Exotec and E80 Group have announced a strategic partnership to seamlessly integrate their automation technologies, aiming to revolutionise warehouse operations for the consumer packaged goods and grocery industries with smarter, more scalable solutions.
Exotec, a leading global warehouse robotics company, and E80 Group, a specialist in automated end-to-end intralogistics solutions, have forged a strategic partnership designed to revolutionise warehouse automation for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and grocery industries. This collaboration aims to integrate Exotec’s hallmark Skypod Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) with E80 Group’s comprehensive pallet-handling systems, creating a unified, scalable automation ecosystem that seamlessly manages the handling of pallets, cases, and individual items.
According to the companies, this joint offering is poised to address the burgeoning pressures on supply chains to consolidate disparate e-commerce, retail, and wholesale operations into fewer, more efficient fulfilment centres. In doing so, it targets enhanced operational security, efficiency, and service levels, which are critical for retailers and logistics providers grappling with ever-increasing consumer demands and expectations for speed.
Traditionally, many warehouses have been forced to maintain siloed systems for tote/case and pallet handling, often involving complex integration processes, duplicated infrastructure, and labour-intensive handoffs. This fragmentation not only increases operational complexity but also raises costs and limits fulfilment agility. Exotec and E80 Group’s combined technology aims to eliminate these inefficiencies by enabling a seamless flow of goods from inbound to outbound processes within a single ecosystem.
This challenge is particularly acute in the CPG and grocery sectors, where warehouses must swiftly handle high volumes of full pallets, mixed cases, and individual items at scale. Recognising these distinct operational requirements, the partnership initially focuses on these sectors to deliver tailored automation solutions that enhance process resilience and significantly accelerate fulfilment across multiple sales channels.
Romain Moulin, Co-founder and CEO of Exotec, emphasised the partnership’s shared philosophy: “Exotec and E80 Group don’t just offer complementary technologies; we share the same philosophy of reducing complexity through intelligent, product-first design. That’s why we heavily invested in this partnership — to design a joint solution that will set the new standard for end-to-end automation in the grocery and beverage industries and beyond.”
Exotec’s Skypod system serves as the cornerstone for case- and each-picking operations, supported by its proprietary Warehouse Execution Software, Deepsky, which orchestrates product movements across automated systems both internally and externally. Meanwhile, E80 Group brings extensive expertise in intralogistics across the supply chain spectrum—from truck unloading of raw materials to automated picking, warehousing operations, and ultimately final shipping orchestrated by automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and laser-guided vehicles (LGVs). E80’s SM.I.LE80 software platform integrates and manages these processes holistically.
Gabriele Grassi, Deputy Chairman at E80 Group, described the partnership as a significant advancement: “Together, we’re not just integrating two systems — we’re rethinking how goods can move seamlessly from production to store shelves or e-commerce. Pairing Exotec’s flexible AS/RS with our end-to-end solutions creates a new model for automation that aligns with the future of retail and consumer demand.”
Industry data shows that more than 50 top-tier global brands, including Gap Inc, Carrefour, Decathlon, and UNIQLO, already rely on Exotec’s solutions across over 150 sites worldwide, reflecting the company’s robust footprint in improving operational efficiency and worker conditions. By extending these capabilities through integration with E80 Group’s automated pallet handling, the partnership is poised to enhance supply chain agility and cost-effectiveness substantially.
As supply chains continue to evolve amid the dual pressures of accelerating e-commerce and complex retail demands, this collaboration highlights a strategic move towards simplified, intelligent warehouse ecosystems. By offering modular and turnkey solutions that scale alongside business needs, Exotec and E80 Group aim to set new benchmarks for intralogistics innovation in sectors where speed, flexibility, and resilience are paramount.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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