Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that its customer GEODIS has surpassed 10 million units picked with help from its warehouse automation. The milestone pick happened at the global logistics provider’s distribution center in Carlisle, Pa.
“As a trusted collaborator for more than six years, GEODIS is setting new standards for speed and efficiency within its facilities,” stated Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “The Locus solution has helped GEODIS do more than just increase productivity. We’re improving workplace ergonomics and employee safety, while making it easier for workers to do their jobs with robotics automation.”
GEODIS and Locus have worked together since 2018, picking over 100 million units across all GEODIS’ operations worldwide. The 575,000-sq.-ft. distribution facility in Carlisle manages omnichannel order fulfillment in the Midwest and Eastern U.S. on behalf of a major global consumer electronics company.
Locus robots roll to new records
Locus Robotics said its LocusONE artificial intelligence-driven platform enables its autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to integrate into existing warehouse environments. The Wilmington, Mass.-based company said its robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model ensures ongoing innovation, scalability, and cost-effectiveness without the burden of significant capital investments.
For picking operations, Locus AMRs, or LocusBots, optimize worker productivity by directing workers to their next pick location. The company said directed picking eliminates non-value-added roaming or patrolling of aisles.
Instead, LocusOne visually guides workers to their next closest pick opportunity, reducing lost time for repetitive decision-making and minimizing unproductive walk time. LocusBots can assist workers in completing discrete picking, each picking, case picking, and batch picking orders for optimized efficiency.
Locus said its customers include more then 150 retail, healthcare, third-party logistics (3PL), and industrial brands with over 350 sites worldwide. The company claimed that its technology enables warehouse operators to achieve rapid return on investment (ROI), minimize labor costs, and continuously improve productivity.
Earlier this year, the company announced that its AMRs have assisted in 4 billion picks across all of its customer deployments worldwide. This came just six months after it surpassed 3 billion picks, and a year after passing 2 billion picks, which won Locus a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award.
GEODIS sees benefits from expanded partnership
The 10 million pick milestone in Carlisle followed GEODIS and Locus’ expanded agreement signed in 2022. With that latest pact, the companies planned to deploy a total of 1,000 LocusBots at GEODIS warehouses worldwide. They said it was one of the industry’s largest AMR deals to date.
“With the holiday shipping season at peak levels, it is more evident than ever just how critical warehouse efficiency is to maintaining a healthy and productive supply chain,” said Kevin Stock, executive vice president of engineering at GEODIS in the Americas.
“Warehouse automation brings incredible value to helping us navigate the challenge of managing increased volumes all year long, but especially during this demanding time of year,” he added. “Throughout our relationship, we’ve seen Locus Robotics’ powerful, AI-driven automation complement our teammates and dramatically increase productivity levels where deployed throughout our global operations.”
GEODIS, which is owned by SNCF Group, provides freight forwarding, global contract logistics, distribution and express transport, and European road network services. Its network spans nearly 170 countries and 53,000 employees. In 2023, the company generated €11.6 billion ($12.2 billion U.S.) in revenue. 
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