Exotec Rolls Out Skyfleet Program to Scale Decathlon Warehouse Automation Across Europe

Why It Matters

The program demonstrates how scalable, end‑to‑end automation can dramatically boost supply‑chain efficiency while improving worker safety, setting a benchmark for European retail logistics.

Key Takeaways

• 150‑200 Skypod robots deployed per warehouse
• Up to 200,000 items processed daily
• Picker travel reduced from 10 km to 1 km
• Stores served per site doubled, e.g., 73 vs 37

Pulse Analysis

Exotec’s Skyfleet program marks a pivotal shift toward continent‑wide, standardized warehouse automation for a major retailer. By delivering a replicable architecture that integrates robots, automated depalletisers, RFID tunnels and a unified Warehouse Execution System, Exotec positions itself as a true end‑to‑end integrator. This approach reduces engineering lead times, leverages economies of scale in equipment selection, and creates a single software codebase that can be rolled out across multiple sites with minimal customization, a model other logistics providers are likely to emulate.

Performance metrics underscore the operational upside of the Skyfleet rollout. Sites now handle up to 200,000 items per day and process 3,000‑4,000 order lines each hour, effectively doubling the number of Decathlon stores supplied—from 37 to 73 in France, for example. Order volumes at the Setúbal warehouse have risen from 57,000 to 114,000 daily, while the robot fleet’s flexibility allows temporary redeployment to meet peak demand. Such scalability not only improves order fulfillment speed but also enhances inventory resilience across the retailer’s European network.

Beyond efficiency, Skyfleet delivers tangible workforce benefits, slashing picker travel distances by 90 % and halving workplace incident rates. The standardized environment simplifies training and up‑skilling, enabling staff to transition from manual handling to higher‑value tasks. For the broader market, Exotec’s success signals that large‑scale, cross‑border automation can be achieved without sacrificing local site nuances, encouraging other multinational retailers to pursue similar harmonized logistics strategies.