Anyone who wants to be successful with e-food will no longer be able to avoid the topic of automation in the future. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by packaging specialist Greiner Packaging together with TGW Logistics and the Innovation and Competence Centre logistikum.RETAIL at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Robots can already reliably pick a large proportion of e-food items.
Online grocery retail - also known as e-grocery - is growing steadily, and packaging plays a crucial role in this. It not only influences handling efficiency, but also customer satisfaction and CO2-footprint. Experts therefore analysed the future of e-grocery packaging as part of the e-Pack study. They investigated the question, whether packaging designed for stationary retail is also suitable for the online sector. In addition to analysing general data, the project team conducted interviews with retail companies and carried out intensive tests with the TGW RovoFlex picking robot.
„Although many different types of packaging were tested, the picking performance of RovoFlex was impressive. However, the prerequisite for this performance is that modern gripping technologies and machine learning are used.“
Michael Schedlbauer, Vice President Business Development Grocery at TGW Logistics
Key result of the e-Pack study: Irregular packaging shapes and sizes and materials that can be easily damaged cause problems in automated handling. Lids also posed a challenge in the initial test phase, but almost all packaging can now be handled successfully. The following basic principles apply:
- Standardisation: Standardised packaging sizes and shapes facilitate the automation of processes.
- Choice of material: Robust materials that offer both protection and simplify handling.
- Design: An optimised design for machine handling, simple locking mechanisms and clear grip points.
Automation as a driver of increased efficiency
The analysis of the interviews with retail companies shows: The interviewees consider damaged goods to be a negligible problem. If damage does occur, it is mainly due to incorrect handling of the products on the last mile. The most frequent complaints from end customers are shattered glass bottles and broken thin plastic packaging, such as yoghurt pots.
Companies are generally very positive about automation in order picking because it increases efficiency and provides answers to the acute labour shortage. In the The use of robots in order picking is a key requirement, that they need to be able to access a wide variety of products. However, pure online specialists often shy away from the costs of such projects.
Michael Schedlbauer emphasises: „Thanks to machine learning, picking robots are not only getting better and better in a short space of time, but are also can also be used in future, for example, to put goods on shelves at night. There are special configurations for this.“
Those responsible for the research project assume this on the basis of their analyses, that automation will play a greater role in the packaging and shipping process in the future than it does today. The main drivers are labour shortages and efficiency improvements. Robots and employees will work together: Robots will take over the physically strenuous, monotonous standard processes. Humans will take care of specialised tasks, corrections and monitoring.
Success factor in the e-food industry
According to the study, there is currently still little interest in the topic among both food manufacturers and retailers, although the proportion of online food orders is increasing, especially in urban centres. „If you want to be successful with e-food, will no longer be able to avoid the topic of automation“, Schedlbauer emphasises.
The automation of packaging processes offers numerous advantages: Automated systems can pack food Pack and prepare for dispatch more quickly and thus shorten the delivery time. Human error is minimised, customer satisfaction is increased and the number of returns is reduced. In the long term, automated systems reduce operating costs, as are Active around the clock without a break can be.
Source: Greiner Packaging
