The results that matter
Picking is the single most expensive activity in most warehouse operations, accounting for up to 40% of total costs. PickIQ was built to change that, and the results from live deployments are already proving it can.
Customers using PickIQ are seeing up to a 65% reduction in walking distance for warehouse staff, a 30–35% increase in picking productivity, and a 5% reduction in shipping containers and packaging waste. One major retailer has seen sufficient environmental impact to explore international deployment of the software.
The solution uses a digital twin that mirrors each customer’s physical layout and picking operation, allowing new configurations to be tested and validated in the virtual environment before any changes are made on the warehouse floor.
How the partnership worked
The collaboration was structured as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), funded by Innovate UK, a model that embeds academic expertise directly into a business to develop a specific commercial product.
Manchester Metropolitan University brought AI and machine learning capability. Breathe Technologies brought warehouse operations knowledge and an existing customer base to test against. The result is a product grounded in both academic rigour and real-world practicality.
“It’s fantastic to see the impact that our partnership with Breathe Technologies has brought to the business and the learning that can be taken forward across the sector. The KTP is a perfect example of the strong regional links and passionate commitment that Manchester Met can bring to businesses — dedicated support from the first conversation to the end of the partnership, helping drive success, impact and outcomes.“
Paul Smith, Professor of Marketing, International Business and Tourism, Manchester Metropolitan University
Accessible to operations of all sizes
Unlike capital-intensive hardware automation, PickIQ is available on a subscription model with no upfront costs. That makes advanced AI-powered picking optimisation accessible to smaller and mid-sized operations, not just the large retailers who can afford to commit millions to a full automation programme.
The success of PickIQ is already driving growth at Breathe Technologies, with new roles added to support increasing demand. Further job creation is expected as the product scales and new features are added.
Environmental benefits
Beyond the productivity gains, PickIQ is delivering measurable sustainability benefits. By optimising pick paths and container fill, operations are reducing packaging waste and cutting the number of truck journeys needed. For one major retailer, the environmental impact has been significant enough to put international rollout on the table.
“Being based at Sci-Tech Daresbury opened doors to being able to progress our software development. The KTP opportunity with Manchester Metropolitan University provided access not only to the technical product development through their AI and machine learning expertise but also helped us transition PickIQ to a revenue-generating product that’s tested and working for our customers.”
Simon Allen, Managing Director, Breathe Technologies