DSL logistics, one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing third-party logistics providers, has achieved a 30 per cent improvement in processing efficiency following the deployment of Infios’ AutoSort Mobile robotics at its Auckland distribution centre.
The successful implementation was completed in time for peak season and is expected to deliver a full return on investment within 4 years.
The automation initiative has strengthened DSL’s position as the country’s leading 3PL for apparel and footwear brands. DSL, which has doubled in size over the past five years, operates from six facilities in Auckland and serves a roster of clients including major fashion and sporting brands.
Faced with increasing labour shortages, wage pressures and surging eCommerce demand, DSL adopted Infios’ autonomous mobile robots to modernise its sortation process. The system utilises tabletop sortation robots that bring items to stationary staff at ergonomic sorting stations – eliminating time-consuming travel and streamlining throughput.
“Struggling with attendance, reliability and rising wage costs meant we needed to innovate beyond traditional manual processes,” says Aaron Hobbs, Operations Director at DSL. “The fact that we pulled the trigger 18 months ago has put us a couple of years ahead of the competition. We’ve built the confidence and integration, and now we’re ready to automate more.”
Implemented in August 2024, the project was fast-tracked to go live ahead of DSL’s busiest season. Its modular design has enabled the company to handle inventory for 40 different clients using one centralised solution, with items shuttled from five warehouse sites into the robotic sortation system.
The robots have also enhanced DSL’s flexibility in managing returns and producing custom ratio packs – pre-configured product sets designed to match retailer-specific size and style allocations. “The system is remarkably intuitive – we can train new staff in just five minutes, which proved invaluable during the seasonal ramp-up,” Hobbs added.
DSL Logistics integrated the Infios robotics solution with its proprietary warehouse management system, creating a seamless, highly accurate process that has maintained near-perfect order fulfilment rates.
“DSL exemplifies how the right automation technology can overcome operational constraints while enabling business growth,” says Andrew Leslie, Head of AMR APAC at Infios. “This implementation showcases the adaptability of our autonomous mobile robots for 3PLs supporting complex, multi-client environments.”
Following the success of the sortation rollout, DSL plans to expand its automation journey by piloting additional Infios innovations, including 3D sortation modules and Layer Picker technology to further boost performance in its eCommerce fulfilment operations.