DHL Supply Chain is expanding its partnership with Norwegian robotics technology company AutoStore to further automated warehouse operations on a global scale.
DHL is already involved in nine operational AutoStore warehouse projects across Singapore, USA and Germany with four more in the planning stage. It is poised to become one of AutoStore’s largest 3PL clients.
The nine existing systems operate 800,000 bins, with the forthcoming four systems elevating the total number of bins to 1.2 million. In the future, DHL also intends to construct five facilities in addition to those already in operation or planning.
This automated storage and retrieval system technology has been developed to manage and optimise inventory using reduced space within warehouses. Its modular and scalable design makes it suitable for ecommerce and businesses handling smaller products such as fashion and tech items. The aim of DHL and AutoStore through this partnership is to accelerate the implementation of this technology that enhances abilities to meet diverse client needs.
“We are pleased to expand our existing relationship with AutoStore as we continue to implement our digitalisation and automation strategy in a growing number of warehouses, allowing us to better and faster serve our customers,” said Markus Voss, COO at DHL Supply Chain. “AutoStore’s standardised and modular technology perfectly aligns with our aim to make our operations more efficient, enabling swift scalability and adaptability across various use cases and end-markets – a crucial factor for us as a third-party logistics provider. Through a standardised approach and dedicated stock availability, we will be able to significantly drive down implementation times. Additionally, AutoStore’s network of partners is invaluable in supporting our growth strategy across multiple geographies.”
Since 2012, DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore have partnered to implement technology across sites in Singapore, Poland, Germany, Australia and the USA. The ongoing collaboration has already led to expansions at all operational sites, resulting in a fleet of more than 1000 robots worldwide that increase operational efficiency and throughput.
“Our longstanding collaboration with DHL Supply Chain has showcased the strength, reliability and efficiency of AutoStore’s technology,” said Mats Hovland Vikse, CEO of AutoStore. “We are thrilled to further expand this valued partnership, supporting DHL Supply Chain’s global deployment of automated warehouses. We are excited about the significant growth opportunity that this represents for AutoStore as we continue to drive innovation in the world of logistics.”
With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL (www.dhl.com) connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, which generated revenues of more than €81bn in 2021.
AutoStore (www.autostoresystem.com), founded in 1996, is a technology company that develops order -fulfilment products to help businesses achieve efficiency gains within the storage and retrieval of goods. The company offers hardware and software capabilities and the technology is interoperable with other third-party products. AutoStore is global, with 1250 systems in 50 countries. The company was founded in Nedre Vats, on the west coast of Norway, and has offices in Norway, USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Singapore, as well as assembly facilities in Poland.
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