Exploring the viability of AGV implementation in warehouses of express delivery companies: A case study at TNT/FedEx

The demand for express delivery services is growing rapidly and the express delivery market is getting more competitive. To secure their competitiveness, these enterprises are pressured to invest in technologies that could sustain their future growth and keep their operating costs as low as possible. The Automated guided vehicle (AGV) technology could increase the competitiveness of these enterprises by reducing both operating costs and labour demand. Until now insufficient knowledge is available within express delivery companies regarding the viability of AGVs. The main objective of this research is to determine whether AGVs are viable for use within the warehouses of express delivery companies. The research found that the use of AGVs could be viable within express delivery companies under certain conditions.Management of Technology (MoT