H-E-B To Use Robots For Curbside Pick-Up And Delivery
By Ginny Reese
September 16, 2020
H-E-B in San Antonio has partnered with warehouse automation and software provider, Swisslog, to deploy micro-fulfillment centers to aid in fulfilling the grocery store chain's high demand of curbside orders, and to help its delivery service.
The micro-fulfillment centers for H-E-B will have 'Autostore empowered by Swisslog's SynQ software' and pick stations. According to a news release, the Autostore will help the chain to fulfill curbside pickup orders without having an impact on the customers' in-store experience.
The micro-fulfillment centers will use robots on tracks to gather the orders with cranes from above the shelves. Once the orders are collected, it will move them to an employee for processing. This streamlines the process, making it quicker, easier, and more efficient.
Vice president of e-commerce and retail for Swisslog Logistics Automation, Americas, Mitch Hayes, stated in the news release, "Swisslog is pleased H-E-B put their trust in us to automate and support their facilities with state-of-the-art automation and software. COVID-19 and anticipated behavioral changes have created increased urgency around the need for automation within many grocery operations."
Swisslog is the largest integrator of Autostore, boasting over 170 installations worldwide.
Photo Credit: Getty