NEO:os - Warehouse Automation Software
NEO:os is the central orchestration software of the solution. It handles order management, NEO:runner fleet coordination, shelf-level inventory tracking, and real-time synchronization between the robot fleet and the picking station.
NEO:os connects to your existing WMS via REST API. It does not replace your WMS - it adds the automation layer. Orders flow from your WMS into NEO:os, are translated into optimized robot missions, and completed picks are reported back.
NEO:pickstation - Goods-to-Person Workstation
The picking station - the goods-to-person workstation - is where picking happens. A robot arm receives the bin from the NEO:runner and presents it to the picker in an ergonomic position. When needed, it buffers the bin in a pushback compartment until the pick is due.
The operator at the picking station removes the item, handles exceptions, and confirms complex picks. The station is ergonomically designed and eliminates walking entirely - goods come to the person, not the other way around.
NEO:runner Fleet - Autonomous Mobile Robots in the Aisle
NEO:runner robots navigate autonomously through existing warehouse aisles. They identify the target bin on the shelf using 3D cameras, retrieve it, and transport it to the picking station.
The robots operate in your existing racking - no modifications, no floor markings, no dedicated lanes. They share space with manual pickers, enabling parallel operation during the pilot phase.
Collaborative Picking - Robots and People in the Same Picking Cycle
NEO is one of very few automation solutions where robots and human pickers operate in the same physical space and the same picking cycle - collaborative picking, not two separate worlds.
This breaks the central trade-off of conventional warehouse automation:
- Size the system for peak demand, and you pay for idle capacity eleven months a year that you only need during peak season.
- Size it for average demand, and you break during peak season - turning away volume or staffing up expensive temporary labor.
With NEO, you size the robot fleet for average load - and add human pickers alongside the robots when seasonal demand spikes. One process, one warehouse, no parallel manual operation to maintain, train, and staff separately.
The pay-per-pick model carries this commercially: you only pay for picks actually performed - more during peak, less off-season. No fixed depreciation on capacity you only use occasionally.
The physical constraints (aisle width, shelf height, item size) determine whether NEO can operate in your warehouse. The daily volume determines whether the investment case works. If your warehouse meets the physical criteria and you process more than 5,000 picks per day, NEO is a realistic option.
Expert Voices
Currently, there is no other provider besides NEO that offers goods-to-person automation specifically for shelf-racking environments.
NEO's solution is a game-changer in warehouse automation.
WMS Integration and IT Architecture
NEO:os integrates with your existing WMS via a standardized REST API. The integration follows a clear principle: your WMS remains the leading system for inventory and orders. NEO:os handles only the automation layer.
Data flow:
- WMS sends pick orders to NEO:os (REST API)
- NEO:os optimizes, plans, and executes robot missions
- NEO:os reports picks, inventory movements, and status updates back to WMS
- Dashboard shows real-time KPIs: picks/hour, robot utilization, throughput
IT requirements:
- Wi-Fi coverage in the warehouse area (for AMR communication)
- REST API capability in your WMS (or middleware integration)
- No dedicated on-site server required - NEO:os runs cloud-based
Integration is not a major project. In previous installations, customer-side IT effort was a matter of a few person-days. The NEO team handles configuration, mapping, and testing.
Operational Reliability, Service, and Rollout Model
Rollout model: pilot first. Every NEO installation starts with a pilot - typically one to two robots and one station in a defined warehouse area. The pilot runs in parallel with manual operations without disrupting them. Scaling follows only after validated operation.
- Go-live: 6-8 weeks from contract signature
- Scaling: Additional robots and stations added during live operations
- Parallel operation: Robots and manual pickers work in the same warehouse
Commercial model: Pay-per-pick - no investment costs, no lease. You pay per pick, including robots, software, maintenance, and service. The volume risk sits with NEO, not with you.
NEO is not conventional automation that requires rigid cube systems or construction. It is a retrofit system that fits into your existing warehouse.