This technical and technological performance, achieved in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis, breaks the previous deployment record set at 12 weeks. Thanks to this extremely fast rollout, the grocery pickup service is now fully functional and equipped with a Skypod System that optimizes and accelerates order preparation.

In France, the health crisis encouraged to the growth of e-commerce and new purchasing habits such as grocery pickup. In order to meet these new consumer needs and optimize order processing, retailers are setting up micro-fulfillment logistics platforms directly in their outlets.

To set this new record, we equipped a food retailer with a high-performance order system that includes 26 robots, 8,000 bins and 16,000 slots. It was entirely designed to meet the client’s needs and level of activity. Indeed, the strength of our Skypod System lies in its extreme flexibility: in case of peak activity, robots and bins can be added to ensure all orders are handled and the inventory is stored. This set-up addresses the challenges of proximity and scalability inherent to food pickup services.
The deployment of the custom-built system started in February 2020 and mobilized Exotec’s various skills and expertise (engineers, maintenance technicians, project managers, electricians and fitters, etc.). In addition, as it took place during a period of health crisis, the installation operations were made more complex.