What seemed like pure science fiction ten years ago is now on the rise in logistics worldwide: smart glasses are helping warehouse employees to improve order fulfilment. Karlsruhe-based company Packservice has been using this technology since 2020.
One look at a packed Euro pallet in the outgoing goods department makes it clear: a large number of different items have to be stacked in a fixed order for transport. Containers with cans and bottles made of glass and PET, boxes, trays, bags, shrinks - everything on a pallet, ready for dispatch. What used to be done using hand scanners is now done using vision picking, i.e. picking with smart glasses.
The glasses add additional visual and acoustic information to the orders. Augmented reality ensures that employees not only see the warehouse and the various items. The smart glasses also provide them with precise information about the order composition and the sequence of items per pallet. The big advantage: the employees„ hands remain free. This means that orders can be put together more quickly and errors are automatically minimised.
More efficient, faster, more sustainable
Brand manufacturers and logistics service providers are confronted with similar challenges: rising costs, volatile demand, a shortage of skilled labour and ever-increasing demands on delivery capability and sustainability are increasingly putting established processes to the test. One approach that is becoming increasingly popular in this environment is embedded co-packing - the integration of packaging services directly at the warehouse or logistics sites of manufacturers or their service providers. Packservice has established itself as one of the leading providers in this area. The company operates almost all of its more than 20 locations in the DACH region as in-house solutions - either directly in the brand manufacturer's warehouse or on the logistics partner's premises. „Embedded“ is not just a term here, but the business model. After all, co-packing is the core expertise and passion of the family-run company, which was founded in 1980.
In contrast to traditional co-packing structures, embedded solutions eliminate unnecessary transport between warehouse, packaging and distribution. This saves time and costs - and reduces CO₂ emissions. At the same time, the direct connection results in shorter response times, which is particularly advantageous in the promotional business, in the event of seasonal fluctuations or short-term requirements. In this context, Packservice also speaks of Campus modelIn addition to packaging, the company also takes care of packaging management, storage and logistical coordination if required.
The fact that this model has proven itself in practice is demonstrated by the many years of cooperation with numerous well-known branded companies throughout the German-speaking world. For many customers, embedded co-packing has long since become an integral part of their supply chain strategy.
packaging journal 3/2025
