Tesco builds “Dot Com Only Store” for grocery home shopping fulfilment

Tesco has taken a major step forward in handling the picking and delivery of groceries ordered via the Tesco.com website by building a dedicated Dot Com facility, know internally as a DCOS, (Dot Com Only Store). Orders coming in from the website were previously processed in Tesco Superstores in the area. Tesco selected Vanderlande Industries to explore the potential for a dedicated facility, which resulted in a successful partnership in Aylesford DCOS (South East England).

Stock in the dedicated “store” is laid out exactly like a supermarket, except that the “customers” are replaced by order picking staff. After picking, completed order totes are sent to a consolidation buffer consisting of a 3-aisle QUICKSTORE HDS shuttle system. The HDS will release totes to be sorted and loaded in reverse drop sequence to vans. In addition to controlling storage and release of the customer orders, Vanderlande systems also control the vehicle dispatch management process. Furthermore Tesco awarded Vanderlande a 24/7 on-site maintenance and support agreement for the next five years.

The first DCOS in Aylesford opened in October 2008. It is proving to have a quick payback time in freeing up expensive retail sales space in existing superstores and enabling faster growth of Dotcom sales. Other benefits include improved accuracy, traceability and a reduction in product damage. The second DCOS in Greenford became operational in 2010.