CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Mr. Robinson Philipose, the Co-Founder and CEO of ARAPL RaaS
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Can you provide an overview of ARAPL RaaS and the vision behind its creation?
For a long time, our parent company, ARAPL, has been involved in robotics and customized automation. The next step was to productize automation. We ventured into warehouse automation to leverage our engineering and robotics expertise to build a scalable automation product. Our goal was to create solutions that are easier to scale with fewer customers but more potential. In the warehouse domain, customers often have multiple warehouses, and one success can easily be replicated across their entire network.
We also aimed to ensure that robotic powerhouses do not disrupt this sector soon. While many companies are focusing on humanoid robots, we started with pallet handling and storage density solutions with Zeus. These solutions cannot be easily replaced by humanoids. Mobile robotic automation handling heavy weights, reaching greater heights, and managing large-size products on pallets will continue to require autonomous mobile machines.
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ARAPL RaaS has filed for 6 patents and developed 5 proprietary software solutions. Could you elaborate on some of these innovations and how they enhance your robotic solutions?
ARAPL RaaS has filed for 6 patents and developed 5 proprietary software solutions, enhancing warehouse operations with increased efficiency, accuracy, and speed. Our innovations include automating goods transfer and storage to reduce manual labor and errors, streamlining processes for greater efficiency. High throughput picking uses advanced robotics for faster order processing and improved fulfilment. Smart stock reorganization optimizes space and access to frequently picked items, while automated stock audits provide real-time inventory data, minimizing discrepancies. For micro-fulfillment centers, optimized order fulfillment systems support rapid processing and same-day or next-day delivery. The multi-core carousel boosts throughput by handling multiple orders simultaneously.
Our proprietary software further enhances these innovations. Fleet management reduces downtime and improves coordination of robot fleets. SLAM navigation allows real-time adaptation to dynamic environments. WMS Extend integrates robotics into warehouse management for comprehensive control, and WCS Extend ensures seamless integration and optimized workflows for increased productivity.
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Can you describe the key features and benefits of the Driverless Pallet Jack, Driverless Reach Trucks, and Driverless Forklift?
Our range of driverless material handling equipment, including the Driverless Pallet Jack, Driverless Reach Trucks, and Driverless Forklift, offers numerous benefits. These robots are zero-training products (0TP), requiring no on-site training for operators, which makes implementation seamless. Pre-trained using 3D mapping and CAD uploads, they ensure a faster go-live process. Designed to be platform and hardware agnostic, our robots integrate seamlessly with various systems and hardware, providing flexibility for diverse setups.
These driverless solutions enhance warehouse efficiency and productivity by automating repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to focus on complex activities. They also improve safety by reducing the risk of accidents and injuries, creating a safer workplace. Automation leads to significant cost savings over time, with reduced labor costs, decreased downtime, and lower error rates. Our scalable solutions can easily adapt to growing business needs, allowing additional units to be deployed without extensive reconfiguration or retraining.
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One of the high points mentioned is that your solutions don’t need IT integration. How does this benefit your clients, and what is the typical deployment process in a warehouse?
Not requiring IT integration is a significant advantage of our product, making it accessible to small and medium-sized businesses with limited IT resources and appealing to larger companies by addressing security concerns. Each unit’s self-contained processing, powered by on-board AI, allows real-time intelligent decision-making without relying on centralized systems. This reduces network load and bypasses the need for extensive IT infrastructure. Our robots can operate with a self-defined Warehouse Control System (WCS) that processes order data in any format, eliminating the need for ERP or WMS integration. This is particularly beneficial for 3PL players who may not have dedicated IT teams. Our plug-and-play robot APIs require minimal configuration, supporting RESTful services and MQTT for real-time data exchange.
The typical deployment process involves setting up robots with our pre-configured WCS. This includes pre-deployment preparation, system configuration and testing, on-site integration and live testing, operational handover and training, and go-live with continuous optimization. This approach ensures a quick, efficient, and secure implementation for all clients.
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ARAPL RaaS offers a pay-per-use model with no capital expenditure and a payback period as low as 6 months. How has this business model been received by your clients, and can you share any success stories?
ARAPL RaaS offers a pay-per-use model with no capital expenditure and a payback period as low as 6 months. How has this business model been received by your clients, and can you share any success stories?The USA has a 5% penetration when it comes to high-end automation, and what we are trying to sell is not robots and technology but “certainty.” Certainty is the only thing that people pay for; be it Uber or Blinkit, people want certainty. Our model is a simplified version of pay-per-use—we call it PAYS (Pay As You Save). Here, we ask customers to pay what they save, not a penny more, without any involvement of third parties. Once the capital expenditure is recovered, we offer our services at just $3 to $5 per hour, compared to the $18 to $20 per hour they are paying today.
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What are the future plans for ARAPL RaaS in terms of product development and market expansion?-
ARAPL RaaS is strategically advancing its product lineup and market footprint with innovative technologies that redefine material handling and warehouse operations. Our offerings include advanced autonomous forklifts such as Reach Trucks, Counterbalanced Forklifts, and the MAIA series, along with the robust Latent Lifter Robot and the powerful Zeus model. Future plans include integrating hybrid navigation technology in our Hercules and forklift models to dramatically reduce travel time and enhance efficiency. We will expand our portfolio with collaborative robots (COBOTS) and advanced sorting solutions to streamline processes and boost productivity. Additionally, we aim to develop a vision-based inventory management system and a picking system that leverages vision and augmented reality (AR) for safety and efficiency. To enhance our technology stack, we will incorporate a Fleet Management System (FMS) with Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Constraint-Based Scheduling (CBS) for optimal navigation and task allocation. All our systems will feature cloud connectivity, overseen by our Global Monitoring Desk for real-time insights and support worldwide.
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Given your extensive experience in retail, warehousing, and distribution, what key trends do you see shaping the future of these industries, and how will ARAPL RaaS adapt to these trends?
As e-commerce continues to expand, consumer expectations for quick delivery are heightening. To address this, ARAPL RaaS is enhancing its product offerings with vision-based systems and advanced robotics (hybrid navigation and omnidirectional movement) to streamline warehouse operations and improve order fulfillment speed and accuracy. Leveraging AI and IoT technologies, ARAPL RaaS is developing systems to enhance inventory management and warehouse safety. Vision and AR-based safety systems, along with cloud connectivity, offer real-time insights and global monitoring, ensuring safe and optimized operations. In line with sustainability trends, ARAPL RaaS focuses on developing systems that reduce environmental impact and enhance operational efficiency. The introduction of COBOTs and sorters, along with RFID and wearable technologies, will help reduce energy usage and create safer, more collaborative operations. Additionally, ARAPL RaaS is committed to ensuring on-time staffing with its robotic solutions, further supporting the industry’s move towards automation and efficiency.
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What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in developing and deploying your robotic solutions, and what opportunities do you see for further innovation in warehouse automation?
Developing and deploying robotic solutions comes with several challenges. Key issues include ensuring seamless integration with existing systems, addressing the variability in warehouse environments, and optimizing real-time decision-making capabilities. Opportunities for further innovation in warehouse automation are promising. One major area is the development of smart racks and storage solutions, which can communicate with autonomous forklifts and robots to optimize storage strategies and retrieval processes. These intelligent racks can dynamically adjust configurations based on real-time inventory data and demand forecasts. Additionally, expanding the capabilities of vision-based inventory management and AR safety systems to interact with smart peripherals enhances functionality. Augmented overlays can provide operators and robots with optimal storage strategies and safety alerts. Holistic Fleet Management Systems (FMS), incorporating Reinforcement Learning and Constraint-Based Scheduling, can further refine multi-agent path planning, ensuring efficient navigation and optimal interaction with smart infrastructure like racks and modular storage units.
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