This month, French grocery retailer Intermarché is set to open a new automated grocery click&collect station using technology developed by Ouidrop. The new collection point will be located in the small town of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, close to the Spanish border, Linéaires reports.
Ouidrop specialises in converting decommissioned shipping containers into fully automated pick-up stations. With a footprint starting at 30 square metres, the solution can be installed adjacent to an existing store, on a parking lot, or even integrated indoors, offering a practical option for space-constrained environments.
Online grocery orders are prepared either instore or at a dedicated fulfilment centre before being stored in the automated unit. The system incorporates three temperature-controlled storage zones: frozen (-18°C), chilled (4°C) and ambient. Customers retrieve their orders by scanning a QR code, after which the robotic system assembles and hand-in the purchase within one minute.
Optimising the last mile
The solution can store around 150 orders and is able to retrieve two orders simultaneously. Ouidrop’s proprietary software platform enables automated order management and remote monitoring of the installation.
This self-contained solution is designed to address several operational challenges for grocery retailers. Firstly, it helps drive incremental sales by extending their catchment area and appealing to new customers thanks to the 24/7 availability. Secondly, the system aims to improve the profitability of online grocery operations by allowing staff to focus on order picking and preparation rather than customer handover.
Further expansion ahead
The company has already deployed the technology in more than a dozen locations across France, noticeably with grocery retailers including E.Leclerc and Coopérative U. Ouidrop also provides non-food package pick-up iterations, typically found in shopping malls. The business recently secured additional funding to support its expansion plans. It expects to gear up manufacturing capabilities with a production cruising speed of 20 units per month. This should eventually allow Ouidrop to expand beyond the French boarders in the near future.
