Arvato and Microsoft Join to Develop Self-Managing Warehouse

The innovative research project “Moonshot” aims to implement self-improving processes within the warehouse environment by leveraging generative artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and cloud computing.

“We launched the Moonshot project with Microsoft in March, aiming for the ambitious goal of creating an autonomous warehouse," says Paul Brolly, Vice President of Global Business Development at Arvato. "Our approach involves examining various warehouse processes to automate and enhance them through robotics, digitalization, and AI. The focus isn't solely on individual processes. In the future, AI could handle the initial overall warehouse layout for new orders based on customer requirements, which we would then refine with our expertise. This approach saves time and effort.”

Key Takeaways:

• More importantly, Arvato can already demonstrate the practical applications of the Moonshot project. One use case optimizes picking routes using AI to reorganize task orders through rapid data analysis, enhancing navigation for pickers. Another use case involves AI-controlled interpretation of carrier responses in transport complaints. The AI Smart Layer interprets these responses and independently triggers appropriate actions in the claim management tool, freeing up resources by reducing manual complaint processing to three to four percent.