The Robot Report Podcast How ODW Logistics is Innovating with Automation
Oct 31, 2025
This episode features Cody Upp, Head of Commercial for Zebra Robotics Automation, and Brian Chereson, an industrial engineer at ODW Logistics. They discuss Zebra's innovative Symmetry Fulfillment solution, which enhances logistics through automation. Key insights include how AMRs improve productivity, reduce labor costs, and boost order accuracy. Cody elaborates on the benefits of detachable carts and wearables in optimizing workflows. They also share strategies for third-party logistics providers to adopt automation and scale effectively in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
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Decoupled Carts Cut Robot Costs
- Decoupling the robot from the pick cart cuts required robot counts significantly by shifting buffering to low-cost racks.
- That reduces variable cost per unit and improves project ROI for 3PLs according to Brian Chereson and Cody Upp.
Use Variable Cost Per Unit As North Star
- Prioritize utilization, performance, and cost when evaluating AMR solutions and use variable cost per unit as your North Star.
- Design for higher fleet utilization to slash required robot counts and improve profitability, Cody Upp advises.
Cheap Carts Provide High-Capacity Buffering
- Using inexpensive, commercially available baker's rack carts provides fixed low-cost buffering instead of costly robot-based accumulation.
- That increases cart capacity, lets one operator work with multiple robots, and multiplies pick productivity.