Co-founders, Talea Bader and Emily Townsend started Sydney’s first eCommerce co-working hub in 2018, WORKIT SPACES. They wanted to provide SME and large companies with everything they needed to scale up their business under one roof – from clean and functional offices to photography studios, storage spaces, and an operational warehouse with forklifts and loading docks.
The more research Talea and Emily did, the more they understood the needs of their customers. They discovered that logistics, affordable delivery, and scalable pick and pack operations were key to helping their customers grow a successful brand. Their customers were all searching for an end-to-end, technology-driven logistics partner to help them scale; a partner whose services were available to all eCommerce businesses, regardless of their offering or size.
In 2021 Talea and Emily launched SKUTOPIA, a revolutionary 3PL order fulfillment platform with a three vertical offering, enabling eCommerce businesses and marketplaces to scale their businesses seamlessly, while saving time and money on logistics. SKUTOPIA allows their customers to connect their sales channels, receive orders, store inventory, pick, pack, and book couriers, and deliver their products to their end consumers at a level of quality, speed and price they could never achieve by themselves.
The three verticals that form SKUTOPIA’s offer are:
1. A fully integrated and easy-to-use shipping platform that allows businesses to streamline operations with competitive courier rates, smart rules, pick lists and inventory management.
2. An Urban Robotics Micro Fulfillment Network for on-demand order fulfilment that can accommodate 10 to 20,000 orders per day.
3. A Premium same day (and next day) delivery service in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, that allows businesses to elevate their brand and reach more customers.
To achieve these, SKUTOPIA conducted research on automation and packaging machinery to enhance its operations. To determine the most suitable automation machinery for SKUTOPIA, the company assessed six key factors:
1. Efficiency: The machinery’s ability to increase productivity and streamline operations.
2. Cost: The cost of the machinery was carefully considered to ensure it aligned with the company’s budget.
3. Cost Savings: SKUTOPIA analysed potential cost savings that could be achieved through the implementation of automation machinery.
4. Ease of Operation: The ease of operating and integrating the machinery into existing processes was a crucial factor.
5. Support and Maintenance: The level of support and maintenance services available from the supplier was assessed, to ensure smooth operation and minimal downtime.
6. Sustainability: The sustainability aspects of the machinery to align with its environmental goals of being environmentally positive by 2024.
During this research they became familiar with the CMC Genesys machine and identified it as the leading automation solution, ticking all the boxes they were looking for in their ideal solution. As the exclusive authorised distributor of CMC machines in Australia, they contacted Abbe for further information.
“The CMC Genesys caught our attention because of its seamless integration to our AutoStore via the CMC Patented VaryTote® system. On top of this, its remarkable capability to craft custom-fit packaging for our merchant’s products has been a game-changer! Our commitment to helping our merchants enhance their sustainability goals using cut-to-fit packaging was a top priority. This innovation not only made shipping more cost-effective but also led to a 40% reduction in waste per order and eliminated the need for any void filler or extra strapping.”
Talea Bader – SKUTOPIA | Workit Spaces.
Although it is still too early to provide concrete results, SKUTOPIA is seeing several positive impacts for the business and its customers:
1. Reduced Cardboard Usage: The implementation of CMC Genesys’ cut-to-fit packaging has already, and is expected to further significantly reduce cardboard usage, lowering the company’s environmental footprint.
2. Cost Reduction: SKUTOPIA foresees a decrease in shipping and warehouse operation costs, including savings on staff expenses, inventory stock holdings and storage space, transport costs and positive environmental influences, using the revolutionary CMC Genesys packaging technology.
We also anticipate the adoption of CMC Genesys automation machinery will yield the following advantages for SKUTOPIA in the future:
1. Higher Throughput and Efficiency: CMC Genesys will enhance the productivity and efficiency of SKUTOPIA’s Micro-Fulfillment Centers, enabling faster order processing and improved customer satisfaction.
2. Environmental Impact: By achieving its environmentally positive targets, SKUTOPIA aligns with sustainability goals and enhances its brand reputation and those of its customers.
SKUTOPIA has ambitious plans for growth and intends to acquire ten additional CMC Genesys machines within the next 3 to 5 years. This expansion will further boost the company’s operational capabilities and increase its market reach.
By thoroughly assessing the factors mentioned above, SKUTOPIA made an informed decision to implement CMC Genesys automation machinery, anticipating various positive impacts on its business operations and environmental sustainability. As the company grows and moves forward, it aims to achieve higher efficiency, further reduced costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction for its customers and their customers.
