Maersk and IB Cargo have deployed Dexory’s robotics and AI technology at their Bucharest distribution centre.

The Romanian distribution centre is for a home furnishing brand. The Bucharest deployment is the first of many outside of Dexory’s UK base to go live with the technology, as part of the company’s expansion across Europe.

Maersk and IB Cargo operate a major distribution and logistics centre in Romania, serving one of the largest global furniture and interior decoration companies. For the first time in Romania, the two partners announce the deployment of Dexory’s technology and robots to increase and streamline the use of the centre, and optimise its resources and shelf space.

The warehouse opened in September 2021 with 76,000m² and, less than two years later, it expanded to 100,000m², offering customised logistics and serving eight countries in Europe and the Balkans. The unit is located in the CTPark Bucharest West industrial park and is Breeam certified.

The robot called Neo operates daily at the site in Bolintin-Deal, Romania, scanning over 100,000 pallet locations, allowing operations to move from 150 locations/h with the current processes, to 10,000 locations/h via automation. It covers wide, narrow and hard to navigate aisles, reserve and picking locations, which are time-consuming and prone to human error. Integrating into the day-to-day warehouse operations, it works alongside the warehouse teams round the clock.

Dexory, a logistics start-up founded in 2015 by Andrei Danescu, Oana Jinga and Adrian Negoita in London, is already working with Maersk in the UK and Ireland.

Dexory’s technology combines hardware and software to provide instant visibility into inventory and operations at the click of a button. Using 12-metre-tall autonomous robots to capture warehouse data and images in real time, the digital-twin technology enables instant analysis of stock, occupancy and stock movement.

The digital twin then offers instant access to the data captured, highlighting any discrepancies with other warehouse systems in an intuitive, easy-to-access digital format.

The analytics extracted address operational bottlenecks, increase efficiencies allowing for faster put-away and picking, and unlock insights into site operations for real-time occupancy fluctuation and route planning, all of which used to be done manually. Using AI, it then provides companies with information to forecast and plan more accurately across their warehouse estate and have smarter management of their workforce.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Maersk and IB Cargo and bring the power of real-time data and insights to this impressive site in Romania, supporting a powerful company in interior decorations,” said Andrei Danescu, CEO of Dexory. “Teams across the board have already embraced the Dexory technology and are constantly using our digital twin to make more informed decisions and drive efficiency.”

Cătălin Putineanu, managing partner of IB Cargo, added: “Our business model is about long-term partnerships. We build them through quality, integrity and bringing added value to our clients’ businesses through innovations at every level.”

And Dragos Dumitrescu, country manager for Maersk in Romania, said: “Maersk remains steadfast in its unwavering commitment to implementing cutting-edge technology across its operations, reinforcing its position as an industry leader at the forefront of innovation. Embracing the latest advancements, Maersk continues to drive efficiency, enhance sustainability and deliver exceptional value to its customers while shaping the future of global trade.”

Dexory’s founders are school friends from Romania, who moved to the UK a decade ago with experience accumulated across engineering and tech roles at Formula One, Google and IBM.

Dexory (www.dexory.com) captures real-time insights into warehouse operations using fully autonomous robots and artificial intelligence (AI). Using autonomous technology to unlock data and drive insights through all levels of business operations helps companies boost their performance and unlock potential.

The fully autonomous mobile and modular robots measure, track and find goods across warehouses without workflow disruption. The data are fed in real time into digital twins, allowing logistics and warehouses to respond quickly to operational difficulties they face on a daily basis.

Maersk (www.maersk.com) is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. The company operates in more than 130 countries and employs over 110,000 people worldwide. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels and green fuels. 

IB Cargo (www.ibcargo.com) is a Romanian freight forwarder. Its portfolio includes customised cargo transport by road, air, sea, time critical, rail, customs assistance and buyer’s consolidation, all helping organisations optimise their costs, meet contracts, promises and regulations, enter markets, recover from critical situations, and make better use of their capabilities.