WESTMONT, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Itasca-based Jewel-Osco has launched the first of what it calls "micro-fulfillment centers" in the western suburbs that allows for a seamless customer shopping experience by pairing a brick-and-mortar store with home delivery through artificial intelligence.
Essentially, it’s a warehouse with a very modern twist. A robot takes a container with a customer’s online order from the towering shelves where it was filled to a rack for further action.
Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers said robots at the "micro-fulfillment center" fill about 60 percent of a customer’s list, and Jewel-Osco associates or “pickers” comb the adjacent Westmont supermarket for others things like fresh meat, dairy, and vegetables to complete the lists.
"We employ 27 associates here in the e-commerce operation. We have the capability of processing up to 1,000 orders a day, so pretty good operation. Got a lot going on back here in 20,000 square feet, and we can reach out to a 20-mile radius," Withers said.
How does this compete with Amazon Fresh stores, where humans do almost all the work?
"This center will allow us to open up capacity in sister stores, and the other important part it will do, I mentioned 60 percent of the items will come from here -- it will keep some of the shoppers off of the aisles, so opening up space, hopefully, for our brick-and-mortar customers," Withers said.
Governor Pritzker was in Westmont to cut the ribbon for the operation, and praised Jewel-Osco for keeping Illinois in the forefront of retail technology.
“Jewel Osco hasn’t stopped finding new ways to be there for Chicago area residents for over a century, and I was proud to join local leaders in kicking off the latest in grocery innovation for Illinois customers in Westmont,” said Governor JB Pritzker, in a statement. " Illinois has a long legacy of leadership in this sector – no surprise given our dominance in agriculture and the ingenuity of our workforce. As our economic recovery continues, Jewel Osco is helping pave the way to success.”
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