Package Handling
DCS’s design and engineering team has more than 40 years of experience creating unique parcel handling systems for diverse customer applications. With installations including semi-automated handling in small city distribution centers and fully automated, integrated hubs with advanced conveyor and sorter equipment, DCS routinely thinks outside the box.
E-Commerce and Multi-Channel Fulfillment
DCS designs and implements end-to-end warehouse automation solutions for e-commerce and multi-channel retailers that address numerous workflow challenges. This includes solutions for receiving, putaway, storage, replenishment, order fulfillment, picking, packing, sortation, and outbound shipping. Our custom integrated warehouse, distribution, and fulfillment systems draw from a deep pool of conventional, semi-automated, and automated material handling technologies.
Various Distribution Applications
Whether an operation is considering the construction of a new distribution or fulfillment center, or a retrofit or expansion of an existing facility, it’s important to create a solution that fits the overarching supply chain strategy. DCS has four decades of experience designing and integrating comprehensive, end-to-end material handling solutions that meet a multitude of operational goals. Whether conventional, semi-automated, or fully automated, DCS can help your organization implement a custom solution that meets its goals while maximizing return on investment (ROI).
Supply Chain Consulting
The DCS Supply Chain Consulting team offers a range of services to help your operations address the challenges it faces. Working in partnership with you, DCS consultants analyze your business data- existing workforce, workflow processes, inventory, order data, operations, and more- to determine a strategy that addresses your unique needs. Whether you need an operations assessment, process improvement recommendations, or distribution design services, DCS consultants will help guide you to the material handling system or operational solution that best meets your current and future needs, as well as your budget.
Customer Support
Keeping your warehouse operations and material handling systems running smoothly and at the peak of productivity are the goals of DCS’ Customer Service Team. By partnering with DCS, your warehouse automation solution is supported from commissioning to end of life. You’ll receive comprehensive in-house training of your personnel, including specialized training of your designated internal system expert. Plus, DCS offers a complete package of spare parts and expert system troubleshooting support from qualified engineers dedicated to your installation.
System Design & Integration
DCS offers a broad range of material handling equipment and automated system design, installation, and integration services for a multitude of projects. These include retrofits, expansions, upgrades, and more. While every project is unique, our system design and execution processes are the same, encompassing meticulous attention to detail, frequent communication, and a dedicated partnership with our clients.
About Us
Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) has 40 years of experience serving major clients in multiple industries by providing material handling, full-scale warehouse operations, and conveyor design solutions that are custom crafted for their needs. DCS does not sell ready-made conveyor systems but builds relationships that empower collaboration to craft custom warehouse designs together. DCS utilizes consulting, engineering design, project management, installation services, and client support to ensure our customers can keep their promises to deliver on time.
Projects
With more than 40 years of experience providing automated system design, installation, and integration services, DCS has created solutions for companies throughout the United States in a broad range of industries and markets. We’ve completed more than 1500 projects ranging from greenfield facilities with completely new systems to expansions and retrofits of existing operations.

COVID-19’s Significant Impact on Seasonal Peaks

As was widely reported in August, several retailers’ sales beat analysts’ quarterly forecasts, as American consumers – many of whose plans for dining out, travel, and entertainment were squelched by COVID – spent their paychecks and stimulus funds on online shopping sprees instead.

 

The biggest winners, according to Bloomberg, were the retailers who already had a robust e-commerce model in place, as consumers sheltered at home and traded in-store visits for home deliveries and curbside pick-ups to minimize their risk of contracting coronavirus. Also seeing big receipts were home improvement stores, as people spent more time at home, working or schooling remotely, and decided to improve their domiciles. Among the top performers were Amazon, Target, Walmart, Lowe’s and Home Depot, all of whom benefitted from the dramatic increase in online shopping.

 

The unanticipated uptick in spending led to a likewise unexpected peak at warehouses and distribution centers across the country. The expression Christmas in July quite literally took on new meaning for distribution managers, who typically use the summers to begin preparing for the upcoming peak capacities, order volumes and throughput associated with the end-of-year holidays.

 

Now that American consumers have proven their willingness to spend, many of those distribution professionals expect even greater holiday demands than ever before. That is, American shoppers will refuse to let the coronavirus be the Grinch that stole Christmas.

 

General merchandise and home improvement retailers aren’t the only ones whose fulfillment operations have been taxed by COVID-19. Sporting goods retailers have likewise felt the effects of customers seeking to spend more time in the great outdoors as another way to reduce their health risks, with fishing tackle, hunting gear, and outdoor equipment selling out. Office equipment sellers have reported shortages on desks and chairs, as families move the kids from the kitchen table to a designated in-home space for school and parents create home-based workspaces. With more people cooking at home, freezers and refrigerators have been difficult to come by.

 

One potential impact of this early debut of peak is that shoppers may not be able to find the items they wish to purchase as holiday gifts. Particularly if they wait to do their shopping on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or during Cyber Week. Further, those who prefer to shop last-minute – as in a week to a few days before Christmas – may not receive the items on time or when they expect as facilities struggle to keep up with the avalanche of orders.

 

Additionally, free one- or two-day shipping may go completely by the wayside for some items and some shoppers, as distribution centers strategically route items based on proximity to the shipping destination. And, the three biggest parcel delivery carriers – FedEx, UPS and USPS – have all announced the addition of surcharges to their pricing during the peak holiday season, some starting as early as October. The trio notes that they too have been impacted by the surge in residential deliveries and are expecting even higher holiday demand than ever before. Finally, post-holiday returns will be correspondingly larger as well.

 

So how can retailers mitigate these challenges? The traditional methods to handle the increased order volumes and reverse logistics associated with peak seasons have been labor-based (such as hiring temporary workers or adding a second or third shift). But attracting and retaining warehouse workers was already a challenge for operations pre-pandemic. In a year where social distancing and staffing reductions (either voluntary or involuntary) have become the norm, those approaches simply won’t work.

 

In my next post, I’ll share a few recommended strategies retail distribution centers can deploy to help address the upcoming peak holiday season during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meanwhile, want to learn more about how DCS can help your traditional retail or e-commerce order fulfillment operation? Connect with us.

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Author

Satyen Pathak, Account Executive, satyen@designedconveyor.com

As an SME in material handling, Satyen has an extensive background in creating solutions for the retail/e-comm, Parcel, Post, and baggage handling market verticals. He has worn several hats including Product Management, Applications Engineer, Technical support and most recently as an Account Executive with DCS. Satyen has conducted numerous educational speaking engagements and has sat on committees for MHI providing directional insight for the industry.