The logistics and fulfillment service provider Loxxess AG, Unterföhring, has won the European Logistics Award 2020 of the European Logistics Association (ELA). Following its positioning as a finalist for the German Logistics Award 2019, Loxxess has thus achieved a significant success at international level. At the award ceremony on November 10th 2020 during a digital conference, Loxxess prevailed against five other European finalists and convinced the jury.

At the center of Loxxess‘ application for the ELA Award was the logistics concept "SMILE – Smart and Innovative: Logistics for E-Commerce", with which Loxxess developed an innovative solution for the complexity and growth management of the logistics of e-commerce projects. The logistics concept was developed in 2019 as part of the development of the online sales channel of a well-known German drugstore company, for which Loxxess has been working since 2017 at the multi-user campus in Bor near the German-Czech border.

With the integrative interaction of the components man, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation solutions, "SMILE" represents an innovative approach to the development and implementation of individual solution concepts in contract logistics. The concept enabled the Loxxess project team to successfully respond to the complex challenges of dynamic volume growth in combination with a particularly complex and heterogeneous product range and structure. Flexibility and agility were the top priorities in finding solutions, along with optimizing lead times, without compromising the individuality and quality of customer requirements.

The warehouse optimization software, LOS, from Heureka Business Solutions played a key role here. The software, which is based on real-time data, enables optimizations based on algorithmic procedures. By building a "digital twin", incoming orders are combined by simulations to create an optimal tour formation in order picking. This saves time and distances. In the areas of warehouse topology and warehouse planning, predictive methods are used to arrange articles in such a way that the picking density is optimized. Also, ergonomic aspects are taken into account.

However, at the core of the interaction between LOS and the warehouse management system stands the real-time monitoring and "exception management". The app developed specifically for this solution makes it possible to counteract deviations. This turns conventional "ex-post" control into real-time control, which significantly improves service, quality and efficiency.

"We are particularly pleased to be able to celebrate another important success with SMILE, now also on an international level," comments Dr. Claus-Peter Amberger, Board of Directors at Loxxess AG. "Online trade has been experiencing a boom for years, which is accompanied by various logistical challenges and requires new concepts. With SMILE, we have implemented a successful approach that not only takes into account the complexity of online commerce, but also ensures customer and employee satisfaction".

"At Loxxess, innovation has long been one of the main areas of activity and is an integral part of our corporate DNA. This renewed high award confirms our strategy of developing new solutions that offer greater efficiency and are able to reflect the rapid volume growth of our e-commerce customers in particular. At the same time, we would like to congratulate all the other finalists," says Christina Thurner, Member of the Executive Board at Loxxess.

About Loxxess:

Loxxess AG specializes in complex outsourcing projects in industrial and commercial logistics. Customized logistics and fulfillment solutions based on individual concepts are developed and implemented for customers in various industries. As a logistics specialist, Loxxess not only optimizes procurement and goods distribution for its customers, but also offers added value in the areas of customer service, product finishing, accounts receivable service and e-business. Loxxess AG is headquartered in Tegernsee, employs around 2,000 people, has 26 locations in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland and manages 600,000 square meters of warehouse space.

Further information is available at: www.loxxess.com