Boohoo Group

To support the growth and profitability of the Boohoo Group business, the supply chain team partnered with SSI Schaeffer to implement an automation solution in the Sheffield Fulfilment Centre.

This investment is part of the wider supply chain network strategy to build capacity and efficiency across the network of three UK sites and a US site.

The total investment was £125 million and generated a payback of 4-5 years based on improved productivity and a variety of efficiency savings.

A number of technologies were brought together on a significant scale including goods-to-person shuttles, pouch sortation, cross-belt sortation, and multiple conveyors.

This was further enhanced by a bespoke algorithm that optimises the picking process in real time based on ‘predicted’ orders to enhance productivity and order fulfilment time.

The capacity of the site has also increased with stockholding and throughput doubling to support a peak day output of over 800,000 units.

Of particular note is how the install and implementation of the solution took place alongside a live operation (during the pandemic) which achieved record output and service levels whilst upholding an impeccable health and safety record.