Warehouse automation company Pickommerce announced it has raised $3.4 million in funding to advance the development, production and marketing of the PickoBot piece-picking robot. Pickommerce’s technology is prepared to transform the warehouse automation market. IL Ventures led this funding round and it includes InNegev, Fusion VC, the Israel Innovation Authority, and strategic investor ZIM Ventures (the corporate venture arm of maritime shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services).
Even though warehouses are becoming more automated, many still depend on human pickers. This creates a major challenge as there is a shortage of tens of millions of workers. To address this issue, piece-picking robots have become a major component of automated warehouses. These robots increase efficiency and reduce labor needs.
Through PickoBot, Pickommerce delivered the missing link in achieving a fully autonomous warehouse workflow, providing a superior solution for various industries such as apparel, retail (consumer goods, food, DIY, electrical, etc.), e-commerce, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and spare parts. And PickoBot utilizes an advanced computer vision system powered by machine learning that enables the safe and intelligent packaging of objects of different sizes, weights, and textures.
Plus, it features multiple gripping methods in a single station, including vacuum, finger-based, and patented adhesive-based grippers. An AI-driven decision-making algorithm selects each item’s optimal gripper and grasp configuration. Pickommerce’s patent-protected technologies significantly increase the variety of products that robots can handle in logistics and the level of autonomy those robots possess.
Pickommerce’s recent installation at Havivian Farm—one of the largest organic farms in Israel—showcases the adaptability and precision—or gentle touch, in this case—of Pickommerce’s intelligent gripping technology. This organic farming enterprise turned to Pickommerce to reduce operational costs by automating their high-volume fresh produce packing line. Unlike competitive solutions, PickoBot has been proficient at adapting to and handling the complexities of picking and packing fresh produce at a rapid pace. This capability is valuable for any supermarket that accepts online orders.
KEY QUOTES:
“Pickommerce is disrupting the logistics industry by delivering advanced solutions that streamline automation operations, significantly enhancing their overall efficiency. In an industry where manual picking still overwhelmingly dominates the process, this solution is poised to redefine standards and drive a new era that’s more agile, responsive, and cost-effective. Booming demand for Pickommerce’s technology shows that the company’s solutions cater to an urgent and essential market need.”
-IL Ventures’ Managing Partner Yoni Heilbronn
“At Havivian Farms, quality is at the core of everything we do. From planting seeds in the soil to harvesting our crops, we are committed to ensuring our customers receive the freshest, highest-quality goods. Pickommerce has been integral to this process. Their PicoBot enables us to efficiently handle and pack our produce for shipment, ensuring it reaches customers in perfect condition.”
-Boaz Havivian, Owner of Havivian Farms
“We appreciate the commitment from our investors, customers and partners, and we are seeing significant market demand for PickoBot. We are pushing the boundaries of the industry by offering unmatched flexibility with the PickoBot’s diverse gripping abilities. This is achieved through the seamless integration of advanced computer vision, a highly optimized packing algorithm, and AI-powered decision-making.”
-Kfir Nissim, Co-Founder and CEO of Pickommerce
