2023 Tier 5 Innovation Award Winner

Planate now offers mail room operation automation solutions by incorporating robotics into the normal mail room workflow. Introducing: Cobots!

A Cobot, or collaborative robot, is a robot created for the direct interaction between humans and automation within a shared workspace. Cobot differs from traditional industrial robotics in which robots are created for, and used in, isolation without human interaction. Cobots are designed to work alongside humans and can mimic essential tasks in a business workflow, such as sorting, scanning, indexing, isolation, and more. A major advantage of the usage of Cobots is the ability to perform repetitive, dangerous, physically demanding, or tedious tasks that would be difficult for an individual employee to achieve. Cobots can efficiently accomplish these tasks without the interference of fatigue, breaks, and general workplace distractions. This makes business and industrial work safer, as Cobots can take on more hazardous tasks without employees in the area. There are a variety of tasks a single Cobot can fulfill without the need for human intervention and are easily adaptable to the changing environment and needs of the workspace.

Cobots are inherently safe and thus can work in close proximity to their human teammates. Cobots give companies the ability to engage in hazardous operations while keeping staff safe via remote operations. Cobots can be used to handle potentially contaminated mail, perform surveillance of hazardous areas, and for staff augmentation.

The goal of this project is to provide technological solutions to improve mail room operations. Cobots can be programmed and customized to scan and sort incoming mail using a variety of measures and criteria, such as the name of the recipient, department, and location. By automating these tasks, businesses can reduce the risk of human error and improve mailroom speed and accuracy. This new technology will transform the mailroom industry by making existing processes more efficient, safer, and more cost efficient with guidance from each client’s goals and objectives.

After a series of testing, Planate will begin offering Cobot mailroom services by the second half of 2023. The usage of Cobots in the mailroom represents a momentous opportunity for businesses to improve their operations in an increasingly fast-paced, evolving, and digital world. By taking advantage of Cobots as an advancement in automation and robotic solutions, businesses in the industry can create more flexible, efficient, and collaborative work environments that will allow humans and automation to achieve together. The abilities of Cobots have the potential to go beyond mailroom operations with the help of creative engineering minds.

About Planate Management Group: Planate Management Group is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business with a unique business model that provides service delivery excellence with responsive, innovative technical solutions for facilities engineering and management consulting services to clients in both traditional and difficult environments worldwide. Our installation management expertise covers Planning, Architecture and Engineering (A/E) Design Services, Engineering Support Services, and Environmental Services.

Planate is now offering technological solutions to improve mailroom operations. They are transforming the mailroom industry through the introduction of robotics, Process Automation, and high-hazard detection solutions to improve current mailroom practices. Planate aims to make existing processes more efficient, safer, and more cost-efficient, all tailored to each client’s goals and objectives. Our offices are spread across the world, including cities in the United States, Philippines, Taiwan, Kenya, and Ukraine.