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Earlier this month we announced the establishment of RightHand Robotics GK, our new corporate entity in Japan.
“Japan is a huge and expanding market for robotic piece-picking and having a presence there will increase our opportunities in Asia Pacific and play a pivotal role in our global growth.” -Leif Jentoft, co-founder of RightHand Robotics
Our first publicly announced installation in the country is with PALTAC CORPORATION, Japan’s largest wholesaler of consumer packaged goods, at their flagship Saitama regional distribution center serving the Tokyo metropolitan area. Read more about RightHand Robotics GK in Robotics Business Review.
Element Logic has leveraged their software expertise to integrate RightHand Robotics’ piece-picking solution into AutoStore’s automated storage and retrieval system. The partnership, announced recently at IMHX, is significant because Element Logic was the first integrator for the revolutionary AutoStore technology. Now, for their latest offering, EL has selected RightHand Robotics' RightPick system.
The partnership with RHR is a new breakthrough for EL as it extends the range of automation controlled by Element Logic's warehouse software and is another significant step towards lights-out order fulfillment, enabling customers to decrease operational costs and boost profit.
It's ready and available for Element Logic customers to evaluate; watch this 90 second video to learn more and read the press release.
In its October 2019 research report Cool Vendors in Supply Chain Management Technologies, Gartner has named RightHand Robotics as a Cool Vendor. RHR is honored to be acknowledged by Gartner in this report* (available to Gartner subscribers), which we believe further validates the importance of robotic piece-picking in e-commerce
fulfillment and intralogistics.
Following is an excerpt from the report:
“Higher-maturity supply chains look to exploit emerging and innovative solutions to advance their supply chain technology maturity and advance their digital visions. Supply chain technology leaders should use this research to identify emerging vendors that can drive enhanced business value.
As companies seek to exploit the benefits of greater levels of digitalization, new and innovative technologies offered by Cool Vendors can potentially disrupt existing supply chain operating models.”
Gartner “Cool Vendors in Supply Chain Management Technologies,” C. Klappich, et al, 9 Oct. 2019
Over the past decade or two the Boston area has become home to a broad range of robotics companies, creating robots for the home, research, education, and commercial applications. While some focus on different types of automation for a variety of industries, others compete for the same customers.
Take, for instance, automated guided vehicles. AGVs blossomed in warehouses and e-commerce fulfillment centers, starting with Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics). Once Kiva was acquired in 2012, a number of other AGV startups came to life thanks to the abundance of talent here in the north east, not to mention the shift in shopping preference from in-store to online and the skyrocketing demand for speedy, door-step delivery.
No matter what the use-case, having a community of robotics experts and business professionals with startup experience, within a few miles of each other, is of tremendous value. So the more we can put our heads together, field questions and bounce ideas off each other the better. And that's just what we did recently at an Ask Me Anything event hosted by Vecna Robotics in Waltham, MA.
The panel below, moderated by Steve Crowe (far left) of The Robot Report, included (from left to right) RightHand Robotics co-founder Leif Jentoft, 6 River Systems Chief Technology Officer Chris Cacioppo, Veo Robotics co-founder Clara Vu, Mass Robotics Executive Director Tom Ryden, and Vecna CEO and founder Daniel Theobold.
Tap into some of the AMA takeaways in this recap of 7 Startup Lessons from Boston Robotics Veterans by The Robot Report.
The time spent in an incubator is critical to startups for many reasons, such as networking, access to equipment and keeping overhead low. Read more about what this resource provided RHR in this interview: RightHand Robotics Revolutionizes E-commerce Order Fulfillment
By the way, you can also ask us anything on LinkedIn and Twitter. Or simply hit us up with a follow there for more supply chain automation chit chat, announcements and industry news. And another way you can pick our brains on warehouse automation is to drop us a line. Lastly, if you don't feel like chatting but would simply prefer to see our piece-picking bots in action, check us out on YouTube.
*Disclaimer: The GARTNER COOL VENDOR badge is a trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc., and/or its affiliates, and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
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