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The Home Depot said it plans to strengthen its same-day and next-day fulfillment strategy through its acquisition of SIMPL Automation, a move aimed at improving distribution-center speed and efficiency.
In a press release dated Wednesday, April 15, The Home Depot said SIMPL uses advanced engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help distribution facilities operate faster and more efficiently.
The companies previously ran a pilot at one of The Home Depot’s distribution centers. The retailer said the pilot showed SIMPL’s systems accelerated pick speed and cycle times.
The release also highlighted SIMPL’s patented storage and retrieval solution, designed to maximize storage density. The company said the solution is intended to allow The Home Depot to house a broader assortment of products closer to customers, supporting greater product availability and faster delivery.
Amit Kalra, senior vice president of supply chain at The Home Depot, said in the release: “We’re focused on providing the best interconnected experience in home improvement by having products in stock and ready to deliver to our customers whether it’s to the home or jobsite. By bringing SIMPL’s industry-leading automation into our operations, we’re accelerating the flow of products through our distribution network to deliver with unprecedented speed and precision.”
SIMPL Automation shared The Home Depot’s announcement in a LinkedIn post on Friday, April 17, saying it is joining the retailer. SIMPL said the two companies will focus on optimizing fulfillment speed, warehouse space utilization and the associate experience.
In the post, SIMPL added: “The Home Depot’s commitment to advancing next-generation supply chain technologies creates an incredible opportunity for SIMPL to continue our mission: building solutions that seamlessly integrate into existing operations while delivering scalable, real-world performance.”
PYMNTS reported in February that The Home Depot has been growing its B2B business and, as part of that effort, has spent several years assembling a wholesale-style ecosystem designed for complex professional customers.
The retailer’s 2024 integration of SRS Distribution gave it a foothold in roofing, landscaping and specialty building products. In 2025, The Home Depot’s acquisition of GMS expanded capabilities in drywall, ceilings and steel framing.
In March, The Home Depot’s SRS Distribution subsidiary entered into an agreement to acquire Mingledorff’s, a HVAC wholesale distributor, with the expectation that the deal would close in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.
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