Order today before 11:59 pm and receive your goods tomorrow. This is what Dutch online retailer Wehkamp promises in their online shop at wehkamp.nl where customers can choose from a range of 430,000 products. A comprehensive modern logistics solution for e-commerce fulfillment has helped Wehkamp keep to this promise.

30 million orders per year processed fast and efficiently

The Wehkamp distribution center is set up for maximum performance. Every year, more than 30 million parcels are shipped from the warehouse. For these quantities, automatic and manual processes as well as warehouse technology and software need to mesh perfectly with each other. The automatic storage system OSR Shuttle™ comprising 21 rack line systems and 546 shuttles provides enough space to accommodate the wide product range. A rapid conveyor system conveys the goods to 28 Pick-it-Easy goods-to-person work stations. At the work stations, order processing is particularly efficient: During one-touch picking, goods are directly picked from the storage container and placed into the shipping carton. Orders consisting only of one product are picked in batches and later packed separately into shipping bags. This approach to picking has many benefits, especially during peak times, reducing the time needed for order processing and making ideal use of the work station capacities.

Read the whole story here about how Wehkamp fulfills e-commerce orders using intelligent automation.

The Parfums Christian Dior company produces its exclusive perfumes and cosmetics products in the French town of Saint Jean de Braye. From there, the goods are delivered to regional distribution centers, shops and end customers. Dior has had a state-of-the-art omni-channel fulfillment center in operation since 2018, with smart robots handling a large portion of the work. With the help of the smart robots, Dior has been able to increase their performance and efficiency in distribution.

Optimized ergonomics thanks to automation

Employees also benefit from the solution: Thanks to goods-to-person order processing, employees no longer have to walk long distances. In addition, lifting heavy cartons in the goods-in and shipping areas has been significantly reduced. “Our employees work hand-in-hand with ultramodern automation technology. All work processes are ergonomically designed and software guidance reduces errors to a minimum”, says Olivier Sorbe, Logistics Manager of the European and Middle Eastern regions (EMEA) at Parfums Christian Dior.

2 goods flows, 1 system. Growth is part of the plan.

The distribution center in Saint Jean de Braye has two separate goods flows with very different structures. In the first, full cases are handled there to supply regional distribution centers and shops. In the second, single products are processed for online orders. With the tailor-made logistics solution, these complex processes can be carried out efficiently.

The company Parfums Christian Dior expects to increase their SKUs by approximately eight percent per year. This growth is planned for in the system design: The automatic storage system OSR Shuttle™ can be extended by around 16,500 storage locations.

In the distribution and production of cosmetics, the focus is on quality. High-end cosmetics products such as perfumes, make-up and lipstick must be handled with precision and care. Only a consistent approach to quality makes it possible for these products to arrive at the customer’s home in perfect condition. A scratch in the packaging can damage the company’s image, especially when it comes to premium products. If the aim is to reduce costs, avoid returns from the start and increase processing efficiency, the automation solution must be attuned to the requirements of the goods.

Amorepacific is a world-leading cosmetics company that produces skin care products, cosmetics, make-up and perfume for a wide range of brands. A large number of the goods is manufactured in the Beauty Park in Osan, South Korea. The highly automated solution comprises robots for depalletization and palletization as well as the largest OSR Shuttle™ in South Korea with 80,500 storage locations.

Find out more about the efficient logistics solutions used by Amorepacific in our blog.

Fully automatic processes for the highest quality

Prior to the KNAPP solution, the processes at Amorepacific were carried out manually. The smart automated solution they now use allows higher storage density and optimizes various processes. For example, delivered pallets are automatically depalletized and raw materials for production are buffered in the system. Since high quality raw materials are required, a number of delivered containers are randomly selected and tested according to a range of criteria. Only after this random test has been carried out will the raw materials be stored in the OSR Shuttle™ automatic storage system. Through optimum use of space and the system’s space-saving design, the storage volume was increased by 60 percent. The production line is also supplied fully automatically: The OSR Shuttle™ retrieves the containers and the palletizing robots take care of the rest.