From 100% manual to 80% robotized

E-fulfilment center ShopWeDo will transform this year into one of the first fully automated e-commerce warehouses in Belgium.
To this end, they are partnering with the Dutch company Lalesse Logistic Solutions.
AutoStore, a compact robotic storage and order picking system, will ensure that 70% of orders are automated.

Since the onset of the corona pandemic, B2C e-commerce received a huge boost.
As a logistics partner of more than 150 online shops, ShopWeDo closed 2020 with an unprecedented 140% growth.
To continue to meet the demand of their partners, the company is therefore pulling the card of automation and robotization.
The headquarters in Mechelen-Zuid will undergo a thorough metamorphosis with the robotic storage and order picking system from Lalesse Logistics Solutions.
This – together with an automatic packing line from Savoye Supply Chain Solutions – is an investment of around two million euros, to increase capacity and efficiency.

To take the warehouse to the next level, ShopWeDo is implementing the innovative AutoStore system.
Met dit systeem – dat bestaat uit diverse robots op een aluminium grid – gebeurt de picking vrijwel automatisch.
De goederen worden orderpicking done by robots, which then take them to the workstation. The staff takes the needed goods and the robot returns them to the correct location. In addition, the AutoStore system is also self-learning.
Products that are ordered frequently are automatically given a prominent place.

For the realization of this robotization project, ShopWeDo is partnering with Dutch warehouse integrator Lalesse Logistic Solutions.
Christiaan Dorval, accountmanager bij Lalesse, onderschrijft het potentieel van het systeem voor ShopWeDo.

“A system like AutoStore creates a huge efficiency gain.
The available space is better utilized and the order picking process is faster and has a lower error rate.
In addition, the system offers the possibility to grow and is easy to expand.
It thus fits seamlessly with ShopWeDo’s ambitions.”

The purpose of this integration?

“Smart integrations allow us to meet the growing demand of our customers. They increase efficiency and reduce the risk of picking errors, resulting in cost savings.” Says CEO of ShopWeDo Kenny Van Paesschen.

Even more artificial intelligence

Earlier this year, the order pickers at ShopWeDo already received support from a Mobile Industrial Robot.
This robot transports orders fully automatically from point A to B in the warehouse.
A robot is also on the way for order packing: the Jivaro Print.
This automatic packaging machine from Savoye Supply Chain Solutions creates customized packages.
It reduces packaging material and increases capacity, speed and accuracy.
In addition, this new investment can also personalize shipping boxes during packing.
Important to note: ShopWeDo is not choosing automation to replace humans with robots.
It is, however, to scale up capacity and reduce employee workload during peak periods.