An autonomous inventory drone solution utilises advanced drone technology and robotics to automate and streamline inventory management processes in warehouses and storage facilities.

The drones and robots are equipped with sensors and cameras to navigate autonomously through warehouse spaces, capture inventory data, and transmit it in real-time to the Warehouse Management System or ERP.

Drones for warehouse inventory management have the potential to completely revolutionise the way that inventory control is conducted in warehouses and distribution centres. The autonomous workflow of warehouse drones ensures that the best possible inventory accuracy can be achieved, without any reliance on human intervention. Not only does this protect inventory control processes against precarious labour markets, it also gets the job done more efficiently, more accurately, and without the need for warehouse operatives to work at height.

Drones are revolutionising warehouse operations, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and safety. Among the pioneering companies leveraging drone technology in their warehouse operations are well-known industry leaders such as XPO Logistics, Princes Foods, PD Ports, Knowles Logistics, Kite Packaging, and Charles Kendall Freight. These companies are working with RAWview to be at the forefront of adopting this innovative technology to streamline inventory management, reduce operational costs, and improve overall logistics processes.
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• XPO Logistics utilises drone technology to automate inventory checks, thus reducing the time and labour traditionally required for manual checks. This not only speeds up the process but also significantly reduces human error.
  

• Princes Foods has integrated drones into their workflow to ensure more precise inventory tracking and to enhance the safety of their storage facilities by minimising the need for staff to physically access hard-to-reach areas.
  

• PD Ports uses drones specifically for continuous cycle counting, enabling them to maintain accurate and real-time inventory data. This frequent scanning helps in promptly identifying discrepancies and adjusting inventory levels without disrupting daily operations, thereby ensuring operational efficiency and reducing the risk of inventory overstock or shortages.
  

• Knowles Logistics employs drones to optimise space within their warehouses. The aerial view provided by drones assists in better layout planning and utilisation of vertical storage spaces.

• ‍Kite Packaging and Charles Kendall Freight use drone technology to quickly perform stock checks and manage large inventories more effectively, thereby enabling faster response times to customer demands and maintaining high levels of accuracy in order fulfilment.

• Great Bear Distribution implemented the solution as part of an initiative improve productivity by reducing the time that operatives and VNA trucks spend on unproductive duties. Their customers' physical inventory control is now fully automated with the use of inventAIRy XL.

• GS Yuasa decided to invest in an automated inventory project with RAWview to reduce the time and disruption associated with year-end stock audits. They use the system to conduct regular cyclical routines to ensure that all locations are checked and reconciled on a weekly basis. The improved currency of data now maintained in their WMS ensures that they (and subsequently, their auditors) have total confidence that every pallet is in its right place at any given time. You can read more on this project at this link.

By integrating drones into their operations, these companies are setting new standards in warehouse inventory management, highlighting the critical role of innovative technologies in transforming traditional business models and enhancing operational efficiencies.

Inventory counts provided by autonomous drones are highly accurate, with data accuracy rates exceeding 99%, helping to minimise discrepancies and errors in the Warehouse Management System.

As long as the barcode labels are of a reasonable quality (ie. not faded or torn), a single inventAIRy XL system can scan up to 7500 rack locations in a single 24-hour period.

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If you’re interested to see how quickly a single inventAIRy XL system can cycle through your entire facility, you can access our handy workrate calculator by clicking here.

Yes, autonomous inventory drones are equipped with collision avoidance technology and follow strict safety protocols to ensure safe operation in warehouse settings. Our system is also able to operate at night (in complete darkness), so inventory management tasks can also be scheduled outside of normal working hours.

Yes, these solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing WMS software, ensuring full compatibility and smooth operation.

Unlike traditional drone technology – which is typically powered by Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries, inventAIRy uses a single lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which is housed in the ground robot. LiFePO4 batteries offer a significantly longer cycle life compared to the LiPo alternative, capable of enduring a far greater number of charge-discharge cycles without experiencing a substantial reduction in usable capacity – or, worse still, degradation in the batteries’ safe operation.

By automating inventory audits and data collection tasks, autonomous inventory drones free up human resources, allowing staff to focus on more productive tasks and improving overall workflow efficiency.

Almost certainly. In most cases, our customers realise a project breakeven point within 12 months from go-live.

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If you’d like to see how the economics look for your specific warehouse operation, head across to our handy ROI Calculator.

Absolutely not! This is one of the elements that makes the inventAIRy XL solution unique.

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In contrast to other solutions, inventAIRy XL does NOT require any adaptation to existing warehouse infrastructure. All navigation is carried out by the system’s ground robot, which is pre-programmed with a digital twin of the warehouse (floor area, aisle positions, rack dimensions, bin locations etc). As a result, deployment of the inventAIRy XL solution can be achieved without any modifications to the warehouse’s physical layout whatsoever.

Autonomous inventory drones can benefit a wide range of warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing facilities, and other storage facilities with large inventories. Basically, as long as the operation involves indoor storage of pallets in racking, there is almost certainly a use case for our solution.

Yes, in the case of our solution, it is equipped to operate in various lighting conditions and environments, including low-light settings and indoor spaces with obstacles. inventAIRy XL learns about environmental nuances and adapts dynamically.

Adding autonomous inventory drones to your warehouse operation takes approximately two weeks (depending on warehouse size and complexity), all with minimal disruption to your daily operations. That means you could be enjoying huge savings, more accurate inventory counts and safer warehouses within just a month of getting in touch with us!

Routine maintenance, software updates, and occasional calibration may be required to ensure optimal performance. All such technical support of inventAIRy XL is provided by RAWview for the duration of the project.