Digital tools like data glasses, drones, and application guidance streamline the maintenance of Kaufland's logistics centers through the assistance of advanced digital helpers.
Kaufland, a leading retail company, is revolutionising its logistics maintenance and inspection workflows by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as data glasses, drones, and augmented reality (AR) apps.
The innovative use of these technologies aims to simplify less frequent tasks, resolve malfunctions faster, and avoid travels for external specialists.
**Data Glasses**
Equipped with an integrated camera and headphones, these wearable devices provide technicians with real-time, hands-free access to critical information, manuals, and checklists during maintenance tasks. By viewing instructions or diagnostic data while keeping their hands free, technicians can improve efficiency and accuracy.
**Drones**
Drones are used for rapid, detailed visual inspections of large or hard-to-reach infrastructure within logistics centers. They can quickly capture high-resolution images or video of equipment, storage racks, or building structures to detect damage, wear, or anomalies, eliminating the need for time-consuming and potentially hazardous manual inspections.
At Moeckmuhl, drones are utilised to monitor the vast roof area, including photovoltaic systems, which spans almost 120,000 square meters. The heat imaging function of the drones helps in examining these areas for damage.
**Augmented Reality Apps**
AR apps overlay digital information directly onto physical equipment or areas when viewed through smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses. This technology helps maintenance personnel by visually guiding them step-by-step through repair or inspection processes, highlighting components to check and providing instant access to technical data, reducing errors and downtime.
The creation of the guides for the platform is delegated to the participating locations to ensure they are used at multiple locations and not created multiple times. The platform complements existing documented work instructions and safety training.
**Integrated Digital Ecosystem**
Together, these technologies create an integrated digital ecosystem that significantly improves the speed, safety, and accuracy of maintenance and inspection operations at Kaufland’s logistics centers, ensuring smoother operational continuity and reducing costly delays.
The data glasses are already in use at two logistics sites, while the platform is being tested for potential implementation, with logistics colleagues developing initial use cases. The platform includes videos and images, augmented by AR elements like directional arrows and graphic symbols, and does not require language elements.
The use of data glasses and drones also supports knowledge transfer between different Kaufland locations, fostering collaboration and best practice sharing.
Kaufland’s adoption of these technologies is consistent with broader retail and logistics trends toward AI, AR, and automation for process optimisation. As the retail landscape continues to evolve, it is clear that Kaufland is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation.
[1] Industry Report: AI, AR, and Automation in Retail and Logistics (2022) [5] Whitepaper: The Future of Logistics: AI, AR, and Automation (2021)
Wearables such as data glasses and gadgets like AR apps are used in Kaufland's logistics maintenance workflows to provide technicians with real-time, hands-free access to critical information, and to visually guide them through repair or inspection processes. Data-and-cloud-computing technologies like these aim to simplify less frequent tasks, resolve malfunctions faster, and promote collaboration among Kaufland locations through knowledge transfer.
