247 operational drones to be used for stock inventory
IKEA is expanding the rollout of its AI-powered drones to more distribution centres in a bid to further automate stock inventory and improve the wellbeing of employees.
The drone system, developed in collaboration with AI and robotics provider Verity, will be deployed further in Europe and North America, starting with the Distribution Centre Perryville, IKEA US.
The IKEA drones can identify and photograph product storage locations through an artificial intelligence-based algorithm, according to Parag Parekh, IKEA's Global Chief Digital Officer.
"In addition, drone flights are pre-scheduled, utilising a custom indoor positioning system to navigate higher levels of storage locations (for levels three and up). Equipped with obstacle detection capabilities, these drones can avoid collisions by rerouting their paths," Parekh said in a statement.
The introduction of the drones will allow for continuous inventory checks without disrupting regular workflows, as employees can now act on real-time data provided by the drones, according to IKEA.
The drones are also expected to improve employee wellbeing by minimising repetitive strain and injury risks for workers, allowing them to focus on more engaging tasks.
Successful testing of IKEA drones
This development follows a successful year of testing at the Winterslag Distribution Centre in Belgium.
"Implementing a solution that truly makes a difference in our warehouses is an immensely rewarding experience. The installation process itself is relatively straightforward, and the reward is monumental, as it facilitates collaboration amongst various stakeholders," said Tommy Niemierowski, Fulfilment Project Implementation Manager at IKEA Belgium, in a statement.
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Meanwhile, IKEA is also working on upgrading the drone system with additional functionalities, such as unit load and rack inspection capabilities, as well as enhancements to the analytics and insights components of the solution.
IKEA's first drone took flight in Switzerland in 2021, before it expanded to over 250 drones that operate across 73 locations in nine countries.
"We continue to embrace the benefits of technology and innovation, our goal is to create a better experience for our customers and a more ergonomic workplace for our co-workers," said Marcus Baumgartner, Head of Fulfilment & Core services, IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), in a statement.