NEWS
DHL Supply
Chain launches
software
platform with
Blue Yonder on
Microsoft Cloud
OutSystems extends
COVID-19 community
response support platform to
18 municipalities in Portugal
DHL Supply Chain, a global leader in
contract logistics and part of Deutsche
Post DHL Group, has just launched a
new ‘plug and play’ robotics platform, in
collaboration with Microsoft and leading
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven digital
fulfilment provider, Blue Yonder.
The robotics platform significantly reduces
integration time and programming efforts
to on-board new automation devices into
warehouse facilities, while giving DHL
customers more flexibility in selecting
suitable robotics systems according to their
individual business needs. The solution
leverages Microsoft Azure IoT and cloud
platform services.
“The global deployment of robots and
robotic systems is integral to our strategy
to support our employees and improve
customer operations,” said Markus Voss,
Global CIO and COO at DHL Supply Chain.
“Automation and collaborative robotics
help us make operational processes more
flexible, ergonomic and more attractive to
our employees by replacing monotonous,
repetitive and particularly strenuous
activities. The aim is not to replace
employees over time but to assign the
more attractive and interesting tasks to our
human workforce.”
Voss added: “We have more than 2,000
operational sites across DHL Supply Chain, so
we know how complex, time-consuming and
costly it can be to integrate new robots into
existing platforms and connect to our clients’
various warehouse management systems.
“This is exactly where the new platform is
so effective. Our first implementation on
the new platform with 6 River Systems at
one of our Madrid sites is already showing a
60% reduction in integration times, but with
subsequent deployments we foresee further
improvements of up to 90%.”
OutSystems announced the launch
of the Integrated Management
Platform that facilitates resource sharing
across 18 municipalities in Portugal. The
Lisbon Metropolitan Area, the Lisbon
City Council, Deloitte, Hi Interactive
and OutSystems all partnered on the
successful initiative launched as part of
the COVID-19 Community Response
Programme, which seeks to create up to
20 apps to help fight the Coronavirus.
The Integrated Management Platform
allows 18 municipalities around Lisbon,
Portugal, to quickly and effectively
share products, equipment and services,
optimising the resources of each
municipality and improving collaboration
between them during the current
emergency situation.
Using the OutSystems low-code
platform, the parties collaborated to
create a sophisticated marketplace in
just two weeks. “With the platform, each
municipality can manage all the assets
and services it offers, while also sharing
information, replenishing supplies and
accessing resources from its own stock.
“It also allows them to request resources
from neighbouring municipalities and
set automatic alerts on the availability of
certain items.”
Well over 300 items are already being
managed on the platform, including
resources in high demand during the
pandemic situation such as gel alcohol,
disinfectant, nitrile gloves, surgical masks
and goggles. Soon, it will be possible to
manage many other medical materials,
food, vehicles, accommodations and
other strategic items.
“Facing this new reality, there’s a
growing need for us to adapt. The
OutSystems COVID-19 Community
Response Programme intends to help
with that adjustment in a concrete and
real way,” said Gonçalo Gaiolas, Product
VP at OutSystems. •
20 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com