The competitive standard for e-commerce logistics is shifting from storage space and delivery speed to the flexibility with which automated facilities are operated. This is because product sizes, weights, and order volumes vary by brand, making it difficult to respond to on-site changes relying solely on fixed automated equipment. Operational capabilities that analyze logistics data to adjust inventory locations, workflows, and equipment operation methods in real time are also becoming increasingly important. DoHands has unveiled the initial results of its automation center, which combines its proprietary system with 11 years of accumulated operational data.
Do Hands, the operator of the fulfillment service ‘Poomgo’, announced on the 8th that its automated center ‘XFC’, which opened last May, completed store entry within three months of opening and increased packaging productivity per person per hour by approximately 90% compared to manual work.
XFC, located in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, was constructed on a scale of 5,000 pyeong. It is characterized by combining Poomgo’s self-developed Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Warehouse Control System (WCS) with Operational Intelligence (OI) accumulated in the logistics field.
The center was designed to allow for the sequential and variable expansion of work areas and automation facilities based on workload and client requirements. As a first step, Poomgo prioritized the application of automation equipment to the packaging process, which typically involves a high proportion of human labor.
According to company figures, XFC achieved a 100% storage capacity just three months after opening. The maximum daily processing volume is approximately 20,000 items, of which 50% is handled by automated equipment. Currently, the center handles about 7,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs).
After introducing packaging automation, the lead time for processing a single order decreased by approximately 70% compared to manual work, and the time required for actual packing decreased by about 40%. Packaging productivity per person per hour increased by approximately 90%. DoHands explained that internal operational data also confirmed the effect of lower processing costs per order as shipping volume increases.
Pumgo achieved a 100% storage capacity within three months of opening the XFC and increased per-person productivity by approximately 90% through packaging automation
From a manual parallel structure to a humanoid robot PoC
Duhands cited operational intelligence applied alongside the equipment as the background for its automation achievements. Prior to the center’s operation, they analyzed the size, weight, and physical properties of products scheduled for incoming shipment to design the equipment layout and workflow, and defined potential issues for each process in advance.
Rather than introducing automated equipment first and then adapting operations, this approach designs necessary processes based on product and order data and deploys suitable equipment accordingly. Operational intelligence has been applied to overall center operations, including inventory location optimization, workflow design, and real-time response to cargo volume.
Based on accumulated operational data, Poomgo plans to readjust facility layouts and warehouse spaces to align with the cargo volume and product characteristics of each client. The goal is to gradually improve storage efficiency and facility utilization rates through this process.
XFC is also equipped with a structure that allows for the simultaneous operation of automated and manual processes. Depending on on-site conditions or product characteristics, tasks that are difficult to handle with automated equipment can be switched to manual work. Even if equipment malfunctions occur, operations can be performed concurrently to minimize gaps in logistics processing.
The fact that WMS and WCS were developed in-house is also utilized for on-site response. The explanation is that development and operations organizations can directly adjust system settings and workflows without waiting for modifications from external solution providers, thereby shortening response time in the event of an issue.
Dohands plans to utilize XFC as a logistics automation center and a physical AI demonstration space. The company determined that robotic technology capable of handling diverse tasks, alongside stationary equipment, is necessary to process products of varying sizes, shapes, and physical properties for each client. Currently, a proof of concept (PoC) is underway to deploy humanoid robots into actual logistics sites.
Poomgo supports receiving, storage, order processing, and delivery based on its proprietary fulfillment operation management system, ‘Poomgo Now’. Poomgo Now is a logistics automation solution that integrates a Warehouse Management System (WMS), Order Management System (OMS), and Management Management System (LMS). Do Hands operates 16 fulfillment centers in the Gyeonggi, Chungnam, and Jeju regions, specialized by product category and usage.
Park Chan-jae, CEO of Do Hands, stated, “XFC is significant in that it verified both operational efficiency and scale within just three months.” He added, “Over the past 11 years, Poomgo has accumulated operational intelligence before facilities, and XFC is the first instance where that operational intelligence has been realized in a physical space.” He further added, “We will continuously optimize facility configurations based on operational data to grow into a logistics partner that brands can trust in the era of agency commerce.”
