More robots than humans: UPS presented how Velocity, its new warehouse, will work

UPS Inc. just opened its newest and largest warehouse, UPS Supply Chain Solutions Velocity, a 20-acre facility located outside of Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the size, there is another peculiarity in this new facility: most of the workers will be robots.

The large parcel corporation plans to fill these new $79 million facilities with more than 3,000 robots by next year. These robots will take care of heavy tasks, reducing the need for labor. This level of automation means that UPS can run the warehouse with only approximately 200 to 500 workers, a figure that is expected to increase over time.

This new facility is a state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution center that uses intelligent automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to streamline fulfillment operations. Velocity is one of the largest and most technologically advanced distribution facilities in the package industry.

The president of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Bill Seward, commented that this is an axis of strategy that has to do with maximizing automated space. “It is important to be able to offer the best cost and the best service to our customers,” added Seward.

Seward added that there is an explanation behind the decision to use robots: they increase the speed and accuracy of order processing, as well as better control inventory and save space by fetching products stacked higher in the building, he says. the president of UPS Supply Solutions. The company has managed to take advantage of the automation boom to increase its share and slow down companies that still manage old facilities with human workers.