The Challenge
The first Fleet Feet store opened its doors in 1976 in Sacramento, California, and they’ve been outfitting runners with the right gear and knowledge ever since. Since then, they’ve expanded to over 260 stores (and counting) in communities across the country to work toward their vision: to inspire the runner in everyone. The partnership between Fleet Feet and Infios began as Fleet Feet sought to upgrade its warehouse management system to align with their new ERP solution. Initially, integrating autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to replace hand-written processes seemed out of reach, but discussions with Infios revealed this goal was closer than anticipated.
The Solution
This partnership started with a new (aka “greenfield”) 75,000 square foot distribution center. The Fleet Feet team designed the warehouse space with the help of Infios and Locus Robotics to ensure the facility was optimized from the start for when they went live with the new systems, which included 22 Locus robots.
The Results
The results and benefits of bringing on the AMRs were quickly evident as associates found their tasks to be less physically demanding, allowing them more energy for personal activities outside work. Training new and temporary associates to work with robots has also become easier. Before implementing AMRs, training a new picker took about a week. Now, the Fleet Feet team can train a group in 30 to 45 minutes, making the process quicker and more efficient. Before AMRs, Fleet Feet fulfilled once a week, which took all week to complete. Now, they fulfill these orders five times a week, reducing the workload and speeding up inventory restocking. The efficiency improvements are also remarkable. With 22 Locus robots and five pickers, they’re now picking 180 units an hour, compared to previously 85 units an hour with a team of 20 to 25 pickers.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Our employees appreciate going home less tired and having more time and energy for their families and hobbies.