E.Leclerc Seclin: Revolutionising Drive-through Grocery with Robotics

With the installation of the very first Next Generation Skypod^® system, the E.Leclerc Seclin Drive-through grocery store has substantially optimised order preparation and storage to offer its customers a smoother, faster and more service-oriented Drive-through experience. This project marks a significant step forward in the growth of this company, but also in the history of Exotec^®.

Faced with rapid growth in its customer base, the E.Leclerc Seclin Drive-through grocery store was facing some major challenges:

• Long waiting times: Customers waited up to 15 minutes to pick up their orders, a time incompatible with current satisfaction standards.
• Insufficient capacity: Before automation, the site could only handle a maximum of 800 orders a day.
• A desire to improve working conditions: Employees were travelling between 15 and 20 km a day to collect and deliver orders, which was affecting their productivity and well-being.

At the outset of the project, E.Leclerc Seclin was looking for a logistics solution capable of meeting its various challenges. Maxence Maurice, director of E.Leclerc Seclin, had been closely following the robotic innovations proposed by Exotec, and the decision to opt for the Skypod system was a natural one. ‘I chose Exotec systems for their storage density and operational flexibility,’ he explains. Combining the company manager’s strategic vision with Exotec’s continuous innovation process, this collaboration provided an ideal testing ground, which ultimately gave rise to a whole new generation of Skypod products.

Stage 1: Manual picking and order preparation

The process begins with the manual collection of items by operators. Operators proceed in successive waves, collecting products in the same category for several customers at the same time, in order to optimise picking time.

Stage 2: Sorting items and associating them with a customer order

The collection bins are transported to sorting tables by Skypath^® conveyors, where they are sorted. The items are placed in customer bins, each corresponding to a customer order.

Stage 3: Storage in three temperature zones

Once the bins have been assembled, they are directed to three specific zones, determined by the storage temperature of the items they contain:

• Ambient products: Stored in the Skypod ‘pure buffer’ system – picking remaining manual here – with a capacity of 1,080 bins.
• Fresh products: Also handled by another Skypod buffering system, with a capacity of 600 bins.
• Frozen products: Kept in a dedicated area and integrated into the overall intralogistics flow thanks to the Skypath conveyor network.

Stage 4: Fast, synchronised delivery

As soon as customers arrive at the Drive-through pickup, they sign in via an external terminal, which simultaneously triggers the extraction of bins from the three storage areas (ambient, fresh and frozen). Synchronised conveyors group the bins in buffer loops located above the 12 automated delivery stations, specially designed for this project and featuring an innovative design.

When the customer pulls up to a station, the bins are automatically lowered in a continuous flow, ready to be stowed directly in the boot.

Enhanced customer and employee experience

As well as guaranteeing smooth, fast delivery with no unnecessary waiting, the automation of the Drive-through supermarket gives operators the opportunity to concentrate on customer reception and service. With a permanent presence in the Drive-through car park, operators can intervene if necessary, without being tied down by the constant flow of orders to customers.

‘Today, we’ve been able to expand our business, meet consumer demand and prepare more orders.’

The installation of the new generation Skypod system has enabled E.Leclerc Seclin to achieve impressive results:

• Increased number of orders: The Drive now handles up to 1,200 orders per day, a 50% increase on the previous average of 800 orders per day.
• Reduction in waiting times: The average waiting time for customers has fallen from 15 to just 5 minutes, a reduction of 73%.
• Increased customer satisfaction and loyalty: Shorter waiting times and greater system reliability have boosted customer loyalty.
• Improved working conditions: The physical workload of employees has been considerably reduced, allowing them to concentrate on customer care and service.
• Weekly customer growth: The number of new customers per week has risen from 5 to 30, a 6-fold increase.

Thanks to this collaboration between E.Leclerc Seclin and Exotec, Drive-through grocery is now positioned as a model of efficiency and innovation. This project proves that an advanced logistics system, such as the Next Generation Skypod system, can transform the customer experience while optimising operational performance and employee well-being.

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