Technology has impacted various industries over the past decade. It is interesting to note how some industries use that technology to their advantage and pave the way forward. Noyes Tech leveraged technology to offer a flexible plug-and-play system to convert any storefront into a nano-warehouse. The smallest and fastest supply chain management solution offers lightening fast delivery at affordable prices for micro fulfillment and nano fulfillment storage areas. 

Founded in 2021, Noyes Technologies offers pioneering solutions of nano-warehousing to the logistics industry.

Regarding an example elevator pitch, Noyes Tech CEO Marco Prueglmeier said, "When Noyes Palmer Chapman invented the 15-puzzle game, he didn't think his idea would one day be used to help robots navigate products within a dense shelving system. That's exactly what Noyes Technologies has adapted in our automated warehouse system to save space."

But why?

While the variety of products in warehouses is constantly increasing, the space remains the same, and new affordable space is hard to find – especially near the city. Normally, large halls or shop spaces are needed to create a storage unit or match the storage requirement of businesses. But do you always need a large space? Can the same be achieved in a micro or nano space? What if one could use one's warehouse in a small space and on any layout?

Thus, NoyesStorage was created. An automated, low-cost, ultra-dense solution transforms the smallest spaces from 10 sqm into efficient storage.

NoyesStorage can be adapted to any layout and size, making it easier to build dark stores, no-isle retail stores, and small part storage at assembly lines. It can even be built around pillars!

"The NoyesStorage solution is flexible, fully automated, connectable to any backend with an open API to collect data safely and can even cool down products on a modular basis, thanks to Noyes' collaboration with Viessmann. You can offer a broad range of products and an eco-friendly innovation compared to existing cooling solutions in autonomous stores. We support the management of the Storages with our own Cloud and a B2B User application, 'Noyes Suite,'" said Marco Prueglmeier.

The NoyesStorage can also serve as a click & collect hub through the B2C interface and as a mobile version within containers. It can also be used as a small parts warehouse on construction sites. 

The application possibilities are almost limitless.

Some trends impacting the logistics arena in 2022 include – resilience in the supply chain, connectivity and real-time data, automation, ergonomic working, decentralized warehouses/hubs, click and collect, and sustainability. 

And how does Noyes react and evolve with them by adapting use cases and systems to needs? For instance:

• Automation: Robotized automated NoyesStorage

• Sustainability: The development of a sustainable and energy-saving cooling system with different temperature zones is currently being developed in cooperation with Viessmann Refrigeration Solutions GmbH. This modular cooling solution can quickly and easily integrate into any Noyes warehouse.

• Real-time data: The NoyesStorage automatically learns from past sales data to adapt to increase its performance. As a result, the NoyesStorage retrieves high runners even faster, and it can propose the best-suiting reorder quantities. The customer can check their stock at any time.

• Ergonomic working: Easy built-up (like an Ikea system), ergonomic picking station for humans, NoyesBot weight < 15kg (easy change of bots in case of maintenance or adding more bots in the system)

• The Noyes future: Click & Collect Hubs with automated picking within sea containers (also to be transported on trucks) or buildings, Noyes Social Hubs. 

Speaking about the challenges, Marco Prueglmeier said there are numerous challenges, which the decision-makers of leading companies face, and they include –

• Expensive real estate: Storing as many goods as possible per sqm.

• Under-utilized space: Warehouses must fit into crucial areas by layout, height, small spaces, and even pillars.

• Time inefficiencies: Long walking paths for human pickers.

• Labour: Employee shortage in the logistics labor market.

• Cost-intensive Pre-Processes: increased requirements to build sequences/kits in advance.

• Costly maintenance: Low-cost solutions without on-site maintenance are unavailable for decentralized warehouses.

Elaborating on the statement – The Revolution of Nano Fulfilment – Marco Prueglmeier said, "To date, there is no solution on the market that allows the automation of the smallest and even angled areas. Existing solutions offer a first approach for small warehouses on the outskirts or use inside large warehouses. Noyes Tech is trying to create a new standard for automation of the smallest areas. The system is revolutionary and creates a completely new approach to tackling the logistics of tomorrow."

Short installation times, no maintenance work, modern rental models for the robots, and adaptation of the system during operation, such as by expanding the robot fleet as needed during peak periods, are only part of the approach to simplifying logistics in the long term. 

Due to its modularity, the NoyesStorage can adapt to almost all external conditions and thus creates the possibility to offer an optimized solution for every application.

"We significantly shrink down the warehouse space and enable logistics for everyone. With NoyesStorage, we can build tiny to small retail areas – an automated retail store of the future. Users could retrieve a high range of diversified products; stored with maximum density. The NoyesStorage can operate 24/7, thanks to an innovative charging mechanism inside the system, and it just needs a connection to WIFI and a standard power socket. Modern logistics asks for a solution to compress maximum goods into a minimum of space and manage recurring costs. We live a prototype-based development of our system and encourage our employees to implement and test their ideas," added Marco Prueglmeier.

All verticals and use cases are served with the same standardized hardware, allowing Noyes to maximize the economies of scale for their HW platform. Noyes' supply chain is set, ready, and capable of delivering NoyesStorages in 2023 on a high scale.

Considering that we don't have running systems on the customer site, there are no case studies," said Marco Prueglmeier." .

No doubt, the competition is tough, but Noyes Tech offers one of the densest solutions in the market – no isle concept paired with a low-cost approach and the ability to automate spaces as little as 10sqm with ceiling heights less than three meters. And this is "our differentiating factor," said Marco Prueglmeier.

As far as the future is concerned, Marco Prueglmeier revealed the plans for expansion into the US market/trade fair ProMat in Chicago in 2023.