Dental City has received the Best Use of Robotics award at the Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA in Miami. The award, presented during the IntralogisteX conference gala dinner, highlighted the company’s adoption of robotics to enhance warehouse operations in partnership with Locus Robotics.
The judges noted that Dental City’s use of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) had more than doubled fulfilment productivity while improving workforce safety and satisfaction.
“Robotics helped us grow smarter, faster, and more competitively – without growing our footprint,” said John Mathys, president of Dental City. “This award reflects our team’s vision and willingness to embrace new technology, as well as the strong partnership we’ve built with Locus Robotics.”
The shift began in 2024 as the distributor faced rising demand and labour shortages. Manual cart picking limited employees to 250–300 picks per day within its 40,000 sq. ft. facility, straining its promise of same-day shipping and two-day nationwide delivery. With Locus Robotics’ AMRs integrated into its Infios warehouse management system, productivity rose to 750–800 picks per day. The company also achieved same-day fulfilment on all orders placed by 4pm, maintained a two-day delivery guarantee nationwide, and recorded a return on investment in under 12 months.
“Dental City is a strong example of how companies are using robotics to transform operations,” said Rick Faulk, chief executive officer of Locus Robotics. “Their story shows how mid-sized distributors can achieve enterprise-level performance while supporting their employees. We are proud to partner with them on this achievement.”
The changes have also reduced physical strain, as staff no longer push heavy carts but instead work alongside collaborative robots. This has improved safety, lessened fatigue, and created opportunities for skills development.
The award underscores the role of robotics in modern supply chain operations and Dental City’s place among companies rethinking distribution practices.
