In a major boost to its online grocery business, Auchan Retail Poland has announced it is now live with the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP).

This marks a key milestone in the company's 2022 partnership with Ocado Solutions, which aims to develop Auchan's online operations from start to finish using the OSP.

The initial phase focuses on rolling out Ocado's In-Store Fulfilment (ISF) solution across Auchan's existing stores.

This will be followed by the launch of a dedicated Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) specifically serving the Warsaw region in the country.

"The Ocado Smart Platform is one of the most extensive and technologically advanced packages of such solutions on a global scale,” said Szymon Turnau, director of Digital & E-commerce at Auchan Poland.

“Its use will significantly impact the optimisation of processes and the scaling of our online business, which we have been consistently building since we launched our online sales 13 years ago. This will translate into increased shopping comfort and satisfaction for our customers.”

The companies said customers can now expect faster deliveries with more flexible time slots, alongside improved order accuracy and product quality. 

Additionally, Auchan's online store will expand its product range, offering up to 20,000 items initially, with the potential to double that number once the CFC becomes operational.

Ocado's ISF solution is designed for fast, scalable online grocery fulfilment directly from stores. 

Powered by advanced simulation and optimisation tools, ISF will allow Auchan to leverage its existing stores as efficient fulfilment hubs. 

Smart algorithms create optimised picking routes to maximise productivity while minimising disruption within stores.

This partnership positions Auchan to become a major player in Poland's growing online grocery market, offering a seamless and efficient shopping experience for its customers.