Dematic has made its micro-fulfillment solution commercially available. The automation solution gives customers with high throughput requirements the flexibility to fulfill orders quickly and in a small footprint. The Dematic solution empowers customers to maximize space and achieve profitability with e-commerce ordering, ultimately advancing their omni-channel distribution strategy to give customers what they want when they want it with one-hour fulfillment.
Meijer inks deal for immediate installation of Dematic
Dematic has an installation already in progress with Meijer, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer.
“We’re driven to make shopping at Meijer easy and convenient, so micro-fulfilment is another way our company is leaning into the future of retail,” says Sid Handa, director of strategic supply chain initiatives for Meijer. “This micro-fulfillment technology will allow us to maximize space in our stores, help us expand our online shopping options and ultimately keep pace with consumer demand for personalized shopping solutions that puts their shopping preferences first.”
The Dematic Micro-Fulfillment difference
Integrating the power of intelligent automation and human expertise, the Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution is a combination of automated technology and proprietary Dematic iQ software. The software specifically enables customers to retain control of their data while providing seamless integration with other inventory management, warehouse and ERP systems so that all stores, distribution centers and corporate offices are networked on the same platform.
With the ability build and install in as little as 12 weeks, the Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution is designed to be implemented close to the end consumer and is configured to fit into footprints as small as 10,000-s.f., such as in the back of a retail store, in a nearby dark store or urban fulfillment center. Such close proximity enables retailers to better use and maximize space, while making one-hour fulfillment possible and increasing profitability.
And unlike competitive solutions using untested technology, the Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution leverages proven technology like the Dematic Multishuttle and Goods-to-Person Picking solutions. Additional features that differentiate the Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution from existing offerings include:
- Cold zone environment capabilities with ambient, chilled and frozen temperature zones.
- A global footprint that enables implementation at scale, making it possible for customers to install multiple micro-fulfillment solutions at once, at locations worldwide.
- Unmatched 24/7/365 customer service with local operations in more than 25 countries, supporting scale at speed.
“Dematic has been leading intralogistics innovation and invention for 200 years. We’ve helped automate some of the world’s biggest distribution centers, and now we have a creative solution that truly optimizes the smaller footprints found in the backs of retail stores — our expertise in automation and our scale gives us a real advantage. The global effort to bring a Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution to life in less than six months is proof of that,” says Hasan Dandashly, CEO, Dematic. “Micro-Fulfillment is a demonstration of our mission to power the future of commerce, and we aim to set a new standard for order fulfillment, together with our customers.”
Grocery is just the beginning for Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution
Dematic’s highly configurable system can accommodate the SKU capacity and order volume required by today’s grocers and wholesalers, but it also has application for auto parts, consumer electronics, sporting goods, apparel, industrial supplies and department stores that are re-purposing retail store space.
The Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution will address supply chain and distribution challenges now inherent to grocers as well as retailers of all sizes and across markets. This includes:
- Anchoring online and in-store fulfillment from the back of a retail store—creating a true backroom—or from nearby urban fulfillment centers and dark stores, all in much closer proximity to consumers than remote distribution centers.
- Optimizing omni-channel distribution by more effectively using existing real estate for online order assembly, allowing retail consumers to pick up online orders at the closest retail store or service center, or receive it using a delivery service to their home.
The Dematic Micro-Fulfillment solution is now available to customers worldwide.
