DHL picks record 500 million items using Locus robots

DHL Supply, the contract logistics division of DHL, says it has reached the milestone of 500 million picks accomplished using Locus Robotics’ LocusBot autonomous mobile robots.

This achievement underscores the transformative impact of Locus’ AMR technology on productivity and operational efficiency at an unprecedented scale.

The historic 500 millionth pick occurred on May 18, 2024, at DHL’s Toledo, Spain facility, where a LocusBot retrieved a consumer home goods product.

While it took 2.5 years for DHL to reach the first 10 million picks, the next 100 million picks were accomplished in just 28 months. Remarkably, the last 100 million picks took a mere 154 days.

Attaining this milestone exemplifies the power of human-robot collaboration and the exponential growth of the technology, with LocusBots seamlessly augmenting DHL’s human workforce to deliver unparalleled performance.

Sally Miller, chief information officer at DHL Supply Chain, says: “At DHL, we are relentlessly focused on driving innovation and operational excellence through our Accelerated Digitalization strategy aimed at deploying automated solutions at scale.

“Locus Robotics has been a trusted partner in this effort and this milestone achievement underscores the improved productivity, accuracy, and employee ergonomics we’ve enjoyed across our global network.”

With LocusBots deployed at more than 35 DHL-managed sites worldwide, the partnership between the two companies continues to thrive, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and performance in the logistics industry.

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, says: “We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous achievement with our esteemed partner, DHL Supply Chain.

“Their unwavering commitment to innovation and their trust in our LocusBot solution have been instrumental in attaining this remarkable milestone.

“We are proud to play a pivotal role in DHL’s ongoing success and look forward to many more milestones as we continue our collaboration.”

Locus Robotics says its “revolutionary, multi-bot solution” incorporates powerful and AI-driven, intelligent AMRs that operate collaboratively with human workers, dramatically improving productivity while reducing labor requirements compared to traditional fulfillment systems.