Revolutionizing Fulfillment Solutions – 6 River Systems Expands Customer Portfolio and Redefines Warehouse Automation with Ocado Intelligent Automation

Warehouse Automation August 22nd, 2023

We are thrilled to share that 6 River Systems (6RS) has embarked on an exciting journey by becoming part of Ocado Group, a pioneer in intelligent automation solutions with 20+ years of experience in developing and operating its own platform for grocery retailers around the world. In just a handful of weeks since this partnership was announced, we have achieved impressive results by securing contracts with four new clients and expanding programs with two existing customers, including a global family entertainment company. These accomplishments exemplify our unwavering commitment to delivering top-notch fulfillment solutions across various industries.

“Becoming part of Ocado’s new Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA) business unit enables us to broaden our capabilities and further our dedication to providing innovative, wall-to-wall automation technology that delivers immediate value to our clients, both present and future,” said Royanna Chappell, VP of Sales and Customer Success at 6 River Systems. “It represents a remarkable milestone, promising a future characterized by unparalleled opportunities to further growth with fulfillment providers in their automation journey.”

Immediate growth and expansion

As a testament to our ongoing growth and customer success, we added four new customers and two major customer expansions since May. Among the four new customer additions to 6RS’ growing warehouse fulfillment portfolio:

  • Giftcraft, a home décor wholesaler offering a wide range of home décor, home accents, and more. Giftcraft is an industry-leader in the areas of design, manufacturing and distribution of a comprehensive assortment of lifestyle, fashion, decor, giftware, health, wellness and gourmet products. Offering best-in-class sales and service, Giftcraft supports the product needs of a diverse network of more than 25,000 independent, specialty, and marque retailers throughout North America.
  • Answers in Genesis (AiG), a non-profit organization delivering religion-based products. The company specializes in producing and disseminating religious education media and merchandise while also organizing a range of events held at its centers across the United States.

With the addition of these four new customers, we continue to expand the breadth of applications and industries who benefit from our cutting-edge, flexible automation technology, which streamlines operations and maximizes efficiency. These additions showcase our company’s dedication to providing best-in-class fulfillment solutions and reinforce our reputation as a trusted partner for businesses seeking excellence in logistics.

The two major customer expansions underscore the immense value that our team brings to existing warehouse operators. By providing pragmatic, cost-effective solutions for companies handling high volumes of items daily, we have become an indispensable asset in our customers’ growth strategies. The expansions speak volumes about the exceptional service and support that 6RS delivers, fostering strong and enduring partnerships.

As we continue to expand our client base, the future looks exceptionally promising. With the momentum gained from these recent achievements and the continued support and expertise from our partners, we are well-positioned to lead the way in revolutionizing the world of collaborative warehouse fulfillment solutions. Our customers can expect continued innovation, unparalleled service, and seamless integration of cutting-edge technology as we strive to stay at the forefront of the industry.

Our commitment to innovation

Integration with Ocado Intelligent Automation provides additional resources and industry expertise honed by Ocado Group’s 20+ years of operational experience. This integration streamlines processes, enhances efficiency, and ultimately elevates overall satisfaction for our customers. Leveraging OIA’s diverse range of point and end-to-end automation solutions will help to propel customers forward on their automation journey. Undeniably positioned as a leading provider, OIA now offers a wider breadth of automation solutions to the fulfillment industry.

Among the impressive lineup of automation tools now offered is our autonomous mobile robot (AMR) called “Chuck,” along with system-directed algorithms for collaborative automation of putaway, pick, sort, packout, and returns. This powerful combination ensures rapid deployment and significant time-to-value for warehouse operators around the world.

Additionally, Ocado Intelligent Automation provides AI-powered piece-picking robotic automation through its prior acquisition of Kindred for e-commerce and order fulfillment. This advanced system revolutionizes the pick-and-sort process, optimizing efficiency and accuracy.

To cater to large-scale fulfillment needs, our customers will also have access to Automated Storage and Retrieval (ASRS) solutions through the Ocado Intelligent Automation ASRS. Unlike many other ASRS systems, this one stands out as a refined combination of algorithms and automation honed over 20+ years of operational experience. This autonomous, concurrent bot-and-grid design reduces the surface area and level of human oversight needed in both greenfield and brownfield sites. Flexible tote storage handles products from a wide range of industries, allowing businesses to increase order throughput with greater speed and accuracy, while reinforcement learning software orchestrates and optimizes processes.

A progressive next chapter

“We’re thrilled to officially be part of Ocado Intelligent Automation, a group renowned for their exceptional, innovative fulfillment solutions,” said Jerome Dubois, co-founder of 6 River Systems. “This partnership opens new doors for our team, enabling us to continue assisting customers in their fulfillment journey in even more exciting ways.”

Over the last few months, Jerome has had the opportunity to speak with 6RS’ existing customers and one thing is clear: they are equally as excited about the breadth of automation solutions now available to them with OIA.

“We are entering this exciting new chapter in the company’s history stronger than ever having recently secured expansion contracts and unveiled four new logos, a clear signal that our customers are unwavering in their recognition of the value 6RS provides them, “Dubois continued. “Together, we maintain our commitment to offering pragmatic, best-in-class cost-per-unit-shipped automation solutions for fulfillment providers, regardless of whether they handle hundreds or millions of items daily.”

Looking ahead 

Mark Richardson, CEO of Ocado Intelligent Automation, shared his optimistic outlook for what lies ahead. “The addition of 6 River Systems enables us to truly meet warehouse operators in their automation journey and provide growth enablement like no other automation provider. We can now leverage a wider breadth of powerful automation products for brands in any industry.”

He also highlights the company’s focus on bringing the best of innovative robotics solutions to warehouse fulfillment:

“Ocado Intelligent Automation represents a significant milestone for our company as we extend our ultra-high density Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) and robotics operations experience to customers outside the grocery industry for the first time. Adding 6 River Systems to the OIA solutions portfolio provides our teams the opportunity to deploy the best of automation solutions to any industry vertical in warehouse fulfillment, at any scale. We are truly excited to bring our expertise and solutions to a wider audience, empowering brands to achieve unprecedented productivity, efficiency, and operational excellence.”

This cutting-edge warehouse automation solution aligns with our unwavering dedication to leveraging advanced technology for unparalleled results. By harnessing the power of Ocado Intelligent Automation, businesses across any sector can now experience the transformative benefits of state-of-the-art robotics and efficient fulfillment systems.

Our partnership with OIA marks a significant milestone in our company’s journey toward revolutionizing warehouse fulfillment. Our company’s unwavering commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, combined with the expertise and technology of OIA, sets the stage for the next generation of warehouse fulfillment automation.

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