Customer Fulfilment Centres
Market-leading grocery warehouse automation
The most advanced grocery automation in the world
Our state-of-the-art technologies are battle-tested in live operational environments to unlock the greatest efficiencies for our partners.
At the heart of our automated CFCs lies the Grid, where fleets of bots enable 50-item orders to be processed in just 5 minutes. Robotic arms collaborate seamlessly with the bots to pick and pack customer orders with human precision and accuracy.
Once orders are ready for delivery, tote loading automation enables their fast and efficient distribution in van frames ready for dispatch.
Get to know the components that make up an Ocado CFC through this virtual tour.
On-Grid Robotic Pick
On Grid Robotic Pick is an automated picking solution available 24/7 to alleviate the effect of labour fluctuations and unlock significant cost savings. Robotic pick uses cutting edge computer vision sensing and machine learning to pick and pack products more efficiently than traditional methods by maintaining consistency, accuracy and availability.
Software
Our Warehouse Execution System (WES) software uses advanced
algorithms and live operational data to optimise tote storage and
retrieval while coordinating the efficient use of bots and pick
stations for the rapid picking of customer orders.
WES constantly monitors warehouse operational health and
seamlessly adapts to manage operational challenges.
Battery swap
Battery swap provides high capacity automated battery exchange and charging for maximum bot uptime. Bots run with more than 99% uptime during operating hours with sub one minute battery hot swaps typically occurring every two hours via robotic handling.
Retrieval bots
The OSP Bot is a high speed, high productivity worker that does the time-consuming job of fetching and dropping off totes with inventory, whether to human operated pick stations or our fully automated robotic pick arm. Our patented single grid cell footprint design allows bots to pass one another unobstructed, follow the most optimal routes and maintain industry leading availability.
Grid
The grid sits at the heart of the Ocado CFC. It’s a light, flexible, modular structure designed to secure and store inventory within densely stacked totes. Stackable up to 21 totes high (7.6 m) in a 10.5m warehouse, vertical space is maximised to efficiently store inventory within different temperature zones, and reduces (or better leverages) both the footprint and fixed costs.
Find Out MoreTotes
Totes are designed to store a wide range of SKUs efficiently and carefully, and are then used to buffer and deliver picked orders. A mix of plastic and metal totes can be deployed within the grid to achieve the appropriate level of protection and safety. Up to 21 tote stack height for unparalleled cubic storage density.
Find Out MoreDecant
Decant stations help operators perform the critical task of
transitioning products from inbound pallets into the grid,
leveraging automation for high inventory processing efficiency,
security and traceability.
A modern user interface steps operators through the entire stock
induction process with imagery and clear instructions for the
detrash of each product. Decant stations can process over 1,000
units per hour.
Pick stations
Our high throughput, human operated pick stations are used for
applications where robotic picking isn’t suitable.
They provide an intuitive low-strain environment to help operators
cluster pick multiple concurrent outbound orders and achieve
exceptional productivity, consistently and with minimal training
time.
Combine + Separate Machine
The Combine + Separate Machine (CSM) replaces complex, costly and
risky integration of extra equipment and processes by automating
the insertion and removal of delivery totes into plastic and metal
storage totes for secure, traceable transport in the grid.
It optimises the flow of these containers to and from pick
stations and to outbound processes, reducing human
touch points.
Automated Frameload
Ocado’s automated frameload technology loads the heavy customer orders onto dispatch frames using robotic vision systems and machine learning. The automated frameload machines remove the need for warehouse operatives to perform a physically strenuous task, streamline van loading operations and reduce health and safety concerns.
Autobagging
Automating the insertion of plastic and paper bags into totes, this technology ensures consistently high throughput and reduces labour cost and dependency. In addition it minimises downstream issues caused by incorrectly placed bags. Wide bag openings maximise pick productivity.
Autofreezer
Extending the capabilities and benefits of Ocado’s grid and bots for frozen goods. Products are stored at -25°C in the setdown area and pulled to be decanted and picked at the appropriate time. Once full, dry ice is loaded into the tote lids and totes are then moved into the chill grid to be outloaded for frameload.
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