Automated fulfillment system ‘is uniquely well suited to high volume pick-pack operations’

WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kiva Systems (www.kivasystems.com), a developer of game-changing robotic solutions for the distribution and order fulfillment industry, announced it is featured in Gartner, Inc.’s “Cool Vendors in SCM and ERP, 2009.” Analysts Dwight Klappich and Andrew White recognized Kiva Systems for the impact of its Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System within the retail and manufacturing supply chains.

The Gartner report points out that, “Kiva Systems has taken a different approach to warehouse management modeled after ant colony behavior where a concept called ‘distributed intelligence’ allows a community, in this case inventory pods and robots, to self organize and perform complex tasks with minimal central control...The Kiva solution targets travel time waste and is uniquely well suited to high volume pick-pack operations in volatile environments where things like seasonal demand fluctuations warrant dynamic inventory re-alignment.”

Kiva’s innovative approach to order fulfillment uses hundreds of mobile robotic drive units that bring inventory directly to workers, allowing easy and efficient access to all inventory items at all times. Elimination of operator walking and waiting enables worker productivity that is two to four times higher than with other automated systems. What’s more, because all the system components are mobile and modular, a Kiva-equipped distribution center has unprecedented flexibility when adding new products or expanding throughput—without disrupting ongoing operations. Marquee-name companies such as Staples, Walgreens and Zappos.com have installed the Kiva MFS in their distribution and fulfillment centers.

“Retailers, distributors and manufacturers are using their Kiva systems to both adapt to today’s challenging economy and gain unprecedented competitive advantage, rather than settling for a DC that’s just a cost center,” said Mick Mountz, CEO of Kiva. “Kiva enables companies to increase the capacity of their existing facilities instead of making massive investments in new buildings. Unlike traditional bolted-down automation, Kiva’s approach is flexible and portable and can easily be moved from one location to another to meet seasonal or regional market demands.”

About Gartner's Cool Vendor Report

Gartner's listing does not constitute an exhaustive list of vendors in any given technology area, but rather is designed to highlight interesting, new and innovative vendors, products and services. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gartner defines a cool vendor as a company that offers technologies or solutions that are: Innovative, enable users to do things they couldn't do before; Impactful, have, or will have, business impact (not just technology for the sake of technology); Intriguing, have caught Gartner's interest or curiosity in approximately the past six months. Gartner research can be found at www.gartner.com.

About Kiva Systems

Kiva Systems, Inc. uses game-changing automation technology for distribution centers that helps companies simplify operations and reduce costs, while increasing strategic flexibility. Using autonomous mobile robots and sophisticated control software, the Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System enables extremely fast cycle times with reduced labor requirements, from receiving to picking to shipping—all without conveyor. The result is a building that is quick and low-cost to set up, inexpensive to operate and easy to change. For more information on Kiva Systems and its solutions, please visit www.kivasystems.com.