Walmart's Alphabot project, with help form MOSIMTEC
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Simulation Modelling from MOSIMTEC critical in Walmart’s decision making process

 

Herndon, VA: MOSIMTEC, a global leader in simulation modelling consulting, was vital to the decision making process behind Walmart’s new robotic-based system for picking groceries – Alphabot. The retailer partnered with Massachusetts-based Alert Innovation to deploy Alphabot at a supercenter store in Salem, New Hampshire, and Walmart relied on simulation modelling provided by MOSIMTEC to understand the feasibility of this technology.

MOSIMTEC provided the simulation model that assisted Walmart’s evaluation of the Alphabot system. This model was built using AnyLogic simulation software to be used at multiple development stages and helped inform the investment decision making, test service-level capabilities, and identify any improvement opportunities.

The Alphabot system is a combination of robots, racking structures, picking workstations, and control software that can pick up grocery orders made via Walmart’s ever-growing online grocery pickup with fast turnaround times.

business modelling

By using this model to test a variety of customer demand situations, Walmart was able to understand the throughput and turnaround time capabilities of Alert Innovation’s Alphabot system. MOSIMTEC provided additional insights such as:

  • Understanding the limits of the Alphabot system under unconstrained demand conditions.
  • Determining the best configuration of racking structure, automated bots, and each-picking workstation required at a variety of Walmart store profiles.
  • Supporting the comparison of Alert’s Alphabot system with other industry leading Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) and Goods-to-Person (GTP) technologies.

As the adoption of these systems grows, accurate simulation modelling will be necessary to prove success.

About MOSIMTEC

The MOSIMTEC concept is built upon the paradigm that technology will be instrumental in decision making. Backed by sophisticated computer simulation software, MOSIMTEC differs from traditional engineering and consulting services to leverage decision support tools that deliver deep insight into a complex, dynamic, and real-time world. With extensive experience working with clients across various industries to solve complex issues, the MOSIMTEC team is uniquely positioned to apply Modeling & Simulation Technology (MST) to predict outcomes, prescribe actions, and improve operations. To learn more, visit mosimtec.com.


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