At Ocado, Hundreds of Robots Are Replacing Humans 

An online grocery order goes through a complex process. At Ocado’s warehouse, the case is completely different with robotics somehow taking over shipping operations.  

At Ocado, hundreds of robots are replacing humans. These robots can collect and distribute products for online orders. They can swiftly move around the grid to grab the items, which mainly eliminates the need for human intervention. Once the gathering process is complete, the items are delivered by the robots to the staff so they can pack them. 

It is worth noting that this automated system has been a key aspect of Ocado’s operations, which enables the accurate and efficient fulfillment of orders. 

On the other hand, other companies, such as Walmart and Asda are also working on automating their operations. Asda, for example, uses Swisslog and AutoStore – Swisslog is a Swiss company that provides integrated automation solutions focused on logistics.  

While Walmart has integrated robotics from Symbotic, a US-based company specialized in warehouse automation, enhancing its efficiency and speed in handling products. 

Taking It to the Next Level 

For its part, Ocado has taken its automation process to the next level, with robots responsible for transporting items by using robotic arms. This step represents a major challenge when training robots to accurately grab, recognize, and move items, as it requires AI to interpret camera data and make decisions related to the way each item should be handled. 

Currently, the Luton warehouse is equipped with 44 robotic arms, which are capable of processing 15% of the products, and the remaining 85% are overseen by human workers. Also, the company is developing more attachments to these robotic arms, enabling them to handle more items and gradually increasing automation in their operations. 

Although being able to integrate automation into its operation, Ocado’s warehouse still has 1,400 employees. It also expects that robots will handle 70% of the products in the future. The company is planning to sell its automation technology to industries beyond groceries, including pharmaceuticals. 

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