How GEODIS Solved a Costly and Labor-Intensive Inventory Problem with Gather AI

The Challenge: Inventory Counting Was Costly and Labor-Intensive

As a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, GEODIS operates across 170 countries with 53,000 employees, serving customers that demand precision and efficiency. One of their customers required quarterly cycle counts, a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that often required overtime hours to complete.

GEODIS needed a technological solution that would:

• Reduce the time and labor costs of cycle counting
• Improve inventory accuracy without disrupting operations
• Scale easily to support future automation goals

Enter Gather AI.

The Solution: Drones + AI for Smarter Inventory Tracking

GEODIS deployed Gather AI’s autonomous drone inventory management solution, which enables drones to:

• Scan inventory locations 15 times faster than manual methods
• Analyze barcodes, lot codes, expiration dates, and box counts
• Compare data with the warehouse management system (WMS) in real-time
• Find misplaced pallets in minutes instead of days

Unlike other solutions that require robotic infrastructure or GPS, Gather AI’s drones navigate warehouses autonomously—without WiFi, GPS, or facility changes.

The Results: 5x Productivity Gains & No Overtime Needed

With Gather AI’s drones, GEODIS cut cycle counting time in half and eliminated the need for overtime. Here’s the impact:

• Quarterly cycle counts completed in 50% less time
• Five times increase in productivity—one drone operator scans 1,200 locations per day versus four manual counters scanning 800 locations per day
• Reduced the search time for misplaced pallets from two days to minutes
• Freed up warehouse employees to focus on high-value tasks
• Happier customers thanks to more frequent, more accurate counts

"Never would I have thought a drone could do what I was doing—and even faster. This solution was like a gift from heaven."
— David Ruiz de Arbulo, GEODIS Inventory Specialist

Why GEODIS Chose Gather AI Over Other Solutions

Beyond just efficiency, GEODIS wanted a partner who understood their challenges and workforce needs.

Cultural Fit Matters
"We truly wanted to form a relationship with the company we selected," said Andy Johnston, GEODIS Senior Director of Innovation. “Gather AI trained our personnel to get them comfortable with the technology and provided them with a tool that would truly make their job easier.”

Fast Deployment, No IT Hassle
"The Gather AI implementation process was efficient. There were no IT infrastructure or layout changes needed," said Trent McDermott, GEODIS Industrial Engineer.

Technology That’s Intuitive & Easy to Use
With a user-friendly interface, warehouse staff quickly adapted to the new system, seeing real-time inventory variances and actionable insights instantly.

The Future of 3PL Inventory Management is Here

For third-party logistics providers like GEODIS, automation is no longer optional—it’s the key to staying competitive, cutting costs, and meeting customer expectations.

Schedule a demo and see how Gather AI can save you time and money.