E.Leclerc Seclin: Revolutionising Drive-through Grocery with Robotics
Transforming the customer experience with the Next Generation Skypod® system
Automation Built for the Complexity of Grocery
Deliver the best customer experience with industry-leading speed and flexibility
Trusted by more than 50 leading brands, including:
Razer-thin Margins. SKU Variability. Perishables Considerations.
No industry feels consumer pressure like grocery. Today’s shoppers expect total flexibility across in-store, curbside, and same-day delivery with no trade-offs. Amazon set the bar, and now speed and convenience are simply the baseline.
Many grocers are responding with more labor, but adding manual processes to an already strained operation doesn’t solve the problem. It amplifies it. To stay competitive, advanced automation needs to be at the core of fulfillment operations. Grocers need scalable systems that cut costs, manage complexity, and deliver at the pace modern consumers demand.
Why Traditional Automation Struggles in Grocery
Traditional automation works best when operations are predictable with low handling constraints. The grocery industry is the opposite:
+ One network must serve stores, curbside pickup, and home delivery simultaneously
+ Temperature zones split operations into ambient, chilled, and frozen workflows
+ Each picking and full-case picking must coexist in the same facility
+ Fresh and perishable goods introduce time-sensitive handling
To solve for these challenges, Exotec designs and delivers flexible and reliable automation solutions designed for the unique needs of store replenishment and e-commerce fulfillment.
Meet the Exotec Warehouse
Two fundamentally different ways to shop requires two fundamentally different fulfillment strategies. At Exotec, we’ve designed distinct, solutions for both grocery full-case and e-commerce fulfillment to give warehouses the flexibility necessary to deliver excellent results for their customers.
Configured For Full-Case Fulfillment
Configured for E-Commerce Fulfillment
Control Temperature Precisely
Accommodate various products with temperature-controlled storage. Our precise controls allow you to maintain temperatures as low as 0°C (32°F) without wasting space with oversized freezers.
Accommodate various products with temperature-controlled storage. Our precise controls allow you to maintain temperatures as low as 0°C (32°F) without wasting space with oversized freezers.
Combine Manual Picking with Warehouse Robotics
Use your resources efficiently. After compiling orders by collecting products from your warehouse or other areas outside the Skypod system, they can deposit them in bins, which the Skypod system will process and complete later.
Use your resources efficiently. After compiling orders by collecting products from your warehouse or other areas outside the Skypod system, they can deposit them in bins, which the Skypod system will process and complete later.
Maximise Limited Space
Our systems are suitable for food warehouses of all sizes. Optimize your space with a compact solution that can be installed as close as possible to the stores. Get your food to customers, whatever the channel (store, drive, etc.).
No need for additional storage space for current orders. Keep your orders in the system until it’s time to ship them.
Our systems are suitable for food warehouses of all sizes. Optimize your space with a compact solution that can be installed as close as possible to the stores. Get your food to customers, whatever the channel (store, drive, etc.).
No need for additional storage space for current orders. Keep your orders in the system until it’s time to ship them.
Reduce Waste and Increase Profits
In the food industry, margins are slim. Make the most of them by increasing throughput and precision. Automated order picking reduces errors and saves you time.
In the food industry, margins are slim. Make the most of them by increasing throughput and precision. Automated order picking reduces errors and saves you time.
Grocery Case Studies
Carrefour Le Plessis-Pâté – automated cold and ambient storage for mass retail
Flexible Ambient Fresh Grocery Order Fulfillment
Carrefour Reims: 6 Weeks to Implement an Automated Warehouse Solution
Efficiently Navigate Growth Sales Peaks
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of warehouse automation for grocery providers?
In the grocery industry, the advantages of warehouse automation, especially through goods-to-person systems, play a crucial role in optimizing operational efficiency. Automation expedites the warehouse’s most repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, including order picking and packing, resulting in significant boosts in productivity and faster order fulfillment times. This heightened efficiency not only reduces the likelihood of human errors but also ensures greater order accuracy, a critical factor in the grocery sector. Furthermore, the integration of automation in grocery warehouses brings about substantial improvements in storage capacity. These automated systems are intricately designed to enhance space utilization, employing strategies such as maximizing vertical storage with tall racks and minimizing aisle space. Beyond space optimization, they enable advanced inventory management through real-time visibility, allowing precise tracking of the movement of grocery items within the facility. Ultimately, the integration of grocery warehouse automation enables adaptation to changing market demands, elevates customer satisfaction, and sustain competitiveness in the dynamic grocery landscape.
How effectively can the Skypod system scale within grocery warehouses?
The Skypod system prioritizes scalability to meet the demands of the fast-paced and constantly evolving grocery industry. Through a uniquely modular design, the system can be installed within months, not years, and expands seamlessly by separating throughput from storage. This innovative approach enables the expansion of storage capacity without the need to simultaneously increase throughput capabilities, resulting in a more cost-effective and customized approach to capital expenditure savings. The system’s adaptability is particularly advantageous for omnichannel grocery fulfillment. Whether integrating an e-commerce channel, implementing curbside pickup, or adjusting SKU structures, our system adeptly addresses current requirements and swiftly adapts as your business model evolves. Its seamless scalability is purpose-built to align precisely with the expanding needs of grocery warehouses.
How does the Skypod system increase efficiency for grocery warehouses?
The Skypod system elevates the efficiency of grocery warehouses by employing autonomous mobile robots that navigate seamlessly in three dimensions between storage racks and picking stations. This is achieved in temperatures as low as 0°C (32°F). Our innovative goods-to-person approach eliminates the need for bulky, static machinery or inefficient digging to retrieve goods, streamlining the storage and retrieval process. The result is a substantial improvement in operational efficiency, with the system capable of reducing order processing time by up to 5X compared to manual methods.
How does Exotec improve order fulfillment accuracy?
The precision of the Skypod system is rooted in our intelligent goods-to-person approach, employing autonomous mobile robots to seamlessly transport goods between storage racks and picking stations. To augment order accuracy, our system features intuitive operator tools like pick-to-light and put-to-light systems. Additionally, our capacity to integrate advanced machinery, encompassing case weight and dimension scanners along with automated labelers, plays a crucial role in delivering comprehensive grocery fulfillment solutions. This not only ensures order accuracy but also significantly contributes to enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering loyalty.
What customer support does Exotec provide for its grocery customers?
As grocery fulfillment solution providers, we take pride in our commitment to being reliable partners and delivering unwavering customer support. Our dedicated teams ensure comprehensive maintenance, regular software updates, and operational guidance. The contractual guarantee of our system’s performance for 10 years is maintained through robust and modular system designs, routine maintenance, and continuous 24/7/365 monitoring from our global control centers. Exotec’s established track record as a trusted partner is highlighted in our Partners You Can Trust article, underscoring our steadfast commitment to reliability.
How does Exotec set itself apart from other grocery fulfillment providers regarding technology and innovation?
Exotec stands as a pioneer in technological innovation, specifically tailoring 70% of our innovations on software enhancements to meet the dynamic demands of the grocery industry. Boasting over 100 international patents and a considerable investment in research and development, we are committed to continuous improvement with input from our grocery clients.
We are proud to have been recognized for our dedication to technological advancements by being included on esteemed lists such as the CNBC Disruptor 50 for both 2022 and 2023.
Let’s Transform Your Warehouse
Contact one of our team members to learn how our elegant robotics solutions maximise efficiency and provide the scalability needed in the grocery industry.