AutoStore projects with Element Logic – from A-Z

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When investing in automation, there are a lot of things you must consider. Here is an insight on how our process as AutoStore specialists look like.

“With a wide range of expertise, a user-friendly software and more than 35 years of intralogistics experience Element Logic will find the optimal solution for you and your future growth”, Niklas Poulsen, Sales Manager in Element Logic, explains.

In 2020, electronics wholesaler CBK chose AutoStore by Element Logic to optimize its warehouse. See the entire process from A-Z in this video:

Establish the partnership

The first step towards automation is to get in contact with the specialists in the Element Logic sales team. With their extensive knowledge and experience in implementing warehouse automation and AutoStore systems in warehouses, they take the lead in making ROI calculations and payback analyses to find a custom solution for your current and future needs.

The team calculates all aspects of your operations. Some calculations are straightforward, such as how many employees you will need to operate. But we also calculate how much you will save on reducing human errors in picking goods and how much customer satisfaction will increase when they experience faster and safer deliveries.

“Finally, we estimate the budget and time frame for you”, Poulsen says.

Two men are pointing and looking at a presentation of a drawing of an AutoStore solution. — TAILOR-MADE SOLUTION: The solution is never the same, and each customer has its own needs.

Designing a tailor-made warehouse for your specific needs

After mapping your needs and preferences, our team of system designers work closely with the sales team and Project Manager using their experience and creativity to design a customized solution for your warehouse. No solution is ever the same.

We spend a lot of time analysing and calculating numbers to understand your needs.
Lasse Vik, Product Manager AutoStore

Vik designs systems for all kinds of customers, regardless of size, shape and challenges.

Once you sign a contract with us, we assign you a Project Manager that will work as a coordinator in all phases, and as the bridge between you and the team designing and building the solution. This way, you have one central point of contact – making it easier for you to keep track of what is happening.

“It is essential to have an open and honest dialogue about all details with the customer. This way, both sides feel confident and secure about the process”, Nils Grille, Project Manager at Element Logic, explains.

A man in a yellow west in a warehouse is pointing and looking at something outside of the camera shot. — SUCCESS FACTOR: Project Manager Nils Grille coordinates and quality checks the entire process – ensuring a smooth and precise process for you.

To make sure we end up with the best possible solution, the design team makes several 3D-models and run simulations. These simulations will give you an idea of what you can expect from the end-result regarding capacity and efficiency.

“When we have established a draft plan based on your needs and your available space, we present this to you, and together we agree on how we execute the installation”, Grille says.

A man is working on the AutoStore solution with three computer screens. — FOR ALL WAREHOUSES: Every building has its advantages and disadvantages, and the specialists from Element Logic work hard to find the perfect solution for your available space.

Delivery and construction

You can compare AutoStore to an advanced Lego-kit. Your Project Manager is in the lead of coordinating resources and deliveries to ensure a smooth construction phase.

As your project manager, I make sure all the deliveries arrive at the right time. After more than 35 years in operations, Element Logic has not had any significant delays in delivering a project. Our customers highly value this accountability in a time of change.
Nils Grille, Project Manager at Element Logic

Once the materials arrive, the construction team works on the time-consuming task of measuring out the grid and installing the first aluminium columns. Each stage of the construction is handled carefully and accurate to avoid mistakes that could affect the later stages of construction.

A pair of hands is using a ruler to measure the distances of aluminum columns of the AutoStore grid. — DETAILED-ORIENTED: One small deviation in the foundation jeopardizes the end-result.

“When the foundation is complete, the rest of the grid is quickly built row after row by our experienced construction teams”, Grille explains.

Your entire AutoStore solution is custom-built to fit your space, needs and requests. The custom solution includes not only the grid itself but also the service mezzanine, ports, and everything else included in your unique solution. Our goal is to utilize your space in the most efficient and space-saving way.

For customers in need of a total warehouse solution, we have the competence and can support our customers with different kind of systems and technology in addition to AutoStore.

The final step of the construction process is to place the robots on the grid.

A man in a helmet and yellow vest is constructing the AutoStore grid. — ADVANCED WAREHOUSE LEGO: When the foundation is in place, the grid gets put together like an advanced Lego-kit.

Testing capacity and efficiency

Once the robots are on top of the grid, the commissioning team executes extensive testing and simulations on scenarios. This way, you can be confident the AutoStore-system capacity matches the estimated figures from the sales process before you go live.

Our software eManager enables you to maximize the efficiency and reduce operational cost. This software implements warehouse execution, management, and control systems in one optimized, user-friendly interface.

“I test the system with the customer and guide them into production. I also prepare servers for installation to make sure our software eManager is compatible with the customers’ existing systems”, Theresa Marin Tantillo, Solutions Architect at Element Logic, explains.

A close-up of a laptop with the eManager software controlling and optimising the AutoStore-system and robots. — USER-FRIENDLY: Our software, eManager, is easy to use and you can navigate it easily after training with Element Academy.

eManager comes with built-in operator assistance for completing AutoStore tasks, an operational dashboard, and a service portal. eManager is also used to locate and control products and inventory and can integrate with ERP/WMS, and a variety of warehouse management systems.

I would say we are World Champions of integrating AutoStore. eManager is the brain of AutoStore making it efficient and enabling all components to communicate with each other for an optimized workflow.
Theresa Marin Tantillo, Solutions Architect at Element Logic

Become a superuser

When we train you on your new system, we recommend a selected few to become superusers.

“To onboard you, we invite you to superuser training with practical and theoretical tasks. The focus is on operations, safety and solving different issues that could occur”, Børre Skogvold, Training Team at Element Logic, says.

The training lasts for a couple of days, and you are encouraged to work with technical and software issues with your colleagues while we are present.

Five people are working together in front of a computer system to learn how to operate the AutoStore-system. — SUPERUSERS: Motivated and eager superuser employees are often the key to success for our customers.

Support and customer care after the installation

When the solution is ready to go live, the Element Logic support division is ready to help you in your daily operations and work with you to get the most out of your automated warehouse.

“In support, we help our customers with any issues they might face with their solution”, Wenche Schellhorn, Senior Systems Consultant at Element Logic, explains.

After completing the superuser training, you and the support division can understand each other as you can speak the same technical language and can work out the issues together.

The support team is always ready to help you with ad-hoc tasks, but they also continuously work to optimize your operations and to investigate where and how they can help you grow.

A close-up of a woman talking in headphones in front of a computer. — SERVICE-MINDED SUPPORT: It is normal to have more frequent contact with support in the first months of operations. Our team is happy to guide you during the early months of operation – and for the years to come.

“During the construction phase, we are in the information loop and are familiar with the customer’s AutoStore-solution when they start using it and might need our help”, Arnold Nielsen, Key Account Manager at Element Logic, explains.

You can receive an SLA-report each month with detailed status on your AutoStore-solution, including downtime and completed tasks.

Seamless transition to automation

After decades of experience with AutoStore and intralogistics, we are experts in transitioning our customers from manual to automatic warehouses. Our success-factor is the agility and solution-minded service team surrounding each customer – you can be confident that your solution is tailored specifically to your needs.

From the account manager, project manager, designers, constructors, commissioning team, system architects, superuser trainers and the experts in the support division, the transition to an automatic warehouse is seamless and comfortable. While simultaneously preparing your company for future growth.

The time frame from the initial meetings to an operational warehouse varies heavily. It depends on the decision-making process and your needs.

“A standard process is usually around three months from order to delivery and a few additional months of construction”, Sales Manager Niklas Poulsen states.