Russia’s largest food retailer, X5 Group, has launched a series of robotics projects to help make the distribution process more efficient.
In a statement, the firm which operates the Pyaterochka, Perekrestok and Chizhik retail chains, said it expects to start deploying robotics solutions to partially automate warehouse processes as early as September or October 2024.
The company has already opened a testing-ground laboratory at its Podolsk-based distribution centre (DC), which is currently testing two types of robots: autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and forklift mobile robots (FMRs). These move around without human supervision and can perform various tasks depending on their programming.
Such tasks include moving and placing goods in storage areas, replenishing pick modules, picking products for orders and moving them to dispatch areas.
The deployment of the solutions is expected to free up significant staff resources and enable headcount optimisation by an average of up to 20% at each DC, the firm said.
By combining the testing-ground laboratory’s capabilities and specialised software, X5 can simulate and analyse the full range of scenarios for how robots could interact with physical objects. The site environment covers the variety of goods in the warehouse, their dimensions, as well as storage and packing conditions. As well as this, X5 said it is preparing to launch a digital simulation centre of excellence for the company’s DCs.
Vladimir Salakhutdinov, Director of Strategy and Business Development at X5 Group, said: “The rising costs of line staff have prompted us to look differently at logistics robotics projects, which until recently did not seem like a good investment. Today, we see them as real opportunities to improve business efficiency, and we are shifting our priorities towards replacing both line and office jobs with modern technology solutions.”
He added: “Many projects in this area require a long-term strategic commitment, but we are confident that making investments today in robotic automation and artificial intelligence solutions is the key to unlocking long-term, sustained success in the future.”
