Image Courtesy: epcworld.in
Ikea, the Swedish behemoth, has always been at the forefront of value-added solution innovation. The latest innovation of the company is the deployment of 100 autonomous drones for inventory control in its stores. The most recent installation of these drones in the retail industry is in Ikea Zaventem, Belgium, and it is the first of its kind.
Collaboration between Ingka Group, Inter Ikea Group’s Supply Chain Development Team, and Verity, a provider of indoor drone systems, led to the deployment of drones. The drones operate during non-business hours, enhancing inventory accuracy and ensuring product availability for both online and physical retail.
According to the company, the use of drones eliminates the need for employees to manually confirm each pallet, making the job less stressful and more productive. Head of Retail at Ingka Group, Tolga Oncu, stated, “Introduction of drones and other advanced tools, such as robots for picking up goods, is a true win-win situation for all parties involved. It improves the well-being of our employees, reduces our operational expenses, and enables us to become more affordable and convenient for our customers.”
The first drone took flight in Ikea Switzerland in 2021, and 100 drones are currently in operation at 16 other locations in Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Inter Ikea Group’s Head of Innovations in Logistics and Fulfillment, Supply Chain Development, Peter Ac, stated, “Being at the forefront of innovative and value-adding solutions is an integral part of Ikea’s history. This project is a wonderful illustration of how we collaborated across Ikea and with an external partner to develop a solution from which we all benefit.”
The use of autonomous drones for stock inventory in Ikea stores is a significant step towards improving operational efficiency and customer experience, and additionally, it leverages Ikea’s commitment to innovation and value-added solutions.
