“By integrating Samsara Asset Tags, we’ve gained real-time visibility over £7.2 million worth of specialist equipment. What used to take weeks to locate is now found in minutes, allowing us to prevent theft and loss to the tune of £60,000 annually,” said Amber Kirkby, Product Owner of Samsara at Lanes Group. “It has transformed our operational efficiency by ensuring our teams always have the right tools exactly when they need them.”

Operations network just got better

Over the last two years, Samsara’s Network has doubled in density, reinforcing its position as one of the industry’s leading industrial-grade Bluetooth networks. This expansive mesh network leverages millions of Samsara-connected devices. By using industrial-grade Bluetooth signals to continuously ‘listen’ for Asset Tags, a single Asset Tag can be detected in real time.

To provide an even more comprehensive view, Samsara has integrated Hubble’s Terrestrial Network, comprised of 90M consumer smartphones. This integration builds on Samsara’s presence on roads, at job sites, and in residential areas by extending visibility into buildings.

“The integration with Hubble complements Samsara’s existing network,” said David Gal, VP of Connected Equipment at Samsara. “The Samsara Network leverages millions of gateways on assets from construction sites to motorways to rubbish trucks, while Hubble’s network uses primarily consumer smartphones, ensuring no lost or stolen asset can hide, even inside buildings. The best network in the business just got better, delivering unprecedented asset visibility.”

Intelligence delivers increased visibility and rapid asset recovery

With Samsara’s end-to-end theft and loss workflow, organisations can now detect at risk assets sooner, investigate incidents, and coordinate fast recoveries.
● Proactively identify at-risk equipment: With the new Left Behind Incident feature, managers are immediately notified when an asset is separated from its vehicle outside a trusted geofence. Rather than discovering the loss days or weeks later, customers can respond in real time to recover assets and prevent costly disruptions.
● Investigate with real-time information: Customers can mark an asset as missing and see critical context, such as photos of who last had the asset, which vehicle it was last seen with, and more, powered by StreetSense. This rich context helps determine the most efficient recovery method and allocates the resources needed for a successful retrieval.
● Rapidly recover assets and avoid lost time: Customers can coordinate quick asset recovery by dispatching a driver or sharing asset location with local authorities. Once dispatched, crews can quickly pinpoint an asset’s exact location using Compass Mode.
● Demonstrate return on investment: The new Asset Tag Overview page analyses asset photos with AI to calculate the value of assets protected and recovered. By tracking the total monetary value of assets, managers can demonstrate financial impact on the business.

Sized for equipment big and small. There’s nothing you can’t track.

The new Asset Tags are ruggedised devices engineered to operate in the most extreme and remote environments. With the compact Asset Tag and ultra-compact Asset Tag XS, equipment managers can mix and match devices based on the equipment’s size and shape.

● Asset Tag: Designed for both large and small equipment, the Asset Tag provides up to six years of maintenance-free battery life—a 50% increase over the previous generation.
● Asset Tag XS: Ideal for even smaller, high-value handheld tools or specialised equipment such as gas meters or IV pumps, the ultra-compact Asset Tag XS offers three years of battery life and flexible mounting options for the most obscure equipment.

“The scale of equipment loss in physical operations goes far beyond the cost of the tools themselves—it’s about lost productivity and project delays,” said David Gal, VP of Connected Equipment at Samsara. “To solve this, we’re doubling down on innovation, laying the foundation for new use cases. We’ve supercharged the network, the hardware, and the recovery workflow, and with the Asset Tag XS, now even the smallest assets stay within reach.”

New research reveals the multi-million dollar impact of asset loss

In physical operations, small assets play a big role in getting the job done; however, keeping track of these mission-critical tools is a growing challenge.

Research from Samsara’s forthcoming State of Connected Operations: Asset Theft & Loss report shows that in the past 12 months, 77% of organisations say a missing critical asset has resulted in a significant operational shutdown or delay. Moreover, asset shrinkage costs the average organisation without an asset tracking solution nearly £9.6 million annually, with smaller assets driving more than 70% of that cost.

The post Samsara Launches its Most Compact Asset Tag appeared first on Logistics Business.

The project targets one of the most sensitive points in fashion logistics: final order validation after picking and just before shipment to wholesale customers and retail networks. While picking operations were already supported by pick‑to‑light systems, final verification still relied heavily on manual checks, making it difficult to detect discrepancies before shipments left the facility.

In the U.S. fashion industry, these discrepancies carry a direct financial impact. Chargebacks caused by missing or excess items are among the most common penalties imposed by retailers, often reaching up to 20% of the invoice value and resulting in losses that can amount to tens of thousands of dollars per shipment.

To eliminate this risk, Perry Ellis implemented high-density RFID tunnels fully integrated into its existing conveyor lines. The solution automatically validates the contents of each open box after picking, comparing in real time the items detected by RFID with the expected order data.

The system combines Clustag MOT Station RFID tunnels, capable of processing up to 1,000 boxes per hour and reading up to 600 items per box, with Cognex barcode readers for box identification. Interroll automated rejection lines that divert non compliant shipments without interrupting operational flow.

The entire process is orchestrated by Zentup, Clustag’s middleware platform, fully integrated with Perry Ellis’ Manhattan WMS, ensuring real time EPC level validation and allowing only compliant orders to proceed to shipping. The entire process is orchestrated by Zentup, Clustag’s middleware platform, fully integrated with Perry Ellis’ Manhattan WMS, ensuring real‑time EPC‑level validation and allowing only compliant orders to proceed to shipping.

One of the challenges was deploying the RFID solution in a live production environment under tight timelines and complex installation conditions, including work on mezzanines over 12 meters high. Despite these constraints, the RAIN system was implemented without interrupting daily operations or reducing throughput.

The results were immediate. Since go‑live, Perry Ellis has achieved a 17% reduction in discrepancies detected after the RFID tunnels, along with a significant decrease in non‑compliant shipments reaching B2B customers. This has translated into substantial savings in chargeback penalties and improved product availability at stores, ensuring the correct sizes, colours, and styles arrive at the point of sale.

“This project shows how RFID technology can transform fashion intralogistics from day one,” says Jorge Robledillo, Director of Clustag North America. “Strong collaboration between teams was essential to delivering measurable results in a highly demanding operational environment.”

According to Tom Seow, VP of Distribution Engineering at Perry Ellis, “the RFID tunnel solutions, integrated with Zentup, allow us to detect errors before they reach the store and give us a clear competitive advantage. We will continue investing in these systems for future projects.”

With this deployment, Perry Ellis reinforces its intralogistics digitalization strategy and demonstrates how automated post‑picking validation with RFID tunnels has become a key tool for reducing financial risk, improving operational efficiency, and meeting the high standards of U.S. retail operations.

This success story will be featured by Clustag at MODEX 2026, where the company will exhibit from April 13 to 16 in Atlanta (Booth B17332). The event will serve as a platform to discuss with U.S. customers and partners how RAIN RFID solutions can be successfully integrated into highly automated intralogistics environments and how these projects are setting a new benchmark for B2B fashion distribution in North America.

The post High-precision RFID Tunnels in DC appeared first on Logistics Business.

Pallets form the backbone of logistics, enabling the transport of goods worldwide in countless processes. Over the course of their life cycle, they often travel hundreds of thousands of kilometers and carry heavy loads — wear and tear is therefore unavoidable. The consequences of damaged pallets can vary greatly depending on the severity of the damage: protruding parts, the possible collapse of loads, or impaired machine capability and transport safety due to severely damaged pallets are risks that can cause major disruptions to logistics processes, complete operational shutdowns, or transport damage. Damage to goods may also lead customers to refuse acceptance. Logistics companies naturally want to avoid financial losses, such as potential penalties, scrap, or costly repairs, wherever possible.

For this reason, empty pallets are repeatedly inspected during pallet exchange — however, this is usually done manually, explains Dr. Michael Kleinkes, one of the founders and Managing Director of breeze innovations GmbH based in Haltern am See: “These inspections are physically demanding and often subjective, which frequently leads to discussions during the handover of inspected and classified empty pallets.”

Kleinkes and his partner wanted to fundamentally change this situation. “Our goal was to develop a classification system that allows the condition of pallets to be assessed fully automatically, fast, reliably, reproducibly, and above all objectively, with minimal effort,” says Kleinkes. With breeze-PAVE, such a solution is now available to the pallet market.

Hybrid Sensor Technology Creates Digital Twins

The innovative system makes it possible to capture key pallet characteristics including the condition of each individual pallet component, color, brightness, and 3D dimensions, thus enabling the best possible assessment of pallet quality. The reliable classification of both colour and brightness is extremely important: many pooling companies mark their own pallet inventory with a dedicated colour to distinguish them more easily from rental pallets operated by competitors. Brightness detection plays a key role in the classification of exchange pallets. When checking component dimensions — deck boards, stringer boards, cross boards, and blocks — breeze-PAVE detects whether these elements comply with the specified geometric dimensions and required positions. If they do not, the corresponding areas are marked, and the pallet’s quality rating is downgraded.

Breeze relies on a multi-sensor system for data acquisition, explains Kleinkes: “Pallets are scanned by breeze-PAVE in motion from all directions: top, bottom, sides, front, and rear using multiple laser sensors, while brightness is checked simultaneously. This combination allows us to achieve complete 360-degree scanning of the real objects, providing a solid basis for assessing the condition of the new and used pallets being inspected.” The system also reliably detects chemical residues and contamination such as oil, paint, or adhering cardboard.

From the captured information, a digital twin is created, which breeze-PAVE then analyzes in detail using software. In this step, deviations from predefined quality characteristics are automatically detected, the pallet is classified, and clearly classified into quality grades A, B, C, or ‘defective.’ The evaluation profiles can be flexibly adapted to the user’s specifications and cover both common load carrier standards such as EPAL, as well as individual, customer-specific requirements.

“In addition, the software enables users to achieve customer-specific pallet classification using configurable parameter sets that are independent of common standards,” explains Kleinkes. “This has the advantage that individual profiles can be created for any customer and selected at the push of a button in the software. This makes it possible to meet customer requirements in the best possible way.”

Over 1,000 Pallets per Hour

Compared to manual pallet inspection, breeze-PAVE offers a range of advantages. The most important feature of the system is the objectivity of the automated process, which significantly increases process reliability. Another major advantage is the system’s exceptional accuracy and speed: during operation, it captures several million 3D measurement points per pallet without impacting cycle time, evaluates them in less than one second, and detects not only obvious damage but even the smallest deviations.

This impressive performance currently enables a throughput of well over 1,000 pallets per hour per system. These pallets can be inspected during normal operation — on the fly, without stopping the load carriers. Especially in high-throughput processes, this results in enormous savings in time and labour.

“Based on the evaluation time, we could theoretically inspect up to 4,000 pallets per hour per system — but this rate cannot be realized with current conveyor technology. The precision and speed of breeze-PAVE are absolutely unattainable for the human eye,” emphasizes Kleinkes.

Another strength of breeze-PAVE is its ease of integration into existing conveyor and sorting systems. It requires only 1.5 meters of installation space above the conveyor technology and a gap of around 25 centimeters in the conveyor line. Alternatively, breeze also offers a complete solution with its own conveyor technology. If required, the system control can also be integrated into existing control cabinets.

Optimized Digital Load Carrier Management

According to Kleinkes, full integration into digital load carrier management systems represents an important milestone toward the digitalization of logistics processes: “For every pallet inspected, breeze-PAVE generates an online report that can be evaluated according to various criteria, such as shipments, quality grades, or locations. If desired, the captured data is transmitted directly to the cloud and made available to the user in real time. This enables transparent, cross-site monitoring of pallet quality and, for example, long-term observation of the quality of a specific customer’s pallets over months. For modern logistics processes, this technology is a central building block and a decisive step toward digitalized load carrier management.”

Moreover, breeze-PAVE is not limited to wooden pallets but can inspect all types of load carriers, such as plastic pallets, mesh boxes, loaded containers or packaged goods. Information such as dimensions, volume, overhangs, or deformations of such objects is precisely captured and digitally evaluated by the system. “In this development, we initially focused on wooden pallets, but based on our many years of experience in automation, we are able to use it as a flexible platform for individual customer solutions and adapt it to the respective requirements,” says Kleinkes.

According to him, the system’s capabilities go far beyond merely classifying empty or loaded load carriers: “With breeze-PAVE, we can digitize virtually anything—from reusable drinking cups to large objects — and are able to detect any kind of geometric shape or positional deviation in virtually any object. At present, however, we are focusing on pallets and are already working on additional solutions in this area, such as automated material monitoring in the repair process. This allows the costs incurred per repaired batch to be automatically tracked and invoiced.”

Economically Attractive Solution

The system developed by breeze innovations has a high technological standard and is based on established sensor and software technologies. According to Kleinkes, the purchase costs of the classification system are amortized within a short time: “Saved staff costs, high availability even during staff shortages, illness, or vacation, reduced misclassifications and avoided returns, as well as the reliable detection of counterfeit pallets — which are increasingly causing problems in logistics — make breeze-PAVE an economically attractive solution. Companies that inspect or sort large quantities of pallets every day benefit enormously from this innovation.”

For employees, day-to-day operations remain almost unchanged: pallets continue to be fed, removed, or routed to repair as usual, depending on the classification result. What is new, however, is that breeze-PAVE fully automates the previously manual inspection of pallet quality and provides an objective classification evaluation in less than one second. For every delivery process, a digital quality report is available via a web server and can be displayed on any device with a web browser. Warehouse staff and truck drivers thus receive an immediate, transparent overview of the load composition and the condition of the pallets at a glance. With the objective results of breeze-PAVE in the form of transparent reports, discussions about pallet quality at the loading dock are now a thing of the past.

The post Objective, Automated Optical Pallet Classification appeared first on Logistics Business.

Against this backdrop, the new strategic partnership between EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) and Bluerock TMS, a provider of a globally deployed transport management system, is creating a platform that combines mathematical route optimization with real-time transport management. The goal of the collaboration is to integrate EPG’s routing engine ‘Greenplan’ directly into Bluerock’s cloud-based TMS platform. This will give companies access to a fully connected system that unifies planning, execution and analysis of their transport operations in one central process.

As a global company with locations in Europe, North America and Asia, Bluerock coordinates millions of shipments each year through its modern and comprehensive TMS. Greenplan enhances these capabilities with a decisive next step.

While Bluerock provides full transparency on delays, capacity constraints, and operational deviations, Greenplan takes action where visibility alone reaches its limits. Greenplan doesn’t just calculate optimal routes that meet all customer criteria but continuously reoptimizes them. Using advanced mathematical models, routes automatically adapt to changing conditions in real time and can be released instantly at the push of a button.

The result is a genuine ‘beyond visibility’ effect: companies no longer just see what is happening, instead, they receive immediate, data-driven solutions and concrete options for action. This translates into measurable cost savings, improved on-time performance, and reduced emissions.

Dr. Clemens Beckmann, CEO Greenplan at EPG, explains: “With this partnership, we are combining mathematically precise route optimization and high-performance transport management in one system for the first time. Companies gain not only trans-parency but also immediate ability to act – automatically and in real time.”

Efficiency as a Key Competitive Advantage

Global supply chains are becoming increasingly volatile and interconnected. Fluctuating demand, traffic congestion and rising sustainability requirements increase operational pressure on fleet operators and shippers alike. Static or rule-based route planning methods that used to be sufficient can hardly keep up with these new challenges. The Greenplan algorithm analyzes traffic flows, delivery priorities, time windows and vehicle capacities simultaneously and simulates multiple scenarios within seconds. The most efficient routes are identified and automatically adjusted to current conditions.

Combined with Bluerock TMS, this creates a learning system that not only detects disruptions but can also react automatically upon them. Dispatchers immediately see delays, late arrivals or capacity constraints in the Bluerock dashboard, and Greenplan generates the optimal alternative without manual intervention. Rico van Leuken, CEO of Bluerock, adds: “Greenplan expands our TMS with a dimension that goes far beyond traditional visibility. Our customers receive a solution that combines the power of a globally deployed transport management system with the precision of mathematical optimization. The result is resilient, dynamic and future-ready networks.”

Global Reach and a Sustainable Outlook

Bluerock is used today by companies on three continents and is known for its intuitive usability and strong transparency features. With the integration of Greenplan optimization, the TMS gains an additional dimension and route planning becomes an active con-trol tool that unites economic efficiency with environmental responsibility.

For EPG, this partnership marks another milestone in expanding its international partner network. The company aims to connect technological innovations worldwide and to establish new standards in digital transport logistics together with leading providers. The combination of Greenplan’s routing technology with Bluerock’s global reach creates a strong foundation for this vision. “Sustainability and efficiency are not opposites but mutually reinforcing factors,” concludes Dr. Beckmann. “The same data that helps reduce costs also enables precise measurement and reduction of emissions. Modern logistics is becoming more economical and more responsible.”

The post Instant Visibility & Automated Logistics Execution appeared first on Logistics Business.

Key exhibition product highlights will include:

• Shipping Labelling – To keep pace with fast-moving logistics environments, Bixolon will showcase its broad range of high-performance labelling solutions with variable print widths. The lineup includes the NEW XD5-40II 4-inch (118 mm) desktop label printer series, offering enhanced performance within a compact, cost-effective footprint. Alongside the unique XQ-840II 4-inch (118 mm) stand-alone tablet-embedded printer and the SLP-DX220W 2-inch (58 mm) slimline direct thermal label printer with Wi-Fi connectivity. For high-volume operational demands, Bixolon will present the cost-efficient XT3-40 4-inch (114 mm) industrial printer, alongside the competitively priced XD3-40 4-inch (118 mm) series featuring a compact design and essential industry features. Completing the range is the robust and sustainable XL5-40 4-inch (114 mm) linerless printer designed for variable-length labelling without waste.

• RFID Labelling – Understanding the importance of track-and-trace within logistics, Bixolon will be presenting its comprehensive range of mobile, desktop, and industrial RFID print-and-encode solutions. This includes the feature-rich, premium XM7-40R 4-inch (112 mm) mobile RFID label printer, the NEW XD5-40IItR 4-inch (118 mm) RFID-enabled desktop thermal transfer label printer, and the XT5-40NR 4-inch (114 mm) high-performance industrial thermal transfer RFID label printer.

• Mobile Printing – Bixolon will also highlight its reliable mobile portfolio, including the bestselling SPP-R200III 2-inch (58 mm) ergonomic and lightweight mobile printer. Alongside the outstanding XM7 Series comprising of the XM7-20 (2-inch / 58 mm), XM7-30 (3-inch / 80 mm), and XM7-40 (4-inch / 112 mm) Auto-ID mobile liner and linerless label printers, supported by a wide range of accessories ideal for logistics and warehouse operations.

Bixolon will also be joined on the stand by Urovo Europe, a global manufacturer of rugged mobile devices who will be showcasing its latest rugged mobile computing solutions designed to improve efficiency and productivity in logistics and warehouse environments. Highlights include the new DT66 full-touch mobile computer, the RT40S rugged handheld for demanding warehouse operations, and the U2 wearable mobile computer for hands-free workflows.

John Kim, Marketing Director, Bixolon Global:

LogiMAT continues to be the premier stage to connect with partners and customers who are driving forward innovation in intralogistics… We’re excited to showcase our latest printing technologies, designed to deliver efficiency, durability, and actionable data to today’s fast-moving supply-chain environments.

The post Advanced Printing Solutions at LogiMAT appeared first on Logistics Business.

Clustag will officially present ‘Tag Inspector’ at EuroShop Düsseldorf, at Zebra Technologies’ stand. In an edition marked by the strong presence of RAIN RFID, the company will demonstrate how this technology, already well established in retail, allows for optimised efficiency and automation of validation and inventory processes in real-world environments.

With this launch, Clustag expands its RAIN solutions ecosystem with an application for R&D, IT and test lab departments, as well as professionals who need to conduct rapid validations, comparative tag analyses or technical demonstrations in different environments.

‘Tag Inspector’ overcomes the usual limitations of native applications for these devices thanks to a modern, clear and process-oriented interface, which makes reading, validation and identification tasks simple and accessible.

The launch of ‘Tag Inspector’ forms part of a global trend highlighted by the RAIN Alliance, which describes the integration of RAIN RFID readers into smartphones as a ‘new wave of innovation’, driven by manufacturers such as Qualcomm and Impinj. The organisation is accelerating this technology by promoting ecosystem meetings in working groups focused on ensuring interoperability through standardisation.

In this context, Clustag maintains ongoing contact with Zebra Technologies, a manufacturer that integrates RFID readers into industrial smartphones. Initially, ‘Tag Inspector’ is available for their EM45-RFID and TC53e-RFID models, with plans to expand to other additional models. Although these devices do not yet achieve all the capabilities of a traditional RFID PDA, their design and ongoing advances in mobile reading are accelerating their adoption in technical environments.

The goal of this collaboration between Clustag and Zebra is to continue exploring new applications, understand the evolution of these devices and progressively optimise ‘Tag Inspector’ according to real market needs. In this context, there is consideration for the application to also work on other industrial devices without an integrated RFID reader, increasing its versatility and enabling flexible technology adoption without replacing current equipment.

Clint Tenill, Vice President of Product Innovation at Clustag NA, highlights the impact this transformation will have on the sector, noting that the adoption of this technology is accelerating in North America. “Driven by initiatives such as the RAIN Alliance, which is standardising its integration into mobile devices, ‘Tag Inspector’ offers retailers an agile tool to validate tags, compare suppliers and make decisions based on real data, directly from a smartphone. This reduces friction and speeds up RFID integration in stores and logistics centres.”

Multiple features in an intuitive yet specialised tool

‘Tag Inspector’ stands out for being an open application compatible with a variety of RFID tags from multiple manufacturers. Its ability to scan heterogeneous tags allows retailers to identify which models each uses, analyse their behaviour and determine what improvements they may need. This is especially useful in evaluation, benchmarking and supplier selection processes.

These features allow tags to be tested in different environments and reading points, observe variations in frequency, power and sensitivity, or compare performance between old and new models. In this way, suppliers can be objectively assessed, and their entire RAIN RFID ecosystem optimised in telecommunications, R&D or technical validation contexts.

Our goal with ‘Tag Inspector’ was to put the user experience at the centre and develop a tool that is intuitive but highly specialised, aimed at technical and innovation teams that require precision, speed and constant evolution in their RFID tests and deployments,

says Toni Tortosa, project lead in the Clustag IT team.

The post RFID Tag Inspector Application Launched appeared first on Logistics Business.

As logistics operations become increasingly digitised, the ability to track assets continuously, without deploying new infrastructure or relying on costly cellular connectivity, has become a commercial imperative.

The Blecon Agent delivers this capability by activating the built-in Bluetooth radios already present in Zebra devices, converting them into mobile hotspots that close long-standing visibility gaps across the supply chain.

By eliminating the need for manual scanning, cellular trackers, or new physical infrastructure, the Blecon Agent enables continuous, cost-effective asset visibility using hardware organizations already have in the field.

Digitising the Gaps in the Supply Chain

Supply chain leaders have historically struggled with gaps in their data where tracking is economically or operationally difficult. Blecon, a Zebra Registered ISV Partner, aims to close this gap by enabling the tracking of a wide spectrum of assets, from reusable roll cages utilising advanced Smart Beacons to one-time pallet shipments using low-cost, disposable Bluetooth Smart labels.

While cellular tracking is often too costly for high-volume assets and fixed readers leave blind spots, Blecon utilises the Bluetooth radio already present in frontline devices from companies like Zebra. This effectively turns the connected frontline into a massive Bluetooth network that powers asset visibility, ensuring that data flows continuously between workers, assets and backend systems.

The barrier to total visibility has always been the network… Operators either pay for expensive cellular connectivity on every asset, or they accept that they can only track items where they have installed additional infrastructure. We offer another way. By activating the Bluetooth radio in the devices they already own, we turn the gaps in their supply chain into data.

said Simon Ford, CEO of Blecon.

Empowering the Frontline

The solution is designed to support an augmented workforce, where technology handles the heavy lifting of data capture. By running efficiently in the background, the Blecon Agent automates the collection of asset data so workers can focus on high-value tasks.

This approach delivers on the promise of empowering the frontline by removing the friction of manual scanning:

• Autonomous Data Capture: Assets and inventory are detected automatically by the Blecon Agent as they move through the operation.
• Zero Friction: Frontline teams do not need to alter their workflow, creating a truly passive tracking system that enhances operational speed and safety.
• Immediate Scale: Organisations can deploy a global tracking network in days using their existing device estate.

The post Devices’ Autonomous Bluetooth Tracking Network appeared first on Logistics Business.

Next-generation warehouse robots: complete, real-time visibility

Since 2023, Dexory robots have been operating in live warehouse environments, helping operators capture accurate, real-time visibility across their facilities. Building on this proven foundation, the company is now introducing the next evolution of its autonomous robot design, which is faster, more efficient, and capable of capturing significantly more data across increasingly complex warehouse operations.

The new robot operates safely alongside people and machinery without disrupting daily workflows. It captures high-frequency warehouse data and continuously feeds a live view of operations into Dexory’s digital twin platform, DexoryView. With an extended scanning range of up to 60 feet (vs. 40 feet in the current generation), the robot can process more data, faster. This delivers consistent visibility across racks of all shapes and sizes, including double-deep configurations, block storage, and other non-racked environments, creating a reliable data layer across the entire warehouse at the click of a button.

“Warehouse performance depends on how closely operational systems reflect reality on the floor,” said Richard Williams, VP of Robotics, Dexory. “By continuously capturing accurate data across every storage type and operational area, our next-generation solution gives customers a trusted, real-time foundation for decision-making. This enables warehouse operators to make decisions based on what is actually there, not what they assume is true.”

The robot’s modular architecture also ensures future-proofing, allowing warehouses to seamlessly integrate additional capabilities like pick face analysis or temperature monitoring without costly overhauls. Customers using existing Dexory’s systems have already seen remarkable results, including 80% reduction in audit time and 20% throughput improvement. The new capability extends these performance gains, solving visibility issues across all complex configurations.

Complementing the new hardware is Storage Health, a software feature powered by computer vision and AI. Running in the background during every scan and analyzing the high resolution images captured in real time, Storage Health acts as an additional layer of inspection, identifying critical issues that frequently go unnoticed during manual checks.

The feature identifies and flags potential hygiene and stock risks across all rack levels. This includes damaged racking, defective pallets, and unstable items that could collapse and endanger workers; hanging shrink wrap and empty pallets that create fire, contamination, and obstruction risks; and damaged or crushed goods that undermine stock control, driving loss and rework.

“The biggest risks often sit higher up or deeper in the racks where manual checks are infrequent and ineffective,” said Chris Coote, Director of Product at Dexory. “Storage Health changes this, enabling operations, health and safety, and inventory teams to act early and reduce risks before they escalate into costly incidents, injuries, or compliance issues.”

This dual launch reinforces Dexory’s commitment to providing complete, continuous intelligence, allowing warehouse operators to gain full visibility, think smarter, and move faster than ever before. The first public showcase of these solutions will be at Manifest 2026, booth #1055, from February 9-11, 2026.

The post Next-Gen Autonomous Robot & Software appeared first on Logistics Business.

Volatility is pushing logistics teams away from static plans and towards more adaptive models that can adjust as conditions change. At the same time, the UK’s move toward international sustainability standards is pulling transport activity into financial and climate reporting, which means more scrutiny on how planning decisions are made and how networks respond when plans shift.

None of this reduces what customers expect. They still want deliveries to arrive when promised and ETAs they can rely on. The result is a planning environment where operating conditions move often, while the bar for service stays high.

Limits of legacy planning

Planning infrastructure in many logistics operations is still shaped around older expectations. Tools like Transport Management Systems, ERP modules and carrier portals are designed to maintain order and efficiency. They perform reliably when inputs remain steady and can record movements and costs across a network. Once those inputs start to shift, the assumptions behind the plan begin to move as well.
This is when the rest of the network starts to loosen. A carrier that performed well last week may slip if local capacity tightens. A hub that usually runs smoothly can slow after even a brief disruption. Weather events, labour gaps and uneven inbound flows can quickly change how much of the original plan still holds, and the timings that depend on it become harder to maintain.

Most traditional TMS setups will not adjust on their own when inputs shift. They continue allocating loads to the same partners and follow the same routing logic. Planners are then left to step in and keep service stable, often by making quick manual adjustments. These fixes often work in the moment but can create blind spots later as the reasoning behind them lives in emails or notes rather than in the system of record.
This becomes a problem when finance, sustainability or C-suite teams need evidence of a cost movement or emissions change. Without a shared record of why plans shifted, decisions have to be reconstructed after the fact, making accountability harder to maintain as transport activity moves into financial and climate reporting.

Closer to reality

When decisions lack a clear record of their reasoning, logistics teams look for ways to keep planning connected with how the network is performing. That need for closer alignment is leading many organisations to add agentic TMS, systems that continuously monitor live conditions and adjust plans as constraints shift rather than waiting for manual intervention.

These systems sit alongside existing platforms and track critical signals live. They bring carrier performance, tariffs, demand, weather and capacity into one view, so the plan reflects what is happening now rather than what was assumed at the start of the week.

This means that when a lane tightens or a tariff moves mid-cycle, the system surfaces options that highlight alternative routes or partners and keeps service steady. Predictive delivery helps ETAs stay accurate while loads can be managed around what is truly available, which improves vehicle fill rates and reduces empty running.

Each change keeps its context attached. The trigger and the intent sit inside the same view as the plan. This allows finance, sustainability and operations teams to see why something may have moved and what it achieved.

The broader effect is a network that stays more stable even when conditions are not. Adjustments can happen earlier, disruptions are contained sooner, and planning becomes a continuous cycle rather than a sequence of repairs.

The path for 2026

The next stage for logistics leadership through 2026 is about judgement just as much as embracing agentic technology. As systems grow more adaptive, the real skills lie in knowing how to utilise that flexibility effectively: when to trust the model, when to override it, and how to balance service, cost and emissions as conditions keep shifting.

The post Adaptive Logistics Strategies appeared first on Logistics Business.

Following a brief but intensive testing phase, the decision was made. Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) won out with ‘LYDIA Voice’. The solution not only met all technical and economic criteria, but also enabled a smooth, phased transition by allowing parallel operation with the legacy system. This approach allowed approximately 10,000 users across 33 locations to become familiar with the new technology without any loss in productivity. The rollout was carried out gradually across regional distribution centres.

From fresh fruits and vegetables to beverages and cosmetics, EDEKA offers an exclusive assortment of around 25,000 food and non-food items. This wide-ranging product selection meets the needs of a diverse and varied customer base. With 11,100 stores, the EDEKA Group is one of the most powerful players in the German grocery retail sector and a reliable partner for independent retailers, suppliers, wholesale customers, and convenience store operators. A strong commitment to quality shapes every aspect of the company’s operations throughout the entire value chain. This is especially evident in logistics. EDEKA’s wholesale operations are managed by seven regional companies that ensure all products arrive fresh and on time at more than 7,000 EDEKA stores. Deliveries are made from a total of 38 logistics centres spread across Germany, ensuring a seamless and reliable supply chain.

A New Sound

Order picking is a critical component of EDEKA’s logistics operations, playing a key role in maintaining a smooth and efficient flow of goods. However, the limitations of the existing pick-by-voice system had become increasingly apparent: lack of flexibility, ergonomic issues, and growing complexity in collaboration with the provider made a system change inevitable. EDEKA set out in search of a solution that not only delivered technologically but was also future-ready. That search led to LYDIA VoiceWear — the innovative picking vest developed by the voice recognition and logistics software experts at EPG.

Already familiar to the team, LYDIA VoiceWear was put to the test under real-world conditions — and the results were convincing across the board. Malte Kruse, Head of IT Logistics Systems EDEKA Minden Hannover, summed up the decision clearly:

“LYDIA VoiceWear offers functionality that’s truly one of a kind — there’s nothing else like it on the market. What’s more, our employees can be productive right away, without any prior voice training. That’s a significant advantage. With our previous system, that wasn’t possible — and when it comes to seasonal workers, quick onboarding is absolutely critical to our operations.”

Switching to Voice During Live Operations

EDEKA’s decentralized structure results in a highly diverse IT landscape — a factor that posed a significant challenge during the transition to the new pick-by-voice system.

“This was essentially open-heart surgery, as the switchover took place during ongoing operations,” explains Tim Just, CEO of Voice Solutions at EPG. “Despite the wide range of different systems and the autonomy of the regional companies, the rollout was smooth and uninterrupted. A key factor in this success was the strong commitment of EDEKA’s decision-makers and the openness of its employees.” It quickly became clear that LYDIA Voice was capable of managing the existing complexity and translating it into an efficient, unified system — even under real-time, live conditions.

Ergonomics That Work

The decision to adopt the LYDIA VoiceWear picking vest originated from an initiative by EDEKA Minden-Hannover. The system allows for maximum freedom of movement during pick-by-voice operations while meeting key requirements for ergonomics, speed, and flexibility in order fulfillment. Instead of using a separate headset, the microphone and speaker are integrated directly into the wearable system — providing not only greater comfort but also clear voice transmission. The built-in audio system also supports users who wear hearing aids — a significant advancement in inclusion and accessibility, since traditional headsets have often posed a barrier in this area. From a technological standpoint, digital audio transmission is robust and offers high bandwidth.

Another standout feature is the integrated beamforming technology, which significantly reduces background noise — even in high-noise warehouse environments. The microphone array, consisting of four high-performance microphones, creates a directional ‘funnel’ effect for speech input. This ensures accurate voice recognition, even when multiple pickers are working close to each other. “All of our hardware and software components are developed with a strong focus on user-friendliness,” explains Just. “That leads to significantly higher acceptance and noticeably greater user satisfaction — an effect that became immediately clear at EDEKA.”

Following the rollout in EDEKA Minden-Hannover, EDEKA Nordbayern also began implementation of LYDIA Voice and LYDIA VoiceWear. Today, more than 4,400 devices are in use across 33 logistics centres.

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