Distribution centre technology provider Lucas Systems has produced software that provides a dynamic and automated way for workers to build pallets more efficiently and tailored to warehouse needs.

The Dynamic Pallet Builder sifts through a myriad of requirements and data points, making thousands of calculations per minute looking across relevant warehouse operations to determine the appropriate trade-offs needed to pick, group, sequence and stack items optimally on one or more pallets at a time.

Pallet-building recommendations consider a wide variety of variables including product size, weight, stacking rules, shipping regulations, worker travel distance, safety, route order and order priorities.

The software, which seamlessly integrates with various warehouse management systems, is configurable, aligning with a company’s operations and priorities. Additionally, the software dynamically recomputes optimal pallet builds in response to orders continually flowing into the warehouse.

“It’s constantly and dynamically optimising throughout the day,” said Ken Ramoutar CMO of Pennsylvania-based Lucas Systems (www.lucasware.com).

Dynamic Pallet Builder helps warehouse operators stay as agile and responsive as possible which leads not only to smarter-built pallets but also overall productivity gains and reduced damage. Lucas says warehouse agility is paramount for today’s complex logistics environments, and that’s why the company has invested in a number of dynamic-driven technologies over the past year.

Known for its decades of experience with voice-directed picking, Lucas Systems says its Dynamic Pallet Builder (www.lucasware.com/dynamic-pallet-builder) is transformative due to its connection to picking operations.

“Smarter pallet building also means smarter picking,” said Ramoutar. “Building better pallets can have a significant impact on reducing damage, minimising worker travel, reducing transportation mileage and improving productivity.”

Lucas customer Veritable Vegetable (veritablevegetable.com) uses the software to optimise its delivery routes. The California-based organic produce distribution company uses a two-part voice-directed picking process to split its pallets. In doing so, its pallet-building logic is tailored to match its trucks and delivery operations precisely.

“This personalised approach provides optimal efficiencies for us, and it also gives our customers more flexibility when placing orders,” said Veritable Vegetable CEO Mary Jane Evans. “Both are extremely important.”