German startup Magazino has announced a new payment model for its autonomous picking robot TORU. With a pay-per-pick payment model, customers pay for the amount of work a robot does, instead of an annual software licence.
Magazino's TORU robot can pick goods autonomously, unlike many existing warehouse robots. The robot features intelligent camera technology that allows it to detect and grab individual objects, storing items in the robot's internal storage area. During its journey through the warehouse, the robot can pick multiple items or orders. Zalando has been working with TORU since last year. For the online shopping giant, it picks shoe boxes and clothes.
Paying based on performance
According to Magazino, performance-based pricing is in high demand in logistics. The pay-per-pick payment model should give customers maximum flexibility. Customers pay 55,000 euros for hardware and 0.06 euros per pick.
'Crucial asset'
"This model reduces initial investment and risk during the start-up phase of new projects," Magazino explains, adding that costs go down when crowds within a company decrease. "Pay-per-pick goes far beyond the usual software-as-a-service models. We strongly believe that flexibility is a crucial asset for fulfilment operations in e-commerce."
