NorthShore Care Supply needed to upgrade its obsolete AMRs, increase throughput, and reduce labor.
They partnered with the Numina Group and implemented BatchBot 2.0 large-capacity AMRs orchestrated by RDS™ WES-WCS.
KPI Improvements from BatchBot 2.0 AMR Automation
NorthShore’s automation upgrade resulted in measurable performance improvements:
- 25% increase in orders picked per hour
- 300+ lines picked per operator per hour
- Up to 38 orders per AMR batch cart
- Up to 50% reduction in labor after initial automation
- Additional 25–30% efficiency gains after AMR upgrades
Reducing Travel Time with High-Density AMR Batch Picking
At the heart of this operation is Numina Group’s RDS™ WES-WCS, which synchronizes people, automation, and workflows in real time.
Batchbot 2.0 orchestrates AMRs and operators using a “meet me mode” picking method. Instead of workers walking long distances, the system directs them to the optimal pick location where an AMR simultaneously arrives with a high-capacity batch cart.
Operators use voice-directed picking combined with barcode scanning to confirm each pick and ensure accuracy. This hands-free workflow increases speed while reducing errors.
AMRs transport carts weighing up to 1,100 pounds and can carry up to 38 orders per trip. They handle the heavy lifting, reducing operator travel time and physical strain while increasing pick density.
End-to-End Warehouse Automation Reduces Labor
With RDS™ WES-WCS and Batchbot 2.0, orders are released with better logic, picks are batched more efficiently, and operator travel is reduced. AMRs, voice picking, and packing and shipping automation become an end-to-end integrated warehouse automation system.
By increasing orders per cart with low-profile, high-capacity AMRs, NorthShore achieved higher throughput with fewer robots.
This shift drives:
- Higher throughput without increasing headcount
- Reduced operator travel and fatigue
- Fewer AMRs required to support more volume
- Faster, more consistent order fulfillment
- Improved employee satisfaction and retention
Without this level of coordination, NorthShore estimates it would require 40–60% more labor to meet demand.
End-to-End Continuous Flow Warehouse Automation
AMRs deliver completed carts to packing and immediately pick up a new empty cart to begin the next mission. This decoupled workflow keeps robots moving instead of waiting, increasing utilization and overall throughput.
- Cartons are scanned, weighed, and dimensioned
- Orders are sorted and routed to carrier lanes (UPS, FedEx)
- Continuous order flow eliminates bottlenecks and keeps fulfillment moving from pick through ship
This level of integration ensures a seamless, high-performance fulfillment operation from order release through shipment.