A leading global retail client of ours came to us with an interest in micro-fulfillment. With an industry-leading store network of almost 350 stores globally, they were looking for a solution that would utilize their stores to enhance their customers’ shopping experience.
Using a small percentage of their overall store space, we designed a micro-fulfillment operation that dramatically enhances our client’s ecommerce, local delivery, and “order online/pick-up in-store” offerings.
The system is built around two goods-to-person (GTP) stations that are fed by a mix of heterogeneous autonomous robotic technologies. The GTP stations are stocked by autonomous robots, while the operators are directed by pick and put-to-light technologies in the order fulfillment process.
Between the two GTP stations is a packing station in which orders are packaged for delivery or pickup.
The GTP stations can be used for all phases of fulfillment including induction, replenishment, picking, packing, and cycle counts. The entire operation is run by our Automate Warehouse Software.
For inventory that fits into totes, MSI Automatebotics Mobile Miniload robots are used in narrow-aisle, high-density storage areas to pick from tall racking positions and convey them to and from the GTP stations as needed.
For larger items, or ones that are typically sold in multiples, low profile Pallet Ant mobile robots are used to convey shelf units and/or pallet stands to the GTP stations from the same high-density storage area in which the Miniload robots are working.
The solution enables our client to utilize three different types of storage mediums in one small, densely slotted corner of the store. In that space, the client is able to quickly and efficiently fill multi-line ecommerce, local delivery, and pick-up orders that range in line items from fast to slow movers, small to large items, and even conveyable and non-conveyable SKUs.
As a result, our client was able to eliminate previously cumbersome order fulfillment processes, long pick paths, and strain on workers that had to deal with large and heavy items — all while speeding the time between when orders are placed and fulfilled. And our client’s customers now enjoy enhanced ecommerce, local delivery, and “order online/pick-up in-store” offerings.
The video below provides a look at the final design concept.
If you’re considering micro-fulfillment solutions for your company, let us know what you want to accomplish, and we’ll show you how you can.
Walter High is VP Marketing at MSI Automate, where he has worked since 2012.