The Spanish Mayoral Group, European market leader in children's fashion, counts on it. In the distribution center of US shoe manufacturer Crocs, it helps to automate the ordering and returns processes. And in the omnichannel logistics hubs of the well-known fashion labels s.Oliver and Mango, it is at the heart of automated order processing. We are talking about the Skyfall pocket sorter technology from the Swiss intralogistics company Ferag. The overhead conveyor system is known for its scalability and flexibility. It handles extensive distributions for the B2C and B2B business and proves to be a solution for conveying, buffering, sorting, picking and returns management, primarily in online retail and retail.

Ferag calls it a #perfectmatch, because Skyfall docks onto any storage system, can be easily integrated and upgrades existing systems efficiently and sustainably. The wave picking process plays a key role in increasing efficiency. Instead of individual orders being retrieved from the warehouse system, the articles are retrieved in whole waves with several orders, which are then grouped in the Skyfall system according to certain characteristics and picked in this way. The high flexibility of the system also allows picking according to priority and dynamic buffering. The buffer can therefore store goods temporarily or serve as a temporary warehouse for fast-moving items and returns management. In general, the entire returns process can be easily integrated into the system. The optimized Skyfall solution also impresses with a high level of error tolerance thanks to the precise traceability of the entire process. Linking order picking with digital technologies and artificial intelligence offers additional potential for increasing performance. For example, unused bags could be filled with goods that - based on the recommendation of algorithms - are expected to be ordered soon.

Less space and resources required

The optimization of order picking and the extended buffer options also mean that the space required for the warehouse can be reduced or maintained despite higher order volumes - an interesting aspect, especially for distribution centers that cannot consider expanding their infrastructure. The consistent use of overhead areas, as guaranteed by the Skyfall overhead conveyor system, contributes to this. As a result, Ferag's further development is also reflected in lower investments.