Nokia has unveiled a groundbreaking addition to its Autonomous Inventory Monitoring Service (AIMS): the ability for drones to conduct accurate, item-level inventory counts.
Warehouse shrinkage – often attributed to administrative errors and theft – can cost firms 3-5% of their revenue, according to industry data. Nokia’s new inventory counting feature tackles this challenge head-on by leveraging the power of autonomous drones.
“Empowering warehouse operators with a competitive edge and keeping them at the forefront of automation is at the heart of what Nokia AIMS does,”
said Paul Heitlinger, General Manager of AIMS at Nokia.
“We are excited to launch an industry-first, true inventory counting capability for new and existing customers, wherever and whenever.”
The drones can now meticulously count individual items – whether eaches, cases, or cartons – stored in various racking systems, mimicking the precision of human workers. This data is then cross-referenced with the warehouse’s existing management systems, such as WMS or ERP, to flag any discrepancies.
Unlike traditional cycle counts, which often rely on the ABC method (categorising and counting inventory based on value and frequency), Nokia AIMS empowers businesses to conduct comprehensive and frequent checks across all locations. This ensures a more accurate, real-time understanding of inventory levels.
“With [this new capability], customers can not only gain peace of mind as our drones are designed to work while customers sleep but also free up human workers for high-value tasks that make a difference for their businesses,” added Heitlinger.
Nokia AIMS offers a complete, ready-to-deploy solution encompassing the drones, sophisticated software, and a user-friendly cloud-based interface.
The drones themselves are capable of conducting cycle counts at an impressive speed, estimated to be 7-10 times faster than their human counterparts, covering approximately 300 inventory locations per hour. This efficiency translates into significant cost savings, with Nokia projecting a potential ROI of 40% or higher for customers.
The new inventory counting capability is available immediately for customers in the US. Existing Nokia AIMS users will receive this feature seamlessly through a software update at no additional cost. New customers who subscribe to Nokia AIMS in 2024 will enjoy complimentary access for a full year.
With this latest development, Nokia AIMS is set to enhance warehouse management, offering businesses a powerful tool to optimise operations, minimise losses, and gain a competitive edge.
Source: IOT News