DSV Boosts Warehouse Efficiency with Locus Robotics Smart Automation

Post by : Meena Rani

A leading health and cosmetic retailer faced a surge in online orders during peak seasons, putting enormous strain on its warehouse operations. The retailer turned to DSV, an international logistics provider, for a solution. Operating in more than 80 countries with 1,600 offices and logistics facilities, DSV was well-positioned to bring global expertise to this North American challenge.

After analyzing the problem, DSV realized that an innovative, flexible solution was needed to efficiently manage warehouse workflows, reduce labor strain, and scale operations during peak periods.

Solution Selection: Partnering with Locus Robotics

DSV sought a technology that could:

• Scale efficiently during retail peaks

• Integrate seamlessly with existing workflows

• Maximize throughput in complex warehouse environments

Jennifer Chung, Director of Automation and Innovation for North America at DSV, emphasizes, “Delivering the right product at the right time amid the complexities of a 3PL environment was crucial for our selection.”

Following an extensive review, DSV selected Massachusetts-based Locus Robotics and its LocusONE platform, an AI-powered, robots-as-a-service (RaaS) solution designed to optimize fulfillment operations with intelligent adaptability.

Implementation Process: Seamless Integration

Given that DSV had no prior exposure to this robotic technology, the initial implementation focused on:

• Ensuring IT resources were in place

• Training warehouse operators to work effectively with robots

Chung explains, “We had to consider what DSV has versus what Locus has — the pros and cons — to make them work together seamlessly.”

The LocusONE platform integrated smoothly with DSV’s warehouse management system (WMS), requiring minimal infrastructure changes. This allowed robots to navigate existing warehouse layouts and dynamically optimize routes. Laura Adams, Director of Customer Lifecycle Marketing at Locus Robotics, adds, “The benefit of using the Locus solution over something like a conveyor is that there are not a ton of infrastructure changes required.”

The human expertise behind Locus Robotics also played a crucial role. “Our founders came from warehousing, so they understand the importance of getting product out the door on time,” notes Adams.

Change Management and Workforce Collaboration

The implementation wasn’t just about technology — it also involved change management. LocusONE optimizes workflows and coordinates multiple robots to work alongside human operators, allowing employees to be reassigned to higher-value tasks.

Adams highlights the scalability of the solution: “The ability to scale up and down fleets to accommodate peaks and valleys as volumes change throughout the year is critical, especially during holiday seasons.”

Results: Harmony Between Workers and Robots

Since deploying LocusONE, DSV has observed:

• Increased warehouse efficiency

• Optimized labor allocation

• Reduced picking times

• Improved throughput across multiple sites

Robots now serve as collaborative tools for warehouse pickers, enabling faster and more efficient operations. The scalable RaaS model allows DSV to replicate the implementation across facilities quickly while maintaining flexibility for client-specific configurations.

Chung notes, “Being able to replicate [Locus] has been much quicker. But there is still flexibility within Locus, so I have a great standard but can configure it as necessary for each client.”

Safety remains a key focus, with robots dynamically adjusting to avoid collisions and ensure safe human-robot interactions.

Ongoing Innovation

After three years of collaboration, DSV and Locus Robotics continue to explore new capabilities, including:

• Expanded picking functionalities

• Enhanced safety features for shared human-robot spaces

• Support for multi-level operations in diverse facilities

Adams points out ongoing advancements, such as material handling equipment detection and mezzanine optimization, which expand Locus’ applicability across different warehouse types.

As technology evolves, Locus Robotics aims to stay at the forefront of warehouse automation, helping strategic partners like DSV optimize operations and meet the most complex logistics challenges globally.

Warehouse automation, Robotics-as-a-service, Locus Robotics, DSV logistics