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Grocery Retail verified Verified Outcome TRL 9

Automated Warehouse Grid (The Hive)

domain Client: An online-only grocery retailer handshake Provider: Ocado Smart Platform (Internal) schedule Deploy: Q3 2023 (Licensing Expansion)
93 Impact
Enterprise Ready
Evidence Score: 5/10
Strength: Very High

Executive Summary

ANALYST: COI RESEARCH

The retailer developed a proprietary warehouse automation system where thousands of washing-machine-sized robots swarm on a massive metal grid. These robots dig for crates of groceries stacked beneath the grid and deliver them to human packers. The system uses 4G technology for low-latency robot coordination.

rate_review Analyst Verdict

"A marvel of engineering that solves the 'grocery tetris' problem. By licensing this tech (Ocado Smart Platform) to other grocers (Kroger, Aeon), the entity pivoted from a low-margin retailer to a high-margin tech provider. High fire risk has been a historical issue but mitigated in newer generations."

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Full Audit Report Available Includes Risk Register, Technical Specs & Compliance Data.

warning The Challenge

Online grocery picking is notoriously inefficient due to the variety of item shapes and temperature requirements. Human pickers walking aisles cannot achieve the pick-rates needed to make the unit economics work given the low margin of food.

psychology The Solution

A 3D grid structure holds thousands of bins. Robots move at 4m/s on top, using a proprietary air traffic control system to avoid collisions. They grab bins and bring them to 'pick stations' where humans assemble orders. The system densifies storage and eliminates aisles.

settings_suggest Technical & Deployment Specs

Integrations
Webshop, ERP
Deployment Model
On-Premise / Edge
Data Classification
Operational
Estimated TCO / ROI
Extremely High
POC Summary (2015-01-01 to 2016-01-01)

"First CFC in Andover."

shield Risk Register & Mitigation

Risk Factor Severity Mitigation Strategy
Fire Hazard Critical Advanced sprinkler systems in grid; redesign of battery charging units (post-Andover fire).
Single Point of Failure High Redundant grids; software failovers.

trending_up Impact Trajectory

Audited value realization curve

Coordination of >1,000 robots per grid Verified Outcome
Primary KPIPick rates 10x faster than manual
Audit CycleGlobal licensing deals (Kroger, etc.)

policy Compliance & Gov

  • Standards: Machine Safety Directives
  • Maturity (TRL): 9
  • Evidence Score: 5/10
  • Data Class: Operational

folder_shared Verified Assets

description
Verified Case Study
PDF • Version 1
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Technical Audit
PDF • Audited
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Security Architecture

The "Blind Verification" Protocol

How we verified these outcomes for An online-only grocery retailer without exposing sensitive IP or identities.

Private
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1. Raw Evidence

Audit ID: #PRIV-817
Evidence: Direct SQL Logs
Public
public

2. Verified Asset

Outcome: Verified
Ref ID: #COI-817

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