History

Founded in 2003, Kiva Systems is a different kind of material handling company and the leading solution for eCommerce fulfillment. Founder and CEO Mick Mountz experienced the challenges of existing material handling systems first-hand while working at online grocer, Webvan. The complexity of existing material handling equipment and processes and the resulting high cost of order fulfillment ultimately was the downfall of Webvan. Mick envisioned a better way to accomplish pick, pack and ship through a system that can deliver any item to any operator at any time.

To pursue this vision, Mick sought the help of two experts in the area of engineering and robotics, Professors Peter Wurman and Raffaello D'Andrea. Together they created Kiva Systems. Kiva applies the concepts of "distributed intelligence" to order fulfillment using unique material handling equipment and order fulfillment software.  The result is a complete goods-to-man warehouse automation system that doubles productivity while simultaneously improving speed, accuracy and flexibility.

The break through concept developed into a fully functioning solution in just 20 months.  Since then Kiva has evolved.  The robots are now a 3rd generation technology.  Work stations are configurable to support picking, replenishment, finishing, value-added services, quality control, and shipping.  While Kiva continues to make the software more powerful and to expand the functionality, the company is gaining accolades. In 2009, Kiva Systems was named the 6th fastest growing company in the US by Inc. 500, and a Gartner "Cool Vendor in Supply Chain Management."

Today, Kiva enables customers like The Gap, Staples, Saks 5th Avenue, Office Depot, Crate and Barrel, Gilt Groupe, Walgreens, and many others to fulfill millions of orders a year from DCs located across North America, the UK and Europe.