Innovation award for linking generative AI with WMS

Logistics Reply has received an innovation award for developing a chatbot for warehouse management systems (WMS). The chatbot, named LEApedia, uses generative AI, allowing users to communicate with the WMS in plain human language. A total of three innovation awards were presented at the German trade fair LogiMAT. Another winner was Photoneo Brightpick, a Slovakian company that developed an innovative order picking robot.

By Marcel te Lindert

Logistics Reply describes LEApedia as a “bidirectional open AI language control system”. Like ChatGPT, this chatbot is based on a large language model (LLM), allowing users to give commands and ask questions in plain human language. The chatbot understands the questions and commands, searches the WMS for information on processes and settings, among other things, and answers users in the same ordinary human language. In this way, users immediately receive the information they need without wasting time on searching for answers in the WMS themselves.

Logistics Reply’s innovation award concerns the software, communication and IT category. What particularly appealed to the jury was LEApedia’s ability to provide answers without using complicated technical jargon. Consequently, any user – regardless of their education level or language skills – can interact with the WMS. This reduces the need for training and support, while speeding up processes and increasing productivity. LEApedia can be linked to LEA Reply, Logistics Reply’s own warehouse management system.

Mobile robot with vacuum gripper

In the order picking, conveying, lifting and storing technology category, the innovation award went to Photoneo Brightpick (pictured). This Slovakian company has developed an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) with a robotic arm, called Autopicker. The Autopicker finds its own way along shelf racks and stops in front of the right picking location. Two vacuum grippers pull the bin containing stock out of the rack, after which the robotic arm picks the right number of items and places them in the order bin. Autopicker then pushes the bin back into the racking before setting off for the next pick location.

Robots that drive around the warehouse and retrieve bins from racks are booming. Last year, logistics service provider Radial in the Dutch city of Groningen opened a new fulfilment centre with several robots from Quicktron. One robot retrieves bins from racks, then another transports them to an order picking station. My Jewellery is currently implementing a similar solution from Geek+. Photoneo Brightpick’s Autopicker has the advantage that bins do not need to be taken to an order picking station first. Instead, the pick takes place directly in the aisle right in front of the picking location.

Tailor-made boxes and envelopes

The third innovation award went to CMC Packaging Automation, an Italian manufacturer of packaging machines. Its latest machine is capable of tailoring both boxes and envelopes to the dimensions of the products to be packed. The machine first scans the products, then folds the box or envelope. Lastly, it places the products in the packaging in such a way as to minimize the risk of movement and damage.