The History of Microfulfillment: From Traditional Warehouses to the Heart of the City

Tuesday, November 4

For decades, the logistics chain was built on a clear principle: operate far from the city, in large distribution centers on the outskirts. Abundant space, lower costs, and wide roads made sense for a model designed to move goods to physical stores.

But the world changed.

From “just-in-case” to urban “just-in-time”

With the rise of e-commerce, and later, the acceleration brought by the pandemic, the rules were rewritten. It was no longer just about delivering fast… it was about delivering almost in real time.

Consumers began to expect:

• purchases in minutes,
• immediate availability,
• easy returns,
• sustainable deliveries.

This triggered the need to keep inventory much closer to the customer, not kilometers away.

And with that, one key word emerged: proximity.

The birth of microfulfillment

Starting in 2016–2017, leading startups and global retailers began experimenting with an innovative concept: small fulfillment centers inside or near cities, highly automated, combining efficiency with speed and strategic locations.

The trend exploded when:

• Amazon launched its first advanced urban centers,
• dark stores and last-mile hubs became part of the urban landscape.

The logic was simple:
“If the customer is in the city, the operation should be too.”

The MFC model today

Microfulfillment centers became critical infrastructure for:

• e-commerce,
• quick commerce,
• grocery,
• 3PLs,
• healthcare and pharmacy,
• direct-to-consumer brands.

A typical MFC offers:

• compact automation (shuttles, miniloads, AMRs, sorters),
• predictive software,
• hybrid picking (human + robot),
• integration with last-mile delivery.

Above all: speed + efficiency in premium urban locations.

Why Mexico’s moment is now

Nearshoring added a new layer.

Today Mexico is not only a global manufacturing platform — it is also:

• a regional logistics center,
• an e-commerce operations base for LatAm,
• a massive urban market.

Mexico City, with more than 22 million people in its metro area, is the perfect laboratory: strong demand, rising delivery expectations, and the need for modern infrastructure inside the city.

Microfulfillment in Mexico City: strategic

Major players already understand: urban logistics is a competitive advantage.

Parks such as:

• OD 888 — northern logistics hub, industry, connectivity, and urban revitalization.
• OD Tlalpan — southern hub, metro access, retail, flexible space for technology and urban operations.
• OD Vallejo — in-city logistics hub with modern infrastructure, workforce proximity, and access to key industrial corridors.

represent the natural evolution of the market: facilities designed for efficient, secure, and modern operations in central urban zones.

Not every building can support microfulfillment. It requires:

• robust infrastructure,
• access and circulation,
• services,
• security,
• clear and professional operations,
• institutional vision.

That’s why leading brands seek spaces prepared for logistics innovation.

The future of fulfillment is here, built on three pillars:

• Proximity to the customer
• Integrated technology
• Smart and institutional urban spaces

What’s next

Microfulfillment isn’t a trend —
it’s the new infrastructure of modern cities.

And we are only getting started.

In the city, every minute counts.
The logistics of the future begins where the customer lives.