Reply Shapes the Future of Autonomous Mobile Robots with the Power of Microsoft Azure
Reply announced today that it has developed an end-to-end solution architecture for autonomous mobile robots (AMR) on Microsoft Azure that enables new business applications across industries, reduces upfront costs and allows for the rapid implementation of customer-specific robotics use cases.
The solution combines Microsoft Azure services, the agility of Boston Dynamics' SPOT and Reply’s knowledge of intelligent cloud computing services, edge computing and artificial intelligence. To demonstrate the capabilities of a scalable and versatile robotics platform, Reply implemented an automated vehicle-damage-detection solution for rental or leasing companies that leverages this architecture. In fact, rental or leasing companies must inspect vehicles for any damage after they are returned in order to ensure the safety and quality of their fleet for their customers. This is usually done in the time- and cost-consuming manual process of walking around the car, visually inspecting it, assessing the severity of the damage and conducting a damage report.
Reply integrates Azure Cognitive Services, Machine Learning and DevOps as well as Power Apps and Power BI. Thanks to Azure's intelligent service foundation, agile workflows and machine learning, this process can be fully automated. Using computer vision, SPOT moves freely through the parking area and scans the license plates to find the right vehicle. Once detected, it walks around the vehicle to record its condition by continuously collecting visual data with its camera and sensors. This information is processed “on the edge” or transmitted to the cloud, where advanced image recognition and machine leaning algorithms perform the damage detection. All detected damages are saved in the return protocol, and they can be presented to the customer and the fleet manager for approval.
“This platform sets the power of Microsoft Azure on the move by bringing it from the Cloud to the Edge and into highly advanced mobile robotic devices, giving them the autonomy to unlock novel business use cases. Thanks to the agile reference architecture, we are able to implement customer-specific use cases in various industries that include all types of mobile robots or drones”, comments Filippo Rizzante, CTO Reply.
“Reply is a long-term, trusted partner in delivering Azure IoT solutions, and we’re delighted to continue our collaboration on this new scalable robotics offering. By leveraging Microsoft Azure, we can help accelerate this transformation by making it easier for businesses to bring AI and analytics capabilities to these autonomous systems in a consistent and secure way,” adds Lakecia Gunter, Vice President and GM, Global IOT Channel at Microsoft.
With their agility, autonomous mobile robots (AMR) are able to move independently from a central infrastructure on terrain that is not traditionally designed for robots. They can be used in hazardous environments and environments, that are harmful to people. According to ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global market for automated guided vehicle (AGV) and AMR is expected to reach $13.2 Billion by 2026 with a growth rate of around 35%. Both AGVs and AMRs collectively are going to cross the installed base of 1.5 Million in the next 5 years to make mobile robots a new normal in our day-to-day operational activities.
Reply
Reply [MTA, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. As a network of highly specialised companies, Reply defines and develops business models enabled by the new models of AI, big data, cloud computing, digital media and the internet of things. Reply delivers consulting, system integration and digital services to organisations across the telecom and media; industry and services; banking and insurance; and public sectors. www.reply.com
Source Global Mobile Robots (AGV & AMR) Market:
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210706005133/en/
Contact information
Media
Reply
Fabio Zappelli
f.zappelli@reply.com
Tel. +390117711594
Sandra Dennhardt
s.dennhardt@reply.com
+49 170 454 62 29
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Ant International Deepen Partnership to Accelerate Digitalisation of MSMEs Across Malaysia3.12.2025 08:00:00 EET | Press release
The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ant International are strengthening their partnership to accelerate the digital transformation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202701220/en/ (L-R) Chen Leiming, Senior Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer of Ant International; Ir. Wan Murdani Wan Mohamad, Vice President of Digital Adoption, MDEC; Ian Cheong, CEO of EPOS In a newly established Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Ant International will empower local MSMEs through EPOS, the all-in-one SME transformation platform of Ant International’s Antom, offering a comprehensive suite of digitalisation solutions. MDEC will support the programme by engaging the MSME community, industry associations, and ecosystem partners to drive broad-based digital adoption across the country. This builds on MDEC’s ongoing collaboration with Ant Internati
Hyatt Advances Luxury Brand Focus With New Leadership and Planned Global Expansion in 20263.12.2025 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced at ILTM Cannes the next chapter of Hyatt’s luxury journey, unveiling strengthened leadership with the appointment of Tamara Lohan as Global Brand Leader – Luxury on an interim basis and previewing a remarkable pipeline of luxury openings set for 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202423660/en/ Tamara Lohan, Global Brand Leader – Luxury, Hyatt “Hyatt’s momentum in luxury continues to accelerate, powered by our insights-driven development strategy and commitment to delivering deeply resonant guest experiences,” said Mark Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt. “Tamara brings world-class luxury expertise, and her leadership will further strengthen our ability to differentiate our luxury brands while growing with intent in the markets our guests and owners value most.” Lohan joined Hyatt in 2023 through the acquisition of Mr & Mrs Smith, t
Kioxia and Google Collaborate to Boost Clean Energy Use in Japan3.12.2025 04:30:00 EET | Press release
As part of its commitment towards a more sustainable future, Kioxia Corporation (“Kioxia”) today announced a collaborative initiative with Google LLC (“Google”) to boost its use of the clean electricity generated by a hydropower retrofit project in Japan's Chubu region. This project, owned by the Chubu Electric Power group, is expected to increase annual clean energy generation, contributing to the decarbonization of the grid and supporting both companies' net-zero efforts. Kioxia, a leader in memory solutions, has begun offtake of its portion of the hydropower project's electricity, which is expected to reach 160 gigawatt-hour (GWh) per year (enough to power about 40,000 Japanese homes). This move directly supports Kioxia's goals of sourcing 100% renewable energy for use in its own business activity by fiscal year (“FY”) 2040 and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by FY2050. Kioxia’s hydropower offtake, which provides “round-the-clock” clean power, also helps reduce Google's
NIKE, Inc. Announces Senior Leadership Changes to Accelerate “Win Now” Actions2.12.2025 23:59:00 EET | Press release
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today shared the following note with employees regarding changes to its Senior Leadership Team. // Team, I’d like to share some important changes to our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) that further remove layers and continue to bring us closer to athletes* and the marketplace. We’re establishing the role of EVP, Chief Operating Officer (COO), reporting to me, to better connect our operations and integrate technology more seamlessly into our sport offense. Venkatesh Alagirisamy (“Venky”), currently Chief Supply Chain Officer and a nearly 20-year Nike veteran, will take on this role effective December 8. Venky will lead Technology, in addition to his existing responsibilities leading Supply Chain, Planning, Operations, Manufacturing and Sustainability. He and his team will now be able to look end-to-end to ensure technology is fully integrated across the company and into how we create, plan, make, deliver and sell our world-class innovations across our three iconic bra
NetApp Collaborates with AWS to bring Enterprise Data to AWS AI Services2.12.2025 20:30:00 EET | Press release
NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, today announced a new capability that enables enterprises to make their workflows simpler and more efficient by connecting Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI and Analytics services directly with their NetApp data both in the cloud and on-premises. Amazon S3 Access Points for Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP® enable customers to accelerate AI and analytics projects by allowing FSx for ONTAP-resident file data to be accessed via the S3 API by AWS's extensive portfolio of AI/ML and analytics services—all while the data remains in place and is fully accessible for read / write via file protocols. “By connecting FSx for ONTAP data natively to AWS's wide range of AI, ML, and analytics services, the new integration with Amazon S3 Access Points unleashes the potential to connect to more than 100 exabytes of enterprise data stored on NetApp systems for transformative use cases like generative AI and analytics uses cases built on AWS,” sa
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom