News

Grocer preps pilot for robotic e-commerce fulfillment

November 5, 2018

Albertsons, one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S., is partnering with Takeoff Technologies to test an AI-based microfulfillment technology that will help drive new efficiencies in the chain's growing online shopping business.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons will test Takeoff's "hyper-local" fulfillment technology at an existing store, a company spokeswoman told Mobile Payments Today in a phone interview. Customers will order groceries through the existing Albertsons interface and have the order processed through the automated Takeoff system, which uses a series of totes and conveyors to move the items to a store employee, who then prepares the groceries for the customer, she said.

Takeoff uses robotics to help fulfill customer orders and works with automated warehouse technology from a company called Knapp. Earlier this month, Takeoff announced the nation's first robotic grocery fulfillment operation at 14 Sedano's Supermarket locations in Miami. That company is one of the largest Hispanic grocery chains in the U.S.

Albertsons offers customers a variety of ways to order groceries online, including mobile phones, computers and other devices. The company's e-commerce business is up 113 percent above a year ago, according to the spokeswoman, who added the technology being used with Takeoff can drive efficiencies at more than 10 times the rate of existing methods.