Supermarket giant Woolworths has started construction on its first ever automated customer fulfilment centre in Auburn, Western Sydney, slated for launch in 2024.
The technology in place at the 22,000sqm site will allow hundreds of personal shoppers to pick and dispatch up to 50,000 home deliveries a week across the region.
“Online grocery shopping is booming in Western Sydney, as more and more customers look to reclaim time in their busy lives,” said Woolworths’ director of e-commerce Annette Karantoni.
“Over the past two years alone, we’ve seen the demand for online groceries in Western Sydney more than triple. We need to continue investing in new capacity to keep pace with demand and rising customer expectations.”
The facility will hold up to 40,000 product lines, and will target a 5-Star Green Star Rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, using rainwater harvesting, solar panels and electric vehicle charging facilities for delivery trucks.
The business said, however, that its stores will remain central to its e-commerce network, with more than 80 per cent of its online orders currently fulfilled by stores.
