The Sustainabilist | E-COMMERCE
Bolt-on Store Automation uses compact,
emerging concept, it integrates the automation
stationary, with an automated storage and
robotic automation technologies to create
into the shopping environment, allowing
retrieval system delivering the products they
small fulfilment centres at the back of the store
shoppers to have the flexibility to place their
need to fulfil the next order as it is needed. Pick
that automate current manual processes for
orders in advance or while in the store, to pick
time is thus reduced significantly, and accuracy
non-perishable item picking while utilising
their own perishable items, or to have the store
is improved, while pickers experience less
store inventory to top off orders with perishable
complete their order for pickup or delivery.
fatigue.
from one location, reducing transportation time
E-Grocery Automation Technologies provide
Robotic-Assisted Picking is another approach,
and costs.
groceries with a range of automation solutions
in which a robot guides the picker through the
to choose from. The best solution will depend
store to optimise travel based on the location
Micro-fulfilment Centres create an
to a degree on the selected e-fulfilment strategy,
of the items to be picked and allowing multiple
opportunity to convert abandoned or
but as with e-commerce automation in general,
orders to be picked at the same time. The robot
underperforming retail outlets into micro-
grocers should seek out solutions that are
leads the shopper through the aisles in the most
fulfilment centres that serve the same area
flexible, data-driven, and robotic to ensure they
efficient manner and even guides the picker on
as a traditional grocery store with automated
won’t become obsolete as the market changes
how to package the order, determining which
fulfilment for curbside pickup or home
and can leverage new technologies as they
stock-keeping units (SKUs) should be put into
delivery. This strategy sacrifices in-store
emerge. There are multiple niche solutions
which grocery bag based on criteria, such as
shopping so it is particularly attractive to
being developed today to capitalise on the
the maximum weight for a bag, crushability
pure-play e-grocers but creates the opportunity
growth in e-grocery fulfilment, the primary
and whether items need to be segregated by
to optimise the environment by efficiently
automation solutions being used or considered
temperature.
integrating automated and manual picking.
are either robot-assisted picking or goods-to-
It allows grocers who don’t have an existing
person automation systems.
goods. This allows them to fill complete orders
brick-and-mortar footprint within a particular
Automation has proven to be a sustainable and future-focused solution and it is becoming
area to move fulfilment closer to customers,
Goods-to-person picking is a concept that
a competitive differentiator that can help
reduce transportation costs, and enable shorter
has been widely adopted in e-commerce and
companies uplift their operations without
delivery times.
multi-channel warehouses to enable higher
affecting business continuity while offering the
productivity and faster order fulfilment times.
smooth and organised experience for customers.
The Automated Grocery Store is a new type
Instead of pickers walking up and down
of grocery store that combines automated
warehouse aisles to pull orders, the goods-
e-fulfilment with traditional shopping. Still an
to-person system allows the picker to remain
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