Distribution center technology provider, Lucas Systems, announced new software enhancements to help warehouses make quicker and more effective decisions as it relates to order batching and prioritization, warehouse worker travel and slotting.

With the addition of new powerful algorithms and digital twin mapping of the warehouse, Lucas Systems' next generation Dynamic Work Optimization (DWO) delivers more effective warehouse performance by considering in-the-moment complexities related to order priority, SKU clustering, proximity and warehouse layout.  

Additionally, the enhanced software promises a reduction (up to 50%) in the number of steps workers take inside the warehouse by optimizing pick paths in a way that considers the least amount of travel time required. Pick path recommendations now factor in the effect of forklifts and cherry pickers, and Lucas Systems says these details matter.

In recent months, Lucas Systems executives have announced 'dynamically-driven' technologies to help warehouse operators quickly adapt to changing operational conditions or shifts in demand. Lucas Systems' Dynamic Slotting technologies is an example of one of these technologies. Announced earlier this year, its benefit is to simplify re-slotting by providing in-the-moment recommendations, powered by AI. It applies machine-learning algorithms to recommend which products should be moved. It also learns the spatial characteristics of a warehouse and predicts task time based on activity-level data. The model then continues to 'learn', providing continuous optimization as conditions change.

"You cannot future proof your warehouse with fixed or mechanical automation,” said Lucas Systems CMO Ken Ramoutar. “Rising supply chain volatility requires adaptive operations with in-the-moment smart decision support. The more agile your operations are, the more you'll be able to capitalize on opportunities and minimize the impact of disruptions and then course correct them. The agility from smart software will help warehouses respond - cost effectively - to supply chain disruptions and other fluctuating market dynamics. Warehouses that aren't dynamic will face significant long-term challenges with warehouse performance and more demanding customer service levels."

About Lucas Systems
Create a dynamic distribution center operation with Lucas Systems. We harness the power of data with AI, Machine Learning, speech recognition, and optimization models to drive operational agility and improved distribution center performance.