DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore announce partnership expansion

DHL Supply Chain, a major contract logistics company, and AutoStore, a robotic technology company specializing in automated storage and retrieval systems, have announced they are expanding their partnership.

DHL Supply Chain, already involved in nine operational AutoStore warehouse projects with four more in the planning stage, is poised to become one of AutoStore’s largest 3PL clients, reinforcing their commitment to digitalization and automation, AutoStore explained. The nine existing systems effectively operate 800,000 bins, with the forthcoming four systems elevating the total number of bins to 1.2 million. In the future, DHL also intends to construct five further facilities in addition to those already in operation or planning.

This robotic automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) technology has been developed to efficiently manage and optimize inventory using vastly reduced space within warehouses, AutoStore noted. Its modular and scalable design makes it a preferred solution for e-commerce and businesses handling smaller products such as fashion and tech items. The strategic aim of DHL and AutoStore through this partnership is to accelerate the implementation of the technology to enhance the ability to meet diverse client needs.

Markus Voss, COO and CIO at DHL Supply Chain, commented on the importance of this collaboration: “We are pleased to expand our existing relationship with AutoStore as we continue to implement our digitalization and automation strategy in a growing number of warehouses, allowing us to better and faster serve our customers. AutoStore’s standardized and modular technology perfectly aligns with our aim to make our operations more efficient, enabling swift scalability and adaptability across various use cases and end-markets – a crucial factor for us as a third-party logistics provider. Through a standardized approach and dedicated stock availability we will be able to significantly drive down implementation times. Additionally, AutoStore’s network of partners is invaluable in supporting our growth strategy across multiple geographies.”

Since 2012, DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore have partnered to implement cutting-edge solutions across sites in Singapore, Poland, Germany, Australia, and the U.S. The ongoing collaboration has already led to expansions at all operational sites, resulting in a fleet of more than 1,000 Robots worldwide that significantly increase operational efficiency and throughput.

Mats Hovland Vikse, CEO of AutoStore, expressed excitement about the expansion: “Our longstanding collaboration with DHL Supply Chain has showcased the strength, reliability, and efficiency of AutoStore’s technology. We are thrilled to further expand this valued partnership, supporting DHL Supply Chain’s global deployment of automated warehouse solutions. We are excited about the significant growth opportunity that this represents for AutoStore, as we continue to drive innovation in the world of logistics.”