CVS Pharmacy has implemented advanced supply chain automation at its Hainesport, New Jersey distribution center to enhance product movement for health, beauty, and personal care items. Hundreds of robots operate within an automated storage-and-retrieval system (AS/RS), retrieving totes from dense grid formations and delivering them to workstations for sorting and routing to specific stores. Automated systems handle labeling, stacking, palletizing by weight, wrapping, and staging, processing approximately 2 million items weekly.
This setup, supported by partners like AutoStore, Tompkins Robotics, and Bastian Solutions, improves accuracy, efficiency, ergonomics, and reliability while reducing repetitive manual tasks. About 150 colleagues work on-site, with plans for expansion, allowing staff to focus on higher-value activities. The facility supports stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, ensuring predictable deliveries and easy unpacking at retail locations.
This reflects broader industry trends toward hybrid human-robot operations for resilient logistics.