Evaluator Pack
Evaluator Pack
This page is designed to be forwarded internally. It answers: what is Shelfbot, is it a fit, what do we need to provide, and what will we get back?
What is Shelfbot?
Shelfbot is a Goods-to-Person ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System) designed for real warehouses with high SKU counts, space constraints, and the need for predictable performance.
Key features:
- Each aisle has one robot and one pick station at the end
- Operators walk between pick stations (up to 5 per operator) as bins arrive
- Retrofits into standard AS4084 steel storage racking (4–10 m high)
- No onboard batteries (mains-powered)
- Barcode-guided picking for accuracy
- API integration with your WMS/ERP
What it replaces:
- Walking through aisles to find items at pick faces
- Manual bin retrieval from height (ladders, order pickers)
- Low-density ground-level storage
What it doesn’t replace:
- Pallet-level storage (use standard racking/VNA)
- Loose-pick carton flow (different use case)
- Heavy items >20 kg per bin or >5 kg per item
Is Shelfbot a fit for your operation?
Use this quick checklist to assess fit before engaging with detailed discovery.
✅ Good fit indicators
| Criteria | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| High SKU count (500+) | More SKUs = more bins = better storage density payback |
| Small-to-medium items | Max 20 kg per bin, 5 kg per item. Fits most e-commerce, apparel, health/beauty, electronics, spare parts |
| Existing manual picking | Walking time, ladder access, and accuracy issues are what Shelfbot solves |
| Growth pressure | Need more storage or throughput without building extensions |
| Order throughput | 100–1,200+ presentations/hour (scales with robots and stations) |
| Space constraints | Vertical storage (up to 10 m) and high-density racking increase capacity without expanding footprint |
⚠️ Boundary conditions
| What to check | Constraint |
|---|---|
| Item weight | Max 5 kg per item, 20 kg per bin |
| Item size | Must fit in 720×420×285 mm bin |
| DG / flammables | Not permitted unless explicitly approved by fire engineer |
| Temperature | 5–55°C operating range (typical warehouse conditions) |
| Racking standard | AS4084 compliant steel storage racking required |
| Integration | Requires API access to WMS/ERP for products, inventory, orders |
Practical note: If 60–80% of your SKUs fit in Shelfbot bins by size, you can run a hybrid model. Common approaches: (1) Shelfbot for the majority of SKUs while ultra-fast movers stay on traditional pick faces, or (2) Shelfbot for small/medium items with oversized items in standard racking. Slow movers are often ideal for Shelfbot—stored deep in high-density and only retrieved when needed.
What you need to provide for sizing
The fastest path to a confident design is a data dive: you send us data, we send back sizing, configuration, and coverage estimates.
Download Data Dive Specification (PDF) — Full details on data format and submission process.
Data requirements
| Data type | What to send | Why we need it |
|---|---|---|
| SKU master | SKU, description, dimensions (L×W×H), weight, stock on hand | Confirms what % fits in bins, estimates bin count |
| Order history | Date, order ID, line ID, SKU, quantity picked (12 months preferred; minimum 30 days) | Calculates throughput requirements, robot/station count, peak capacity |
Optional but helpful
- Current warehouse layout (floor plan with racking locations)
- Peak periods and seasonal spikes (Black Friday, EOFY, etc.)
- Growth targets (e.g. “plan for 2× throughput in 3 years”)
- Integration constraints (e.g. “API not available yet”, “manual entry required”)
Confidentiality: We’ll sign an NDA if required. Data is used only for sizing and deleted after the engagement if you don’t proceed.
What you’ll get back
Within 5–10 business days of receiving your data, we’ll provide:
Sizing report
| Output | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Bin requirement | Total bins needed, % of inventory coverage, bins per SKU distribution |
| Racking configuration | Aisle count, aisle length, racking height, footprint (L×W×H in metres) |
| Robot & station count | Robots required to meet throughput, pick stations, scalability options |
| Throughput estimate | Presentations per hour per operator, system capacity at target staffing |
| Growth scenarios | What happens if SKU count or order volume increases by 50% / 100% |
See real examples: View example configurations →
The example configurations page shows detailed specs for operations from 500 SKUs to 10,000+ SKUs, including both single row and double row configurations. Each example includes interactive config tool links where you can adjust parameters and see pricing in real-time.
What happens next
After the sizing report, typical next steps:
- Fit check call (30–45 min) — walk through the report, answer questions, discuss constraints
- Site visit (optional) — measure racking, check clearances, confirm electrical access
- Proposal — Commercial terms, timeline, installation plan
- Discovery & integration scoping — API mapping, barcode standards, UAT plan
Common questions
How long does installation take?
Typical installation: 4–8 weeks depending on system size, site readiness, and integration complexity.
Installation includes:
- Racking preparation and rail installation
- Robot commissioning and testing
- Pick station setup and safety interlocks
- Integration testing with your WMS/ERP
- Operator training (2–3 days)
What’s the upfront cost?
Shelfbot is offered as Robots as a Service with predictable monthly subscription.
Upfront costs:
- Installation cost
- High-density racking (you supply)
Monthly subscription includes:
- Hardware (robots, bins, pick stations, server)
- Ongoing support and maintenance
- Software updates
Pricing model:
- Monthly subscription per robot
- Scales with system size (1–96 robots)
- View example configurations
What if some SKUs don’t fit?
If 60–80% of your SKUs fit in Shelfbot bins by size, you can run a hybrid model. Two common approaches:
Option 1: Top movers on pick faces
- Ultra-fast movers (top 5-20%) on traditional pick faces
- Everything else (including slow movers) in Shelfbot
Option 2: Size-based split
- Small and medium items in Shelfbot
- Oversized items in standard pallet racking
Note: Slow movers are often perfect for Shelfbot—they can be stored deep in the system at high density and retrieved only when needed, solving a common pain point.
We’ll recommend the best approach in your sizing report.
Will we need to buy additional racking?
Yes. To achieve the 5× pick face density improvement, you’ll need high-density racking with narrow aisles (940–950 mm).
Good news:
- Uses standard AS4084 compliant steel racking (not proprietary grids)
- Work with any Australian racking supplier (or we can recommend partners)
- Predictable cost from standard suppliers
- Your existing racking may be reusable elsewhere in your warehouse
We’ll provide specific racking requirements after sizing your system based on your SKU data and throughput targets.
View racking specification (PDF) | See racking partners
What if we don’t have an API?
If your WMS/ERP doesn’t have an API yet, we can:
- Start with manual order entry for trials
- Use polling instead of webhooks (slower but works)
- Work with scheduled email exports (you email SKU master and orders on a schedule, we import)
- Help scope API development
Ready to start?
Option 1: Send data for sizing
The fastest path is a data dive: send SKU master + order history, get sizing and configuration back within 5–10 business days.
What to send:
- SKU master (SKU, description, dimensions, weight, stock on hand)
- Order history (12 months preferred; minimum 30 days)
Download data dive specification (PDF)
Option 2: Book a discovery call
If you’re not ready to send data yet, book a 30-minute call to walk through fit criteria, constraints, and next steps.
What we’ll cover:
- High-level fit assessment
- Typical system configurations
- Integration requirements
- Commercial model and timeline
Option 3: Read the docs
If you need more technical detail before engaging, these docs will help:
- System Overview — How Shelfbot works
- Specs & Site Requirements — Planning ranges and site checks
- Integration — API requirements and data flows
- Safety & Compliance — Safeguarding and operational constraints
Contact
Talk to an engineer:
- Email: sales@shelfbot.com
- Phone: +61 3 9069 5000
- Request site assessment
Quick links:
This page is designed to be forwarded internally. Share it with ops managers, IT teams, finance, or anyone evaluating warehouse automation.
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