Micro-Fulfillment Centers (MFC)

MFC often integrates an automated goods-to-worker picking system.

The key reason to invest in micro-fuflilment is to maximise storage capacity and to deliver more orders faster, thereby reducing labor and costs associated with storing products and fulfilling orders. 

AutoStore has the world’s densest automated solution, allowing for the most optimal use of space possible in any warehouse. AutoStore’s cube storage system, together with StrongPoint’s software and set-up, allows for items to be picked automatically and at remarkable speed. 

Do you need to fit more items into your warehouse and have them automatically picked at incredible efficiency? Then an AutoStore micro-fulfillment center, in cooperation with StrongPoint, is ideal for you. Virtually any type e-commerce fulfillment can be tailored for automation.  

Last mile integration

StrongPoint has the market’s most complete last mile solution portfolio, handling both all forms of click & collect and home delivery. Want to deliver products directly from the warehouse to the customer? We can integrate seamlessly the most efficient solutions in the market.

Energy conserving

The robots used in the MFC requires extremely little energy. In fact, 10 robots use the same amount of energy as 1 vacuum cleaner. Smart innovations and avoiding unnecessary drains on energy consumption, such as light and heating, are key. With the new integrated frozen section, approximiately 30% of energy costs associated with frozen goods is reduced.

Consultancy regarding drawing the entire storage plan and operation

Profit from our experience! We can help plan how the storage facility could look like and where and how each part of the process can be executed for optimal efficiency. Having the full process in mind is what really separates us from the rest.

Smooth system integration

The solution has been connected to hundreds of different warehouse management systems around the world with ready-made APIs.

The grid

The aluminum grid is what holds everything together. This is the infrastructure for bin placement and the rails which the robots use to maneuver around and find the rights bins with the right products. The size and shape of the grid is restricted only by the warehouse itself and can expand in all directions.

The bins

The bins are the containers for your products. The bins used in our solution are a strong construction made from a durable material. With gentle robot handling they can last an unbelievable long time. Every bin is marked with a unique number that is stored in a database and printed on the label of the bin. The bins are available in different heights and materials, you can even divide a bin into different compartments in order to store different products in the same bin.

The robots

The robots are the actual workers of the system. They race back and forth along the grid and collects the products you need. They work around the clock and are charged automatically every time they brake or lower a bin. When more charging is necessay, the robots to this themselves at the right time to avoid excessive charging. This results in a healthy battery and the robots have been working tirelessly for over 15 years. The robots diagnose themselves every second and will report the smallest inconsistency of their data. Should a robot get called to the service mezzanine, it will automatically be replaced by another robot.

The manual picking

When automating a micro-fulfillment center for groceries, you are bound to meet some obstacles, such as for certain products that need to be picked manually: oversized items and some fruits and vegetables. These often account for a significant part of an online order. Fortunately, this part of the fulfillment process can be optimized using StrongPoint’s Order Picking solution, which has been purpose-built for maximizing the efficiency of manual picking. 

The workstations

The workstations is the area where users receive the products from the MFC. The workstation could either be one simple conveyor port, a carousel port, a swing port or be a modular workstation. The workstations are designed to be as easy as possible to use, while being ergonomically adapted with the highest user safety. Smart covering and sensors keep the operation safe for both your products and staff, as the movement and technical solution have been optimized through millions of tests. Both at AutoStore Labs and live installations.

The controller

The controller is the command center of the micro-fulfillment center. It controls the traffic, plans and schedules tasks, logs robots and bin positions, provides access control to service personnel and much more. Perhaps most importantly, the controller is in charge of directing the movement of the robots and is continously calculating the smartest way to work.

Standard APIs for integration

The solution software can be integrated to your existing e-commerce, ERP or similar system. That is done through ready-made API’s provided by StrongPoint. We will
further assist with anything you need for the smoothest operation possible.

Customer support

At the IT department, you don’t want to spend unnecessary time troubleshooting in the rare cases that something doesn’t work properly. With StrongPoint, you can get around the clock customer support to save you time and unnecessary headache.

Dashboard and analytics

Once the solutions is installed you naturally want to keep track of it as well. StrongPoint’s software runs on a cloud-based solution and the back-office is accessed through a web interface. Here you will be able to see the efficiency, number of orders processed and more.