Category: Press Release

Program provides access to VARGO^® software and services to supplement  McCombs-Wall product offerings under a unique operating model

HILLIARD, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2020) — VARGO^®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, today announced a preferred partner alliance with McCombs-Wall, a California-based materials handling solutions provider.

This new alliance program provides for cross-business referral activity and joint branding of solutions by allowing McCombs-Wall access to VARGO^®’s Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine (COFE^®) warehouse execution system (WES) and other VARGO^® products and services. The goal of this program is to open additional sales channels for the continued promotion and growth of COFE^® and, at the same time, enable alliance partners, like McCombs-Wall, to competitively differentiate their e-commerce fulfilment solutions through the addition of industry-leading WES functionality. The alliance unites the companies under a common mission: to support their customer base with the best technologies, solutions, automation, equipment and services available in the market.

“As a leading WES provider and systems integrator, VARGO^® applies proven “pull-based” lean manufacturing principles to e-commerce fulfillment through our design, implementation and support of highly optimized solutions based on our customer’s needs and their customer’s demands,” said Bart J. Cera, president and COO of VARGO^®. “Retailers are under more pressure than ever for greater speed of fulfilment with less cost in this increasingly demanding e-commerce world. This agreement with McCombs-Wall benefits both of our companies in various ways to provide our collective customers with complete, robust and expansive proven fulfillment solutions that solve this challenge.”

“The level of service expectations are higher than ever before,” said Jeff Livesay, president and CEO of McCombs-Wall. “This partnership with VARGO^® shows our continued commitment to providing our clients with solutions that will enable them to fulfill their products faster and more accurate. We felt it a privilege to be partnered with VARGO^® and look forward to the future.”

HILLIARD, Ohio, August 24, 2020 — VARGO^®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, has hired Anthony Nembhard as a software support specialist.

In his role, Nembhard provides on-site and remote support to VARGO^® customers and he assists in customer implementation and installations of COFE^® (Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine), VARGO^®’s warehouse execution system software. COFE^® is a leading waveless fulfillment solution that synchronizes and sequences all resources — people and equipment — and responds to dynamically changing requirements within a fulfillment center.

“Anthony makes an excellent addition to the software support team, and we know he will add strength to that group, which is focused on providing excellent service to our customers,” said Bart Cera, president and COO. “We look forward to seeing how he grows in his role here.”

Nembhard grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and in December 2019, he graduated from Regis University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems.

He currently lives in Galloway, Ohio. (ZIP Code 43119).

HILLIARD, Ohio (AUGUST 17 2020) — VARGO^®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, has promoted Eric Griffin to software manager.

Griffin joined VARGO^® in June 2012 as a software engineer, responsible for engineering Python applications for the company’s COFE^® (Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine) warehouse execution system software. COFE^® is a leading waveless fulfillment solution that synchronizes and sequences all resources — people and equipment — and responds to dynamically changing requirements within a fulfillment center. As software manager, engineering, Griffin will continue to work on the Python applications, but he also will be mentoring and fostering the development of the junior developers on the software engineering team.

Prior to his work at VARGO^®, Griffin was a software tester at Primatech, where he tested chemical process safety software. He also served in the U.S. Army from 2004-2007, and earned a Combat Action Badge and an Army Commendation Medal.

“We are excited to see how Eric has grown in his role at VARGO^® and greatly appreciate the contributions he has made to our Warehouse Execution System software,” said Bart Cera, president and COO. “We know that his leadership and intelligence will help in the development of our growing software engineering team.”

Griffin grew up in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and in 2011, he graduated from Ohio Dominican University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems. Griffin currently lives in Columbus, Ohio. (ZIP Code 43204).

HILLIARD, Ohio (AUGUST 17, 2020) — VARGO^®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, has promoted Joel Raymond to senior software manager.

Raymond, who joined the VARGO^® team in February 2012, has held numerous roles of increasing responsibility. Since September 2018, he has served as a software manager, overseeing the design and development of VARGO^® software and managing a team of software engineers. Prior to that, he was a senior software engineer and software developer, and he assisted with software design, development and support. He has had a significant impact on the company’s COFE^® (Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine) warehouse execution system software, a leading waveless fulfillment solution that synchronizes and sequences all resources — people and equipment — and responds to dynamically changing requirements within a fulfillment center.

“Joel has become an invaluable part of our Tech Center team and has grown in his leadership and his ability to inspire his team,” said Bart Cera, president and COO. “We’re happy to recognize his contributions and look forward to his continued impact within our software group and our company.”

Raymond grew up in Lancaster, Ohio. In 2011, he graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Art in Computer Science.

Raymond currently lives in Gahanna, Ohio. (ZIP Code 43230).

The new functionality automates one-picker-per-aisle workflows that maintain safe social distance for warehouse workers

HILLIARD, Ohio (July 14, 2020) — VARGO^®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, has unveiled a new social distancing feature to its COFE^® continuous order fulfillment execution system.

For large volume sites, COFE^®’s algorithms and AI-like functionality can now be specifically programmed to create a process where only one person is working in the same pick aisle at a time, keeping workers a minimum of one per pick aisle, or 8 feet apart, in the picking areas.

This feature helps fulfillment centers maintain high productivity and high worker safety protocols at the same time. Often, social distancing slows down workflows in order to keep workers spaced apart. But the new COFE^® function automates the distancing so that it integrates into the overall workflow. For example, if there is one worker in a specific aisle, COFE^® will send multiple picks to that employee to maximize the time they spend in that pick aisle.

Because COFE^® already promotes a decoupled work process, it is a natural a fit with social distancing and goes along with the philosophy of rewarding the most productive associates with more work.

“COFE^® has always done an outstanding job of delegating work and keeping workers productive. During COVID, we’ve been able to leverage these same features to aid operations with social distancing requirements and desires,” said Art Eldred, Client Executive, Systems Engineering at VARGO^®.

The social distancing feature is available for large-volume warehouse sites. More information is available by calling 877.876.6384 or emailing inquiry@vargomail.com.

New client executive to focus on new business growth

HILLIARD, Ohio (May 7, 2020) — VARGO^®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, has hired Brian Drees as a client executive, system sales.

In this capacity, Drees is responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating sales calls, presentations and other business development initiatives that lead to the sale of material handling equipment, conveyor systems and software solutions. He is part of a team that manages direct-to-consumer and business-to-business sales opportunities and analyzes customers’ complex fulfillment or distribution operations.

“We are confident that Brian’s extensive experience in e-commerce fulfillment and engineering will make a great impact on helping VARGO^® grow in the marketplace,” said Bart Cera, president and COO.

Prior to joining VARGO^®, Drees worked on the client side, most recently at Thirty-One Gifts, a direct-selling company that specializes in personalized bags, accessories and home décor. At Thirty-One Gifts, he worked as executive director of operations support, director of engineering and senior manager of engineering and systems. Drees brings almost 30 years of experience in engineering and distribution operations to his role. Prior to working at Thirty-One, he worked as a project manager for supply chain at Abercrombie & Fitch, a global retailer, and as a project manager for systems at Sygma Foods, a subsidiary of Sysco that provides food and non-food products to chain restaurants throughout the United States.

Drees earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from University of Cincinnati.

He currently lives in Hilliard, Ohio (ZIP 43026).