Ryder Opens Third Multiclient Omnichannel Distribution Center That Includes Picking Robots
April 25, 2022
Ryder System, which offers supply chain, transportation and fleet management solutions, has announced the opening of a third multiclient omnichannel distribution center in Columbus, Ohio. At nearly 440,000 square feet, the facility is the largest Ryder e-commerce distribution center in the Columbus area, and is the first to open under the company’s new supply chain offering: Ryder E-Commerce by Whiplash.
The facility features 42 cross-dock positions, 99 trailer spaces, and offers a full range of logistics and value-added services. Ryder said it also includes automation enhancements, such as robot-assisted order picking that lets warehouse workers focus on higher-productivity tasks; reduce overall labor costs; improve safety and retention; and enable seamless scaling with the same footprint.
“With the acquisition of Whiplash in January, we gained an enviable e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment solution with best-in-class technology and a proven operating platform, which will serve as the backbone of this new facility and the cornerstone of Ryder’s e-commerce fulfillment solution,” said Steve Sensing, president of global supply chain solutions at Ryder. “This latest expansion aligns with our broader strategy to get ever-closer to the end consumer to continually improve our customers’ speed-to-market, which is critical in today’s highly competitive environment.”
The new Columbus distribution center will provide access to more Americans within 500 miles than any other major inland or coastal port, said Ryder, and will serve nearly 50% of the U.S. population within a 10-hour truck drive.
“In the e-commerce race, the fastest and most agile win,” said Jeff Wolpov, senior vice president of Ryder E-Commerce by Whiplash. “This new facility is well positioned to address the growing need for e-commerce distribution from the Midwest region to U.S. retailers and consumers across the U.S. with fast, cost-effective fulfillment and ground services. With three multiclient warehouses now in the Columbus area, we’re ideally situated to serve established and emerging brands that need either centrally located inventory in a single location or multiple distribution points – all with room to scale.”
Ryder said it now operates 22 multiclient and dedicated e-commerce facilities across the U.S., with the ability to deliver to 100% of the population within two days, and 60% within one day. The company also recently announced an expansion of its warehousing network with a new high-tech 678,000-square-foot facility in the Atlanta area, which is scheduled for completion later this year.
