Digitalization and innovation in logistics

A truck transport can take a long time. The distance is not the main problem. What costs time and nerves, above all, are the elaborate formalities that all participants have to deal with. Not only the drivers are struggling with the paper mountains every day, but also the sender and receiver of the goods have to prepare or process documents. Together with Daimler Trucks, BLG LOGISTICS has developed a cloud-based platform that displays all the data of an order in real time. Via an app, all involved parties always have access to the state of affairs. The trick: the IT solution does not need any hardware installed in the truck. A smartphone or a PC with Internet access is sufficient for the use of LOGBIRD.

Modify changing requirements through digitalization

One example is the use of drones to support operative processes such as inventories during the year as well as weekly shelf checks in the BLG logistics center in Emmerich. Goods in this block warehouse are constantly on the move. Previously, it was necessary to use a stacker to separate the cases and place the pallets on the floor. Then an employee would ride up in a lift truck to check a specific box. Now BLG has slashed the effort involved here with drone technology.

For its „Drone Assistance in Logistics“ solution, implemented jointly with the startup sitebots GmbH, BLG LOGISTICS won the elogistics Tool Award 2017, which is presented by AKJ Automotive.

Press release on the elogistics Tool Award 2017

Press release on the SaSCh project

With a digital lighthouse project for the automobile industry BLG LOGISTICS, jointly with Bosch, the Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics (BIBA), GS1 Germany and queo, won out in a technology competition of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: The project SaSCh – an acronym for “Digital services for shaping agile supply chains” – has been part of the “PAiCE” support program, designed to provide major impetus for digitization of industry, since 2016. The focus of the project is on development of a cyber-physical system that digitally records the quality data of car parts in the supply chain.

Innovation – BLG launched this drive back in 2014 at the logistics center in Frankfurt when it introduced its robot-aided logistics concept „Stargate – Logistics at the Human-Robot Interface“. G-Com is the technology that has revolutionized intralogistics in the BLG logistics center in Frankfurt. Developed jointly by BLG and its customer, the system won the German Logistics Award in 2015 and the European Logistics Award one year later. It is based on the concept of a mobile pick-and-place warehouse.

Especially for sensitive products such as electronic components and for monitoring goods transports, for example transport of raw components by rail, the use of a cloud-based sensor system for mobile and wireless monitoring is suitable.

It provides an early indication of damage during transport. A sensor attached to each transport unit constantly transmits data via browser, app, or alert about temperature, vibrations, or humidity. The sensor solution is easy to implement, especially because it doesn't need any special infrastructure.

Test, test, test – improve scanning processes

In two locations BLG LOGISTICS is also testing a smart glove with integrated control elements designed to improve picking. The smart glove is suitable for short-distance scanning and enables faster, more efficient picking. That's because it replaces conventional scanners. It also gives the wearer direct feedback about the parts selected in the form of vibration, acoustic, or visual LED signals.