“This move will also extend our on-going commitment to optimize the supply chain from the point of production to the point of consumption. “The acquisition of Fetch Robotics will accelerate our Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision and growth in intelligent industrial automation by embracing new modes of empowering workflows and helping our customers operate more efficiently in increasingly automated, data-powered environments,” Zebra CEO Anders Gustafsson said in the press release. “Customers don’t want different robot providers to cover what needs to get done,” Jim Lawton, Zebra’s vice president and general manager of robotics automation, told the Wall Street Journal. Part of the appeal of Fetch to Zebra is its broad product line, with different robots for different types of warehouse applications. Interestingly, Zebra also has an investment in Fetch competitor Locus Robotics. In 2020, Zebra launched its own retail robotic solutions, including it SmartSight inventory system.
Fetch robotics software#
In late May, Zebra announced it was entering the machine vision and fixed industrial scanning (FIS) markets, including the acquisition of Adaptive Vision, a small, privately held Polish provider of software and libraries for machine vision d application development.
Fetch robotics code#
We’re building a connected ecosystem that comes all the way from the hand scanner to the robot.”įor Zebra, the move is another step to expand from its long time roots in data collection, focused on bar code scanners, RFID readers and mobile wireless (radio frequency) terminals. “For Fetch, it’s a faster way for us to connect to that virtual world. “It’s about getting a more holistic picture of the warehouse,” said Fetch founder and CEO Melonee Wise.
In the announcement of the news, the companies said the acquisition would help them integrate technology to connect human workers, mobile wireless systems, autonomous robots, and the software that manages the flow of goods in distribution, manufacturing, and retail. The all-cash deal is expected to close in Q4. Now it is spending $290 million to acquire the other 95% of the San Jose-based robot company. It turns out Zebra had a small 5% stake in Fetch already. Zebra’s move could trigger more acquisitions in the high flying mobile robot market, where the growth of ecommerce and on-going labor shortages are pushing many companies to consider robot technology to drive productivity gains. bought robot maker 6 River Systems in 2019.In a market dominated by start-up, Zebra Technologies, mostly known for its data collection systems, has jumped into the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) space with news it is acquiring Fetch Robotics. In another deal for a warehouse automation provider, e-commerce company
Scanner business for $3.45 billion in 2014, and has acquired several software, analytics and computer-vision providers in recent years.įetch is among a growing field of logistics-focused automation providers that aim to increase efficiency by using robots to cut down on repetitive tasks for human workers, such as moving goods through warehouse aisles. The acquisition would be the latest Zebra has undertaken to expand the scope of its business. Retailers and logistics providers are increasingly looking to automation to make warehousing operations more efficient in a tight labor market, including the use of so-called collaborative robots like those Fetch makes that work alongside humans. The companies are working in a logistics technology market drawing heightened interest over the past year as businesses have coped with pandemic-driven upheaval in supply chains and strong growth in online sales.
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