Jan. 16, 2023

There are more than three robots for every one worker at the new Sioux Falls Amazon fulfillment center — but the goal is to even that out sooner rather than later.

That will take more hiring for the new 3 million-square-foot location in northwest Sioux Falls, which has about 300 people but needs more like 1,500 to fully ramp up operations.

“All positions are open, including anything from packing a box to fixing a robot,” general manager Tim Choate said.

The five-story building held a ribbon-cutting Sunday.

The layout includes a ground floor where merchandise comes in and heads out, a robotics mezzanine level and four floors of pod storage.

The upper floors are still being finished as the facility tries to hire. About 20 percent of the facility’s capacity is being stored there now, with plans to fill up.

“We call it full ship, where we’ll have the entire capacity of the building,” Choate said. “That’s looking toward mid-February, but the rest of the building will be open by Wednesday.”

While it opened in October with some robotics, more cutting-edge technology has been added in recent weeks.

“We are the top-of-the-line Amazon facility,” Choate said. “We have the best technology.”

“Mainly, they take product to the associate, so we’re saving associate labor to ensure they have a smooth workday.”

For instance, instead of an associate taking a product to a truck, the robot does it. Instead of an associate walking to find something, the robot brings the product to the associate.

The Sioux Falls facility is one of the first to have an ASO station, which is designed to bring work to associates faster.

A robotic arm called the Robin is one of the company’s most complex stationary robots. It grabs and rotates parcels to scan labels, then sorts the package via ZIP code onto a robotic carrier for processing. If Robin sees anything ripped or torn, or illegible addresses, it can transfer the package for employees to handle.

“We have all the robots in, so we have well over 1,000 robots in the facility ready to go,” Choate said.

Starting this week, one truck per day will go from the regional fulfillment center in northwest Sioux Falls to the delivery center in northeast Sioux Falls — the last stop before products are delivered to customers.

“When I first got here in September, not being able to get something within two days blew my mind,” Choate said.

Starting this week, “we can deliver select items same day to customers in Sioux Falls and South Dakota.”

In order for the facility to be fully operational, though, hiring needs to ramp up. Choate talks about his own career path, which brought him from entry-level positions into leadership in multiple states. Companywide, 60 percent of managers started as associates, he said.

“We have benefits from day one, so we have full health — dental, medical, child care — a plethora or benefits,” he said. “And I have the same benefits as any associate that comes in off the street.”

Many of the initial team members have relocated from out of state. A show of hands at the ribbon-cutting revealed the majority attending from Amazon had recently relocated to Sioux Falls.

“So far, we have managers from all across the country — from New York, California, Arizona, anywhere in between,” Choate said. “We are excited to be in Sioux Falls. Everyone really enjoys the amenities. It’s beautiful. A little bit of snow, but that’s OK … some of our folks from warmer climates have adapted very well, and everyone’s excited to get going.”

Meet the team guiding Sioux Falls’ new Amazon locations through Cyber Monday, beyond