History of VARGO®
Since 1971, VARGO® has supported the operational needs of high-volume direct-to-consumer companies, retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers through our unique approach to complex fulfillment solutions. This graphic highlights a few of our milestones.
1971:
Vargo Associates is established in Columbus, Ohio, to meet the rising demand for efficient, cost-effective material handling equipment for local and national businesses.
1976:
VARGO® engineers’ first continuous flow implemented at Warner Robbins Air Force Base.
1977:
VARGO® engineers’ first continuous flow Warehouse Execution System (WES) system was commissioned.
1992:
Global apparel retailer opens its Atlanta fulfillment center with a continuous flow system.
1995:
VARGO® acquires an integrated systems company.
1999:
First fully waveless facility installed by VARGO® engineers opens in North Hampton, UK, for Levi Strauss’ European distribution.
2004:
VARGO® deploys continuous flow system in an L.L. Bean facility.
2006:
American Eagle Outfitters awards Vargo Integrated Systems Inc. and ADS Specialists, Inc., of Austin, Texas, a significant contract to integrate COFE® waveless ordering processing into its new fulfillment center in Kansas.
Vargo Integrated Systems Inc. acquires ADS Specialists, Inc.
2012:
VARGO® installs waveless systems in the fulfillment center of a leading national distributor of pharmaceutical products.
VARGO® deploys COFE® waveless solution and all supporting automation equipment in a West Coast fast-fashion retailer fulfillment center.
2013:
VARGO® installs a COFE® order consolidation module and complete equipment solution in the distribution center of a Columbus, Ohio-based leading, direct-selling company.
2014:
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., builds a new direct-to-consumer fulfillment center in Hazle Township, Pa., equipped with VARGO®’s COFE®® (Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine) warehouse execution system, a technology that uses waveless order processing for order fulfillment.
2015:
American Eagle facility adds retail inventory to its Hazle Township facility, making it the first known waveless, omnichannel facility.
VARGO® introduces its COFE®® Software as a Service (SaaS) with a West Coast startup custom apparel retailer.
VARGO® receives second commission in Pennsylvania from a West Coast-based fast-fashion retailer.
VARGO® partners with a major 3PL to install VARGO®’s COFE® warehouse execution system in an e-commerce facility for a large, leading, well-known retailer.
2016:
Napa Valley wine distributor specializing in direct-to-consumer wine sales breaks ground on California distribution center that will be driven by COFE®.
VARGO® partners with another leading 3PL to install COFE® in a leading toy retailer’s distribution center that will be commissioned in 2017.
2017:
VARGO® partners with another leading 3PL to install COFE® in a leading toy retailer’s distribution center that will be commissioned in 2017.
VARGO® introduces COFE® mobility and analytics features that allow users to measure, visualize and manage operations from anywhere.
Become another success story on our timeline and discover the power of COFE®, the WES software that does for fulfillment what Lean did for manufacturing.
2018:
VARGO® adds workflows and updates to Gap Inc.’s Gallatin fulfillment center, with an automated storage and retrieval system.
VARGO® expands its growing software engineering team with the opening of the VARGO® Technology Center in Dublin.
VARGO® announces updates to its COFE® warehouse execution system software and COFEView, VARGO®’s business intelligence and reporting and management platform.
VARGO® partners with Kindred to integrate its robotic technology into COFE® at a global clothing retailer’s e-commerce facility in Nashville, TN.
VARGO® partners with global 3PL to redesign distribution center for large toy retailer.
VARGO® converts existing equipment into large scale fulfillment operation for Gap, Inc. Fresno, CA ecommerce fulfillment center.
2019:
VARGO® announces the opening of a sixth office, this time in Mason, Ohio.
KLX Aerospace Solutions distribution center in Miami goes live, featuring COFE® routing and warehouse control system functionality.
VARGO® partners with Fetch Robotics to implement a pilot project integrating autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) into COFE®® at a Gap Inc. fulfillment center in Phoenix, Arizona.
2020:
VARGO® is selected by Gap Inc. to design a robotics solution for its fulfillment centers in Phoenix, Arizona, and Rugby, England.
In response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, VARGO® introduces new COFE® WES software functionality that automates one-picker-per-aisle workflows to maintain safe social distance for warehouse workers.
VARGO® announces the creation of a preferred partner alliance with McCombs-Wall, Inc, providing access to VARGO® software and services to supplement McCombs-Wall product offerings.
VARGO® develops a cloud-based version of its Warehouse Execution System (WES) as part of VARGO® rollout of COFE® 4, synchronizing and optimizing e-commerce in leading retailers’ fulfillment centers.
VARGO® partners with Fetch Robotics to introduce integrated fulfillment solutions, combining the power of autonomous mobile robots with VARGO® execution software system to enable optimized picking.
VARGO® announces a partnership with Kindred to incorporate its artificial intelligence (AI) pick and place robotic solutions with VARGO® warehouse execution system (WES) to enhance both parties’ solutions for retail and e-commerce fulfillment.
2021:
VARGO® is selected by Old Navy to design a Ship from Store (SFS) solution for its store in Dallas, Texas, which will mimic Gap’s large fulfillment center features.
VARGO® expands operations in the Columbus region by investing over $4 Million and creating jobs in software, engineering, logistics and business analysis.
VARGOs® signs a distribution agreement with OPEX®, allowing the product to part of warehouse solutions that VARGO® proposes for clients.
2022:
VARGO® becomes an Employee-Owned Company.
VARGO® improves order capabilities for plus-size apparel brand to increase capacity and reduce order cycle times at its 1.1 million-square-foot facility in West Jefferson, Ohio.
VARGO® expands the Cincinnati office to keep up with continued growth; allowing their team to double in size with continued investment.
VARGO® completes a retrofit of Gap’s 550,000 square-foot Fishkill, NY campus including a new installation of its COFE® WES Continuous Order Fulfillment Execution software.
VARGO® completes a new, 800,000 square-foot, customer experience center in Longview, TX for Gap, Inc., including the installation of its COFE® WES Continuous Order Fulfillment Execution software.
VARGO® completes and enhancement and expansion of Gap’s Fresno, CA facility, including the addition of several COFE® modules and VARGO® WES Continuous Order Fulfillment Execution software.
VARGO® upgrades distribution for a major beauty retailer with a multi-project initiative that expands capacity and improves productivity.
VARGO® installs COFE® warehouse execution system in a world renowned, high-end fashion retailer’s North Carolina fulfillment center to drastically improve peak records.
VARGO® implemented a custom-designed solution for a national tire retailer, reducing operating costs by getting closer to demand and reducing labor.
VARGO® helps WineDirect to meet increased demand for home wine delivery by expanding their facilities to increase efficiencies, double processing capacity and allow for shorter order cycles.
2023:
VARGO® promotes COO and President, Bart Cera, to CEO after over 16 years with the company.
VARGO® transforms Arizona and New Jersey authentication centers for luxury consignment retailer, The RealReal.
VARGO® expands processing capabilities at two Gap sites to process up to 1M DTC units/day.