Austrian company Anyline has unveiled autonomous drone scanning technology for enhanced warehouse inventory management.

Anyline, a specialist in mobile data capture and data insights, introduced autonomous drone inventory management software that can scan an entire warehouse efficiently. Anyline worked with UK packaging and paper company Mondi to develop this autonomous drone barcode scanning technology.

Seeking to improve its inventory management process across multiple, large warehouse locations, Mondi tested several technology options including handheld RFID and camera scanners. A breakthrough was achieved when the company engaged Anyline to apply its mobile data capture technology within DJI Mini 3 Pro drones.

“Taking inventory in a warehouse using autonomous drones was an exciting challenge and we were happy to partner with Anyline to make it a reality,” said Rainer Steffl, CIO at Mondi. “After several months of testing, problem solving and integrating with our backend systems, we have successfully counted our first full warehouse, proving the technology a success.”

Prior to using barcode scanning drones, multiple workers used forklifts to lift two people at a time manually to scan inventory across large warehouses, sometimes only once per year. This process involves working at heights and, due to the need for space and extra safety measures, had to be done with overtime outside of warehouse operating hours. Now, a single drone operator can scan all the inventory aisle-by-aisle in a warehouse during operating hours. The modern process is safer and accurate, and alleviates a mandatory after-hours full warehouse count all at once.

“Both Anyline and Mondi are passionate about innovation,” said Lukas Kinigadner, CEO of Anyline. “We are proud to be a part of this project, which is redefining what is technologically possible in inventory management, but can also be applied across other industries. We look forward to continuing to work with Mondi and other organisations redefining expectations and inspiring others to innovate and transform the way they work.”

In 2022, Mondi (www.mondigroup.com) had revenues of €8.9bn and underlying EBITDA of €1.8bn from continuing operations and employed 22,000 people worldwide.

Founded in Vienna in 2013, Anyline (www.anyline.com) uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to give businesses the power to read, measure and interpret visual information with any mobile device.