Lotte Launches 'Zeta Smart Center Busan', an AI-Powered Logistics Hub for Fresh Food

[Fact Check]

Lotte Mart has launched the 'Zeta Smart Center Busan', utilizing Ocado's OSP solution. The facility features 120 robots operating on a grid system to manage fresh food, achieving full automation across ambient, chilled, and frozen zones.

[AIxLogis Insight]

The most impressive aspect here is the automation of the -25°C frozen zone. In standard cold storage, human fatigue and safety risks significantly hamper productivity. By deploying the 'Auto Freezer' system, Lotte has effectively removed the human element from these harsh environments, which is a game-changer for operational consistency.

With robots communicating with the central control system 10 times per second, the WMS is no longer just tracking inventory; it is orchestrating real-time robot traffic. This level of precision is critical for fresh food, where manual picking often leads to temperature fluctuations every time a door is opened. By keeping the goods within the automated hive, the cold chain remains unbroken, and the 98% picking accuracy will drastically reduce reverse logistics costs associated with picking errors.

While the ability to scale up to 1,000 robots is impressive, the real challenge for the floor crew will be the maintenance of these units. As the system scales, the focus must shift from simple throughput to predictive maintenance and battery management to ensure the grid doesn't become a bottleneck.

[Action Plan]

1. Audit your current cold storage facility to identify temperature-sensitive bottlenecks where human intervention causes the most frequent thermal deviations. 2. If full robotics is not yet feasible, prioritize upgrading your WMS to support real-time task allocation to improve picking accuracy and reduce travel time for your floor staff.

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Original source: 네이버뉴스