VARGO® Upgrades Major Beauty Retailer’s Distribution Systems

HILLIARD, Ohio (October 10, 2022) — VARGO®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration and warehouse execution software was selected by a leading beauty retailer to reimagine its fulfillment network. The multi-project initiative is driven by expansive growth and will expand capacity, improve productivity and allow the retailer to get closer to their customers. Existing fulfillment centers will receive an upgrade to add automation and improve productivity. Additionally, a new class of fulfillment centers are being added to the network to increase capacity and position inventory closer to stores and customers.

“We are very proud of our team, the collaboration with our client and our vendor partners for the creative design and application of automation to solve the client’s needs,” said Bart Cera, president and COO. “VARGO® is excited to be an instrumental part of our client’s supply chain transformation and their future success.”

The first project of the initiative tackles an existing omni-channel distribution center to process 750,000 units per day. The facility is being upgraded with automation across all functions in the operation. An inbound sorter and replenishment sorter from Hytrol will improve material flow from receiving to reserve storage to active picking. OPEX ® Perfect Pick ® ASRS’ will reduce touches in reserve storage. Additionally, OPEX® SureSorts systems will provide and automated alternative to putwalls. Finally, a Dematic Multishuttle® will improve retail unit picking productivity. VARGO®’s COFE® warehouse execution system (WES) will orchestrate the flow of work throughout the new and existing automation. This project is expected to go live in January, with Phase II completion in the summer of 2023.

The second project of the initiative is implementing a new omni distribution center designed to fulfill 250,000 units per day. This facility will utilize similar inbound and replenishment processes with Hytrol conveyor and sorters. In addition, Locus Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are being used to discrete order pick both retail replenishment and e-commerce orders. The new facility is expected to go live Summer of 2023.

VARGO®’s COFE® WES, warehouse execution software enables companies to connect to various automation technologies and seamlessly sequence and synchronize the various workflows for increased efficiency, operational effectiveness and simplicity. This allows the retailer to use the same WMS configuration across all the various types of automation in both facilities.