Conquering Peak Season: How Smart Shuttle Systems Deliver 900K Orders/Day

Client Introduction

Vipshop is China's leading online discount retailer, pioneering the flash sale model for branded goods. Serving over 100 million active shoppers, Vipshop delivers exceptional value through time-limited sales events. Its innovative approach has redefined discount retail in China while maintaining rigorous quality standards through official brand partnerships.

Success Story

As China's leading online discount retailer serving over 100 million customers, Vipshop faced mounting pressure to enhance operational efficiency—particularly during peak shopping seasons like Double 11. Traditional warehouse systems struggled with:

• Order surges causing delays and inaccuracies

• Labor-intensive processes limiting scalability

• Inflexible inventory management for fast-moving SKUs

Vipshop partnered with BlueSword to deploy a multi-level shuttle system tailored for high-density storage and lightning-fast order processing. The phased implementation included:

• 2015: Pilot of the C-SSI system proved successful, achieving 12,000 boxes/hour with just 8 picking staff during Double 11.

• 2017: Phase II at the South China Logistics Center optimized workflows, handling 150,000 items/day seamlessly.

• 2018: Phase III in Southwest expanded capacity to 8 million stored items and 900,000 daily processing capacity, supported by 410,000 totes.

• Vipshop East China Logistics Center: The flagship facility represents the most advanced automated logistics system, featuring 360 shuttle robots, 48 lifts, and AI-driven picking—boosting efficiency by 33% over previous systems.

Vipshop's success showcases how automation drives e-commerce growth. By implementing smart robotics and adaptive software, BlueSword helped them achieve faster deliveries, 30%+ efficiency gains, and seamless peak season performance - transforming logistics into a competitive advantage.