![[Translate to UK:] Shuttle systems are a key technology component used within many material handling GTP systems to facilitate the process of bringing items to the picker.](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/c/csm_DIYhome_improvement_Blog_Header__9769adb897.png)
How Goods-to-Person and Case Handling Systems Are Revolutionising DIY and Home Improvement Logistics
The DIY and home improvement industries continue to enjoy the boom that began during the pandemic. With plenty of time while staying at home, many consumers took the opportunity to tackle long-neglected projects to enhance their living spaces, make them more comfortable, or convert them into home offices. And the growth continues. In 2025, Americans are expected to maintain their enthusiasm for this hobby, spending $537.2 billion in this sector. Meeting this demand will be challenging, which is where material handling solutions come into play.
With this increase in spending and consumers keen to receive their items promptly, there is mounting pressure on logistics networks to deliver products more quickly, more accurately, and at higher volumes. A top-of-the-range goods-to-person system is a vital solution for the intelligent storage of goods and for maximising efficiency in picking and fulfilment.
Upgrading your warehouse technology can help you meet your customers' needs more quickly and accurately, reduce costs, and create capacity for even more business.
The Rise of Automation in Consumer Goods Logistics
Today’s shoppers are used to minimal processing times, rapid delivery schedules, and narrow delivery windows. If they can’t find these with one retailer, they’ll simply go elsewhere. Meeting such expectations in the home improvement and DIY sector can be particularly demanding, which has led to a surge in investment in warehouse automation. Much like the home improvement industry, the global warehouse automation market is expanding rapidly. Experts forecast a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 16 per cent between 2024 and 2033.
TGW Logistics is leading the way in warehouse upgrades that will fundamentally transform how you operate and deliver products to your customers. Our scalable and intelligent automation solutions are tailored specifically for home improvement and DIY retailers, addressing the unique consumer goods logistics challenges your business faces every day.
The Role of Goods-to-Person in Optimising Warehouse Automation
Goods-to-person systems are warehouse automation solutions that accelerate order picking and maximise storage capacity. Shuttle systems are a key technological component used in many GTP setups to streamline the process of bringing items directly to the picker.
Goods are stored and retrieved by automated load carriers capable of moving between storage levels and re-racking when not positioned optimally. These systems form an integral part of a multi-layered warehouse solution, working in tandem with software and other material handling equipment to fulfil orders and manage inventory as efficiently as possible.
The automated picking enabled by goods-to-person systems ensures quicker throughput and reduces the need for manual intervention, allowing staff to focus on more value-added tasks. Their modular design also makes them highly scalable and adaptable to businesses of all sizes.
These systems have had a significant impact on the home improvement and DIY sector. Large retailers and e-commerce brands are under pressure to deliver products to customers at competitive speeds, and they depend on these automation solutions to boost efficiency and, ultimately, drive sales. Don’t get left behind while competitors embrace new technologies. Your customers will notice the difference.
![[Translate to UK:] Shuttle systems are a key component used in goods-to-person systems.](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/f/csm_DIYhome_improvement_Blog_Inner_1_f7a03fa1ea.png)
Key Advantages for the DIY and Home Improvement Sector
Home improvement and DIY products come in all shapes and sizes – from tiny screws to paint tins to pre-assembled furniture. Our goods-to-person systems can be tailored to easily accommodate a wide variety of items and load carriers, including cartons, totes, and trays, enabling faster case and split-case picking for both e-commerce fulfilment and store replenishment.
As part of goods-to-person (GTP) systems, shuttle systems are combined with other automated storage and retrieval technologies, such as miniloads, pallet shuttles, pallet cranes, and mobile robotics. TGW Logistics can manage virtually every SKU for a DIY retailer. Our team will work with you to identify the ideal combination of technologies to support your SKU range and maximise your return on investment.
In an omnichannel warehouse, smooth, rapid throughput and precise inventory management are crucial for keeping pace with demand across multiple sales channels. These innovations allow you to boost order fulfilment accuracy while significantly reducing time and manual labour. Staff turnover and injuries related to manual handling can lead to further disruptions and lost productivity.
TGW’s goods-to-person and case handling systems are designed to be order-profile agnostic, supporting seamless fulfilment across retail replenishment, wholesale, and e-commerce—all from a single setup.
With automation taking care of much of the “heavy lifting”, DIY retailers have seen improvements in both staff recruitment and retention. What’s more, your business can manage both store replenishment and e-commerce from one facility, offering the flexibility to process an order and dispatch it in as little as 10 minutes. Automation can also support same-day shipping for store replenishment, helping to ensure your shelves stay well stocked.
TGW Logistics’ Stingray shuttle system system leads the industry in speed, handling up to 1,500 load carriers per aisle while reducing manual intervention by 90 per cent. Its redundant design and ability to operate in extreme temperatures ensure your operations remain uninterrupted during critical periods. The performance delivered per cubic foot with our shuttle system is unmatched in the market, offering industry-leading throughput and storage density.
For added peace of mind, the system maintains itself. Continuous condition monitoring and predictive maintenance mean any technical or mechanical issues are detected and addressed early — often before they arise.
Another major advantage of the Stingray is its ability to handle multiple tote or carton sizes simultaneously. Consider our “3 Deep” shuttle, which can store three totes per side or two larger totes. This level of customisation supports a wider variety of SKUs, enabling flexible automation while maximising storage density.
And if your operation requires scalability from low to medium volumes, TGW also offers LivePick — a shuttle-free goods-to-person solution that uses mobile robotics and is purpose-built to grow with your business.
![[Translate to UK:] Automation can transform your business, removing all the potential obstacles to your processes and ultimately boosting your bottom line.](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/9/csm_DIYhome_improvementBlog_Inner__2_1de8edd0fd.png)
Real-World Results and Increased Customer Loyalty
Automation has the power to transform your business—eliminating bottlenecks, streamlining processes, and ultimately improving your bottom line. At TGW Logistics, we’ve witnessed first-hand the remarkable impact that the right warehouse automation solution can have.
Our clients who have invested in our systems have reported a 30 per cent increase in overall throughput and 40 per cent faster order processing. These are transformative results—and they are entirely achievable. Here’s how:
Faster order processing not only allows you to fulfil more orders each day, but it also leaves a lasting impression on your customers. Shorter wait times for deliveries enhance brand loyalty, and in today’s crowded market, exceptional customer service and lightning-fast delivery are key ways to differentiate your business from the competition.
The next time your customer needs to buy something for their next DIY or home improvement project, they’re far more likely to remember the positive experience and return to you. And, as DIY is a lifelong hobby—or even a profession—for many of your shoppers, you could be securing a customer for life.
A combination of receiving and picking technologies, along with automated palletising, can help DIY retailers replenish stores quickly and with precisely the right quantity of stock. This reduces the in-store labour required and improves cash flow by eliminating the need to hold excess inventory unnecessarily in back rooms.
A major challenge many DIY and home improvement retailers encounter is truckloads of unpalletised boxes arriving from overseas, which can take a considerable amount of precious time to unload. However, by implementing a receiving system such as Zero-Touch Receiving or One-Touch Receiving, TGW Logistics can reduce the average unloading time of a trailer from two days to just two hours, efficiently feeding the Stingray system with cases and split cases for faster fulfilment to stores.
The cost of transporting DIY goods can be extremely high, so shipment density is crucial. Automated palletising enables you to increase the density of mixed pallets, thereby significantly reducing shipping costs.
Partnering with TGW Logistics positions you for long-term success. With our cutting-edge products, state-of-the-art software, and ongoing support, achieving and exceeding your efficiency and cost-reduction goals is well within your grasp. We’re here to show you how. Let’s explore the possibilities when you’re ready to take the next step.
Looking Ahead – Market Trends Shaping the Future of Consumer Goods Logistics
A few new trends have recently emerged in the ever-evolving landscape of consumer goods logistics. Some brands are turning to micro-fulfilment centres near population hubs to store and dispatch their most popular products more swiftly. Businesses experiencing fluctuating demand are opting for flexible automation solutions that can expand or contract to meet their changing needs. Meanwhile, others have fully outsourced their warehousing and order fulfilment to third-party logistics providers, which can sometimes lead to compatibility challenges.
TGW Logistics offers increased speed and efficiency, customisation and flexibility, and seamless integration with your existing business model. Our warehouse automation solutions are designed to support home improvement and DIY retailers for the long term—growing with you and tackling new challenges as they arise. The Stingray shuttle system addresses immediate pain points in picking and fulfilment and forms the cornerstone of any scalable and flexible warehouse automation strategy.
To discover how the Stingray shuttle system and other goods-to-person solutions can enhance your operations, reduce costs, and help grow your business, contact our TGW Logistics experts today. We understand the ins and outs of the DIY and home improvement sectors and are here to help you prepare for the future.
TGW Logistics is a foundation-owned company headquartered in Austria and a global leader in warehouse automation and warehouse logistics. As a trusted systems integrator with more than 50 years of experience, we deliver end-to-end services: designing, implementing, and maintaining fulfilment centres powered by mechatronics, robotics, and advanced software solutions. With over 4,500 employees spanning Europe, Asia, and North America, we combine expertise, innovation, and a customer-centric dedication to help keep your business growing. With TGW Logistics, it's possible to transform your warehouse logistics into a competitive advantage.
