Swisslog Helps H-E-B Support E-grocery Growth, Solidify Leadership Position

H-E-B, a leading Texas-based retail chain, needed to evolve its fulfillment strategy to efficiently meet growing demand for curbside pick-up without negatively impacting in-store customer experience. It partnered with Swisslog to deploy micro-fulfillment centers that would enhance its industry leadership by streamlining online fulfillment and moving it closer to the customer.

Driving omni-channel growth, customer experience

H-E-B recognized that its current model of fulfilling online orders from store shelves was both inefficient and created aisle congestion that threatened the customer experience the company worked so hard to create.

The company understands that automation technology would be needed to achieve its desired efficiency and operational objectives.

Achieving more efficient, faster fulfillment

H-E-B knew it needed a partner that had proven e-grocery experience, as well as the automation solutions and expertise to enable them to effectively bring fulfillment closer to the customer.

Swisslog brought to the relationship deep experience with goods-to-person picking technologies, an innovative software platform proven in the food and beverage industry, and a willingness to work with H-E-B to develop solutions that would solidify their leadership position.

The initial deployment featured AutoStore goods-to-person technology managed by Swisslog’s SynQ software. SynQ integrates with H-E-B’s WMS and manages orders across the chilled and ambient AutoStore systems that comprise each deployment. It also provides real-time inventory management, including presentation of products to pickers based on “shelf life” and best-by dates.

Working closely with Swisslog data scientists gave us the confidence to move forward with our initial implementation. They were able to demonstrate, using our data, exactly how the system would perform under real-world conditions.

Kedar Patel, vice president of e-commerce, H-E-B

Expanding on the success

The initial deployment exceeded the company’s projections and H-E-B is now expanding its use of automation with Swisslog through additional deployments. The company recently opened its largest e-commerce fulfillment center in Katy, Texas, marking its seventh such facility featuring automation.

More efficient, faster fulfillment

The improved efficiency provided by the automation solution reduces cost-per-pick. The solution also improves order flexibility and enables faster fulfillment.
Positioned for continued growth

Swisslog and its automation technology are an integral part of H-E-B’s growth plan. Enables the company to deploy e-commerce fulfilment centers to meet consumer demand.
Increased retention

H-E-B’s e-commerce fulfillment centers and dark stores have the lowest turnover in the entire network, including retail stores, distribution centers and warehouses. H-E-B even highlights the technology in recruitment campaigns.
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Improved picking accuracy

The move to automation reduces the chances pickers select the wrong product, improving order accuracy.

For more information on Swisslog’s e-grocery expertise, visit our e-grocery resource page. You can also schedule a conversation with one of our e-grocery automation experts.