The new Truganina Customer Fulfilment Centre in Victoria, Australia, operated by Australian supermarket chain Coles, is leveraging state-of-the-art logistics technology. Spanning 87,000 square metres, the facility is equipped with artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and automation from Ocado, a logistics solutions provider, to optimise the online grocery shopping experience.
With over 700 robots operating in a centralised hub known as ‘The Hive’, customer orders are fulfilled speedily, with a typical order of 50 items picked, packed, and ready for delivery in just five minutes. These robots are guided by an AI-driven ‘air traffic control’ system that oversees their movements as they transport goods within 3D grids.
The new automated fulfilment centre can process over 10,000 customer orders per day, significantly improving product freshness, availability, and delivery flexibility, according to Coles. This includes items from an on-site bakery and fresh produce. Tim Steiner, CEO of Ocado Group, views this as a significant milestone, not only for Coles but for the Australian fulfilment sector: “This is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for grocery ecommerce, and Coles is already a market leader in the online channel.”