Blog

This week, Ox welcomes our newest team member and Vice President Growth & Strategy, Matt Legg.

As Vice President, Matt Legg oversees the Go-To-Market strategy (GTM) strategy and forms partnerships that fuel exponential growth for Ox Fulfillment Solutions (Ox).   He has held various Business Development, Finance and Managerial roles during his time working at ExxonMobil, Phillips 66 and GetUpside.  Matt holds a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Kansas.  During his master’s program, he studied abroad as part of KU’s Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology program.  Interactions with international venture capitalist, Incubators, and early-stage companies made a lasting impression and led his career to focus on roles that execute roll-out implementation of novel technology.  

What is an AMR?

Autonomous Mobile Robots, also known as AMRs, are mobile robots that can autonomously navigate about a space. These robots can be used in a multitude of ways which include transporting product and freight within a facility, assisting in the picking process, facilitating sortation, and increasing product visibility. AMRs are becoming commonplace picking technology in the most high-tech and innovative warehouses and DCs because they can reduce travel time over 30% and improve warehouse picking efficiency 200%.

Training a new warehouse employee takes, on average, 6-8 weeks to get them up to speed, which means warehouses are spending thousands of dollars on onboarding costs per new hire. With labor at its highest cost ever, warehouse picking accounts for 60 percent of operational costs - millions of dollars per year, per warehouse.

Your order fulfillment speed and capacity have a huge impact on your supply chain and long-term sustainability. Automating and optimizing your workforce and inventory can not only reduce your costs, but increase your customer satisfaction and competitive edge.

In 2020, supply chains went up in flames, but they’ve just taken a more literal turn. Ocado canceled thousands of orders for their order picking robots after reports of them causing a fire in the Erith fulfillment center last week. The online grocer said it was caused by three of the robots colliding into each other.

Over the last year, retailers and grocers have learned a lot about what it takes to compete in the BOPIS and curbside battle - but some are coming out ahead.

Those that survived a year of stress testing supply chains, deliverability, and eCommerce are now cautiously wondering what lies ahead for the remainder of 2021 and beyond. The answer is both: opportunity and uncertainty.

As retailers and consumers begin to open their doors, what will return to normal and what will continue to expand or change? Let’s take a look at some of the changes we’re seeing in the grocery and retail space.

Last mile delivery refers to the final stretch of time and space an order travels from a warehouse, transportation hub, retail location, or fulfillment center to its final destination. Last mile delivery accounts for around 28% of the total product transportation costs - which makes it easy to see how businesses spent over $86B on last-mile delivery in 2017.

Identifying available product stock plays a huge role in order fulfillment. Your priority should be to have an inventory management system that seamlessly enhances the supply chain to drive increased efficiency in the distribution center. 

Product identification and picking are an integral part of warehousing and supply chain processes. Order picking accounts for over 50% of warehouse and fulfillment center costs, making it the most important - and costly - activity you can't afford to overlook.