FedEx Express has recently announced the launch of DoraSorter – an AI-powered intelligent sorting robot – in collaboration with Dorabot. The sorting robot represents the company’s latest push in digitizing its operations and building a smart logistics network to handle the ever-growing volumes of e-commerce-related shipments in the region.
The first of its kind in China for FedEx, the DoraSorter robot is being deployed at the 5,200m2 FedEx South China E-Commerce Shipment Sorting Center in Guangzhou. DoraSorter is already part of the daily sorting operations and is capable of handling small inbound and outbound packages from e-commerce customers in South China. While FedEx and Dorabot teams continue to fine-tune the robot based on operational requirements, and explore more application scenarios, DoraSorter’s core function of sorting parcels based on destination matches the sorting center’s operation process. Key features of DoraSorter include:
- At approximately 40m2, the robot can carry up to 10 kilograms of packages, covering up to 100 destinations simultaneously.
- The robot has a special drawer-shaped gripper that can connect with the conveyor belt seamlessly.
- Equipped with a barcode reader that scans package to obtain destination information, the robot uses its gripper to receive a package inward from the conveyor belt and moves it outward to the corresponding destination slot.
FedEx investment in this warehouse automation echoes broader industry trends. Triggered by the global pandemic, logistics players are optimizing operational efficiencies, from warehouse management to last-mile delivery, to cater to the soaring demand for e-commerce products, seasonal peaks, and consumers’ heightened expectations for fast delivery. According to McKinsey & Company, the global warehouse automation market is projected to reach $51 billion by 2030. By 2025, more than 4 million commercial robots will be installed at more than 50,000 warehouses.