It’s hard to believe we are past Q1 2021. Last year was the most transformational in Distribution Center infrastructure I’ve seen in my 21 years in the warehouse and distribution industry. The pandemic has forced us to think differently, placing importance on flexibility and scalability.

A solution that specifically addresses these new challenges is ENZO, a Goods-To-Person AGV/AMR. ENZO is an exciting development in SDI’s roadmap, it delivers shelving units to an operator– eliminating most of the walking.

In a second exciting development, SDI has partnered with Kindred technologies. Together, we can offer an automated put wall that uses a robotic arm to pick up items, scan them and place them into a cubby.

To recognize the pressure that has been placed on the employees that work within Distribution Centers, SDI is giving senior management the opportunity to reward their best operators (or “Superstars”) by nominating them and giving them the opportunity to win $5,000! We hope that you will take advantage of this program and nominate your best players!

Krish Nathan – CEO

The partnership will help customers meet increasing retail fulfillment demands throughout the entire year, including peak seasons.

SDI’s Distribution Center Management System (DCMS) software application incorporates all parts of DC operations, from the basic to the most complex waving and management solutions for retail, wholesale, fulfillment and e-commerce industries. The solution is scalable, easily supported, and the tools allow the DC manager to get the performance from the hardware and software solutions provided.

“We are really excited about this partnership,” Krish Nathan, SDI CEO, said. “As an integrator, we’re eager to be able to offer such a great product to our clients and to partner with an innovative company such as Kindred.”

Kindred uses cutting-edge AI research and human-in-the-loop data methodology to continuously improve robot capabilities so that picking becomes smarter, faster and more accurate over time. Kindred SORT robots have picked more than 100 million units in production to date.

The current scene in DCs/FCs has turned ideal for a new type of collaborator. One who is able to work long shifts (sometimes 24/7), who is not very susceptible to illnesses, and who is extremely efficient when it comes to solving the task at hand:

They’ve been helping DCs/FCs for a while now. A combination of factors such as: improved vision, obstacle detection technology, optimized route selection, and integration with information systems, make robots more versatile and useful for some of the most repetitive, costly and usually less value-added tasks.

There are two technologies in particular that are being used for picking more and more every day:

Everything seems to indicate that, in the future, we will be interacting with these new collaborators.

Lucie Lerivrey
Solution Engineer

Posing important challenges to the logistics and distribution of the parcel business and turning automation into a necessity.

An excellent solution that could help organizations overcome some of these challenges, is a Cross Belt Sorter, which allows you to do the following:

• High capacity processing: Being able to process anywhere from 5,000 to 25,000 UPH, they’re a huge help to any operation.

• High product sortation versatility: When you create positive pressure to achieve product sortation (the band that sits on top of the tray), you can sort the light and small products very efficiently and securely. Additionally, you can assign more than one tray to products that are bulkier and heavier.

• Integration: It can be easily integrated with scanners in order to read labels, cameras to have a photo of the product registered, and cubing machines that will capture the package’s dimensions.

This sortation alternative allows you to respond to the ever-increasing challenges in an efficient manner (and it continues to get more).

Cristian Ahumada
Director of Operations LATAM

Distribution Centers were hit particularly hard in 2020. With constant readjustments and last-minute changes, many workers went above and beyond their typical duties.

Many of these Superstars lifted colleagues’ spirits, lent a guiding hand, made sure orders got out on time, or just provided the right words when needed most.

We admire people who have the right attitude and come through when you need it most. And while we are not familiar with your stories (yet), we would love to hear about these unsung heroes!

To show our support and appreciation for these Superstars that make a difference to you and to the rest of us, we are launching:

Nominate your DC/FC Superstar between February 1st and April 30th of 2021. We will read your stories and select the 11 best Superstars. Ten will receive $500 gift cards, and ONE Superstar will be our  MAIN PRIZE WINNER of $5,000 for themselves and a free lunch for their team!

Send us an e-mail at: SUPERSTARS@SDI.SYSTEMS