Futureshirts goes software-first to scale fulfillment-without adding hardware
Founded in 1996 as a product development and tour support specialist for music clients, Futureshirts has grown into a full-service entertainment merchandising company. From Nashville, the team now supports retailers with product development, on-site support, e-commerce solutions, and fulfillment/logistics.
As order volumes climbed, back-end operations felt the strain. Leadership made a call: automate the warehouse, but do it with software, not extra machinery. The goal was end-to-end optimization-inventory control, faster order processing, and better labor management.
The partner and the platform
Futureshirts partnered with inVia Robotics to deploy an AI-powered automation platform with decision intelligence, dynamic scheduling, and data visualizations built in. The core system is the inVia Logic warehouse execution system (WES), supported by the Logic Replenishment module and the PickMate productivity tool.
How the WES runs the floor
The Logic WES makes 1M+ decisions per day to orchestrate people, inventory, and tasks. It directs what to do, when to do it, and where product should live, while continuously rebalancing picking, replenishment, and inventory work to keep flow steady.
With optimized workflows, Futureshirts reports a 500% increase in pick rates (per the case study). The system actively coordinates resources to reduce idle time and keep priority orders moving.
Replenishment that keeps pace with demand
inVia Logic Replenishment dynamically triggers restocks based on order volume and thresholds, so inventory is where it needs to be, when it's needed. Restocking cycles dropped from days to hours, and real-time sync between the e-commerce front end and warehouse inventory improved both speed and accuracy of order processing.
Guided picking that shrinks training time
On the floor, the inVia PickMate tool gives step-by-step guidance with an intuitive interface. New hires went from two weeks of training to about one hour, and mispicks fell sharply-bringing order accuracy to near 100%, according to inVia.
Visibility and slotting that compound gains
Advanced dashboards and reports provide real-time visibility into labor productivity, daily fulfillment progress, and inventory control. Leaders can spot bottlenecks early and adjust on the fly.
Using 3D modeling, Futureshirts improved inventory placement and pick zones. Shorter walks, easier access, smoother flow-small wins that add up across every shift.
What operations leaders can take from this
- Go software-first before adding hardware. A smart WES can unlock capacity by orchestrating labor, tasks, and inventory with precision.
- Let demand trigger replenishment. Dynamic thresholds keep fast movers available and curb emergency restocks.
- Use guided tools to reduce onboarding risk. Turning training from weeks to hours stabilizes throughput during hiring waves.
- Make visibility a habit. Real-time dashboards and practical slotting analytics prevent slowdowns and keep priorities clear.
- Track the right KPIs: pick rate, restock cycle time, training hours to proficiency, and order accuracy.
Next step
If rising volume is stretching your team, evaluate WES platforms that pair decision intelligence with dynamic scheduling and clear operator guidance. Start with a pilot focused on one KPI, prove the lift, then scale.
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