Disruption comes to the South Florida supermarket
Automation is the new black when it comes to speed and cost efficiency. Miami’s own Sedano’s grocery outlets, in partnership with Massachusetts-based Takeoff Technologies, is wearing this new style proudly as they deploy what is being called the world’s first “robotic grocery store.”
If successful, this new model will offer other retailers a brave new world of online growth at a fraction of the current cost of doing business. They will roll out the technology in 14 of Sedano’s 34 locations, and Takeoff plans to launch similar programs at five additional regional and national U.S. retail chains.
The process is fairly simple: customers order groceries from their phone or laptop, artificial intelligence-enabled robots at Takeoff’s automated fulfillment centers fetch the items, and Sedano’s staff helps sort and get them ready for in-store pickup or out the door for delivery. Takeoff’s system then automatically restocks inventory as needed, filters customer service requests, and provides reporting and analytics.
Cheaper, faster service
The grocery business can be cutthroat. Its low margins and high volume have companies always on the lookout for an edge. Robots bring a new opportunity to simplify processes and cut down on labor expenses. And the sector is growing, expected to reach $100 billion by 2022, with the overall warehouse robotics market expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8 percent between 2017 and 2022, putting it at $4.44 billion in value.
These automated shoppers can yank 60 items off the shelf in a manner of minutes; 900 per hour. By contrast, living, breathing shoppers can only grab 60 per hour. Every week, the system processes as many as 3,500 online orders per location, with promises of delivery within two hours. These numbers dwarf those seen by traditional stores that rely almost exclusively on manual processes.
Automation means fewer square feet
These automated micro-fulfillment centers offer efficient service and significant cost savings because, among other reasons, they don’t take up as much room. They each need only 8,000-10,000 square feet, sometimes installed in the grocery store itself, which greatly shortens the distance between supplier and retailer and saves a boatload of cash, since they don’t have to build a physically separate distribution center.
It also shortens the distance between warehouse and customer, with orders able to be picked up mere steps away from where they are stored and delivery options being that much faster.
More examples of grocery automation
While a pioneer in many respects, Sedano’s is not the only grocer to dip their toe in automation.
- Ahold Delhaize, the world’s eighth-largest grocery retailer, plans to speed up orders and trim delivery times with their own automated warehouses.
- Albertsons hopes to establish a more efficient way to put together bags for delivery using automated packing solutions.
- Walmart, the 900-pound gorilla in the room and the main competition for Amazon, will capture approximately 1.8 percent of U.S. consumer grocery spending this year (up from 0.8 last year) and is in the process of testing whether robots can give them an edge in fulfillment times.
- Ocado, a U.K. online supermarket management firm that plans to enter the U.S. market via Kroger. They plan to pack 65,000 orders per week and boast battery powered units with charging stations.
In its quest to solve the conundrum facing all modern supermarkets – offer a robust and changing selection of products at a reasonable cost and still bring in enough profit to pay the bills – South Florida’s own Sedano’s has embraced disruption and is charting an exciting course towards the future. The impact on CRE will be interesting, especially if automation moves grocers toward finding smaller spaces in strategic locations – not to mention the impact the technology will have on other retail businesses.Morris Southeast Group keeps abreast of innovation and trends in South Florida business and their potential impact on CRE, and we’d be happy to help you find your next investment opportunity. For a free consultation, call us at 954.474.1776. You can also reach Ken Morris directly at 954.240.4400 or via email at kenmorris@morrissegroup.com.
Tags: grocery automation, Massachusetts-based Takeoff Technologies, Miami Chain Leads, Robot Grocery Stores, South Florida supermarket
