Exotec, a global a global warehouse robotics provider, is now equipping the Dhygietal logistics platform in La Veuve (Marne, France), belonging to the Hygie31 group, a major player in the healthcare sector. This modernization, designed to support the group’s development strategy, is based on Exotec’s Skypod® solution, making Hygie31 the first pharmaceutical company in France to integrate this advanced technology.
- 38 Skypod® robots
- 3 picking stations
- 31,000 bins stored up to 12 meters high
- 1,500 m² managed by Exotec
- A storage capacity increased fourfold
Innovation driving growth
Dhygietal, Hygie31’s e-commerce subsidiary dedicated to the cocooncenter.com and parapharmacielafayette.com websites, has enjoyed strong growth over the past 3 years (+60% in sales). To support this rapid development, the Hygie31 group decided to expand the Dhygietal logistics platform, an essential factor for its growth, by creating a 5,000 m² extension to the existing warehouse and deploying Exotec’s robotic solution. The Exotec installation covers 1,500 m² and comprises 38 Skypod® robots, moving autonomously in all directions and up to 11 meters high. The robots extract part numbers from the 31,000 bins, and transport them to one of the 3 picking stations, where the order is finalized.
With 1.4 million orders managed by 2023, the Group plans to increase productivity sixfold over the next 3 years, while tripling the number of product references from 23,000 to 70,000.
The Skypod system, a solution at the heart of Hygie31’s logistics strategy
The Exotec installation, which is deliberately oversized, enables Hygie31 to plan its logistics strategy for the long term, and in particular the implementation of its HygieStore supply tool.
This tool enables the e-commerce customers of cocooncenter.com and parapharmacielfayette.com, and the 930 pharmacies of Hygie31’s regional groups, to benefit from an extended range of 23,000 products, with delivery times of 24 to 48 hours. At the beginning of 2025, the tool will be deployed at Pharmacies Lafayette with the implementation of a specific service.
With a ramp-up planned between 2025 and 2027, Hygie31 plans to transform the Dhygietal warehouse, equipped by Exotec, into a distribution center for the parapharmacy section dedicated to the Pharmacie Lafayette brand.
“Thanks to this new logistics platform, the Hygie31 Group has acquired a modern tool, unique in the pharmacy market, to provide a real competitive advantage for its digital business, its local pharmacy groups and its Pharmacie Lafayette brand. From a social point of view, we are also preserving the working conditions of Dhygietal’s employees, as the robots will take over repetitive and arduous tasks, enabling them to concentrate on value-added tasks”, emphasizes Hervé Jouves, Chairman of Hygie31.
“We are proud to support Hygie31 in its growth, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of our Skypod® system in serving a demanding industry. This solution offers considerable gains in terms of storage, traceability and order preparation, meeting the high standards of the pharmaceutical sector” comments Thomas Genestar, Exotec’s General Manager for Western Europe.
About Hygie31
With combined sales of 3.3 billion euros and over 1,400 pharmacies represented in France and Spain, Hygie31 is a major player in the healthcare sector, with expertise in 4 major activities:
- Promotion of the 4 LafSanté Group banners: Pharmacie Lafayette (306 dispensaries), Parapharmacie Lafayette, Optique Lafayette (51 stores) and Médical Lafayette (44 stores).
- Support for regional traditional pharmacy groups: Pharmacorp (562 pharmacies), Pharmacyal (146 pharmacies in the Hauts-de-France region), Magdaléon (104 pharmacies in the Grand Est region) and Quartz (115 pharmacies).
- E-commerce with its subsidiaries dhygietal (cocooncenter.com and parapharmacielafayette.com) and Distrimed, one of France’s leading online distributors of medical devices to healthcare professionals.
- Development of the Ecoceutics network in Spain (135 pharmacies)
Hygie31’s mission is to make healthcare accessible to as many people as possible, and to consolidate the role of pharmacy as the leading healthcare provider in Europe. The strength and coherence of its networks, and its strong online presence, make it the benchmark player in pharmacy and well-being in France.
With the support of its financial shareholders Latour Capital and BPI France, Hygie31 aims to pursue external growth operations in France and abroad, in order to develop a truly European healthcare ecosystem.
Contacts presse
Hopscotch pour Exotec
Corentin Faniel – +33 1 41 34 22 86
Manon Cholat- Serpoud – +33 1 41 34 23 31
pr_exotec@hopscotch.fr