Panalpina invests in digitalization via Honeywell partnership

Swiss forwarding giant Panalpina is investing in the digitalization of its supply chain in an agreement with U.S.-based technology company Honeywell, which will design and implement software and hardware modules for Panalpina’s logistics network.

Panalpina said the “recent” application of Honeywell‘s “internet of things” (IoT) platform, Mobility Edge, and accompanying Vocollect Voice technology in two of its warehouses resulted in a 15 percent improvement in productivity, the company said. Next, the company plans to apply more of Honeywell’s voice-directed technology, mobile hand-held devices and warehouse automation tools to its operations.

Thomas Park, chief commercial officer at Honeywell for safety and productivity, said that, in the alliance, Honeywell plans to partner on new technology that is “designed to help distribution center workers and shippers streamline supply chain operations” by gaining specific information about the condition of Panalpina’s shipments.

Global head of logistics and manufacturing at Panalpina, Mike Wilson, said that the Honeywell partnership will be instrumental for its Logistics Excellence, or “LogEx,” intiatives for continuous improvement.  The goal, he said, is to “instill lean principles and customer focus into the DNA of the company’s entire operation,” which was rolled out in 2011.