Locus Robotics Partnership Advances Apprenticeship While Increasing Daily Fulfillment Capacity at Opportunities, Inc.
Fort Atkinson nonprofit has processed nearly 9.7 million items while giving people with disabilities hands-on experience with warehouse automation.
FORT ATKINSON, Wis. — From the assembly line to autonomous robotics, innovation has continually reshaped the way people train and work. At Opportunities, Inc., that innovation is improving warehouse efficiency while creating more inclusive pathways for adults with disabilities and providing local school students apprenticeship opportunities.
As Opportunities, Inc. marks 60 years of service, the organization continues adopting technology that gives people with disabilities training and employment experiences with tools increasingly used in modern fulfillment. In late 2023, it started partnering with Locus Robotics, the leader in Flexibility-First warehouse automation, to modernize its Fort Atkinson operation.
“Initially, 200 orders was our maximum per day,” said Mary Jo Mattke, Director of Customer Relations at Opportunities, Inc. “Now, we can process over 800 orders a day easily.”
The increased capacity reflects the implementation of Locus Robotics alongside broader improvements to Opportunities, Inc.’s fulfillment systems and processes. Locus Robotics mapped the facility and designed efficient routes that allow its autonomous robots to travel directly to employees as orders are picked. Rather than requiring employees to walk throughout the warehouse to locate each item, Locus robots bring orders to designated picking areas. Together, these improvements have reduced the time required to process an order from as much as 15 minutes to about two minutes.
“Our partnership with Opportunities Inc. demonstrates what’s possible when intuitive robotics and thoughtful training come together to create meaningful opportunities for people of all abilities to succeed in the warehouse,” said Tracy Simek, Chief People Officer at Locus Robotics. “We are proud to work alongside a mission-driven organization that is building a more inclusive workforce and showing that human potential and operational efficiency can advance together.”
The technology has also reduced the amount of walking and repetitive material-handling required while increasing the organization’s fulfillment capacity. Locus Robotics tracks the number of orders and individual items picked, monitors fulfillment speed, and identifies potential bottlenecks in real time. Performance information is displayed on the warehouse floor, allowing the team to evaluate productivity and respond quickly when delays occur. Since implementing Locus Robotics in late 2023, the organization has picked nearly 9.7 million individual items across more than 1.7 million order lines. While Locus Robotics initially projected a rate of 80 lines per hour, Opportunities, Inc. set a more ambitious goal of 100 lines per hour and has consistently achieved greater efficiencies than initially anticipated.
“It’s just been an absolute win,” said Peggy Foth, Vice President of Operations at Opportunities, Inc. “They came in, scoped out what we needed and completely designed this for us.”
Opportunities, Inc. selected Locus Robotics after seeing the system operate at a parts-distribution facility. Foth also credited Locus Robotics for its support throughout implementation, including regular onboarding meetings during the system’s first several weeks of operation.
While the operational improvements have been significant, the greatest impact may be on the individuals Opportunities, Inc. serves. “It lets them try something they never would have been exposed to,” Foth said. “Building up self-esteem and knowing that you can succeed is so important when you work with people with disabilities.”
Through Locus Robotics, individuals gain hands-on experience with technology commonly used throughout the fulfillment industry, helping them build confidence and develop transferable workplace skills. For Glinda, one of the individuals working alongside the robots, the technology has been accessible and easy to learn. Employees can scan a badge that displays the robot’s interface in their preferred language, helping reduce language barriers.
“I really like working with the robots,” Glinda said in Spanish. “The training didn’t take long, the technology is easy to use, and it helps us do our jobs more efficiently.”
Editor’s Note: Quotes from Glinda were translated from Spanish into English for clarity.
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