DHL Supply Chain announced the deployment of SVT Robotics’ SOFTBOT platform across its global warehouse network. The plug-and-play platform enables robotics integrations up to 12 times faster than traditional custom coding setups.
DHL operates more than 8,000 collaborative robots across its global operations. The technology-neutral platform allows the company to fast-track future automation rollouts.
Prior to implementing the software, automation projects required separate custom coding for every new technology. Initiating new solutions took up to six to eight weeks. The process made enterprise-wide rollouts and upgrades slow and costly.
The platform’s prebuilt SOFTBOT connectors support DHL’s move away from monolithic, all-in-one systems to modular warehouse setups. These accommodate multiple automated solutions and can be reconfigured as technology and customer needs evolve.
Sally Miller, Global CIO at DHL Supply Chain, said the platform gives the company an effective and efficient way to connect different types of robotics to warehouse systems, monitor performance in real time, and scale solutions across sites with confidence.
The SOFTBOT platform provides a single, multi-site dashboard for teams to efficiently monitor system-wide operations. The tech-agnostic system accommodates different robotic technologies.
Tim Tetzlaff, Global Head of Digital Transformation at DHL Supply Chain, said the platform provides the integration layer between the warehouse management system and the digitalization agenda. It enabled DHL to replicate Goods-to-Person solutions across Europe with integration work completed in just three hours. DHL added new operational technology to live operations in Asia Pacific with zero downtime.
AK Schultz, CEO and Co-Founder of SVT Robotics, said DHL now does the majority of implementations without hands-on support from SVT. This means the company can scale faster, reduce costs, accelerate deployments, and take advantage of data visibility.
SOFTBOT’s unified data layer enables visibility into workforce activity and automation performance. This helps DHL better coordinate hybrid fleets of associates and robots working side-by-side.
The SOFTBOT Platform is now live in 30 DHL Supply Chain sites worldwide. DHL plans to expand to more than 100 sites across all geographies over the next three years.
