DHL Supply Chain and robotics technology company, AutoStore™ are expanding their partnership in a move set to further automated warehouse operations on a global scale.

AutoStore™ specializes in automated storage and retrieval systems.

DHL Supply Chain, already involved in nine operational AutoStore warehouse projects with four more in the planning stage, is poised to become one of AutoStore's largest 3PL clients, reinforcing their commitment to digitalization and automation.

The nine existing systems effectively operate 800,000 bins, with the forthcoming four systems elevating the total number of bins to a remarkable 1.2 million.

In the future, DHL said it also intends to construct five further facilities in addition to those already in operation or planning.

"This innovative automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) technology has been developed to efficiently manage and optimize inventory using vastly reduced space within warehouses. Its highly modular and scalable design makes it a preferred solution for e-commerce and businesses handling smaller products such as fashion and tech items," DHL said in its announcement.

It added that the strategic aim of DHL and AutoStore through this partnership is to accelerate the implementation of this ground-breaking technology that enhances abilities to meet diverse client needs.

DHL noted that the fleet of more than 1,000 robots will enhance operational efficiency and throughput.

 [Source: DHL Supply Chain]

"We are pleased to expand our existing relationship with AutoStore as we continue to implement our digitalization and automation strategy in a growing number of warehouses, allowing us to better and faster serve our customers. AutoStore's standardized and modular technology perfectly aligns with our aim to make our operations more efficient, enabling swift scalability and adaptability across various use cases and end markets – a crucial factor for us as a third-party logistics provider," said Markus Voss, COO and CIO at DHL Supply Chain.

"Through a standardized approach and dedicated stock availability, we will be able to significantly drive down implementation times. Additionally, AutoStore's network of partners is invaluable in supporting our growth strategy across multiple geographies," he added.

Since 2012, DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore have partnered to implement cutting-edge solutions across sites in Singapore, Poland, Germany, Australia, and the US.

The ongoing collaboration has already led to expansions at all operational sites, resulting in a fleet of more than 1,000 Robots worldwide that significantly increase operational efficiency and throughput.