Swisslog and Asda celebrate a major milestone in their partnership, marking ten years of successful collaboration. Since their relationship began in 2013, the two companies have built a robust and strategic alliance characterised by shared goals, trust, mutual respect, and a commitment to excellence.
“In 2013, we won the contract to have an AutoStore grid at the Asda IDC in Lutterworth,” explains Ed Smith, Regional Systems Operations Manager at Swisslog. “In 2014, we received the contract for the SO support team on-site, maintaining and servicing all the equipment.”
Over the past decade, this partnership has evolved, expanding the AutoStore grid and optimising the automation system’s performance to meet the growing demands of the industry.
The heart of Swisslog’s service is its expertise in integrating AutoStore technology, which can significantly boost operational efficiency when implemented by an experienced UK integrator. Each industry has unique requirements, and Swisslog’s sector-specific knowledge allows them to tailor AutoStore systems accordingly.
“One of the biggest enablers of our automation at the IDC is the AutoStore. It is a smarter way of handling small case picking units for our colleagues,” notes Keith Fitchett, Inbound Operations Manager for Asda IDC. “The efficiency of the robots enables our colleagues to pick at a higher rate per hour, which ensures that we can hit demand on time and in full.”
Central to the AutoStore system is Swisslog’s SynQ software, which integrates warehouse management, material flow, and warehouse control into one platform. This software offers a proven AutoStore module that seamlessly orchestrates the system and surrounding processes.
Swisslog’s customer service and support provides Asda with complete confidence in its logistics operations. “When we work on-site, we are one big team,” shares Tom Spooner, Operations Manager at Asda. “The benefits of the automation speak for themselves, but the relationship we have with Swisslog brings its own benefits. There’s a real collaborative feel about the way that we work, and that’s what makes the difference.”
Swisslog offers modular and scalable services, easily customised to meet the unique needs of each client. Highly trained service engineers with years of experience deliver effective throughput service strategies to maximise availability. A quick response and a commitment to continuous improvement ensure growth, profitability, and success for their clients.
“The efficiency that Swisslog’s automation brings allows us to increase capacity and throughput, enabling us to hit higher pick rates than we would have with our large case operations,” shares Tom Spooner.
As they embark on the next phase of their journey together, Swisslog remains committed to providing Asda with exceptional service and support. “We’ve had lifecycle investments from ASDA, which have been huge for the site,” continues Ed Smith. “This enables us to invest in spare parts and new equipment, ensuring the system operates efficiently, which is critical to the success of AutoStore and the site as a whole.”
Tony Moon, Engineering Site Manager at Swisslog adds, “The idea of lifecycle replacement is to always be ahead. We pre-empt equipment failures before they happen, ensuring the site never misses a beat. This proactive approach has led to huge positive results.”
The trust placed in Swisslog by Asda is a testament to the reliability of its solutions and reflects Swisslog’s unwavering commitment to exceeding expectations. “From my perspective, it’s understanding what the customer really requires from us,” explains Tony Moon. “And the great feedback we’ve received from ASDA underscores their appreciation of how the automation runs and what we do for them.”
As they continue to innovate and expand their services, Swisslog and Asda look forward to many more years of successful collaboration. To learn more about their partnership and see the innovative solutions in action, watch the recently released video at www.swisslog.com/asda.
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