An army of 37 autonomous robots is being installed in the Auchan warehouse in Dudelange. Their mission? To prepare orders by climbing into racks up to 12 metres high to pick and deliver products autonomously.

“The solution implemented today uses state-of-the-art mechanisation and fits perfectly with our priorities: to improve our efficiency, to better serve our customers, while improving the working conditions of our employees,” commented Nicolas Gueuzurian, marketing and e-commerce director of Auchan Retail Luxembourg, in a press release.

The retailer points out in passing that the measure has no impact on its payroll, which currently stands at 1,200 employees. The amount of the investment was not disclosed.

Orders finalised by employees

Auchan Luxembourg joins Carrefour, Decathlon, Gap and Uniqlo on Exotec’s list of customers. Founded in 2015, Exotec has developed the Skypod order preparation system. Its advantage? Allowing companies to store more products in a smaller area as the robot can move up and down to load the goods. Once prepared, the order is taken to a preparation station where employees finalise the packages.

The retailer has three hypermarkets, four drive-throughs and 12 MyAuchan convenience stores in the grand duchy, and has acquired a system capable of operating 24/7. It stated: “These stations are an aid to the preparation of all orders intended for our customers, whether they are collected from any Auchan Drive collection point or delivered to the home.”

Read the original French version of this article on the site.