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Blog Post

Smart Automation for Aftermarket: Turning Complexity into Competitive Advantage

In the aftermarket sector, speed, precision, and flexibility decide who stays ahead. TGW Logistics combines decades of intralogistics expertise with intelligent automation to transform spare parts warehousing and distribution. From robotics to shuttle systems, we enable businesses to master complexity, boost efficiency, and secure a decisive competitive edge—today and for the future.

The aftermarket industry keeps the world running—ensuring that vehicles, machines, and industrial systems continue to perform long after they leave the production line. Yet behind every spare part lies a complex web of logistics. Managing this flow efficiently is no longer just an operational task; it’s a strategic differentiator.

Customer expectations are rising, delivery times are shrinking, and product portfolios are expanding. To stay competitive, companies in spare parts logistics need to transform their warehouses into intelligent, automated ecosystems.

That’s where TGW Logistics comes in.

The Aftermarket Challenge

The aftermarket sector faces unique pressures. Whether serving automotive, industrial, or aerospace applications, success depends on ensuring that the right component is available at the right time—with absolute precision.

Key challenges:

  • Complex Inventory Management: Spare parts can vary greatly in size, weight, and demand, making inventory management tricky. Traditional methods of manual picking and storage often lead to inefficiencies, stock discrepancies, and delays.
  • High Demand for Speed and Accuracy: Customers expect fast delivery of parts, often with same-day or next-day shipping. This demand for speed requires highly efficient and accurate fulfillment processes.
  • Increasing Product Variety: With the growing complexity of products across industries (automotive, land, water, air vehicles, and industrial equipment), spare parts inventories are becoming larger and more diverse.
  • Multichannel and B2B Requirements: The shift to multichannel retail and B2B models has created new requirements for flexibility in logistics operations, requiring systems that can handle online orders, wholesale, and retail delivery needs.
     

Traditional warehouse processes can no longer keep pace. What’s needed is a new level of warehouse automation that combines speed, scalability, and intelligence.

Tailored Warehouse Automation Solutions for Various Business Models

The aftermarket industry spans a broad spectrum, from pure online retailers to multichannel, B2B, and wholesale models. Our solutions are adaptable to all these different business models.
 

Pure Online Retailers

In this model, customer orders are typically smaller, with a focus on speed and accuracy. Automated picking and packing solutions, coupled with real-time inventory tracking, help online retailers fulfill orders quickly and correctly. TGW’s goods-to-person picking systems are perfect for such environments, reducing the time between order receipt and shipment.
 

Multichannel Retailers

For businesses operating in multiple channels, inventory flexibility is critical. Our solutions support this flexibility by enabling seamless integration across various sales channels, from e-commerce platforms to physical stores. Automated systems like pick robotics and mobile robots allow for easy synchronization between online and offline inventories, ensuring stock is accurately managed.
 

B2B and Wholesale

B2B orders often involve large volumes and complex order fulfillment processes. For these types of customers, we offer scalable solutions that accommodate bulk orders, such as shuttle systems and high-density storage. These systems ensure that large parts inventories are stored efficiently, and that fulfillment can be done accurately and in a timely manner.

Industry-Specific Applications

The diverse needs of various industries such as automotive, land, water, and air vehicles, and industrial equipment require tailored solutions. Each of these industries has unique inventory requirements:

Automotive Spare Parts: These include a vast range of components with varying sizes and demand cycles. Automated picking systems, combined with shuttle storage and robotics, provide optimal solutions for handling a variety of automotive parts.

Land, Water, and Air Vehicles: Spare parts for these vehicles may require specialized storage solutions due to size or fragility. Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and specialized packing systems can accommodate these needs.

Industrial Equipment: Spare parts for industrial machinery often require careful handling due to weight and complexity. TGW’s solutions, such as pick robotics and automated sorting systems, can handle heavy-duty items with precision.

Redefining Aftermarket Fulfillment

With more than 50 years of expertise in warehouse automation, TGW Logistics helps aftermarket leaders turn operational complexity into a competitive advantage. Combining proven engineering with robotics, AI, and digital intelligence, TGW systems make spare parts logistics faster, more efficient, and more resilient.

TGW's Quba mobile robots ensure seamless material flow and reduce manual effort, while our RovoFlex picking robot delivers precision, speed, and scalability in high-volume environments. Automated packing and sorting minimize errors and lower handling costs, and the Stingray shuttle system maximizes storage density and throughput.

The WERX warehouse management software connects all automated components into one intelligent ecosystem — enabling full visibility, real-time control, and data-driven decision-making across the entire operation.

The result: shorter lead times, higher throughput, and a future-ready supply chain that meets rising customer expectations with confidence and consistency.

Why TGW Logistics is the Ideal Partner for Aftermarket Logistics

TGW Logistics is uniquely positioned to help aftermarket companies overcome the challenges they face in warehousing and distribution. Our expertise in automation, advanced robotics, and tailored solutions allows businesses to optimize their supply chains and meet customer demands with greater efficiency.

Whether you're in the automotive, aerospace, or industrial sector, TGW Logistics offers flexible solutions that can scale with your business. By combining the latest in mobile robotics, automated storage, pick robotics, and sorting technologies, we ensure that spare parts can be delivered faster, more accurately, and with reduced operational costs.

In an increasingly competitive market where speed, accuracy, and flexibility are key to success, our solutions provide the cutting-edge technology and reliability necessary to support aftermarket companies in their pursuit of excellence.

Partner with TGW Logistics and let us set your system up for growth and efficiency.

Erich Schlenkrich is VP of Business Development for Industrial and Consumer Goods at TGW Logistics, with decades of global experience in automation and supply chain optimization. Interested in collaborating or learning more?

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Erich Schlenkrich, Vice President Business Development Industrial & Consumer Goods | TGW Logistics Erich Schlenkrich, Vice President Business Development Industrial & Consumer Goods | TGW Logistics