The convenience store chain adds 100 Geek+ bots to its Hong Kong distribution centre.
The majority of US travellers see the Circle K convenience store chain as just another purveyor of consumer staples like gas and snacks. But this began to change when the chain was purchased in 2003 by the Quebec-based corporation Alimentation Couche-Tard.
Once backed by this corporate muscle, Circle K has become a retailing powerhouse with access to the latest logistics technology. Just last month, it added more than 100 autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from tech vendor Geek+ to its Hong Kong distribution centre. That 140,000sq ft distribution centres supplies more than 300 Circle K convenience stores in Hong Kong, which collectively serve over 600,000 customers daily.
According to Geek+, the AMRs will use intelligent software and QR (quick response)-code technology to flexibly move racks of goods from a designated staging area to employees positioned at picking stations. By automating those time-consuming and physically demanding tasks, the system aims to improve picking accuracy and efficiency while creating a safer work environment for employees.
