Warehouse robot tech company AutoStore has announced its strategic expansion into Australia and New Zealand to meet demand for supply chain automation solutions.
The Norwegian firm said that through the recent appointment of local Business Development Manager, Jason Wu, the company is well-positioned to expand its footprint across the local market.
AutoStore offers Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) and has delivered more than 900 systems across over 40 countries.
Wu believes there is great potential for a wide range of Australian industries.
“Although we are widely accepted in ecommerce there is also potential for everything from grocery and healthcare to industrial and manufacturing industries to take advantage of AutoStore technology,” Wu said.
He continued that a new modernised approach to warehousing is required to help business overcome the challenges arising from global megatrends.
“This is an opportunity to up-scale and have the competitive upper hand,” he said.
Megatrends: An evolving market demands smart solutions
AutoStore has identified several global megatrends, set to emerge in the local market:
ECommerce
The swift rise of eCommerce which, according to AutoStore’s research, is expected to represent 25 per cent of global consumer spending within the next few years.
Rapid delivery
AutoStore said there is rising consumer demand for same-day delivery, which is prompting the rapid emergence of micro-fulfilment centers (MFCs), particularly in cities.
Robotics in logistics
An upswing in demand for supply chain automation, using robotics and related technology. Wu said that the Australian market is yet to catch up to the likes of Europe and the USA, where automation technology has already been widely implemented.
“We expect demand for industrial robots will grow at a compound annual rate of 13 per cent over the next few years,” he said.
Sustainability
Another megatrend across many industries, AutoStore said the warehouse automation industry is also seeing a growing demand for energy efficient, sustainable solutions.
“In response to these trends, customers are in search of flexible, scalable solutions that will enable enhanced operational efficiency, for maximum throughput,” Wu said.
With plans to expand internationally, AutoStore said that it is poised to meet the evolving demands of the market.
“We customise to the customer’s application – be it inventory and stock management, in-store retail design, warehouse pick processing, or software systems,” the company said.
Among these is the ASRS – a system that uses warehouse robots for 24/7 order fulfilment within a cubic layout. Its modular design enables 90 per cent space utilisation. It makes use of cloud-based technology and real-time data collection to facilitate inventory management and predictive maintenance.
The ASRS also comprises intelligent robots that self-diagnose and self-correct, each fitted with up to 50 on-board sensors.
“As the Australian market refines its focus on supply chain management, it’s time for companies to think smart about their supply chain,” Wu said.
“AutoStore is firmly committed to the local supply chain and logistics sectors. We are eager to partner with customers on the development of solutions that fit their footprint, their business, and their objectives,” he said.
Philipp Schitter, AutoStore Vice President of Business Development Asia-Pacific, said that the company’s investment in Australia and New Zealand is pertinent to its growth strategy and belief in the market’s potential.
“The economic growth of these countries cannot be underestimated,” Schitter stressed.
“This, combined with its uptake of technology and ground-breaking innovations, makes it a key area for potential growth,” he said.
“We look forward to supporting the local industry and evolving to meet its demands,” he concluded.
In addition to their expansion announcement, the company also said it is further bolstering their offering through a new product launch taking place later this year.