Building the Warehouse of the Future, Today

Marc discusses the evolution of warehousing technology, his journey from BMW robotics engineer to logistics innovator, and how the Warehouse Operating System (WarehouseOS) combines people, processes, and technology to transform warehouse operations.

About the Guest

Marc Gyongyosi is the Founder and CEO of OneTrack. His journey began at Northwestern University while working on BMW's industrial robotics projects in Munich, where he discovered the visibility gap in warehouse operations.

Key Topics Discussed

From BMW to OneTrack

While optimizing manufacturing processes at BMW, Marc discovered warehouses lacked basic visibility—workers used binoculars to locate misplaced pallets while robots sat idle.

Early OneTrack Development

Initial attempts used drones to find misplaced inventory. A breakthrough came when a customer reported a forklift crash with no footage, shifting focus to comprehensive warehouse visibility.

Warehouse Operating System Concept

Unlike traditional WMS that track transactions, OneTrack uses visual data to understand what's actually happening—routes taken, how products are handled, and final shipment condition.

WMS Differentiation

Traditional systems document transactions. OneTrack provides visual intelligence answering "why" things happen, enabling root-cause problem-solving.

AI Foundation

Accurate data capture is essential for effective AI systems. Poor foundational data undermines even sophisticated algorithms.

Implementation Challenges

Success requires aligned people, culture, and updated processes. New data visibility must foster collaboration, not blame.

Automation vs. Productivity

Rather than betting on full automation requiring massive capital investment, incremental productivity improvements (30-50%) through better visibility prove more practical.

Key Quotes

"Think simple. We don't want the most complex engineering solution, but the most robust and scalable solution."

"The WMS is a record of what happened, but OneTrack is a record of why things happened. Why is often much more important."

"You can't solve problems you can't see."

"If you increase productivity by 30-40%, the business case for robots becomes more complicated. People may also be happier."

"Walking into a warehouse today doesn't feel like 2024. The future means catching up with what's technologically possible."

Key Takeaways

1. Simplicity and scalability - The most robust solution isn't the most complex
2. Visibility enables problem-solving - You can't fix what you can't see
3. People, processes, technology - All three must align for success
4. Incremental improvements compound - 30-50% productivity gains through visibility beat waiting for full automation