"In recent years, it has become clear that the international supply chains for many essential medicines have become too unsafe for our patients. A return to stock levels that we can control ourselves locally is unavoidable, even if this naturally causes higher costs in the pharmacies," says Marc Schrott, owner of Central Apotheke Frankfurt (pictured), explaining the initial situation and continues: "These costs need to be optimized, which is why we have opted for a high degree of automation."

But for Marc Schrott, the impact on supply chains during the pandemic is just the tip of the iceberg: "Unfortunately, the structural problems in the supply of pharmaceuticals are getting worse every year. For this reason, we have decided to return to healthy stockholding, as was customary before the globalization of the pharmaceutical markets. However, we did not want to go back to the 80s, but wanted to help shape the new decade with our own ideas and optimizations and be able to provide our patients and customers with maximum security of supply. We planned the project with KNAPP and Noventi in such a way that every pharmacist in their region can implement it in the same way and we are also creating a platform of individualists that can compete with international drug delivery."

Logistics center for B2B and B2C

The logistical challenges arise from the mixing of B2B and B2C business. While the item structure is very similar in both business models, the order structure is completely different. Accordingly, different pack sizes are required when assembling deliveries in the warehouse: an original carton for fulfilling a hospital order, a bundle pack for a pharmacy order and a single pack for providing an order for a private customer. "Bundling different business models in a central logistics center is the key to success for efficient logistics in an urban environment. KNAPP provides the technological backbone for this," emphasizes Johannes Kompek, Senior Sales Engineer Healthcare Solutions KNAPP AG.

Healthcare Campus - fast, urban and green

Marc Schrott lives the green and sustainable idea: "We don't want to deliver in a few days, but within a few hours. This requires an intralogistics solution with a very short order turnaround time. Deliveries are made using electric vehicles and e-bikes. The expandability of the solution was particularly important to us, as our supply network offers a wide range of opportunities to deliver regional products in the city in cooperation with other local suppliers."

The entire Healthcare Campus will be powered by solar energy generated on the roof surface and the active façades. The Central Pharmacy uses the maximum solar charging capacity on the building for its delivery fleet. The building will also use geothermal energy to heat and cool the warehouse and order picking area with maximum energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.

KNAPP supplies the latest technology for the Healthcare Campus: a pallet and shuttle warehouse, fully automated central conveyor systems, goods-to-person workstations and a shipping solution that takes pharmacy-specific security requirements into account. Various expansion scenarios are already included in the automation and software solution. Depending on the expansion of the business, technology and software modules can be easily added.