DHL Supply Chain, a market in the field of contract logistics and a part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, is increasingly relying on IT-based intelligent forecasting and analysis tools to optimize the warehousing and processing of online orders for large-scale e-commerce. Seller. The COVID crisis has shown us that the unpredictable quantity fluctuations of individual products will bring great pressure to the supply chain. Unclear inventory levels and incorrect availability data may lead to bottlenecks in individual products, and then delay delivery to * end customers, explained Markus Voss, information officer and operation officer of DHL Supply Chain. We are working with our customers - large online stores and retail companies - to develop more resilient and reliable algorithms and tools to better predict demand fluctuations, optimize manpower allocation, and thus speed up the throughput and order cycle of goods.

Our IDEA analysis tool is one of our many solutions to address these e-commerce challenges, said Dietmar Steins, executive vice president of solution design for DHL Supply Chain. Through its algorithm, this AI solution helps to optimize the picking route in the warehouse. Orders are also logically clustered, which helps our warehouse colleagues optimize picking. Integrated intelligent task planning can also optimize the workload distribution of warehouse staff and help prioritize time-critical goods. In addition, IDEA reduces the error rate and the time required for employee training.

In general, IDEA algorithm can significantly improve the order picking process in warehouses operated by DHL. Because the software developed by DHL is compatible with most traditional warehouse management systems and can be easily integrated into existing IT infrastructure, the cost involved is relatively low. In its commercial deployment, the solution reduces the travel distance of warehouse employees by up to 50%, and increases the productivity of a single DHL location by up to 30%. DHL Supply Chain has developed and designed IDEA software solutions for electronic fulfillment warehouses. Contract logistics experts employ a special team consisting of about 350 developers, engineers and solution designers to develop and optimize the warehousing logistics process on behalf of their customers.