Gap Strengthens Fulfillment With Kiva Systems
Gap Inc., never a slacker when it comes to technology, has enlisted the help of robots to help pack shipments for its e-commerce operations. The San Francisco retailer has teamed with Woburn, Mass.–based Kiva Systems to speed up and enhance fulfillment operations for its Gap Direct division.
Kiva’s system employs hundreds of mobile robotic drive units that bring inventory directly to workers, enabling access to inventory items at all times. The process helps eliminate the walking and waiting that take place when using traditional sorter systems. During testing, the robotic system has shown productivity increases two to four times greater than those of sorter and other “bolted down” systems, according to Kiva officials. Because all the system components are mobile and modular, new merchandise introductions and other expansions do not disrupt the operation at hand.
“We are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality and efficiency of our fulfillment processes. Implementing this new technology offers important benefits as we scale our business for growth,” said Toby Lenk, president of Gap Direct. “It allows us to expand capacity in line with demand [and] reduce costs and frees our distribution staff to focus on accuracy and productivity.”
Gap Direct sells clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories from Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Piperlime. —Robert McAllister
