How Guardian Leverages Our AMR Solution for Smarter Operations

Project Overview

Guardian—one of Southeast Asia’s largest health and beauty chains—operates over 1,100 stores across Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, and Cambodia. To improve productivity and reduce labor dependency, Guardian partnered with Juxing to introduce Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) at its primary distribution center in Kuala Lumpur. In the first phase, 14 AMRs were deployed in a temperature-controlled zone (AC area), handling around 20,000-30,000 daily units. The initial goal was to increase picking efficiency by 37.5%, from 240 items per person per hour to 320. Ultimately, the project exceeded expectations, achieving 350 items per person per hour (a 45% improvement) and reducing headcount by six people.

The Problem

Guardian’s manual picking workflows were driving inefficiency, high labor costs, and inconsistent accuracy within their distribution center. These challenges, combined with rising labor expenses and the need for a clear ROI within 30 months, called for a small-scale proof of concept (POC) to demonstrate the feasibility of an AMR-based solution before rolling it out more widely.

1. Inefficient Manual Processes: Guardian’s distribution center relied on paper-based picking workflows, leading to low picking accuracy, long walking distances, and minimal digital oversight.
2. High Labor Dependency: Rising labor costs in Malaysia, coupled with low employee engagement, created urgency for greater automation and less reliance on manual labor.
3. Strict ROI Requirements: Guardian needed a solution with a return on investment within 30 months.
4. Cautious Decision-Making: As a large chain operating multiple distribution centers, Guardian sought a small-scale proof of concept (POC) before committing to a broader rollout.

Where are we now

Syrius Technology and Guardian are upgrading software features and plan to deploy AMRs in Singapore by late 2025.

Following the success of the first and second AMR deployments in Kuala Lumpur, Syrius Technology and Guardian are now refining additional software features such as real-time dashboards and advanced reporting. Plans are underway to bring AMRs into Guardian’s Singapore distribution center, with an expected rollout in late 2025.