Exotec®, a leading global provider of warehouse robotics
Exotec®, a leading global provider of warehouse robotics, has officially launched the Next Generation of its revolutionary Skypod® system. This new iteration boasts enhanced performance, greater storage density, and sophisticated software features designed to transform warehouse operations. The upgraded Skypod system introduces a host of design innovations, including a more compact robot, a workstation optimized for robot-to-robot picking, a high-throughput Exchanger, and denser storage capabilities. Collectively, these advancements deliver a 50% increase in throughput at individual workstations and a 30% boost in storage density compared to its predecessor.
A standout feature of the Next Generation Skypod is its dual capability to manage both each and case picking. This versatility positions Exotec to meet the diverse demands of multichannel operations with a unified solution. Additionally, the system integrates several logistics functionalities that traditionally require separate equipment and complex subsystems. By consolidating these processes, the Skypod system streamlines warehouse workflows and significantly reduces the physical footprint needed for operations. This efficiency eliminates the need for extensive conveyors, sorters, external storage units, and additional packing stations.
Key Innovations in the Next Generation Skypod:
- Integrated Buffer: The new Skypod system incorporates buffering directly within its framework. After order preparation at the workstation, completed or partially completed orders are automatically stored within the system’s racks until they are ready for dispatch or further consolidation. This feature reduces the reliance on external staging areas or separate buffer systems, enhancing operational fluidity.
- Perfect Sequencing: The system ensures precise outbound sequencing using its advanced robotics and the high-throughput Exchanger. Robots group orders and deliver them in specific sequences to the Exchanger, which then routes them accurately for outbound logistics. This precise arrangement facilitates efficient pallet loading, container organization, and truck packing based on delivery routes, store layouts, or other specific unloading requirements—eliminating the need for additional sorting equipment.
- Pick-and-Pack Integration: The Next Generation Skypod seamlessly integrates packing into the picking process. Operators can pick items directly into fulfillment containers, removing the need for manual packing stages downstream. This functionality pairs effectively with right-size packaging solutions, which can be integrated into the system. As a result, businesses can significantly reduce last-mile delivery costs by optimizing packaging dimensions.
Romain Moulin, CEO and co-founder of Exotec, commented on the transformative nature of the new system: “When designing the Next Generation Skypod, our goal was to create a solution that would set the industry standard of operational excellence and elegance for the next decade and beyond. We’re already seeing our customers reimagine their entire supply chain around the transformative capabilities of this innovation, from combining case and each picking operations to leveraging outbound sequencing to improve transportation costs. Witnessing this level of impact has been incredibly rewarding.”
The development of the Next Generation Skypod was driven by evolving market demands and extensive feedback from Exotec’s global customer base. Customers increasingly seek warehouse robotics solutions that can handle a broader spectrum of processes within their facilities. Over the past two years, Exotec has discreetly sold and deployed this next-gen system across the globe, securing more than 20 major projects totaling $400 million. Notable clients include Oxford Industries (representing brands like Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, and Southern Tide), Grainger, and E.Leclerc, all leveraging the system to enhance their supply chain operations.
Maxence Maurice, CEO of E. Leclerc Seclin, highlighted the system’s impact on customer experience: “We chose Exotec for its storage density and its operational flexibility. Robotic advancements have enabled us to set up a larger buffer area for prepared orders within the system. Previously, I estimated that the customer journey, from arriving at the drive to leaving with their groceries, took between 10 and 15 minutes. Today, with the Exotec solution, it takes less than 5 minutes.”
Exotec’s Next Generation Skypod represents a significant leap forward in warehouse automation, offering scalable, efficient, and flexible solutions tailored to meet the dynamic needs of modern supply chains. As businesses continue to adapt to the complexities of global logistics, the innovative capabilities of the Skypod system will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of warehouse management.
