Investing in an Autonomous Forklift (AMR - Autonomous Mobile Robot) is a strategic move that can bring significant benefits to your organization. To find the right budget for this investment, it’s crucial to analyze its return on investment (ROI) and understand how this technology can revolutionize your company's internal transportation processes.
Return on Investment (ROI) Analysis
One of the key arguments for implementing AMR is the analysis of return on investment (ROI). To calculate this, it is worth comparing the operational costs associated with employing a forklift operator with the costs of implementing and operating an autonomous vehicle.
1.Costs Associated with a manual operator:
The average gross monthly salary of a forklift operator is approximately €1,326 in Poland in August 2024.
Working in three shifts requires the employment of three full-time operators, which is estimated to cost the company around €64,419 annually (including employer costs, social security contributions, vacations, etc.).
Additionally, the cost of purchasing or renting a forklift must be added. Renting a forklift will cost the company about €279 per month, which on an annual basis adds around €3,256 to the €64,419, summing up to a total of €67,675 per year.
Manual operators can be prone to fatigue, which reduces efficiency, increases the number of errors, and raises the risk of accidents.
2. Costs associated with AMR:
- It’s important to remember that the efficiency of AGV/AMR forklifts is at the level of 40-70% of a manual operator's efficiency. Therefore, in the following analysis, we assumed the purchase of two forklifts to perform the work of one manual operator.
- Autonomous forklifts are more expensive initially—their cost ranges from €50 000 to € 80 000. However, after implementation, the total cost of ownership (TCO) begins to exceed the costs of manual operators after about two years of operation.
- AMRs can work three shifts without breaks, equivalent to employing three manual operators. Although AMR efficiency is 40 to 70% of a manual operator's efficiency, their continuous availability and lack of breaks compensate for this difference.
Advantages of Autonomous Forklifts over Manual Oones
Operational Cost Reduction: Implementing AMR significantly reduces operational costs, particularly in the long term. Approximately 42% of the total cost of using AMR is lower than that of traditional manual forklifts over a 5-year period, based on the following assumptions:
Year 0:
- 2 AMRs: €140,000 (purchase cost) + €11,163 (operational) = €151,163
- Operator: €67,907
Year 1:
- €11,163 (operational)
- Operator: €67,907
Year 2:
- €11,163 (operational)
- Operator: €67,907
Year 3:
- €11,163 (operational)
- Operator: €67,907
Year 4:
- €11,163 (operational)
- Operator: €67,907
Total cost over 5 years:
- 2 AMRs: €140,000 + €55,815 (operational costs over 5 years) = €195,815
- Operator: €67,907 * 5 = €339,535
Savings: €143,720 ~ 42%
Payback period: 30 months
Safety and Reliability:
AMRs are less prone to accidents compared to manual operators, which increases workplace safety and minimizes the risk of damage to goods and infrastructure.
Enhanced Process Stability:
Autonomous forklifts ensure stability and continuity of processes, especially when there are challenges in securing skilled manual operators. In times of labor market uncertainty and potential risks associated with pandemics, AMRs can guarantee uninterrupted operations.
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Delegating routine and repetitive tasks to mobile robots allows employees to focus on more creative and developmental tasks, positively impacting their engagement and morale.
Conclusion
To find the budget for implementing autonomous forklifts, it’s important to present decision-makers not only with the initial investment cost but also with the long-term savings and benefits of implementation. AMRs are not just a tool for reducing costs—they are an investment in the stability, safety, and growth of your organization. Presenting a solid ROI analysis that includes all the above aspects will help secure the necessary funds for this innovative technology.
