The logistics service provider specialized in e-fulfillment, Active Ants, is integrating an AI-driven robotics solution from Sereact into its picking processes at the Dorsten site in North Rhine-Westphalia. After a successful multi-month test run, the system has been in regular operation since July 2025. The use of the technology is to be gradually expanded to all other international sites in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.
"With the great variety of products and industries we handle at the Dorsten site, we needed an innovative solution for our picking processes to be able to supply our customers more efficiently, faster, and more reliably in the future. The current developments in the field of artificial intelligence have created the prerequisites for this," said Jeroen Duijts, Managing Director at Active Ants Germany.
AI robots independently identify product structure
The choice
fell on a robotics solution from the Stuttgart-based company Sereact, which specializes in so-called embodied AI – a form of artificial intelligence designed to give robots a deep understanding of their physical environment.
"The demands on modern applications in the warehouse are increasing. This is partly due to increasing stock-keeping units, higher variability of stored products, and constantly changing goods flows. For successful automation of intralogistics processes, solutions that take different approaches than previously proven technologies are increasingly needed," said Ralf Gulde, CEO & Co-Founder at Sereact.
Unlike conventional automation solutions, the system does not require master data about articles. Instead, it uses cameras and visual recognition systems to identify products regardless of their shape, size, or structure. According to the manufacturer, the AI can independently define motion sequences using so-called "zero-shot reasoning," without needing to be trained on
individual items beforehand. This reduces the implementation time and increases the flexibility of the facility during ongoing operations.
Active Ants supports webshops with the Sereact solution
At the Dorsten site, Active Ants currently supports around 45 companies, mostly small and medium-sized webshops. These come from various industries such as cosmetics, healthcare, dietary supplements, small electronics, and functional clothing. In addition to classic e-fulfillment services, Active Ants also offers value-added services, including individual packaging solutions and the production of printed cartons. The diversity of products and packaging types presents particular challenges for picking, especially in terms of speed, accuracy, and flexibility. The new robotic system enables the company to respond to these challenges.
The practical test of the AI solution convinced Active Ants
The decision to use Sereact's technology was made after an intensive evaluation phase. In a practical test
running over several months, the system was tested under real conditions and was accompanied by the internal operational excellence team at Active Ants. The result was convincing: The AI-based solution showed high reliability during the test phase and could seamlessly integrate into existing processes.
According to Jeroen Duijts, the increasing variety of products was a key driver for the investment in modern robotics. The combination of technical performance capability and the ability for autonomous decision-making was decisive for the choice.
Active Ants was founded in 2010 and has been part of the Belgian Post (bpost) since 2018. The company specializes in e-commerce logistics and currently operates four sites in Europe. In addition to classic warehousing logistics, the service portfolio also includes shipping processing, returns management, and other additional services. With around 450 employees, the company handles over seven million
