Kenco tries out drones for yard management

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee—Warehouse automation may soon take to the skies, as logistics provider Kenco teams up with PINC Solutions to explore the use of drones to manage warehouse systems and yard operations.

Kenco is using PINC’s yard management platform to provide real-time asset tracking at a large facility in the Midwest. In addition, the two companies are exploring the potential to deploy drones for yard management at Kenco distribution facilities.

“Kenco wants to use drones for managing real-time data gathering in outside yard operations,” said Kristi Montgomery, vice president, Kenco Innovation Labs. “PINC’s patented RTLS sensor platform captures locations of assets and inventory, and can provide up-to-the-minute information that would allow Kenco to customize and segment yard operations based on customer needs and business rules.”

Montgomery said Kenco sees tremendous opportunities for providing higher levels of customer service by integrating real-time data into existing systems.

“One of the reasons Kenco formed its own innovation labs was to explore opportunities like this one, and invest in leading-edge supply chain technologies that deliver greater value for our customers,” she said.

Kenco recently implemented PINC’s core YMS application for a customer in the durable goods industry. After a successful two-month pilot, the customer is installing the system across its US network. Once PINC’s drone solution is available, Kenco plans to partner with the company on its first drone-enabled site.

Kenco is headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and has more than 90 warehouse facilities spread across the US and Canada.