Improve Warehouse Productivity

Ocado helps you identify where automation can create the greatest operational value. Mobile Robot Solutions improve picking, pallet movement and guided manual work within existing environments. Storage and Retrieval Solutions add dense automated storage when the operation needs a larger increase in space and sustained throughput.

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Compare warehouse automation options

Porter AMR carrying boxes through a warehouse aisle

The warehouse challenge has changed

As order profiles change and volumes rise, more time can be lost to walking, searching, transporting goods and waiting between processes. Peak demand increases the pressure, while labour availability, forklift dependency and limited storage can restrain productivity and limit the operation’s ability to be agile and responsive. The right starting point depends on the work creating the constraint.

AMRs can provide a fast, flexible starting point within existing operations, reducing labour-intensive travel, easing bottlenecks and adding near-term capacity with minimal disruption. As requirements evolve, they can complement more sophisticated fixed automation, including Storage and Retrieval Solutions, as part of a longer-term roadmap. Whatever the mix, intelligent orchestration is essential to coordinate people, robots and systems, turning additional automation into productive capacity rather than congestion.

Apply automation where it creates the most value

Chuck AMR

Mission

Guided picking that reduces walking and supports multiple pick modes.

Powered by Ocado IQ, Chuck AMR coordinates with people, other robots and workflows in real time, helping associates pick more within their existing operation.

Best suited to

Sites that need more picking productivity fast, without new infrastructure or long shutdowns.

Proof

2 to 3 times picking productivity, with fast onboarding and flexible peak capacity.

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Porter AMR

Mission

Automated movement of pallets, cages and full cases.

Porter AMR reduces forklift dependency across cross docking, putaway, transfers, picking, returns and dispatch.

Best suited to

Sites where heavy, repetitive material movement is limiting flow between receiving, storage and dispatch.

Proof

Moves up to 1,500 kg or 3,300 lb per load.

Explore Porter AMR

Robotic picking arm operating alongside retrieval bots on an Ocado storage grid

Ocado Storage and Retrieval Solutions

Mission

High density automated storage and retrieval.

Ultra dense vertical storage and intelligent retrieval increase capacity and bring inventory to workstations at high throughput.

Best suited to

Operations that need a larger step change in storage density and sustained throughput than mobile robots alone can provide.

Proof

Totes stacked 21 levels high, up to 1,200 bin presentations per hour.

Explore Storage and Retrieval Solutions

Move beyond isolated automation

Connect automation around the flow of work

Coordinate routes and handovers so less time is lost to walking, waiting or moving empty equipment.

Keep priorities aligned

Use order grouping, routing, zoning and prioritisation to direct work around current demand.

Remove delays between processes

Automate repetitive movement and coordinate handovers between receiving, storage, picking and dispatch.

Add the capacity the operation needs

Add mobile robots for flexible workflow capacity or high density storage and retrieval where the business case supports a larger change.

Build the case around measurable operational value

Chuck AMR with empty picking shelves beside stacks of cardboard boxes

Chuck AMR productivity

2 to 3 times picking productivity, with integrated pick to light support for picking accuracy.

Porter AMR carrying a pallet of shrink-wrapped boxes through a warehouse

Porter AMR payload

Automated movement of loads up to 1,500 kg or 3,300 lb, reducing reliance on forklifts for routine transfers.

Warehouse worker picking items alongside a Chuck AMR

Fast deployment

Mobile robotic solutions can go live in weeks, train associates in under 15 minutes, and deliver return on investment in as little as 6 months.

Storage bins and retrieval equipment inside an automated storage system

Dense automated storage

Storage and Retrieval Solutions can stack totes 21 levels high and support up to 1,200 bin presentations per hour.

Close-up of an Ocado retrieval bot with antennas and a green status light

Systems integration

Connects with WMS, TMS, OMS, ERP and labour management environments, so automation works within the wider operation.

Robotic picking arms and retrieval bots operating on an Ocado storage grid

Proven in demanding warehouse operations

Ocado brings deep operational experience in complex fulfilment to the design, integration and ongoing optimisation of warehouse automation. Our mobile robotics technology is proven at more than 120 sites worldwide and has supported the picking of more than one billion units.

That experience helps us look beyond individual products to the flow of work across the operation. We assess where productivity is constrained, match the automation to the opportunity and design it around the systems and processes already in place. Customers can begin with a targeted improvement, demonstrate its value and extend automation as their requirements evolve.

Which type of warehouse automation is right for our operation? The right approach depends on what is limiting performance. Mobile robots can improve picking, material movement and manual workflows within an existing operation. Storage and Retrieval Solutions provide a larger increase in storage density, inventory access and sustained throughput. Ocado assesses the constraint, operating requirements and business case before recommending where to begin.

Do we need to redesign the whole warehouse? Not necessarily. Mobile robots are designed to work with existing infrastructure and standard Wi-Fi, making them a flexible starting point for selected workflows. Storage and retrieval automation requires more site and infrastructure planning, but can create a greater step change in capacity where space or throughput is constrained.

When should we consider mobile robotics? Mobile robotics may be the right choice when walking, cart handling, forklift journeys or manual task coordination are limiting productivity. Chuck, Porter and the Ocado IQ App can target these workflows while allowing the wider operation to continue using its existing infrastructure.

When should we consider storage and retrieval automation? Storage and Retrieval Solutions may be appropriate when the operation needs greater storage density, faster access to inventory or sustained throughput beyond what manual processes and mobile robots can provide. The site, inventory profile, required capacity and investment case shape the solution.

Can mobile robotics and storage and retrieval form part of the same automation strategy? Yes. The two approaches can address different constraints within the same operation or network. Mobile robots can provide flexible automation for selected workflows, while storage and retrieval can create dense, high throughput capacity where the business case supports it. The systems, interfaces and operating responsibilities are defined for each deployment.

What systems can the solutions integrate with? Ocado's ASRS and AMR solutions integrate with WMS, TMS, OMS and ERP systems. The integration design reflects the site's current workflows and technology.

Can we start with one area and expand later? Yes. Ocado can help identify the workflow or constraint with the strongest initial opportunity. Customers can begin with a targeted deployment, measure its operational value and extend automation as volumes, priorities and requirements evolve.

How does Ocado build the business case for automation? Ocado considers the complete operation, including order profiles, labour, travel, material movement, storage, system constraints and peak requirements. This helps determine which technology can create the greatest value and ensures the investment is based on operational outcomes rather than automation alone.

Turn warehouse constraints into productive capacity

The warehouse challenge has changed

Apply automation where it creates the most value

Chuck AMR

Porter AMR

Ocado Storage and Retrieval Solutions

Move beyond isolated automation

Connect automation around the flow of work

Keep priorities aligned

Remove delays between processes

Add the capacity the operation needs

Build the case around measurable operational value

Chuck AMR productivity

Porter AMR payload

Fast deployment

Dense automated storage

Systems integration

Proven in demanding warehouse operations

How much more could your warehouse achieve?

Ready to find the right automation for your operation?

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