3,000 square meters.MFC can either be located in a store,a distribution center,or as a standalone facility.While MFC solutions and standard fulfillment solutions utilize many of the same automation technologies,larger
43、 centralized solutions like those of online grocer Ocado are considerably larger and require dedicated facilities.While Amazon runs on a system of centralized fulfillment,they have experimented with MFCs.They recently opened a pilot for a dark store in Brooklyn,New York.While traditional large fulfi
44、llment centers are larger and less numerous for the same delivery radius,MFCs are expected to proliferate at a high rate to meet customers demands.The benefits of MFC over traditional fulfillment includes:Delivery time:It is generally best to pick orders as close to the customer as possible.This can
45、 be better achieved through MFC.2021 ABI Research The material contained herein is for the individual use of the purchasing Licensee and may not be distributed to any other person or entity by such Licensee including,without limitation,to persons within the same corporate or other entity as such Lic
46、ensee,without the express written permission of Licensor.6 CR-RICOH-102:SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERS Long-tail customers want a more comprehensive range of SKUs to choose from as they need to move different types of goods within fulfillment centers.This challenge is exacerbated by
47、 the tightening of labor markets but can be solved through robotic picking stations,cuboid ASRS,and mobile manipulation.Retailers seek to move closer to metro markets for faster response times to compete against Amazon(the Amazon purchase of Whole Foods acquisition)and defend market share.Driven by
48、demand for hourly delivery of groceries and next-day delivery of retail goods,MFCs help grocery retailers to achieve profitable same-day service for a large assortment of SKUs.As etailers close larger rural distribution centers and increase their use of Fulfillment centers,many decide to build Micro
49、-Fulfillment centers(MFCs)closer to population centers to expedite shipping.However,these MFCs rely heavily on vertical storage due to their smaller footprint and need to optimize space in expensive urban facilities.This leads to the significant use of fixed automation(AS/RS).A breakdown of major di
50、stribution and fulfillment options can be seen below in Figure 3.Figure 3:Facility types for Distribution&Fulfillment (Source:ABI Research)3.DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MFC AND CENTRALIZED FULFILLMENT How might an MFC-based automated solution be differentiated from standard fulfillment centers?MFC solutions
51、are understood to be goods to person picking systems that occupy under 3,000 square meters.MFC can either be located in a store,a distribution center,or as a standalone facility.While MFC solutions and standard fulfillment solutions utilize many of the same automation technologies,larger centralized
52、 solutions like those of online grocer Ocado are considerably larger and require dedicated SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERS Radius:traditional fulfillment can work reasonably well in densely populated areas,but MFC is becoming critical for meeting the demands of more diffuse populatio
53、ns.Capital Intensity:A MFC model has the benefit of being a less capital-intensive approach than centralized fulfillment.While a centralized fulfillment center like Ocado can take up to 24 months to build a 300,000 square foot facility,it can take up as little as 20 weeks and 1/10th of the cost to i
54、nstall an MFC.There are,however,drawbacks to MFC solutions.They require many more facilities and a much more distributed network,expanding the area for potential efficiencies and creating a demand for support for third parties.MFCs are generally automated through ASRS.These solutions are highly intr
55、icate forms of fixed automation and represent the complete opposite of many solutions being touted by the robotics community.But while autonomous mobile robots have achieved some level of popularity,they are far behind ASRS in terms of adoption.While the flexibility afforded by autonomous systems is
56、 a bonus,the critical need for high-throughput high-density solutions has made ASRS very popular in modern-day retail.Of course,going forward,there will be a high degree of experimentation,and many MFC providers could utilize AMRs,picking stations,and mobile manipulation systems to supplement their
57、ASRS solutions.Based on ABI Researchs findings,the future roadmap for MFC technology will progress as described in Table 1.Table 1:MFC Technology Evolution(Source:ABI Research)TypeUnautomated FulfillmentAutomated FulfillmentCuboid-centric AutomationAdaptive FulfillmentTechnologyManual pickersLimited
58、 conveyanceASRsConveyanceManual pickers at stationsCuboid ASRSManual pickers at stationsAGVsCuboid ASRSFixed roboticsAMRsMobile Manipulation for pickingAutomated loading and unloadingTimeline1950-2000-2010-2020-THE CURRENT AUTOMATED MFC MARKETThere is a range of technologies associated with MFCs.Gen
59、erally,the technolgies are similar to the solutions offered for goods-to-person logistics in all fulfillment operations,as seen on the following page in Table SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSTable 2:Different Automation Technologies for Fulfillment(Source:ABI Research)TypeUnautomated
60、FulfillmentAutomated FulfillmentCuboid-centric AutomationAdaptive FulfillmentAGV Automated Guided Vehicles utilize QR-Codes,teach&repeat methods,and magnetic tape to navigate structured environments.Used for pallet stacking,tugging,and towing.Amazon:350,000 AGVs deployed in the Etailers fulfillment
61、operations.Trusted TechnologyDeveloped EcosystemNeed for auxiliary infrastructure,magnets,and/or markersAMRAutonomous Mobile Robots are advanced robotic systems that can sense and navigate through their environment with minimal assistance,instead of relying on sensor fusion and simultaneous localiza
62、tion&mapping.Fetch Robotics was recently acquired by Zebra Technologies for US$305 million and has partnered with couriers like DHL.FlexibilityDynamic reroutingNascent marketLack of technical redundancyHard to scaleMobile Manipulation AMRThese are mobile manipulation devices that can pick items.Howe
63、ver,they are very challenging to deploy due to motion control,perception,and expense challenges.IAM Robotics is a Pittsburgh-based vendor that is targeting MFC with mobile platforms fitted with articulated arms.Ability to do much a workers tasks,particularly pickingMotion control challengesHigh cost
64、Underdeveloped market and normsAutomated Storage&RetrievalHeavy fixed infrastructure that uses a mixture of conveyance,cranes,shuttles,and picking stations to store and retrieve goods.The solution often depends on storing pallets,heavy goods,cartons,bins,trays,or small items.Knapp,Dematic,and Honeyw
65、ell Intelligrated are some of the key vendors in this space.Very high throughputMature market with many vendors in an established marketHigh costInflexibleTakes up a lot of spaceCannot be easily redeployed for micro-fulfillmentCuboid Automated Storage&RetrievalMore compact 3D-centric shuttle systems
66、.Provide verticality and storage density,offering a smaller footprint than traditional ASRS.Autostore has 500 installations in 30 countries.The company recently received US$1 billion in funding from Softbank.High speed&throughputHigh density can be fitted into an MFCMany new players growing very qui
67、cklyLimited market for lifecycle management Cost remains highNot fully automated-still requires pickersSHUTTLE-BASED ASRS-SPEEDEstablished ASRS vendors like Dematic,Swisslog,KNAPP,Vanderlande,and Honeywell Intelligrated rely on a mixture of the shuttle,crane,and picking systems.While their technolog
68、y is well established,their solutions are difficult to apply to small form factors required for an MFC strategy.Among the main problems are high levels of complexity and maintenance costs,as well as many single points of failure.These systems are also generally vast and complex to deploy near or adj
69、acent to urban areas or stores.Due to the high price of land in urban areas,these solutions,already significant investment,become unfeasible beyond centralized fulfillment.For this reason,there has been massive interest in denser ASRS solutions that can achieve similar throughput with a much smaller
70、 form SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSAGV-BASED ASRS-FLEXIBILITYASRS solutions can also run through the mass deployment of AGVs that navigate using external infrastructures like quick-response codes and magnetic tape.Amazons Kiva systems are the most well-known example,but there are m
71、any other vendors,including GreyOrange,Geek+,6 River Systems and Locus Robotics.Such systems utilize mobile robots alongside shuttle systems and lifting robots,and the picking and placing is still largely done via human operators at the end of the line.Among these vendors,some offer end users either
72、 their own private MFC networks,while others let end users rent or lease a pre-built network through a service option.AGV-based MFC vendors have deployed hundreds of robots in dozens of MFC facilities,and increasingly utilize third-party installation services to help assure consistent services throu
73、ghout their network.These vendors have chosen AGV-based solutions because they allow for redeployability,individual robot fault tolerance,and cost reduction based on lowering or increasing the size of a robotic fleet.AMRS AND AMMRS AMRs are largely focused on production logistics with a greater focu
74、s on flexible material handling,but there will be a use for these systems in conjunction with ASRS in the future MFC.For example,the emergence of mobile manipulation solutions can reduce the labor demands for individual MFC sites.Previously,such a solution was largely out of reach.Still,through thor
75、ough research and increasing funding in the robotics space,the first commercially viable deployments of autonomous mobile manipulation robots(AMMRs)have begun in e-commerce fulfillment.These systems combine articulated arms with mobile platforms.Thus they require a mixture of advanced perception thr
76、ough sensors and AI algorithms and improved end of arm tooling(EOAT)to handle a variety of products effectively.The motion control and navigation required to achieve this level of automation have only just begun their commercial life.Much like AMRs,AMMRs can be easily deployed to facilities with sma
77、ll footprints and legacy infrastructure without incurring expensive installation and deployment costs.But while AMRs are great for material handling and are increasingly replacing AGVs due to their lower infrastructure costs,they offer no manipulation capability and are thus not suited to small-volu
78、me,high-mix orders of a wide variety of SKUs.CUBOID ASRS-DENSITYCuboid ASRS systems are highly compact automation solutions running on 3D shuttle installations.AutoStore,the Norwegian pioneer of this technology,was founded in 1996 and is a proven company with 500 installations in 30 countries.The co
79、mpany recently attained more fame by receiving an enormous US$2.8 billion investment from Softbank,giving them a valuation of US$7.7 billion.Beyond Autostore,the emerging 3D technology players like Attabotics,Alert Innovation,and Exotec.Cuboid systems are also used in centralized fulfillment context
80、s,with Ocado being the prime example.Figure 4 lists examples of key SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSFigure 4:Examples of Key MFC Technologies(Source:ABI Research)THE NEED FOR SERVICE LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENTBASICS OF SLMThe value of automated MFCs is clear.However,increased demand also ch
81、allenges the supply chain,as difficulties related to scaling automation threaten to hamper the markets true potential.These difficulties are part of the post-sale lifecycle of automation systems,best described as Service Lifecycle Management(SLM).This term entails pre-sale consulting,installation,em
82、ployee training,operations,customer service,and reconfiguration.Challenges abound throughout the lifecycle of automation solutions,such as design and evaluation,installation,ongoing maintenance,training,and customer service.Automation vendors will find it challenging to conduct SLM independently,so
83、there is a growing demand for third-party service providers that can assist in scaling.Only via this collaboration can automation vendors meet their potential.To summarize,an increase in demand for automation presents a capacity challenge for automation vendors,which struggle to scale effectively on
84、 their own and execute effective SLM.To cope with these demands,collaboration with a growing market of third-party service providers is vital for automation vendors.These third parties,often system integrators that have taken on new responsibilities,are becoming a more important part of the automati
85、on value chain and its entire ecosystem.2021 ABI Research The material contained herein is for the individual use of the purchasing Licensee and may not be distributed to any other person or entity by such Licensee including,without limitation,to persons within the same corporate or other entity as
86、such Licensee,without the express written permission of Licensor.11 CR-RICOH-102:SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERS 5.THE NEED FOR SERVICE LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT 5.1.Basics of SLM The value of automated MFCs is clear.However,increased demand also challenges the supply chain,as difficultie
87、s related to scaling automation threaten to hamper the markets true potential.These difficulties are part of the post-sale lifecycle of automation systems,best described as Service Lifecycle Management(SLM).This term entails pre-sale consulting,installation,employee training,operations,customer serv
88、ice,and reconfiguration.Challenges abound throughout the lifecycle of automation solutions,such as design and evaluation,installation,ongoing maintenance,training,and customer service.Automation vendors will find it challenging to conduct SLM independently,so there is a growing demand for third-part
89、y service providers that can assist in scaling.Only via this collaboration can automation vendors meet their potential.The demand for our automated retail solution is significant,especially with retailers continually looking for ways to get their products into consumers hands faster via seamless exp
90、eriences.By partnering with a third-party service provider,were able to focus on making our solutions more widely available,which ultimately helps our customers quickly and efficiently meet their fulfillment goals.Eran Frenkel,VP of Technical Operations,6 River Systems To summarize,an increase in de
91、mand for automation presents a capacity challenge for automation vendors,which struggle to scale effectively on their own and execute effective SLM.To cope with SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSAs outlined in a previous whitepaper(Trends in Supporting&Scaling Modern Automation),the cha
92、llenges associated with SLM include:Installation:The installation costs of an MFC solution can vary massively,with some companies suggesting that complete installation would take up to 3 months.Meanwhile,others proclaim that they offer“MFC-in-a-box”solutions that require as little as 12 weeks to dep
93、loy.Because of the nascent nature of the market,there is a high degree of uncertainty.Installation costs also include evaluation and simulation expenses,which tend to involve competency with auxiliary software.Installations are not a strong source of revenue for vendors and expend considerable time
94、required for traveling,site mapping,equipment setups,testing,and administrative scheduling.All of this effort could be redirected toward more profitable parts of the lifecycle,like product development and sales.Maintenance&Repair:Automation providers can receive revenue from maintaining and repairin
95、g their equipment over a 5 to 10-year life cycle.Organizations may deploy considerable resources for repairing and maintaining robotic equipment,and this total lifecycle support cost may impact the productivity improvements afforded by the initial investment.Therefore,maintenance functions require e
96、ffective management to control or decrease repair costs over the equipments lifecycle.A carefully considered maintenance and repair management program is essential to shortening the path to ROI and convincing potential users to make new investments in equipment.Furthermore,the purpose of aligning wi
97、th strategic partners to perform critical components like customer service,support,and maintenance reduces those additional costs quite significantly,thus shortening ROI by years.One example is delegating Level One and Two incidents to third-party 24/7 hotlines so that the vendor can focus on missio
98、n-critical incidents.ROI Oversight and Understanding Value:When manufacturers or logistics companies commit to deploying automation,they know they are making a strategic investment in the future.But without some high degree of visibility about the actual productivity gains,many remain skeptical and
99、hesitant.Therefore,it is critical to have actionable data on hand that provides key metrics.As an example,it is imperative to measure equipment downtime.Ultimately,what gets measured gets managed,and therefore the need for an effective data analytics regime is paramount.Clearly,this is an area where
100、 third parties can help.There is a burgeoning ecosystem of data specialists that offer predictive and even prescriptive analytics through historical data.They can also assist by educating vendors on best practices for data collection,processing,and feature extraction.Customer Centricity:To succeed a
101、t scaling their operations,those offering automation solutions cannot merely think like roboticists.They have to be customer-oriented.Vendors also need to have world-class customer service that facilitates buy-in not just from executives but from site managers and laborers.The entire customer workfo
102、rce should be looked at holistically and included in the technology adoption.It is not enough to rely on a select few SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTERSgurus or automation advocates planted in the customer base,as automation stands to impact the entire workforce.Providing this level of
103、customer service and attention while focusing on optimizing and innovating is one of the chief challenges of automation companies as they exit the engineering lab and startup phases.Workforce Training:For many automation vendors,thinking about training beyond the initial implementation phase is an o
104、pportunity cost that can be difficult to justify.Given the immense pressure to meet demand,most automation vendors will face significant resource limitations if they try to take on training responsibilities.Consequently,those with an established number of deployed MFC solutions are increasingly look
105、ing for partners that can be trusted to provide and take responsibility for critical services like ongoing employee training,materials development,and support.LIMITED SUPPLY OF SLM FOR MFCSCurrently,there are no or very few significant offerings from third-party service providers.Third parties are p
106、rimarily limited to pre-sales consulting and system integration.Typically,the MFCs are staffed with employees of the OEM solution provider(KNAPP,Takeoff,Ocado,Swisslog,etc.)to provide the construction,install and technology service and support.The end-user(the Retailer)provides the pickers and deliv
107、ery fulfillment to the consumer.RICOH SERVICE ADVANTAGETHE CHALLENGEGiven the breakneck pace of change in the automated logistics industry,there is a minimal self-supporting infrastructure to provide the requisite Service Lifecycle Management.Ricoh Service Advantage is one of the few vendors providi
108、ng a comprehensive SLM program to the various MFC solution providers.WHAT IS SERVICE ADVANTAGE?The Ricoh Service Advantage program offers MFC automation solution providers and their customers a comprehensive suite of support services,including their newly introduced Resident Technician program.Ricoh
109、s deployed managed service offering enables the MFC end-user customers to staff their micro-fulfillment centers 24/7 with dedicated technical service support personnel.Having dedicated onsite(resident)technical staff ensures the fulfillment center operates at peak efficiency with minimal downtime of
110、 the equipment and order fulfillment capabilities.WHAT IS THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF RICOHS OFFERING?OEM providers of the Micro-Fulfillment Centers have a challenge with scaling their MFCs to many brands with national and international retail sites and DCs.While these automation providers are adep
111、t at developing and implementing the various MFC technologies,including shuttle,conveyance,sortation,and operating software,they may not excel at the day-to-day staffing and operations required to support their technology at scale.Ricoh Service Advantage SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATED MICRO FULFILLMENT CENTE
112、RSprovides a uniquely beneficial partnership to automation partners,allowing them to leverage Ricohs global service and support infrastructure,including onsite managed services like the Advanced Technical ServiceResident Technician and special project teams offerings.Ricoh has an established service
113、 operation that delivers a complete portfolio of Technology Lifecycle Services through Service Advantage.See the Ricoh Technology Lifecycle Services in Figure 5 below.Figure 5:Ricoh Service Advantage Portfolio(Source:ABI Research&Ricoh)CONCLUSIONAs this whitepaper has demonstrated,the demands of mod
114、ern retail are creating enormous opportunities for automation solutions.While many of these have been around for a long time,the unique challenges of shorter delivery times,greater SKU variety,and more volume require a more distributed network of fulfillment centers.These have to be smaller than the
115、 previous generation and also highly automated.While a growing body of MFC providers can take advantage of this opportunity,scaling up is an enormous challenge.So far,there is limited third-party assistance to help these automation vendors and end-users with support solutions for their fulfillment t
116、echnologies.Ricoh Service Advantage has proved the exception,as the company is one of the few service providers that can offer a full complement of support services.Over time,the need for these third-party lifecycle support services will become self-evident to vendors who must balance expansion with
117、 the maintenance of a first-class service.Already,as companies like Alert Innovation deal with more interest from retailers adopting the MFC model,they are building partnerships with the likes of Ricoh to make sure their capacity can keep up with demand.Published February 20232023 ABI Research157 Co
118、lumbus Avenue 4th FloorNew York,NY 10023 USATel:+1 516-624-This document is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide any legal,regulatory,compliance,or other similar advice.You are solely responsible for ensuring your own compliance with all applicable legal,regulatory,complian
119、ce,or other similar requirements,and to obtain advice of competent legal counsel to determine your compliance obligations and satisfaction of those obligations.Ricoh makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy,completeness,or adequacy of the contents of this document,and this docu
120、ment is not to be relied upon in connection with the purchase of any Ricoh products or services.This document is provided“as is”and Ricoh disclaims any liability regarding your use of the contents herein.About ABI ResearchABI Research provides actionable research and strategic guidance to technology
121、 leaders,innovators,and decision makers around the world.Our research focuses on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries,economies,and workforces today.ABI Researchs global team of analysts publish groundbreaking studies often years ahead of other technology adviso
122、ry firms,empowering our clients to stay ahead of their markets and their competitors.2023 ABI Research.Used by permission.ABI Research is an independent producer of market analysis and insight and this ABI Research product is the result of objective research by ABI Research staff at the time of data
123、 collection.The opinions of ABI Research or its analysts on any subject are continually revised based on the most current data available.The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable.ABI Research disclaims all warranties,express or implied,with respect to this research,including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular