Case Study
RoboStores
Dubai-based 3PL Earns ‘Best Warehouse of the Year’ with AutoStore
Country
United Arabic Emirates
Industry
3PL
Partner
Swisslog
AI Translated | Original AutoStore Content
Automation increases fulfillment volume, speed, and accuracy for RoboStores.
RoboStores is a fulfillment center headquartered in Dubai, UAE, a pioneer in the region's e-commerce logistics. The company offers end-to-end e-commerce solutions, including import management, warehousing, order fulfillment, last-mile delivery, and more.
Their emphasis is on fast, accurate order processing for digital startups and global brands entering the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market. For multi-client complexity like this, RoboStores needed a space-efficient storage and automation solution capable of storing thousands of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), picking with exceptional speed, and easily scaling without operational disruption. They chose AutoStore, empowered by Swisslog, which helped to earn RoboStores ‘Best Warehouse Facility/Firm of the Year’ in 2021.
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RoboStores needed to manage a high SKU variety across multiple clients while maintaining fast, accurate, and scalable fulfillment. Increasing fashion demand and multi-channel fulfillment required a system capable of handling complex workflows with minimal manual effort.
According to RoboStores’ General Manager, Elias Ma’ayah, the future is heading toward faster delivery; from next-day to two hours. The challenge is prioritizing express orders and avoiding volume-related bottlenecks. The company needed reliable automation that could operate flexibly, support rapid retrieval speeds, and expand capacity during peak seasons.
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AutoStore Robots retrieve Bins (totes) from the Grid and deliver them directly to operators at ConveyorPorts (Workstations) for fast, ergonomic goods‑to‑person picking. R5 robots work as a team to fetch and return bins for human picking and putaway operations. A natural slotting principle is used, where an item ordered often stays on top, making popular items easily retrievable. These take about 29 seconds to retrieve.
Robots can prepare orders placed overnight, supporting 24/7 responsiveness. The Robots are constantly optimizing storage, and they are energy-efficient, using about the same power as a household toaster.
Put‑to‑Light technology supports operators during consolidation and order processing. Robots collaborate autonomously: some deliver bins to fulfill orders while others dig to access deeper Bins. When one Robot is occupied, others assist automatically. The Robots follow direction from the software to reorganize Bins, moving high-demand items to top positions – often overnight – which keeps retrieval times between 29 and 40 seconds, depending on item depth.
To integrate order processing with AutoStore, SynQ WMS software connects AutoStore to RoboStores’ ERP systems, ensuring smooth digital order flow and real‑time coordination.
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The AutoStore system, implemented in just eight months, delivered major improvements in picking speed, accuracy, and operational consistency:
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The AutoStore system positions RoboStores as an agile partner in the fast-evolving GCC e-commerce market. The company is now equipped to capitalize on market growth and escalating delivery expectations, with the required speed and scalability for a sustainable competitive advantage.
“Equipped with the right solution, RoboStores could increase pick times and volume, giving us a critical edge in a competitive industry.”
“If you receive ten orders it's easy, but when you start talking about thousands of orders per day, that's when you need the robotics. … No one can do 5,000 orders per day without having any issues.”
“No one can beat the Robots, how fast they are and how accurate.”
“Without the robotic fulfillment center, we would need maybe 20 to 30 employees doing the fulfillment; instead we have four operators… so running costs of the system are lower.”
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