Fabric Opens Robotic-Powered Micro-Fulfillment Center in Dallas
April 26, 2022
Fabric, which operates an on-demand retail platform that enables brands to realize fast fulfillment, has announced launching its new Dallas micro-fulfillment center (MFC), expanding its North American network for on-demand retail. Through a network of MFCs, automated robotic fulfillment and inventory intelligence, Fabric said it allows retailers to scale their fulfillment capacity to provide on-demand deliveries.
The company said it expects to double its network of MFCs in the U.S., with a goal of covering delivery to nearly 90% of consumers across the country in two days or less. Dallas was strategically chosen based on customer needs, population evaluation and 10-year shift studies, as well as detailed demographic analyses, Fabric said.
“We’re in the middle of a historic shift in consumer expectations when it comes to fast and free shipping,” said Colin Coggins, chief commercial officer at Fabric. “By placing our MFCs in strategic locations such as Dallas, we can use our software-led robotics and AI technology stack to help retailers meet today’s expectations for super-fast delivery and provide a future-proof strategy to meet tomorrow’s expectations without increasing overhead.”
Fabric said a new survey found that while fast, free shipping is the top motivator for completing an online order, retailers face enormous challenges in meeting this customer expectation. Shipping prices have skyrocketed, and fast deliveries are logistically complicated to execute. Fulfillment operations need to be brought closer to where consumers live via an MFC network, in order to give retailers the ability to meet and exceed these consumer expectations, the company said.
The first retailer to launch in Fabric’s Dallas MFC is Chill Brands Group, a lifestyle brand that develops, produces and distributes hemp-derived CBD products as an alternative to recreational tobacco. All orders made via Chill’s website will be fulfilled within the Fabric MFC, the company said. It will then leverage geographical and logistical data to identify the needs and locations of Chill customers, providing for future integration into additional MFCs throughout the U.S.
“We’ve got big plans to expand our e-commerce abilities, and we’re looking for an ideal partner to help us ramp up capacity without a huge investment in real estate,” said Callum Sommerton, CEO for Chill Brands. “Fabric’s MFC is a perfect fit for us and allows us to continue to deliver an exceptional customer experience from click to delivery.”
More details on the Fabric MFC network is available at the company’s website.
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