Growing With the Business Instead of Changing Systems: How RackBot Systems Enable Scalable Growth

Following our examination of getting started with automation and maximizing use of existing warehouse space, this third post in our blog series focuses on another key topic in modern intralogistics - scalability. After all, growth does not stop at the first stage of automation. The crucial factor is whether a system can grow with the company in the long term, without requiring a costly system change.

 

Many logistics solutions quickly reach their limits, especially when business volume increases, when there is rising demand for throughput and capacity, and during pronounced peaks in orders. It often turns out that new warehouse space or additional staff can not always be utilised. Frequently, detailed planning can be unreliable, which is needed to design infrastructure to handle peak loads on a long-term basis. Hence, solutions are needed that can grow with the business without requiring a complete system change. This is exactly where RackBot Systems come in.

Scalability as a system principle

RackBot Systems are designed for growth from the very start. They can be configured for different workflows, order structures and industries, and assist companies from the first automation step, through to a high-performance end-to-end system. Regardless of their current configuration, RackBot systems operate fully automatically and allow for step-by-step expansion based on actual needs.

This approach eliminates the need for a system change later on. Instead of replacing the existing installations, companies can expand their current solution more selectively, adapting it to the new requirements. This provides long-term investment security and enables sustainable growth.

Expansion in concrete terms: Efficiently increase capacity and throughput

The scaling of a RackBot system can be planned, and then carried out, during ongoing operations.

Expansion of capacity

To increase storage capacity, new aisles can be installed alongside existing safety fences. At the same time, QR codes are affixed to the floor and on the racks. During non-operational hours, for example on weekends, the safety fence is reconfigured and the new warehouse area is commissioned. Software adjustments and testing ensure that the expanded system can then be put into productive use smoothly and seamlessly.

Increasing throughput

If throughput needs to be increased, new mobile robots can be deployed soon after delivery and integrated into the existing RackBot system. Furthermore, additional work stations can be set up and activated during non-operating hours. This allows for a rapid increase in performance without disrupting ongoing operations.

Scaling as a response to order peaks and staffing shortages

RackBot Systems allow companies to respond specifically to rising order volumes and order peaks. Instead of designing infrastructure from scratch to handle a future maximum capacity, volume can be scaled up as needed. At the same time, automation helps mitigate staffing shortages and maintain stable processes. The result is greater planning reliability and a logistics system that continues to function reliably even as complexity increases.

Real-world example Transmec: Scaling without system disruptions

The example of Transmec demonstrates how effectively RackBot Systems scale in practice. The integration of RackBot Systems resulted in an 84% increase in capacity. At the same time, picking performance increased by 50%. The key to this success was the combination of high space utilization, modular expandability, and flexible layout design. This combination provided the necessary stability in daily operations while also offering the flexibility to respond selectively to future requirements.

RackBot Systems allow companies to gradually automate their intralogistics without altering existing structures. The combination of modular shelving systems, mobile robotics and flexible scalability produces solutions that grow with the business and remain efficient in the long term.

 

About the authors:

Markus Külken

Markus Külken is responsible for SSI SCHAEFER´s entire partner business. In this role, he oversees the strategic selection, qualification, and governance of all technology partnerships – from the initial evaluation, the business case and contract drafting through to integration into the portfolio, processes, and global sales organization. This includes both the technical and commercial integration of new partner solutions, and their scaling in international client projects. Under his leadership, partners are onboarded in a structured manner, integrated into existing system architectures to ensure interoperability, and deployed as drivers for the further development of the solution portfolio.

Johannes Möhrlein

Johannes Möhrlein leads the Partner Empowerment Team as part of the partner business at SSI SCHAEFER. He and his team offer customers around the world innovative system solutions borne from partnerships with other companies. At the same time, he ensures that his colleagues in Sales are ideally prepared to successfully market these new products. These partnerships are an important part of our ability to consistently offer customers the best solution for their specific project.