Functionality / Type of implementation

The teleoperation system for forklifts is implemented to a very high technical standard. It includes a proprietary sensor technology package for forklifts and a teleoperation workstation. The CE-certified safety system ensures consistently safe autonomous and remote-controlled forklift operation and largely prevents operational errors. An additional certification according to ISO 27001, primarily to demonstrate cybersecurity, is in progress. The forklift remote control is functionally highly convincing and stood out in the test due to its extremely intuitive handling, a complete overview thanks to the many well-placed cameras on the forklift, and well-thought-out assistance functions. The system scales seamlessly between autonomous and assisted remote operation. Currently, transport tasks can primarily be automated, while more complex handling operations are teleoperated. Enabl pragmatically combines proven technologies (forklifts, sensors, remote control devices, and order data management) into an innovative approach. At the same time, the data-driven orientation of the business model, through data collection from remote-controlled processes, offers enormous potential for the incremental expansion of autonomous functions.

Novelty / Innovation

There are hardly any comparable offerings on the market. What is new is the intelligent business model and the service concept at this level of technological depth and quality, applied across the full range of forklift use cases. Other manufacturers tend to focus on the full automation of forklift processes, using remote control only for specific applications as an emergency solution with local operators.

Customer benefit

The customer can integrate the system into all existing forklift processes after a short commissioning time of one to two weeks and benefits from the global remote driver pool. This ensures that the required driving capacity is available on demand at any time, regardless of labor shortages, with reliable availability and scalability. Through the comprehensive “Material Handling as a Service” offering, which includes the forklift, automation, and remote control including driving services and optimized utilization, the customer can typically still save up to 20 percent while maintaining maximum flexibility. In remote operation, current driving speeds of up to ten kilometers per hour achieve good performance levels of over 80 percent compared to conventional driving operations.

Market relevance

Market relevance is high, as many forklift applications in warehouses, such as truck loading and unloading, block and high rack storage, or stacking of mesh boxes, are often not yet automatable with the necessary performance due to demanding conditions. At the same time, labor shortages and fluctuating order volumes place a burden on warehouse operations. Offering forklift operations as a full service solution that includes the vehicle, automation, and remote driver with seamless integration of partial automation and remote control at an attractive price is a well matched approach. Its practical applicability has already been demonstrated in eight pilot projects and one productive installation with 250 days of total operation. The addressable market for front and reach trucks in indoor environments is extremely large, ranging from 500 to 1,000 billion euros.

IFOY verdict

The offering of a forklift operations service is both an attractive business model for customers, allowing full range forklift processes with maximum flexibility, and an elegant solution for Enabl to collect extensive training data through teleoperation for further development of autonomous functions. Notably, the teleoperation system is highly intuitive to control even without prior training.