Boost your profitability and productivity thanks to our integrated buffer

The concept of buffering, also known as staging, consists of temporarily storing orders that have been prepared or are being prepared, until they are ready to be dispatched. This is a very important feature for maintaining fluidity in order preparation and dispatch.

At Exotec, we decided to integrate buffering into our system. But why exactly?

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In many traditional warehouses, staging areas are often poorly optimised. More often than not, they consist of simple areas marked out on the floor, where orders wait to be dispatched.

With the Skypod Next-Gen system, this complexity is a thing of the past. The system automatically manages the buffering of orders in its own vertical storage racks, eliminating the need for a dedicated area on the floor, which is usually at human height.

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The integrated buffer of the new-generation Skypod system offers remarkable flexibility for order picking:

• Orders that have not been started, are being prepared or have been completed are stored in the same system;
• No additional space is required in the warehouse;
• Order preparation does not depend on dispatch time.

For the operator, the process is transparent: he prepares the order according to what the Skypod system brings him at the order picking station. The system then takes care of removing the order when it is ready to be dispatched, according to the instructions from your WMS.

This creates tangible savings for the user, through significant space savings and better order management.

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Another major advantage of the Skypod Next-Gen storage system is its ability to handle different types and sizes of container, right down to the smallest 110 x 180 mm formats.

This versatility in container management is a significant advantage, enabling the system to be adapted to a wide variety of products.

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Unlike systems that only use their own containers, requiring the products in the order to be manually transferred into their shipping packaging, the New Generation Skypod system enables the order to be prepared directly in the final fulfillment container.

With the new generation of Skypod, the process is remarkably simplified thanks to the integrated buffer:

• The order is prepared in the appropriate shipping box;
• Once picking is complete, the order can be dispatched directly or buffered pending the cutoff time.

This significantly reduces the handling and time required to finalise orders! All the more so as it is also possible to store empty boxes or containers in our buffer, while waiting for the order preparation.

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Errors related to manual handling, which are particularly common in traditional staging areas, are virtually eliminated thanks to the automation and robotisation of the process.

This increased reliability offers you a higher quality of service and greater customer satisfaction, while reducing the costs associated with the management of errors and returns.

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The integrated buffer functionality of the Skypod Next-Gen system represents a major innovation in the field of intralogistics.

Exotec’s solution efficiently manages both inventory and empty fulfillment containers or boxes, seamlessly buffering them within the same system as they await order preparation, packing, and final shipping.

By enabling orders to be prepared directly in their final shipping packaging, and by integrating the staging within the storage system itself, Exotec offers a solution that optimises space, reduces operational complexity and significantly increases the efficiency of your warehouse.