Geodis begins smart glasses initiative in Cologne facility

Geodis is implementing augmented reality ‘smart glasses’ for its logistics operations in its warehouse in Cologne.

The implemented solution, based on the Picavi’s “Pick-By-Vision” technology, aims at easing order preparation processes for the warehouse’s employees.

Geodis said that if results are as good as expected, it will be rolling the technology out to other locations in Germany.

Equipped with data glasses, employees receive visual information into their visual field. This provides employees with all the information they need for order picking or loading. The company has initially equipped 12 employees with this system.

The data glasses use visual displays to guide the order pickers through the current picking order.

They inform the pickers in advance of the loading unit (pallet or carton) which need to be taken along, refer to the units to be picked as well as the item level and the storage location.

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If required, images of the products can be imported into the field of view.

At the end of the picking run, the data glasses guide employees to the correct storage location in the outbound area and the picking order is automatically completed in the warehouse management system (WMS).

Geodis says the use of data glasses gives employees more freedom to move compared to the use of handheld scanners while providing more detailed information on the type and appearance of the units to be picked. This increases the productivity and eliminates potential sources of error.

The data glasses can be used for taking pictures of the loaded pallets after the order has been completed, which ensures a complete loading documentation.

“This solution also represents a very good news for our customers which will see an increase of productivity -estimated up to 12% - and will thus benefit from the use of this innovative technology in their supply chain,” said Bernhard Heimann, Director of Operations at Geodis for Contract Logistics in Germany.