AI & drones for improved inventory accounting

The initiative emerged from CEVA’s annual Contract Logistics Innovation Awards program, which brings together thousands of employees globally to propose and vote on innovative operational solutions. Among this year’s winning projects was the AI-Driven Drone Inventory Management System, designed to address critical inventory challenges in warehouse operations. 

Traditional inventory accounting methods require heavy machinery to lift employees to high-elevation racks or to lower pallets to the warehouse floor. These processes are labor-intensive, error-prone, disrupt daily operations, can pose safety risks, and more.  

AI & drones for inventory accounting  

The pilot project operates through a streamlined process that dramatically improves efficiency. Leveraging AI and drones to capture images, log data, and find discrepancies, the project brings together traditional operations and technology. 

• Drones capture high-resolution images of elevated storage racks without disrupting regular warehouse activities 

• Advanced AI algorithms process the images, identifying racks, pallets and product labels 

• The system automatically converts visual data into inventory counts and recognizes individual pallet and carton codes 

• Software compares the real-time data against theoretical inventory records to quickly identify discrepancies 

• Targeted audits can then be conducted only where necessary, focusing human resources where they are most needed  

Already, the results have been impressive—improving productivity by 10x compared to traditional methods. The improvements translate to significant cost reductions while increasing inventory accuracy and reducing operational disruptions. Beyond immediate benefits, the project demonstrates CEVA’s commitment to practical innovation that addresses real-world logistics challenges. By maintaining better control of inventory levels and ensuring accurate data, CEVA can provide enhanced services to customers.