How a Leading Pharmaceutical Distributor Unlocked Significant ROI with Automated Order Picking
In a sector where accuracy, speed, and traceability are critical, one of Europe’s largest pharmaceutical distributors has transformed its order fulfilment operations through warehouse automation—with impressive results.
Facing a growing volume of orders, a wide SKU range, and tight delivery deadlines across thousands of pharmacies, the business recognised that traditional manual picking methods were no longer sustainable.
They needed a smarter, scalable solution that could maintain high service levels while optimising efficiency and reducing operational cost per pick.
The Solution: Robotic Order Picking, Designed for Healthcare Demands
The company deployed an advanced robotic order picking system tailored to the unique needs of pharmaceutical logistics.
The system integrated directly into their existing warehouse infrastructure and seamlessly handled the full picking process—from item retrieval and order consolidation to handoff for packing and dispatch.
What set this solution apart was its ability to be used for replenishing stock and for post-pick order consolidation, buffer and dispatch – as well as its in-aisle robotic picking.
Using AI driven software, the solution continually analyses demands on stock from order lines and uses the data to improve stock locations to suit seasonal fluctuations in demand for certain items. This enables the solution to minimise travel distances and pick times – critical during peak periods.
Key Outcomes and ROI
Within months of implementation, the distributor reported substantial improvements across key performance metrics:
Reduced Labour Costs
By automating 90% of order picking tasks, the company significantly decreased its reliance on manual labour—even during peak periods.
Improved Throughput:
Order fulfilment speeds increased dramatically, allowing the company to meet growing demand without expanding headcount or facility size.
Greater Accuracy: The precision of robotic picking reduced human error and eliminated costly mistakes—vital when dealing with regulated healthcare products.
Automated Replenishment: The robots not only automated the picking process, they were also able to replenish stock, simplifying the process and dramatically reducing labour costs.
Scalability: As demand fluctuates across the network of over 500 pharmacy locations, the automation system scales effortlessly—ensuring service levels remain high year-round.
Space Efficiency: The solution was able to maximise the use of available space by reducing the aisle widths required by the robotic pickers.
Conclusion
This project is a clear example of how intelligent automated order picking solutions can deliver outstanding ROI in the pharmaceutical and healthcare distribution sector.
With rising labour challenges and increasing operational demands, warehouse our automated picking solution offers a strategic path to greater efficiency, accuracy, and long-term cost savings.
If you’re managing a high-volume, high-accuracy fulfilment operation in pharma or healthcare, now’s the time to consider how automation could transform your performance and ROI.
Give our Pharmaceutical team a call today on 01236 453888 to find out more and discuss your project.
