E.Leclerc is boosting its drive-through logistics: 70% faster, 50% more orders

Find out how E.Leclerc has revolutionised its drive-through service with the Skypod® system:

A 50% increase in orders processed and a 70% reduction in waiting times.

A transformation that makes shopping quicker and smoother for customers, streamlines internal operations and sets a new standard for efficiency in modern retail.

 

Who is E.Leclerc?

E.Leclerc is one of France’s leading retail chains, renowned for its competitive pricing strategy and wide range of products, from groceries to electronics. With a widespread presence throughout France and across much of Europe, E.Leclerc combines hypermarkets, drive-through collection services and online platforms to offer a comprehensive, fast and cutting-edge shopping experience.

The Challenge

With the rapid expansion of its customer base, the E.Leclerc collection point in Seclin, France, has faced a number of significant challenges:

• Long waiting times: customers had to wait up to 15 minutes to collect their orders — far too long by today’s standards
• Limited capacity: without automation, the site could handle a maximum of 800 orders per day
• Inventory pressure: the shop handles an average of around 60,000 fast-moving items, requiring an efficient system to meet demand
• Demanding working conditions: employees walked several kilometres a day to collect and deliver orders, which had an impact on productivity and well-being

In search of a solution to overcome these challenges, E.Leclerc turned to Exotec.

Director Maxence Maurice, who had been following the company’s innovations for some time, identified the Skypod® system as the most advanced solution.

“I chose Exotec systems because of their storage density and operational flexibility,” explained Maurice.

The Skd® system

Robots	Crate storage	Shelf height	Drive_Through Stations	Area	Orders processed
30	1680	6 m	12	2500 m2	110 /h – 1200/ giorno

To find out more about the technology used in this project, discover the Skypod® system by Exotec, designed for goods-to-person automation.

Drive-through taken to the next level: E.Leclerc makes shopping instant

At E.Leclerc, the Skypod® system is at the heart of intelligent order management, ensuring efficiency and speed. Orders for ambient and chilled products are temporarily stored in designated areas, whilst frozen goods are kept in a separate cold zone. These are then integrated with the rest of the order via the Skypath® conveyors.

When a customer arrives at the drive-through, the check-in point, located in an outdoor terminal, automatically triggers the retrieval of containers from each storage zone. Skypod® robots retrieve ambient and chilled orders from high-density shelving in under two minutes, sending them to the buffer loops above the 12 automated delivery stations.

As the customer approaches the collection point, the containers are automatically lowered in a continuous, smooth flow, ready to be quickly loaded into the vehicle. This process is designed to reduce waiting times and streamline every stage of the delivery, making the drive-through experience smoother and more satisfying.

Key benefits

The implementation of the Skypod® system has delivered significant results for the E.Leclerc drive-through:

• Increase in orders: the service can handle up to 1,200 orders a day, a 50% increase on the previous average of 800 orders.
• Reduced waiting times: the average customer waiting time has fallen from 15 minutes to less than 4 minutes, a reduction of over 70%.
• Greater customer satisfaction and loyalty: shorter waiting times have boosted customer loyalty, and the number of new customers per week has risen from 5 to 30 – a sixfold increase.
• Better working conditions: the physical strain on staff has been significantly reduced, allowing them to focus more on customer care and service.

“Today, we have managed to expand our business, meet consumer demand and handle a greater number of orders.”
– Maxence Maurice, CEO of E.Leclerc Seclin