Sync or Sink? Rethinking Human-Tech collaboration with AGVs

At Ahold Delhaize, we’re always looking for ways to optimize our processes and ensure people and technology work effectively together.

In our Zaandam Distribution Center, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) operate in the same space as our own employees as well as external truck drivers loading the outbound trucks. While these AGVs are very helpful in efficiently moving roll cages through the warehouse, they also bring several challenges when it comes to human-machine interaction, sometimes resulting in errors, traffic jams or even damage to the AGVs.  This presents a key challenge: what’s efficient for an employee, can disrupt the automated system.

That’s where you come in: we’d love your ideas for smart, practical solutions and designs that make life easier for our employees whilst keeping the AGVs running safely and efficiently.