Material handling firm Dematic has launched its latest software platform, Dematic iQ, which is designed to deliver “immediate, real-time visibility and control” for users that want to manage their business in real-time.

Dematic iQ has been developed as a scalable and modular platform that is said to address "all" fulfilment centre business processes with a number of robust functional modules and cloud offerings.

It features an advanced data management layer designed to harness and centralize data from a range of software and controls sources, which delivers information in real-time via user-friendly dashboards.

John Baysore, president and CEO, Dematic North America explains: "Today's order fulfilment challenges are vast. Dematic iQ presents our customers with a single logistics platform that delivers the decision support and optimization capabilities needed to improve operations on a sustainable basis."

"In addition, our recent acquisition of a CMMS offering extends Dematic's reach into maintenance management, making it easy to maximize equipment potential and operating life."

Speaking to OCH last year, Scott Hinke, manager of the AGVS business unit at Dematic, said the group has experienced significant investment in its AGV offering following "rebound" in the manufacturing sector.

"Capital equipment investments are opening up again and people are now spending. Some of these companies had initially delayed their investments several years ago but the key driver of demand now is the desire to lower operational costs," he explains.

According to Hinke, there has been a recent sea change in how potential customers approach their warehouse and manufacturing investments.

He adds: "Previously these companies would have carried out these tasks manually, often with conventional forklift technology but they have seen the cost and efficiency benefits of automation and wanted to migrate as a result."

"Other potential companies want to look into automation but require more of a business case and view it as a case of risk and reward. The return on investment can be between two and three years so there can be some nervousness but adopters never look back."