Automation is becoming a critical component in the last-mile delivery sector as it significantly enhances operational efficiency and reduces delivery times. By automating time-consuming processes, companies can improve productivity while ensuring faster, more precise deliveries.
Introducing robotic sorting arms in depots and facilities is key in driving operational improvements, allowing for increased accuracy and reduced costs. Fastway Couriers is at the forefront of this shift, utilising automation to manage high delivery volumes efficiently.
Sorting more than 4,000 parcels an hour
The company’s automated sorting arm can process more than 4,000 parcels per hour—equivalent to approximately 45,000 packages in a 24-hour period. Since implementing this cutting-edge technology, Fastway has seen a notable 80-85% increase in productivity, demonstrating the transformative impact of automation on efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“Automation is revolutionising the logistics industry by enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and speed, enabling companies to meet the growing demands of the modern market,” commented Damian Velayadum, Group Financial Director at Fastway Couriers.
Automation is changing logistics
The advent of automation is taking the logistics industry by storm. In addition to automated sorting, this technology has also been used to complete tasks like packing. In other markets, logistics companies use autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to transport packages around warehouses, saving human employees time.
These Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to maximise operational efficiency. AI enhances the performance of these machines by optimising delivery routes and predicting maintenance needs. Additionally, these devices are typically interconnected through the Internet of Things (IoT), facilitating seamless data exchange across the supply chain for improved coordination and real-time insights1.
Why is automation important?
Online shopping continues to grow rapidly, with an estimated 11.7 million South African e-commerce users expected to be registered next year. This is anticipated to increase to 21.52 million by 2029. With that in mind, it’s clear why Fastway Couriers is embracing automation. With an ever-increasing influx of packages being delivered, there is increased pressure on both online retailers and last-mile logistics providers to perform. Automating simple processes eliminates challenges such as bottlenecks, which occur when processes are completed manually2.
“We’ve seen firsthand how innovative technologies like automated sorting arms have significantly improved productivity and streamlined our operations. This is just the beginning—continuous advancements in automation will further elevate the logistics industry, enabling us to deliver even more efficient and reliable service to the over 150,000 customers we proudly serve worldwide,” concluded Velayadum.
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