The pace is relentless, but you can meet customer
demands with the right distribution solutions
E-commerce distribution is booming, and the demands on companies to
accurately, quickly and cost-effectively fulfill orders are relentless. These
companies compete not only for market share, but for employees and internal
resources that can be scarce. Finding ways to execute orders at speed is a
critical concern for modern e-commerce companies. The growth has been
relentless—more than tripling in the last half-decade—and the pace is picking
up. You will be asked to execute increasingly complex tasks driven by customer
demand to an infinite number of delivery locations with an ever-increasing,
shifting SKU count.
Intelligent automation, smart warehouse design, and consistent performance
are critical for every distribution center, but matter more for e-commerce. Let us help you create a sustainable operation with
efficient picking, packing, shipping and return departments that help you fill
more orders in less time and more accurately.
The epicenter of customer satisfaction
Customers today have infinite options—and can change their minds with a whim
and a click.
- They require fast, inexpensive shipping.
- They want to
easily return items.
- They are infuriated by errors and damaged product.
- They want more options and more ways to order them.
- They want to source it as simply as possible.
Distribution performance is
more critical than your company's customer service center and website when it
comes to satisfying customers and retaining market share. Great products succeed
only when delivered on time, accurately, and damage-free. That starts with order
fulfillment.
Picking operations optimization
We offer a suite of solutions to enhance order picking operations.
-
Conveyor systems:
Conveyor integrations that drive the process forward are critical to faster
throughput, labor efficiency and better performance. Utilizing the right
system, designed for the right situation means that your entire operation
and everyone in it is working in synch and without needless delays.
Successful implementations interface with sorters,
robots, pick modules, many departments and types of machinery to create efficiency and improve product
flow. Conveyors are the circulatory system of the modern order fulfillment
center, and must be designed for longterm functionality.
-
Pick-to-light:
Paperless picking operations are faster and more accurate by
an order of magnitude. These systems are so accurate that clients like
Educational Development Corporation eliminated their entire quality
control department and simultaneously reduce picking errors.
-
Pick modules, mezzanines and platforms:
In many e-commerce facilities,
pick modules and mezzanines are needed to fully utilize vertical space.
These systems utilize a combinations of storage racks, mezzanines,
conveyors, and flow storage to facilitate high-density, fast order picking.
-
Carousels
concentrate certain SKU types into high-density storage areas, where they
deliver goods-to-person picking without consuming much space. In some
qualified instances, e-commerce can rely on full
AS/RS automation.
- High-density storage, such as
carton or pallet flow allows fast, accurate picking.
-
Robotics, ranging from picking to palletizing systems, and the
conveyor integrations needed to drive the process forward.
- Facility layout & design assistance: We help
e-commerce companies create a productive and space-efficient facility.
- Storage equipment: Cisco-Eagle can help with a variety
of racks, shelving and other storage equipment needed in a distribution
facility.
Packing & shipping operations
Don't allow your packing operation
to become a bottleneck.
- Conveyors, including
accumulation systems
that create automatic buffers for the packing department. These systems
deliver cartons quickly and directly to packers. A well-executed system
queues up orders on the conveyor to await a packing destination, then
delivers it to a waiting truck with minimal human interference.
- Packing stations and work areas: The packing area
relies on workstations that deliver all the needed supplies within hands'
reach of packers. See:
Efficient Packing Station Design.
- Packaging equipment. We integrate stretchwrappers,
packing machines, void fillers and other critical machinery into the
process.
- Dock-to-truck solutions: Many times, an automated
process ends at the docks and must be "patched" with manual
loading/unloading. We help companies transition from floor to trailer with
extendable conveyors that reach into a truck without human intervention.
We can help you reduce costs and increase throughput while
maintaining accuracy. Contact us today for fast assistance.
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