AUTOMATION

enVista’s distribution center automation solutions do the work for you.

In an ever-increasing complicated supply chain environment, distribution center (DC) automation has become the primary strategy to ensure supply chain productivity and financial goals while maximizing customer service levels. Warehouse automation technologies, such as automated goods vehicles, autonomous mobile robots and pick-by-voice technology, can greatly increase your capacity and reduce the load on your staff.

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Leverage distribution center automation for a competitive advantage.

We have a dedicated team of experts in robotics integration, labor management, warehouse design, distribution center automation and systems engineering and implementation to help you project and model an optimal approach to your distribution center labor productivity and automation. We implement solutions and teach warehouse managers how to maximize efficiency over the long run. Through a combination of process improvements, training and innovative technologies, we can help you cut your labor costs by up to 15 percent while increasing productivity.

Automation is increasingly used in distribution, fulfillment and manufacturing operations in response to today’s tight labor market and rising labor and fulfillment costs. Overcome these challenges by leveraging enVista to determine the right automation for your business needs.

enVista brings a dedicated team of robotics integration, labor management, warehouse design and systems implementation experts to help you project and model an optimal approach to both your distribution center labor productivity and automation.

Looking for Hytrol replacement parts? Learn more About Replacement Conveyor Parts.

Distribution Center and Warehouse Automation Benefits

As demand for distribution centers grows and warehouses find themselves fulfilling an ever-increasing number of orders, the need for automated systems becomes evident. Warehouse automation can include both physical and digital systems that help reduce the workload faced by human staff members.

Freeing warehouse workers from repetitive but time-consuming duties enables them to focus on quality control and other skilled jobs that require real-time human judgment. enVista can help you overcome the challenges posed by a tight labor market and rising fulfillment costs by helping you find the right automation solutions for your needs.

enVista has a dedicated team of experts in robotics integration, labor management, warehouse design and systems implementation to help you project and model an optimal approach to your distribution center labor productivity and automation.

Digital automation in the form of warehouse management systems improves the efficiency of your inventory tracking, communication and stock management and can also improve the customer experience.

We also work with a variety of other warehouse automation technologies, including:

Automated Sortation Systems

Automated sortation systems identify inventory on a conveyor system and send it to a location in the warehouse using sensors, barcode scanners or RFID. This technology is helpful for many steps in the order fulfillment process, including receiving, picking and sorting, packing and shipping.

GTP (Goods-to-Person)

GTP fulfillment is a common choice to drive efficiency. This automation technology category includes vertical lift systems, conveyors and carousels that reduce the physical burden on your staff.

AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles)

AGVs use wires, sensors and magnetic strips to travel down fixed paths in warehouses. They work well in simple DCs with a lot of ground to cover. These tools can be used with IoT systems to help monitor the efficiency of your automation systems and identify bottlenecks.

AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems)

AS/RS includes automated equipment, such as tote shuttles, mini-loaders and material-carrying vehicles. This equipment is used to store, sort and pick inventory. Small warehouses with high inventory turnover benefit the most from automated storage and retrieval systems.

AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots)

AMRs use GPSs to find the most effective routes through a specific space. They utilize laser guidance technology to find and avoid obstacles so they can navigate safely through warehouses with a lot of human traffic. Our layout optimization services can help you integrate AMRs into your warehouse more effectively to ensure fast picking and reliable operations.

Voice Picking/Tasking

Also known as “pick-by-voice,” voice-directed warehouse technology uses speech recognition and mobile headsets. This technology finds optimized picking paths so employees quickly know the best way to find, pick and store inventory. Our services include design, implementation and training to help your team make the best use of these technologies in their workflows.

Put-to-Light & Pick-to-Light Technology

These types of warehouse technology use mobile barcode scanning devices connected to digital light displays. These lights tell employees where they can pick up or place inventory.

Combined, these systems can improve your throughput, elevate the customer experience, reduce wastage and shrinkage from missing orders and cut your labor costs by up to 15 percent.

Warehouse automation is often a major step toward scaling your operations, improving communication between sites and supporting faster fulfillment. Warehouse automation can also improve ROI in your facility. Over the lifespan of the systems, your distribution center automation tools should easily earn themselves out with lower staffing costs and increased capacity.

Freeing warehouse workers from repetitive but time-consuming duties enables them to focus on quality control and other skilled jobs that require real-time human judgment. enVista can help you overcome the challenges posed by a tight labor market and rising fulfillment costs by helping you find the right automation solutions for your needs.

enVista has a dedicated team of experts in robotics integration, labor management, warehouse design and systems implementation to help you project and model an optimal approach to your distribution center labor productivity and automation.

Digital automation in the form of warehouse management systems improves the efficiency of your inventory tracking, communication and stock management and can also improve the customer experience.

Competitive Advantage with Automation

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Proven experience. Maximum results.

Luxottica logo

Relocating and Automating Operations with Warehouse Design Build and Fulfillment for Luxottica

  • Developed Luxottica’s system design and integration and automated the packaging line for a 700,000-square-foot, three-story warehouse
  • Brought a holistic approach and was able to work very swiftly on different alternatives and solutions
  • Deployed a new integrated warehouse management system
  • Delivered consolidated pick, pack and shipping requirements into a single, automated system, consolidation of facility into one location, automated storage, inventory visibility and flexibility of workforce

enVista’s dynamic, insightful team quickly got up to speed with Luxottica’s requirements. When enVista and Luxottica met to work together on the project, the team blended so well that it was hard to distinguish who was from Luxottica and who was from enVista. Together, we’ve redefined North American logistics with our new warehouse design.

enVista works with organizations in various industries, including retail, distribution, manufacturing, third-party logistics, private equity, automotive and food and beverage. We offer bespoke solutions for every business, helping them optimize their operations and achieve their goals.

Hytrol Replacement Parts

Hytrol + enVista: Two Solutions in One

Hytrol and enVista have are partnered to help you keep your distribution centers running at peak efficiency. If you’re using Hytrol systems and need replacement parts, we can help you. Many parts are now available for purchase through enVista and ship from the Hytrol factory in Jonesboro, AR. Hytrol’s recommended spare parts can ship in 24 to 48 hours, while the lead time for other parts is about two weeks or more. Whatever parts you’re looking for, we have you covered.

Contact enVista for assistance identifying or ordering replacement parts.

Featured Insights

DC Automation FAQs

DC automation is how organizations automate movement of inventory within distribution centers with minimal human labor. It helps organizations save time and money by automating repetitive physical tasks and data collection and analysis tasks. A highly automated warehouse can have automated storage systems, material handling, order picking, order fulfillment, data collection, etc. Automation can help companies deal with labor shortages, keep up with customer demand, lower labor costs and reduce the rate of human error.

If you decide to automate your DC and fulfillment centers, you will likely encounter one or more of these common warehouse automation industry technologies.

  • GTP (Goods-to-Person): GTP fulfillment is a common choice to drive efficiency. This automation technology category includes vertical lift systems, conveyors and carousels.
  • AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles): AGVs use wires, sensors and magnetic strips to travel down fixed paths in warehouses. They work well in simple DCs with a lot of ground to cover.
  • AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems): AS/RS includes automated equipment such as tote shuttles, mini-loaders and material-carrying vehicles. This equipment is used to store, sort and pick inventory. Small warehouses that deal with high inventory turnover benefit the most from automated storage and retrieval systems.
  • Automated Sortation Systems: Automated sortation systems identify inventory on a conveyor system and sends it to a location in the warehouse using sensors, barcode scanners or RFID. This technology is helpful for many steps in the order fulfillment process, including receiving, picking & sorting, packing and shipping.
  • AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots): AMRs use GPSs to find the most effective routes through a specific space. They utilize laser guidance technology to find and avoid obstacles, so they can even navigate safely through warehouses with a lot of human traffic.
  • Voice Picking/Tasking: Also known as “pick-by-voice,” voice-directed warehouse technology uses speech recognition and mobile headsets. This technology finds optimized picking paths, so employees quickly know the best way to find, pick and store inventory.
  • Put-to-Light & Pick-to-Light Technology: These types of warehouse technology use mobile barcode scanning devices that are connected to digital light displays. These lights tell employees where they can pick up or place inventory.

When should you automate your DC?

Wondering when to automate your distribution centers? Here are some questions to help you decide:

  1. Are your current processes costly and labor intensive?
  2. How is your inventory management? Are your inventory counts often inaccurate?
  3. Are your customers satisfied? Is any dissatisfaction caused by supply chain issues?
  4. Is your order fulfillment capacity becoming more efficient over time? Is it declining?
  5. Are you using time-consuming and/or error-prone manual warehouse management systems, such as spreadsheets?
  6. Do you have to scramble to meet labor demands each time inventory demand fluctuates?
  7. Are customer orders being delayed due to labor shortages?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, DC automaton may help your organization become more cost effective and increase customer satisfaction.

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