DSV scales warehouse picking efficiency across multiple facilities using Locus Robotics AI-powered RaaS

DSV, a global 3PL operating across more than 80 countries with 1,600 offices and logistics centers, faced acute pressure managing peak-season order surges for a North American health and beauty retailer client. Warehouse operations came under strain during demand spikes. DSV needed a flexible solution that could adapt to seasonal demand.

DSV partnered with Locus Robotics, a Massachusetts-based warehouse robotics company, to deploy the LocusONE robots-as-a-service (RaaS) platform — an AI-driven autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solution designed for collaborative human-robot picking. The RaaS model allows robots to scale up or down with seasonal demand. The solution was integrated with DSV's existing warehouse management system (WMS), with the LocusONE robots navigating existing warehouse layouts and minimizing necessary infrastructure changes. Implementation began at a single health products fulfillment site, where both teams established IT readiness, standardized workflows, and trained operators before expanding. The RaaS architecture enabled rapid replication across additional facilities.

Following deployment across multiple warehouse sites, DSV experienced gains in fulfillment throughput and a significant reduction in picking durations. Labor was reallocated toward higher-priority warehouse functions, improving overall workforce utilization. Key operational outcomes include:

• Increased throughput across sites
• Reduced picking durations
• Rapid multi-site replication enabled by the RaaS deployment model
• Demand scaling — the RaaS model supports scaling the robot fleet up or down with seasonal demand
• Safety measures that prevent collisions between humans and robots, adjusted dynamically to client-specific aisle requirements

• RaaS suits peak-season automation: The RaaS model lets 3PLs scale robot fleets with demand cycles.
• IT readiness is key groundwork: Prioritizing IT infrastructure readiness alongside operator training laid the groundwork for the initial rollout.
• Change management is as important as technology: Operator training and workflow redesign around human-robot collaboration were essential to the deployment.
• Start with one site, then replicate: A single validated deployment creates a replicable template — standardizing what can be standardized while allowing site-specific customization.
• Minimal-disruption design: Robots that navigate existing layouts minimize infrastructure changes and disruption compared with traditional conveyor systems.