Australia’s largest online bookstore, will be the first in the nation to roll out new autonomous robot technology
ASX-listed e-commerce retailer Booktopia has partnered with BPS Global Australia to roll out advanced automation at its distribution centre in Lidcombe, NSW.
As part of a $20 million investment in automation for Booktopia, the robots, combined with
a range of other automations, will double its product range at its 14,000 sqm distribution centre in NSW.
In the financial year to June 30, 2020, Booktopia broke all previous sales records and
reported a revenue of $165.4m, after the retailer saw a massive increase in sales as a result
of the COVID-19 online shopping boom.
Booktopia has revealed it is expecting to turnover $217m in the current (FY21) financial year.
Why improve logistics infrastructure?
Booktopia has more than five million customers and wants to invest in its logistics infrastructure to better serve consumers.
Through working with its integration partner BPS Global, Booktopia has deployed HAI
ROBOTIC’s HAIPICK solution.
Manufactured by Chinese-based Hai Robotics, the HAIPICK is the world’s first carton picking and double deep autonomous case and tote-handling system.
Booktopia will be the first business in Australia to deploy this solution.
Robots can carry cartons as well as individual totes and to bring multiple totes or cartons to pickers in one movement.
This enables Booktopia to facilitate the completion of multiple customer orders
at one pick station –greatly improving fulfilment and despatch rates for the leading retailer.
This solution has enabled Booktopia to pick, pack and despatch 60,000 units a day, up from
its previous capacity of 30,000 order a day.
According to Wayne Baskin, Chief Technology Officer at Booktopia this solution enhances
Booktopia’s entire operation.
Automation the key to keeping up with demand?
“Our key driving factor for implementing this technology was efficiency gains for picking and
put away,
“But we’re now finding improvements across our entire operation and we can pick,pack and despatch our orders significantly faster,”
Wayne Baskin, Chief Technology Officer at Booktopia said.
“By deploying this innovative robot solution, we have doubled our capacity and significantly improved our picking and put away rates. This gives us the confidence we need to continue to serve our customers,” Tony Nash, CEO at Booktopia said.
Bruce Drayton, Automation and Robotics Director at BPS Global said the HAIPICK solution provides Booktopia with an impressive 800 per cent efficiency increase.
“COVID-19 placed immense pressure on e-commerce retailers and we saw volumes reach
record heights across the entire retail landscape. We’re thrilled to work with Booktopia on
the first ever deployment of this innovative automation solution in Australia. This
investment ensures they are well-placed to meet rising demands and continue to service the
nation with its favourite books,” Malcolm Druce, Managing Partner at BPS Global said.
