DHL Supply Chain is ramping up its global automation drive after rolling out a new robotics platform designed to dramatically speed up deployment across its warehouses.
The logistics giant has deployed SVT Robotics’ SOFTBOT® platform across its global network, enabling robotics integrations to be completed up to 12 times faster than traditional custom coding approaches.
DHL already operates more than 8,000 collaborative robots worldwide, but the new plug-and-play system is expected to accelerate future rollouts and make automation easier to scale across multiple sites.
Previously, integrating new technologies required bespoke coding for each deployment, with projects taking up to six to eight weeks to get off the ground. The new platform replaces that approach with pre-built connectors, allowing faster and more flexible integration.
This shift supports DHL’s move away from rigid, all-in-one systems towards more modular warehouse setups that can adapt as technologies and customer demands change.
“The logistics industry is characterized by rapid change… so our automation solutions need to adapt just as quickly,” said Sally Miller, global CIO at DHL Supply Chain.
“The SOFTBOT Platform gives us an effective and efficient way to connect different types of robotics to our warehouse systems, monitor performance in real time and scale solutions across sites with confidence.”
The platform also provides a centralised dashboard, giving teams visibility across multiple sites and enabling real-time monitoring of operations.
DHL said the system is already delivering tangible benefits, particularly in speeding up implementation times and reducing disruption.
“Our operations worldwide are already seeing clear benefits from deploying robotics and automation via SVT,” said Tim Tetzlaff, global head of digital transformation at DHL Supply Chain.
He said the platform acts as “the glue between our warehouse management system (WMS) and our digitalization agenda”, allowing the company to replicate solutions quickly across regions.
In Europe, Goods-to-Person systems have been rolled out with integration completed in just three hours, while new technologies have been introduced into live operations in Asia Pacific with “zero downtime”.
The system’s real-time data access is also expected to support wider use of artificial intelligence across DHL’s logistics operations.
SVT Robotics said the partnership is helping DHL scale automation more independently and cost-effectively.
“DHL now does the majority of implementations without hands-on support from SVT,” said CEO and co-founder AK Schultz.
“This means they can scale even faster and further reduce costs, accelerate their deployments, and take advantage of the data visibility that our platform uniquely provides.”
DHL added that the platform improves visibility across both workforce activity and automation performance, helping coordinate teams and robots working side by side while maintaining efficiency and safety.
“Not only is this a gamechanger for the speed at which we test and deploy new technology… the platform’s real-time visibility… further maximize resiliency,” Ms Miller said.
The SOFTBOT platform is currently live in 30 DHL Supply Chain sites worldwide, with plans to expand to more than 100 locations over the next three years.