Fetch Robotics Launches Workflow Builder to Provide Instant Warehouse Automation

Fetch Robotics Launches Workflow Builder to Provide Instant Warehouse Automation

Drag-and-drop automation toolkit enables deployment in days, iteration to perfect workflows, and integration if required

San Jose, Calif., March 2, 2020–Fetch Robotics, the leader in cloud robotics and on-demand automation, today announced the immediate availability of Workflow Builder, the company’s new drag-and-drop development toolkit that allows customers to implement flexible automation in existing manufacturing, distribution and fulfillment facilities without the time, expense, and inflexibility of fixed automation or traditional autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Based on Blockly, the language used to teach non-programmers to code, Workflow Builder provides a visual and intuitive tool that customers can use to deploy flexible automation in days, iterate to perfect workflows, change workflows as needs evolve, and later integrate into WMSs (warehouse management systems), WESs (warehouse execution systems), or fixed automation — and do all of this in-house without having to rely on third-party resources.  

Workflow Builder was created as a simple to use, on-demand alternative to fixed warehouse automation solutions or traditional AMR solutions. Fixed automation solutions require the expense and time of a third party for design, installation and maintenance. Fixed automation solutions are also difficult and costly to modify, making it challenging for warehouse managers to adapt to changing business needs or workflows. Traditional AMR solutions often require facilities to be modified, floors to be labeled with QR codes, and integration with a WMS is immediately required as part of the implementation. While these solutions can be impactful, they are expensive and time consuming to deploy, and often lead to workflows that can’t be updated or changed without extensive outside support.

Workflow Builder removes these pain points by allowing customers to design, implement, and redesign their own custom automation workflows using Fetch’s AMRs, removing the need for any third-party integration work and saving both time and cost. With a simple, easy-to-use automation development environment that requires no coding, Workflow Builder gives customers a platform that enables them to develop and deploy their own automation in days, and continue to iterate on workflows as business needs change or are added. When paired with Fetch’s RaaS (Robots-as-a-Service) cloud-based business model, Workflow Builder allows companies to see ROI almost immediately, modify workflows until perfect, and then complete the integration work later if desired. 

“Our customers have long desired to get the richness of integration without the onerous requirement of actually having to do the integration,” said Melonee Wise, CEO at Fetch Robotics. “We are excited to introduce Workflow Builder and empower our customers to quickly deploy automation in their facilities and iterate the workflows until perfect. Workflow Builder allows even the most risk-averse organizations to feel confident with their investment in money and time.” 

Although Workflow Builder is used for device, WMS, and WES integration, it is not dependent on the use of a WMS or WES, and does not require an integrator, giving the customer full control over their facility in both the short- and long-term. It can be deployed with WMS-related workflows such as picking and putaway, or workflows completely outside the WMS such as pack station replenishment, empty tote return or recycling removal. Additionally, Workflow Builder “partner blocks” also enable customers to use the same drag-and-drop automation development with devices such as barcode scanners, RFID detection devices, mobile printers, and network buttons so that there is no custom coding required to support these types of devices. Since Fetch provides over-the-air updates to AMRs, new partner blocks can be added and used right away without anyone having to visit the customer’s facility. 

“Workflow Builder fundamentally changes the way we can manage our warehouse automation,” said Lee Weisenberger, Managing Director of IT at Universal Logistics. “With Workflow Builder, all we have to do is drive a robot around the facility to map it, lay out workflows, “drag and drop” device triggers into workflows, and then deploy the AMRs. We can easily change workflows or add new workflows on our own. Workflow Builder puts the power and control back in the hands of the customers instead of being held hostage by months and millions of dollars of outside integration work.”

About Fetch Robotics

Fetch Robotics is an award-winning intralogistics automation company headquartered in Silicon Valley. By combining autonomous mobile robotics with the power of the cloud, the Fetch Cloud Robotics Platform provides on-demand automation solutions for material handling and inventory management, with the power to find, track, and move almost anything in any facility. Fetch Robotics’ solutions and services are deployed in leading distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing centers around the world, augmenting workforces to drive increased efficiency and productivity. For more information, please visit www.fetchrobotics.com or follow the company on Twitter @FetchRobotics. 

Fetch Robotics Expands TagSurveyor to Provide Customers with Real-Time Inventory Visualization

Powerful new RFID visualization capabilities allow 3PLs, manufacturers and retailers to autonomously capture, and then analyze and visualize inventory data in the cloud

San Jose, Calif., December 17, 2019–Fetch Robotics, the leader in cloud robotics, today announced new unique capabilities for TagSurveyor, the robotic RFID solution that allows customers to gain complete visibility of assets in their fulfillment centers, distribution centers or warehouses via visualization of inventory data on a facility map. With the ability to autonomously and continuously capture RFID data, TagSurveyor allows customers to fine-tune their inventory planning with more up to date and accurate data in order to operate leaner and more efficiently.  

Ensuring accurate inventory counts is a key concern for distribution and fulfillment centers, which stand to lose over a trillion dollars due to poor inventory management practices that result in lost or misplaced items. Traditionally, warehouse managers have relied on physical counts, in which associates scan individual items to create a numerical record of items in the warehouse. These physical counts, which require hours of manual work and demand high labor costs, often result in inaccurate data collection and fail to collect location-specific information. As a result, warehouse managers only see the number of items instead of their location throughout the warehouse, leading to unnecessarily high inventory levels, wasted man hours looking for inventory and dollars lost in expedites, re-orders and write-offs.

Fetch’s TagSurveyor is a cloud-enabled inventory management solution designed to improve inventory tracking, increase accuracy and save customers time. The TagSurveyor robot uses powerful RFID technology along with robot localization in a facility to gain a complete view of the warehouse and its assets, returning valuable insights to customers through the cloud. With its built-in localization capabilities, TagSurveyor geotags all items with their location in the warehouse to create sophisticated visualizations of the entire facility. With TagSurveyor, customers can increase inventory counts and checks from once-a-month to multiple times per day to provide autonomous insights.

“Distribution and fulfillment centers are becoming more data-driven, but most facilities still lack basic information such as up-to-date inventory counts. Fetch is developing a full suite of robots to provide new levels of insights into warehouse operations and workflows, and TagSurveyor is our most specialized solution to date,” said Fetch Robotics Vice President of Products Stefan Nusser. “With Fetch’s cloud platform, customers already using Fetch robots can add a TagSurveyor with no additional effort, and can outfit their facilities with any of Fetch’s broad range of AMRs to help them find, track and move anything from parts to pallets.”

Once deployed in a facility, TagSurveyor allows customers to see the difference in inventory levels or movement of assets, making it easy to analyze changes, additions or removals since the last survey. Specifically, customers can overlay on a map of their facility assets that were supposed to be in a location that are no longer there, assets that are in a location that are not expected, or the movement of an asset from one location to another in a facility. Given the quickly evolving nature of warehouse needs, Fetch customers can deploy the TagSurveyor on an as-needed basis through Fetch’s Robots-as-a-Service model, which allows companies to scale effectively as the business grows. 

About Fetch Robotics

Fetch Robotics is an award-winning intralogistics automation company headquartered in Silicon Valley. By combining autonomous mobile robotics with the power of the cloud, the Fetch Cloud Robotics Platform provides on-demand automation solutions for material handling and inventory management, with the power to find, track, and move almost anything in any facility. Fetch Robotics’ solutions and services are deployed in leading distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing centers around the world, augmenting workforces to drive increased efficiency and productivity. For more information, please visit www.fetchrobotics.com or follow the company on Twitter @FetchRobotics.

Media Contact

Bateman Group
fetch@bateman-group.com

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Fetch Robotics Secures Funding for Market-Leading Cloud Robotics Solution

On-Demand Automation Solution Gaining Mainstream Adoption with Leading Logistics Providers

SAN JOSE, Calif. – July 23, 2019 – Fetch Robotics, the pioneer of on-demand automation, today announced a Series C round of funding in the amount of $46 million. The round was led by Fort Ross Ventures, with additional participation from CEAS Investments, Redwood Technologies, TransLink Capital and Zebra Ventures.  All existing investors – O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Shasta Ventures, Softbank Capital and Sway Ventures – also participated in this round. Fetch Robotics now has raised $94 million to date. The funding will be used for international expansion, to meet accelerating customer demand, and for ongoing research and development.

“Customers have responded enthusiastically to our unique Cloud Robotics solution, and we’re responding by securing the funds we need to continue growing and enhancing our offerings,” said Melonee Wise, CEO of Fetch Robotics. “The competitive pressures for excellence in logistics have never been greater. Our Autonomous Mobile Robots and cloud platform enables our customers to meet their customers’ demands while meeting their own financial objectives.”

While supply chain automation isn’t new to logistics or manufacturing, what is new is the need for speed – to produce, transport, package, ship, deliver and adapt – at a pace never before seen. At the same time, the labor shortages that plague e-commerce operations are also impacting distribution, fulfillment and manufacturing facilities. In a recent survey, the number one concern among logistics industry leaders was “hiring qualified workers,^[1]” and an additional survey^[2] reported that manufacturing executives are worried that around 60% of current open positions in their businesses are unfilled due to lack of skilled workers. It’s therefore no wonder that warehouse and manufacturing operators are struggling to find solutions that let them meet the demanding workload.

One such company is Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULH), a full-service provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions. With headquarters in Michigan, Universal provides value-added logistics services for Fortune 500 manufacturers and retailers, including several of the top automotive and transportation OEMs. Universal recently deployed the Fetch Cloud Robotics Platform in its one million square-foot Smyrna, TN logistics facility which serves the nearby Nissan Motors plant, the largest auto manufacturing facility in North America.

Just outside of Nashville, the greater metropolitan area where Smyrna resides ranks among the lowest overall unemployment rates in the United States at 2.4%.^[3] This makes it especially difficult to meet the demand for logistics workers and leads to chronic under-staffing situations. As a result, Universal has a pressing need for flexible, reliable and cost-effective automation solutions that can handle low-level tasks – like pushing carts with parts and sub-assemblies over long distances.  

“In Smyrna as in many markets we serve, we face chronic labor shortages, at times in excess of 10% of our required staff, which puts significant pressure on everyone from the workers on the floor to senior management,” according to Universal CEO Jeff Rogers. “The Fetch Robotics system provides an answer to our problem. Because the system installs so quickly – we had it fully operational in less than a week – we’re able to boost output and manage our costs. And our workers like it because the robots take on the less interesting, more laborious tasks. With Fetch, our employees can focus on the revenue-generating tasks that are more fulfilling and more valuable.”

In the Smyrna facility, Universal is using 10 Fetch CartConnect™ robots in conjunction with 40 carts to automate several key processes in the warehouse. This enables them to meet their targets while reducing the near continuous need to ask associates to work overtime. By opting for the Fetch Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) monthly fee model, Universal has been able to minimize their upfront investment and realize a compelling ROI. 

“Thanks to the short time from delivery to operation and the pay-as-you go approach, we’ve seen an immediate financial benefit from the Fetch deployment,” said Lee Weisenberger, Managing Director of IT at Universal. “This is a model we can easily roll out to many additional facilities.”

The Fetch Cloud Robotics Platform provides the market’s only cloud-driven Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) solution that addresses material handling and data collection for warehousing and intralogistics environments. Cloud robotics is revolutionizing automation by bringing the kind of speed, agility and cost advantages that cloud computing brought to IT.  

“We’ve had great success investing in companies that are using unique software platforms to transform large, global industries, and so Fetch Robotics is a natural addition to our portfolio,” said Anurag Chandra, Venture Partner at Fort Ross Ventures. “Fetch’s cloud-first approach enables on-demand automation, which we believe will transform logistics, manufacturing, retail and other industries in the U.S. and internationally.  We’re delighted to be a part of the Fetch team.”

“Flexibility in operations is a top priority for warehouse operators today,” said John Santagate, Research Director at IDC.  “Traditional automation technology lacks the ability for rapid deployment, scalability, and flexibility that modern robotics are enabling. On top of the physical element of modern robotics, development of cloud-based applications to enable robotics has greatly enhanced the ability to rapidly and efficiently deploy robotics at scale.  The cloud robotics approach at Fetch is something that is enabling warehouses to rapidly realize the benefits of robotics and making it easier for companies to deploy and use robots in their operation.”

Fetch customers include leading, global companies in third-party logistics (3PL), manufacturing, and distribution. Within the past year, the company has continued to receive industry accolades including the following:

● Named as a Leader in IDC MarketScape for Autonomous Mobile Robots for General Warehouse Automation (Doc# US44843019, May 2019)
● Recognized by Fast Company in the category of Most Innovative Company – Robotics
● Named as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economics Forum
● Awarded the AI Breakthrough Award for Best Overall Robotics company
● Named to The Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 Top Supply Chain Transformations (SDCE 100)

For more information on Universal, please visit www.universallogistics.com.

About Fetch Robotics
Fetch Robotics is an award-winning intralogistics automation company headquartered in Silicon Valley. By combining mobile robotics with the power of the cloud, the Fetch Cloud Robotics Platform provides on-demand automation solutions for material handling and inventory management, with the power to find, track, and move almost anything in any facility. Fetch Robotics’ solutions and services are deployed in leading distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing centers around the world, augmenting workforces to drive increased efficiency and productivity. For more information, please visit www.fetchrobotics.com or follow the company on Twitter @FetchRobotics.

Media Contact
Fetch Robotics
Tim Smith, 415-350-3019
comms@fetchrobotics.com

¹https://www.mhi.org/publications/report
² https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/manufacturing/articles/future-of-manufacturing-skills-gap-study.htm
³ https://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm

Learn more about the CartConnect AMR system by Fetch Robotics

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Fetch Robotics Garners Two More Industry Awards

Fetch Robotics Garners Two More Industry Awards

Fetch Robotics has focused on solving some of the most pressing problems in the supply chain with our combination of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and on-demand automation since 2014. And, people continue to take notice. We are proud to announce that Fetch is the recipient of two additional awards this month:

• The AI Breakthrough Award for Best Overall Robotics company, which was awarded by Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership.
• The Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 Top Supply Chain Transformations (SDCE 100), awarded by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine

 The SDCE 100 award spotlights successful and innovative transformation projects that deliver bottom-line value to small, medium and large enterprises across the range of supply chain functions. This is the second year in a row that Fetch is featured in the list. This year, Fetch was recognized based on our work with Framebridge, an online custom framing company. 

Framebridge deployed Fetch Robotics’ Cloud Robotics Platform and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) resulting in a 70% improvement in operational efficiency of employees’ transporting items. Building custom frames involves the movement of frame components from one area of production to another for matting, framing and finishing the custom art. Throughout the course of the day, this workflow required an employee to transport the material and travel up to forty round trips between stations.  Now, the framed artwork is automatically picked up by one of Fetch’s CartConnect robots, which self-navigates to and from the matting, framing and finishing stations. Framebridge’s highly trained artisans now spend more time building, rather than transporting, parts.

The TagSurveyor robot provides fully automatic, physical inventory counts of customer-owned artwork in the expansive warehouse. Framebridge attaches a unique RFID tag to each item received. TagSurveyor self-drives inside a designated area in the warehouse, reads the RFID tag, and sends location-based coordinates to Fetch’s cloud software. Protecting and tracking these precious pieces is central to all operational decisions at Framebridge.  Learn more about Framebridge in our case study that can be found here. 

The AI Breakthrough Awards recognize the top companies, technologies and products in Artificial Intelligence. Fetch was named the Best Overall Robotics Company for our use of AI in creating robots that work with people and maneuver in a “human” way. Traditionally, robotics engineers create motion-planning algorithms, which focus purely on optimization and efficiency. In these traditional cases, the robot perceives all obstacles the same. Without further semantic understanding of the environment, these algorithms can lead to jerky, unpredictable, and unnatural movements of the robot leading to a perception that the robot is unaware of its surroundings. Fetch is using AI and deep learning in order for our robots to become smarter and more aware of the environments that they share with people.

 Our team continues to work tirelessly on behalf of our customers who have adopted the complete line of Fetch AMRs to safely work alongside employees and help the companies and employees become more efficient.

Learn More About TagSurveyor 〉

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Fetch Robotics Named As a Leader In IDC MarketScape Report

Fetch Robotics Named As a Leader In IDC MarketScape for Autonomous Mobile Robots for General Warehouse Automation

Report Recognizes Fetch as an AMR Leader Owing to Cloud Robotics Expertise, Broad Product Portfolio, Ease of Integration

SAN JOSE, Calif. — May 29, 2019 — Fetch Robotics, the pioneer of on-demand automation, today announced that it has been named as a Leader by industry analyst group IDC in the IDC MarketScape assessment of eight key vendors providing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for the general automation market.

The “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Autonomous Mobile Robots for General Warehouse Automation 2019 Vendor Assessment” says “. … companies that are looking for a long-term partner across multiple dimensions of material movement automation and a road map for digital transformation will find Fetch as a company with both the ability to deliver in the near term and the vision to deliver on the future-state vision.”

“Historically, automation projects would take many months or even years to implement the technology,” according to John Santagate, Research Director, IDC. “Now, vendors like Fetch are delivering autonomous mobile robots for flexible automation that can be deployed in hours. Fetch’s cloud first approach, from the software side, is certainly an enabler of rapid deployment, one customer reference even indicated that they were able to unbox a Fetch robot at 9 a.m. and were using it in production workflows by 1 p.m. that same afternoon.”

“It is extremely gratifying to be recognized by the IDC MarketScape as a Leader in the AMR market,” said Melonee Wise, CEO of Fetch Robotics. “This is quite an honor for Fetch and a tribute to our customers, partners, and employees who have all helped to make this happen.”

Fetch Robotics has become successful in the AMR industry owing to it’s combination of:

Cloud Robotics Expertise
Fetch Robotics provides the market’s only cloud-driven AMR solution that addresses material handling and data collection for warehousing, manufacturing facilities, and intralogistics environments. Fetch’s cloud-first approach means that AMRs are deployed in a matter of hours.

Broad Product Portfolio
Material handling is not a one-size-fits-all solution, so Fetch offers the industry’s broadest selection of AMRs. These AMRs deploy and redeploy in hours and move anything from parts to pallets in warehouses, factories, and distribution centers — all while working safely alongside people, forklifts, and other material handling equipment.

Integration Options
Fetch is unique in that it can be up and running in a matter of hours without any need for integration, but the technology is also designed to easily integrate as needed with operational and decision support systems.

To learn more about how Cloud Robotics delivers on-demand automation for warehouses and manufacturing, download: https://info.fetchrobotics.com/idc-cloud-robotics-spotlight

Source: IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Autonomous Mobile Robots for General Warehouse Automation 2019 Vendor Assessment, Doc # US44843019, May 2019

About IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About Fetch Robotics
Fetch Robotics is an award-winning intralogistics automation company headquartered in Silicon Valley. We provide innovative, on-demand warehouse automation solutions for material handling and inventory management by combining mobile robotics with the power of the cloud to find, track, and move almost anything in any facility. Fetch Robotics’ solutions and services are deployed in leading distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing centers around the world, augmenting workforces to drive increased efficiency and productivity. For more information, please visit https://www.fetchrobotics.com or follow the company on Twitter @FetchRobotics.

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