Announces New Installation of PickoBot™, Poised
to Disrupt Autonomous Warehousing Ecosystem with Increased
Efficiency and Reduced Costs
PETAH
TIKVA, Israel,
Sept. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pickommerce, a warehouse
automation innovator, announced today it has secured $3.4 million in funding to advance the
development, production and marketing of its innovative PickoBot
piece-picking robot. Pickommerce's technology is poised to disrupt
the warehouse automation market, which is projected to grow at a
CAGR of 53.4% and reach nearly $9
billion by 2029, according to research firm Mordor
Intelligence. The funding round was led by IL Ventures, a fund
focused on disruptive technologies for legacy industries, and
includes InNegev, Fusion VC, the Israel Innovation Authority and
strategic investor ZIM Ventures, the corporate venture arm of
maritime shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
Ltd (NYSE: ZIM).
Today's logistics warehouses are increasingly automated, with
processes like crate collection and package unloading now
predominantly handled by robots. However, the final "Pick and Pack"
step largely relies on human pickers, even in the most advanced
warehouses. This presents a significant challenge, as there is a
global shortage of tens of millions of workers in these roles. To
fill this void, piece-picking robots are quickly becoming a
critical component of the modern automated warehouse. They increase
efficiency by picking and placing inventory for a wide range of
items, reducing labor needs for repetitive tasks while improving
performance and decreasing errors.
With PickoBot, Pickommerce has delivered the missing link in
achieving a fully autonomous warehouse workflow, providing a
superior solution for various industries such as apparel, retail
(consumer goods, food, DIY, electrical, etc.), e-commerce,
pharmaceutical, agricultural and spare parts.
PickoBot utilizes an advanced computer vision system powered
by machine learning that enables the safe and intelligent packaging
of objects of different sizes, weights and textures. It features
multiple gripping methods in a single station, including vacuum,
finger-based, and patented adhesive-based grippers. An AI-driven
decision-making algorithm selects the optimal gripper and grasp
configuration for each item. Pickommerce's patent-protected
technologies significantly increase the variety of products that
can be handled by robots in logistics, as well as the level of
autonomy those robots possess.
IL Ventures' Managing Partner Yoni Heilbronn said, "Pickommerce
is disrupting the logistics industry by delivering advanced
solutions that streamline automation operations, significantly
enhancing their overall efficiency. In an industry where manual
picking still overwhelmingly dominates the process, this solution
is poised to redefine standards and drive a new era that's more
agile, responsive, and cost-effective. Booming demand for
Pickommerce's technology shows that the company's solutions cater
to an urgent and essential market need."
Pickommerce's recent installation at Havivian Farm, one of
the largest organic farms in Israel, showcases the adaptability and
precision—or in this case, gentle touch—of Pickommerce's
intelligent gripping technology. This organic farming enterprise
turned to Pickommerce to reduce operational costs by automating
their high-volume fresh produce packing line. Unlike competitive
solutions, PickoBot is proficient at adapting to and handling the
complexities of picking and packing fresh produce at a rapid
pace. This capability is valuable for any supermarket that
accepts online orders.
"At Havivian Farms, quality is at the core of everything we do.
From planting seeds in the soil to harvesting our crops, we are
committed to ensuring our customers receive the freshest,
highest-quality goods," said Boaz Havivian, Owner of Havivian
Farms. "Pickommerce has been integral to this process. Their
PicoBot enables us to efficiently handle and pack our produce for
shipment, ensuring it reaches customers in perfect condition."
"We appreciate the commitment from our investors, customers and
partners, and we are seeing significant market demand
for PickoBot," remarked Kfir
Nissim, Co-Founder and CEO of Pickommerce. "We are pushing
the boundaries of the industry by offering unmatched flexibility
with the PickoBot's diverse gripping abilities. This is
achieved through the seamless integration of advanced computer
vision, a highly optimized packing algorithm, and AI-powered
decision-making."
About Pickommerce
Pickommerce AI Robotics is transforming logistics with its fully
autonomous pick-and-pack station, addressing the industry-wide
shortage of human pickers in warehouses and logistics operations.
Leveraging advanced computer vision, AI, and patented robotic
grippers, the company excels in both traditional and automated
warehouse settings, enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy.
Built on extensive academic research in robotic grasping, the
technology seamlessly integrates with existing automation, setting
new benchmarks in warehouse operations, lowering costs, and
reducing reliance on manual labor. Visit www.pickommerce.com for
more information.
About IL Ventures
IL Ventures invests in disruptive yet tangible technologies that
offer deep, actionable insights which drive better business
decisions. The fund combines capital with incredibly deep
operational experience and an unparalleled global network that
helps founders rapidly scale and go global. Backed by top-tier
global investors and partners, its team of company builders and
industry executives is poised to unlock the full
potential Israel's most promising startups. For further
information visit www.il-ventures.com.
About ZIM Ventures
ZIM Ventures is the technology-focused investment arm of
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM), aimed at
creating growth engines by investing in companies that bring
disruptive technologies to the shipping industry and broader supply
chain and logistics related sectors, as well sustainability related
technologies. ZIM Ventures portfolio companies benefit from ZIM's
established market position and thereby gain the opportunity to
accelerate the development and deployment of their products and
solutions.
Founded in Israel in
1945, ZIM is a leading global container shipping company, operating
in over 90 countries and across more than 300 ports worldwide. ZIM
is recognized for advancing innovation and digitalization in the
shipping industry and for leveraging technology to enhance
operational and commercial excellence. Additional information about
ZIM ventures is available at ZIM
Ventures.
About InNegev
InNegev is a technology incubator focused on fostering Israeli
innovation in deep tech and climate tech, and contributing to the
development of the Negev region. It is a collaborative initiative
between leading industrial, academic, and financial institutions.
InNegev supports early-stage startups by providing resources,
mentorship, and connections to facilitate the development of
cutting-edge technologies. Pickommerce, a company incubated by
InNegev, has leveraged this support to achieve significant growth
and secured a successful funding round. For further information
visit www.innegev.com.
Contact:
Shira Harari, Marketing Manager,
Pickommerce
Email: shira_harari@pickommerce.com
Phone: +9725236148090
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SOURCE Pickommerce
