Distribution centers now find themselves in a new roll serving as the primary connection between companies and their customers, adding additional strain on already busy facilities. Increased volume, holiday deals and shipping promotions frequently require retailers to be able to fulfill fluctuating volumes of online orders for delivery to consumers within 24 to 48 hours.
In addition to scheduled store deliveries of pallets and cases, retailers must factor split-case picking, item-level touches and multi-line item sortation in to their fulfillment processes to accommodate for demand fluctuations.
New technological and ergonomic advances can help retailers improve the worker environment while meeting e-commerce demand. Automation has become more affordable and productive than ever, and companies around the globe are leveraging such technology in their warehouses to improve the distribution center work environment.
