Online and brick-and-mortar retailer Auchan Retail has installed 37 Exotec Skypod system robots at its Luxembourg warehouse as it moves to further automate its order picking process.

And after a six week transition, Auchan is reporting a significant increase in the number of products it can carry because of the space-savings.

Auchan’s marketing director Nicolas Gueuzurian explains: “The newly installed Skypod system in Dudelange occupies only 749 sqm of floor space, whereas our previous system took up 2,200 sqm”.

“After a month and a half transition period, the number of products available … has increased by 17%, bringing the total to more than 13,000, while further improving the shopping experience for our customers.

“Thanks to this functional building block, we were able to open two new branches in September, thus serving the Luxembourg territory even better.”

French warehouse automation specialist Exotec says automated order picking systems increase the throughput of the warehouse to as many as 915 orders per hour. 

“Given the popularity of e-commerce, where consumers typically expect delivery within 24 hours, this is a major asset for Auchan Luxembourg,” Rémy Malchirand, EVP sales Western Europe with Exotec adds.

“In total, 160,000 orders are prepared annually from the Dudelange warehouse, which are delivered via distribution points throughout Luxembourg. Customers who live nearby can pick up the desired goods just ten minutes after their purchase.”