AMR, AGV & Intralogistics Automation worked example

Material Move Cost Calculator at 98% moves captured by automation scenario: a worked example

This scenario runs the material move cost calculator calculation on the strong side: 98% moves captured by automation scenario, with every other input held at its documented default. an intralogistics planner needs to estimate the cost impact of pallet, cart, tote, or WIP moves

The inputs for this scenario

  • Completed material moves: 18,000 moves (unchanged)
  • Variable cost per move: 1.15 $ / move (unchanged)
  • Moves captured by automation scenario: 98 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 85)
  • Fixed route, staging, or integration cost: 2,500 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Variable material move cost = completed material moves × variable cost per move × moves captured by automation scenario) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 22,786 $ for total material move cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1.27 $ / move for cost per completed move.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 20,286 $ for variable material move cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,500 $ for fixed route, staging, or integration cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where moves captured by automation scenario sits at 85% and the headline result is 20,095 $, this scenario comes in 13.39% above the baseline at 22,786 $.
  • Use it when building or challenging an AMR/AGV business case, setting an internal handling-cost baseline, or comparing a manual lane against an automated one for the same move volume. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total material move cost: 22,786 $ (headline result)
  • Cost per completed move: 1.27 $ / move
  • Variable material move cost: 20,286 $
  • Fixed route, staging, or integration cost: 2,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Material Move Cost Calculator calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.