Hanjin Logistics CEO Noh Sam-sug, left, displays the company's drone, while Chief Marketing Officer Emily Cho holds the company's smart glasses during a press conference at the logistics firm's warehouse in southwestern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hanjin Logistics
Drones, smart glasses set to improve efficiency at old warehouses
By Park Jae-hyuk
Drones were deployed inside Hanjin Logistics' 26-year-old warehouse in southwestern Seoul, Wednesday, flying slowly at a speed of 30 centimeters per second, scanning QR codes on each package to check inventory levels as they cruised between the high-rise racks.
The logistics firms’ workers wearing smart glasses picked goods and scanned their barcodes through eye contact without holding any devices in their hands.
When scanning invoices and texting their customers, the workers did not use their smartphones, thanks to the smart glasses’ cameras and microphones, which enable them to complete such tasks through eye contact and voice only.
Hanjin Logistics touted these technologies as new methods of improving both efficiency and safety at its warehouses nationwide.
“Although we cannot showcase sensational technologies as IT firms do, we believe that this demonstration session will show how our smart technologies can benefit people in the logistics industry,” Emily Cho, president and chief marketing officer of Hanjin Logistics, told reporters.
According to the company, drones and smart glasses will be introduced gradually at its logistics centers nationwide by the end of next year.
Hanjin Logistics emphasized that the introduction of the new devices is intended for its employees to work more efficiently and safely, denying speculation that the company may reduce its workforce with the smart technologies.
“We plan to adopt drones immediately, but it will take time to distribute smart glasses due to the shortage of the products,” said Cho, the younger sister of Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae and the granddaughter of the late Hanjin Group founder Cho Choong-hoon.
She added that the logistics firm’s newly built warehouses have been adopting much smarter technologies like robots, as its competitors do.
“It is difficult to introduce cutting-edge automation technologies to old facilities, but our fulfilment center in Los Angeles uses robots and various other automation technologies,” she said. “Our Daejeon Mega Smart Hub is equipped with our most advanced smart technologies.”
She also hinted that her company will showcase more upgraded technologies next year, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Hanjin Group.
English (United States) ·