Case Study: E-commerce - Robot in Fulfilment Centre

Written by ROBOTio Team · · 6 min read

Article summary

How a leading Czech electronics e-shop streamlined operations and reduced error rates by 92% with a humanoid robot.

# Case Study: E-commerce - Robot in Fulfilment Centre > **Client:** Leading Czech electronics e-shop > **Location:** Fulfilment centre, Central Bohemia > **Robot:** Unitree H1 --- ## Key Project Figures :::info-box | Metric | Result | |------------|----------| | **Orders Processed** | 15,000+/month | | **Error Reduction** | -92% | | **Time Saved** | 35% | | **ROI** | 6 months | ::: --- ## About the Project A leading Czech electronics and consumer electronics e-shop processes thousands of orders daily. With growing order volumes, they sought ways to **increase efficiency** and **reduce error rates** in inventory management and order fulfilment. :::highlight-box **Interesting fact:** The e-shop ranks among the TOP 10 in the Czech Republic with annual turnover exceeding CZK 500 million. ::: --- ## Challenges Before Deployment | Challenge | Impact | |-------|-------| | **High Error Rate** | 3.2% incorrectly fulfilled orders | | ⏰ **Time-Consuming Inventory** | 2 days for complete stock-take | | **Staff Shortage** | Difficulty finding employees for night shifts | | **Seasonal Peaks** | Black Friday = 5× more orders | --- ## Our Solution ### Phase 1: Pilot Operation (1 month) The Unitree H1 robot was deployed for these tasks: :::success-box **Warehouse Inventory** — Robot navigates shelves and scans QR codes **Shipment Verification** — Content verification before dispatch **Night Monitoring** — Warehouse checks outside working hours **Picking Assistance** — Guiding staff to items ::: ### Phase 2: Full Deployment (months 2-6) | Function | Implementation | |--------|--------------| | **WMS Integration** | Connection to warehouse management system | | **Real-time Reporting** | Dashboard with KPIs | | **Predictive Maintenance** | Automatic anomaly reporting | | **New Staff Onboarding** | Robot guides new employees | --- ## Results After 6 Months :::stats-grid | Metric | Before | After | Change | |------------|------|-----|-------| | Order Error Rate | 3.2% | 0.25% | **-92%** | | Inventory Time | 48 hours | 8 hours | **-83%** | | Shift Productivity | 100% | 135% | **+35%** | | Customer Satisfaction | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | **+12%** | ::: --- ## Black Friday Success :::warning-box **Baptism by Fire:** Black Friday 2024 brought 5× more orders than a typical day. ::: ### How the Robot Helped: | Day | Orders | Error Rate | Robot Status | |-----|------------|-----------|-------------| | Thu (preparation) | 2,500 | 0.1% | Full operation | | Fri (Black Friday) | 12,800 | 0.3% | Full operation | | Sat (follow-up) | 8,200 | 0.2% | Full operation | | Sun (inventory) | — | — | Complete stock-take in 6h | :::success-box **Outcome:** Zero dispatch delays, record customer satisfaction (4.9/5). ::: --- ## Client Feedback > *"The robot transformed our approach to warehouse operations. We can no longer imagine Black Friday without it. The investment paid for itself in 6 months and now we're saving hundreds of thousands annually."* > > — **Operations Director**, e-commerce company --- ## Technical Implementation Details :::info-box ### System Integration | System | Connection | |--------|----------| | **WMS (SAP)** | Real-time API integration | | **ERP** | Inventory synchronisation | | **BI Tools** | Data export for analytics | | **Notifications** | Slack + email alerting | ::: ### Hardware Setup - **Charging Stations** — 2× in different warehouse sections - **Wi-Fi 6** — Seamless coverage throughout warehouse - **CCTV Integration** — Robot connected to camera system - **Emergency System** — Physical stop button + remote override --- ## ROI Calculation :::highlight-box ### Return on Investment | Item | Amount | |---------|--------| | **Investment (rental + integration)** | CZK 1,200,000 | | **Annual Savings** | CZK 2,400,000 | | **ROI** | **6 months** | *Savings include: reduced error rates, labour time savings, fewer returns, more efficient inventory management.* ::: --- ## Key Insights for E-commerce | Insight | Detail | |----------|--------| | **Integration is Key** | Robot must be connected to WMS/ERP | | **Measure Everything** | Robot data reveals hidden inefficiencies | | **Employees = Partners** | Robot assists, doesn't replace people | | **Start with Small Pilot** | Validate concept before full deployment | --- ## Future Plans The client plans to expand the collaboration: :::success-box - **Second Robot** for new warehouse - **Packing Automation** — Robot to assist with packing - **Logistics Coordination** — Integration with carrier tracking - **AI Optimisation** — Warehouse workload prediction :::

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case-study

Tags

  • case study
  • e-commerce
  • fulfilment
  • warehouse
  • retail

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ROBOTio helps companies rent, demonstrate and integrate humanoid robots: Unitree G1 and H2 for events, trade fairs, conferences and marketing campaigns — always with our own operators.