AI-Based Travel Optimization

A Productivity Breakthrough For Distribution

Labor is the single largest operating cost in most DCs, and travel often accounts for half of all labor time, especially in order picking. Lucas travel optimization uses advanced mathematical models and artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce travel 30-70%. Customers have more than doubled picking productivity and cut labor hours in half without making any changes to their warehouse layout or adding expensive automation or robotics.


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Batch Picking

How Does Travel Optimization Work?

Lucas uses order, inventory, and location information from WMS and other systems and Jennifer™ – the brain, voice and orchestration engine of the Lucas system – applies real-time optimization algorithms to create optimal work assignments. Jennifer™ then uses a virtual model of your facility to define an optimal pick sequence or travel path. 

Dynamic prioritization

Jennifer™ prioritizes all available work assignments based on rules that you can configure and adjust throughout the day or week.

Intelligent batching

Rather than following a simple first-in-first-out batching method, Jennifer™ uses mathematical models to create optimized batches of pick lines and assigns them to pickers on-demand, as they request work. In contrast to typical WMS batching rules, the Lucas models weigh a variety of factors, including:

1) Order priority
2) Product locations
3) Product dimensions
4) Starting and ending points
5) Potential travel path
6) User permissions

 

Pick path optimization

After batches are created, Lucas applies multiple algorithms to determine an optimized path for the user to take through the warehouse to complete their work. The algorithms consider aisle directions (one-way aisles, for example), base item designations, and other factors to determine the most efficient pick path.

 

Travel optimization with robots

While Jennifer™ orchestrates and optimizes within picking zones, a DC can add robots for conveyance between pick zones or other staging locations. This can further reduce worker travel to and from fixed drop off or induction points. Likewise, Jennifer™ can be used to optimize the travel of robots for full pallet moves, both in inbound and outbound operations. Learn more →

How Does Travel Optimization Work?

Lucas uses order, inventory, and location information from WMS and other systems and Jennifer™ – the brain, voice and orchestration engine of the Lucas system – applies real-time optimization algorithms to create optimal work assignments. Jennifer™ then uses a virtual model of your facility to define an optimal pick sequence or travel path. 

Real Results Using Travel Optimization

122%

Increase in lines per hours

50%

Reduction in labor hours

33%

Increase in throughput

99.99%

Same-day shipping

50%

Increase in shipping capacity

Simplified

Work release and management

Baptist Health

Baptist Health Doubles Productivity

“The previous average picking rate in the LUM area was 50-56 lines per hour (LPH). Today it is 100-110. That is a 100% improvement, and in bulk picking, the number is about 20 percent.”


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What Makes Our Solutions Different?

At Lucas, we make the extra effort to find hidden improvement opportunities other providers might miss, and we actively look for creative optimization solutions to deliver the best possible results for your distribution center.

AI driven smart software

Our solutions feature Jennifer™, the brain, voice, and orchestration engine that drives performance improvement gains. Jennifer™ incorporates a variety of AI, machine learning and other technologies that are used to optimize and orchestrate warehouse operations.

23+ years of deep process expertise

We follow a consultative implementation approach led by warehouse optimization experts with over 23 years of accumulated operations expertise and process innovation. Additionally, our solutions incorporate hundreds of thousands of person-years of user experience.

Track record of innovation in AI and voice technology

1) First company to adopt hardware-independent mobile software and to deploy voice-directed solutions on multi-modal mobile devices in 2005, allowing the seamless combination of voice, scanning and screens​.

2) First to adopt Android in 2014 – a full five years ahead of traditional voice providers.​

3) Only dual speech engine technology available on the market that interprets associates spoken responses, in multiple languages, regardless of accents and background noise​.

4) Introduced AI-based smart batching and pick path optimization in 2017.​

5) Introducing machine learning based tools for dynamic slotting and predictive workforce planning​

On-Demand Demo

Interested in seeing how our AI-based travel optimization tool works and what it looks like? Check out our 10 minute on-demand demo.

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