Kerry Logistics has started using six robotic butlers at its flagship Hong Kong facility in order to meet consumer demand in the e-commerce sector.

“Today, speed-to-market order fulfilment is the key to success in the retail industry,” said Kerry in a statement. “The process of picking products is at the heart of e-commerce operations where high volumes of small and irregular orders predominate. Kerry Logistics’ robotic butlers are being deployed in the order fulfilment centre where sales orders taken from retailers or e-commerce marketplaces are being processed.”

The robots are in constant operation and can pick more products more quickly, capable of picking 280 items every hour as opposed to 50 and with a pick rate which is four times higher than before.

According to Kerry, being able to manage capacity efficiently was “paramount” as the business grows and volumes increase. Part of the solution is using automation, which has “a crucial role in enhancing the overall supply chain efficiency and delivering exceptional customer satisfaction.”