A smart logistics center in Beijing, operated by China's online retailer giant JD.com, has seen its logistics efficiency enhanced through advanced digital technology and optimal space utilization.
The "Asia No.1" smart logistics center can handle an outbound volume of 300,000 orders in a single day during peak seasons, with goods being shipped out at a rate of dozens of items per second.
Inside the facility, over 200 robots of different kinds work in coordination, navigating among tall and tightly packed shelves to retrieve and transport goods, ensuring precise inventory management and quick shelving. With full-scale automation, the sorting efficiency is three times higher than that of the traditional manual mode.
The warehouse covers an area of over 3,000 square meters, with 12-meter-high shelves that hold around 10,000 boxes of goods, equivalent to the annual inventory of a small supermarket. Therefore, the efficient use of space is another key factor in enhancing efficiency.
To maximize the utilization of this expansive warehouse, the system automatically places best-selling items closer to the outbound area, shortening the distance from picking to shipping while achieving an accuracy rate of 99.99 percent.
"The secret to intelligent sorting is the digital twin technology, which allows us to create the digital twin of equipment, algorithm and system. If a solution for a future logistics warehouse is needed, simply entering its data into the system will yield the optimal solution for configuration of its equipment, ensuring peak efficiency," said Zhang Guoliang, chief officer for hardware products at the technology business department, JD Logistics.
Low-frequency goods can also achieve fast delivery with the support of this algorithm. During peak logistics periods, such goods are stored in regional distribution warehouses based on consumption forecasts before being distributed to front-end city warehouses across the country.
When an order for such goods is received, regional warehouses, forward warehouses, sorting centers and delivery centers will work simultaneously to ensure a swift delivery.
This well-developed intelligent logistics solution for warehousing has been implemented in over 10 countries globally, providing customized warehousing and logistics services for local e-commerce platforms and manufacturing enterprises.
Smart warehouse in Beijing realizes faster logistics through advanced digital technology
